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"Ah, sir, a nobleman like you is sure to have a beautiful wife at home;<br />
and then you are so handsome that, <strong>of</strong> course, all the pretty young ladies<br />
are in love with you."<br />
"Nonsense! Why, how clever you are at flattering and paying compliments!<br />
A pretty little creature like you was just made to turn all the<br />
men's heads—a little witch."<br />
"Ah! those are hard things to say <strong>of</strong> a poor girl! Who could think <strong>of</strong><br />
falling in love with such a wretch as I am? Now, pray tell me all about<br />
your own sweetheart: I do so long to hear about her."<br />
"Silly child! I'm not the sort <strong>of</strong> man to put thoughts into the heads <strong>of</strong><br />
fair ladies. However, it is quite true that there is some one whom I want<br />
to marry."<br />
At this O Koyo began to feel jealous.<br />
"Ah!" said she, "how happy that some one must be! Do, pray, tell me<br />
the whole story." And a feeling <strong>of</strong> jealous spite came over her, and made<br />
her quite unhappy.<br />
Genzaburô laughed as he answered—<br />
"Well, that some one is yourself, and nobody else. There!" and as he<br />
spoke, he gently tapped the dimple on her cheek with his finger; and O<br />
Koyo's heart beat so, for very joy, that, for a little while, she remained<br />
speechless. At last she turned her face towards Genzaburô, and said—<br />
"Alas! your lordship is only trifling with me, when you know that<br />
what you have just been pleased to propose is the darling wish <strong>of</strong> my<br />
heart. Would that I could only go into your house as a maid-servant, in<br />
any capacity, however mean, that I might daily feast my eyes on your<br />
handsome face!"<br />
"Ah! I see that you think yourself very clever at hoaxing men, and so<br />
you must needs tease me a little;" and, as he spoke, he took her hand,<br />
and drew her close up to him, and she, blushing again, cried—<br />
"Oh! pray wait a moment, while I shut the sliding-doors."<br />
"Listen to me, O Koyo! I am not going to forget the promise which I<br />
made you just now; nor need you be afraid <strong>of</strong> my harming you; but take<br />
care that you do not deceive me."<br />
"Indeed, sir, the fear is rather that you should set your heart on others;<br />
but, although I am no fashionable lady, take pity on me, and love me<br />
well and long."<br />
"Of course! I shall never care for another woman but you."<br />
"Pray, pray, never forget those words that you have just spoken."<br />
"And now," replied Genzaburô, "the night is advancing, and, for today,<br />
we must part; but we will arrange matters, so as to meet again in<br />
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