46 Shadowings 



a beautiful boy, with long hair tied back in 

 the ancient manner. He stood at the threshold, 

 and said to the old man in a clear loud voice : 



" There is a person here who has been praying 

 for a love-union not suitable to his present con- 

 dition, and otherwise difficult to bring about. 

 But as the young man is worthy of Our pity, you 

 have been called to see whether something can 

 be done for him. If there should prove to be 

 any relation between the parties from the period 

 of a former birth, you will introduce them to 

 each other." 



On receiving this command, the old man 

 bowed respectfully to the chigo : then, rising, he 

 drew from the pocket of his long left sleeve a 

 crimson cord. One end of this cord he passed 

 round Baishu's body, as if to bind him with it. 

 The other end he put into the flame of one of 

 the temple-lamps ; and while the cord was there 

 burning, he waved his hand three times, as if to 

 summon somebody out of the dark. 



Immediately, in the direction of the Amadera, a 

 sound of coming steps was heard ; and in another 



appears in this story is of course a supernatural being, 

 the court-messenger of the Goddess, and her mouthpiece. 



