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SCENES AT A HEBO'S SHRINE. 165
blow and for some one's destruction ; pray tell is it mine ?
me,
"
" What a ! question No, certainly not. I was
not thinking of you."
" Alas ! That I fear you have not done for a long
time. Have you forsaken me utterly ? Who is your
new love ? "
" Miss Hoshi, rest your mind. There is no other
woman that has captured my affections ;
and yet my
mind has changed not only towards you, but even in
relation to my prince, and even as regards my family
and kinsmen. I am at this moment so little in the
mood to be opposed, that should they attempt to hin-
der my purpose I shall cast off my allegiance
to our
lord and leave the country."
" What can be the matter, Mr. Honda ? It is so
long since you have honored me with your confidences,
or even spoken a kind word to me, that I had almost
imagined you possessed of a fox. Once we were like
two violets which the wind has driven and joined
together in a single flower, but now some hand has
torn us apart. Is it anything I have done to bring
you to "
your present state of mind ?
" Miss Hoshi, maid and friend, let me say now and
forever that all the regard I professed for you since
I first saw you on that bright day two years ago,
when the famous master from Yedo gave his ex-
hibition of flower-fires at the river-meadow, was
in all truth and faithfulness. I have often said I
loved you, and I spojie the truth of a samurai ; but
now "