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SCENES AT A HERO'S SHRINE. 171
It was at one of these merry-makings that Honda
Jiro, now himself a handsome samurai and an ambi-
tious young man, saw Miss Asai Hoshi for the first
time since childhood,, Taking his seat among some
friends where he could feast his eyes upon her, he
enjoyed with a rapturous glow this vision of loveliness.
He gave himself to his own party while
conversation, fun, or refreshments were in order;
but when all other eyes were turned skyward to
view the " flower-fires," then his gaze was upon the
fair and lovely maiden towards whom he felt a new
With-
and, as it seemed, an overmastering passion.
out going near the party in which her parents were
he went home and wrote her a letter in which he
breathed out his heart.
That letter Miss Hoshi had kept in a silken cover
since first she received it. She had sewed it inside
her best girdle. This girdle, by the way, was not, as
one might think, of costliest brocade and richest color,
such as ladies of the samurai class and the gtiisha,
or singing-girls, wear, but of modest tints and of a
quality far less than her father could easily afford.
The fault of this was not in his parsimony or
economy, but because, under the feudal system, a
merchant could not spend his money or enjoy the
fruits of his industry as he pleased. Below the
privileged sword-wearing class none could ride a
horse, build a house, or wear clothing except of a
certain grade prescribed. In a word, men were not
allowed to reap the fruits of their toil or brains
except as their superiors or oppressors permitted.