The Sympathy of Benten 49 



able to write so wonderfully, she could paint 

 beautiful pictures; she knew the art of arrang 

 ing flowers, the art of embroidery, the art of 

 music ; she could weave and sew ; and she knew 

 everything in regard to the management of 

 a house. 



It was in the early autumn that the young 

 people had met; and they lived together in 

 perfect accord until the winter season began. 

 Nothing, during those months, occurred to dis 

 turb their peace. Baishu's love for his gentle 

 wife only strengthened with the passing of time. 

 Yet, strangely enough, he remained ignorant of 

 her history, knew nothing about her family. 

 Of such matters she had never spoken; and, 

 as the Gods had given her to him, he imagined 

 that it would not be proper to question her. But 

 neither the Old-Man-under-the-Moon nor any 

 one else came as he had feared to take her 

 away. Nobody even made any inquiries about 

 her. And the neighbors, for some undiscover- 

 able reason, acted as if totally unaware of her 

 presence. 



Baishu wondered at all this. But stranger 

 experiences were awaiting him. 



4 



