The Screen-Maiden 29 



her question is not recorded : it will have to be 

 imagined. 



" But will you not soon get tired of me ? " she 

 asked. 



" Never while I live ! " he protested. 



"And after ?" she persisted; for the 

 Japanese bride is not satisfied with love for one 

 life-time only. 



" Let us pledge ourselves to each other," he 

 entreated, " for the time of seven existences." 



" If you are ever unkind to me," she said, " I 

 will go back to the screen." 



They pledged each other. I suppose that 

 Tokkei was a good boy, for his bride never 

 returned to the screen. The space that she had 

 occupied upon it remained a blank. 



Exclaims the Japanese author, 

 " How very seldom do such things happen in 

 this world ! " 



