Part 38

“A princess is not so addressed,” replied the other, smiling, “save sometimes by a servile, ignorant one.”

“I fear I will be sure to make the most absurd mistakes.”

“So! Then the whole court will call it ‘A new caprice of the foolish Princess Sado-ko.’”

“Again, if you please—call me Sado-ko.”

“Princess Sado-ko!”

“Masago!”

“Nay, call me simply ‘sister,’” said the other, in a trembling voice.

“Sister—there! Does not this beauteous robe become me well?”

“As though it were made alone for you, Masago.”

“No, no,—Princess Sado-ko!”

“I bow my humble head unto the dust, most royal Princess Sado-ko!”

In mock humility the new Masago bowed before the old Masago.

“Yet,” said the latter, with her red lips pursed in thought, “they say it is the latest fashion of the court to wear the foreign style of dress. Is it not so?”

“Yes. It is so.”

“Oh, joyful! Such beautiful and gorgeous gowns as I shall wear. I will send at once to all the most famous foreign cities. Let me see,—to Holland, and to—”

“The Princess Sado-ko never liked the foreign gown,” interrupted the other, shaking her head a trifle sadly.

“But you spoke just now of the caprices of that same Princess Sado-ko. She has already another one.”

Then up and down the room, in the long, trailing robe of Princess Sado-ko, walked, peacock-like, the maiden Masago; while close at hand, with dreamy face and dewy eyes, clad in a simple crêpe kimono, and with flowers—no longer jewels—in her hair, stood Sado-ko.

“Tell me,” said the vain and eager Masago, “when the noble Prince Komatzu shall greet me so,”—she bowed with assumed gallantry—“will I bow thus?” Down to the mat she bent her head.

“Why, no; but thus.” Gracefully, simply she illustrated. “A low, but not too low, obeisance. You are of equal rank, Masa—princess!”

“So—like this?”

“No; this way.”

“Well, it will take me twenty hours to practise thus. I will not sleep till I accomplish it.”

“Oh, you will learn. Bow as you will, Masago. Komatzu will declare your mood has changed, and still insist that you are fair.”

Stooping in her posing, Masago stared a moment at the other.

“Perhaps already he has whispered words of love to you, then?” Her voice was sharply jealous.

“No, my cousin does not know me quite as yet. You will make him better acquainted with Princess Sado-ko.”

“Ah, that I will!”