The Screen-Maiden 2 



him much more beautiful than before. Appar- 

 ently it was a real likeness, the portrait of a 

 girl fifteen or sixteen years old ; and every little 

 detail in the painting of the hair, eyes, eyelashes, 

 mouth, had been executed with a delicacy and 

 a truth beyond praise. The manajiri 1 seemed 

 "like a lotos-blossom courting favor "; the lips 

 were " like the smile of a red flower " ; the whole 

 young face was inexpressibly sweet. If the real 

 girl so portrayed had been equally lovely, no man 

 could have looked upon her without losing his 

 heart. And Tokkei believed that she must have 

 been thus lovely ; for the figure seemed alive, 

 ready to reply to anybody who might speak 

 to it. 



Gradually, as he continued to gaze at the pic- 

 ture, he felt himself bewitched by the charm of 

 it. " Can there really have been in this world," 

 he murmured to himself, " so delicious a creature ? 

 How gladly would I give my life nay, a thou- 

 sand years of life ! to hold her in my arms 



1 Also written mejiri, the exterior canthus of the eye. 

 The Japanese (like the old Greek and the old Arabian poets) 

 have many curious dainty words and similes to express 

 particular beauties of the hair, eyes, eyelids, lips, fingers, 

 etc. 



