Then the daughter of that house, Otohime, suddenly remembering him, also became quite angry, and said to the servant: "You must not laugh rudely. Laughing at others to-day, you might be laughed at yourself to-morrow."
But Otohime had been so startled that she could not help trembling a little, and, retiring to her room, she suddenly fainted away.
Then in the house all was confusion, and a doctor was summoned in great haste. But the girl, being quite unable to take any medicine, only became weaker and weaker.
Then many famous physicians were sent for; and they consulted together about Otohime; and they decided at last that her sickness had been caused only by some sudden sorrow.
So the mother said to her sick daughter "Tell me, without concealment, if you have any secret grief; and if there be anything you want, whatever it be, I will try to get it for you."
Otohime replied: "I am very much ashamed; but I shall tell you what I wish.
"The blind man who came here the other day was the son of a rich and well-famed citizen of Kawachi, called Nobuyoshi.
"At the time of the festival of Tenjin at Kitano in Kyoto, I met that young man there, on my way to the temple; and we then exchanged letters of love, pledging ourselves to each other.
"And therefore I very much wish that I may be allowed to travel in search of him, until I find him, wherever he may be."
The mother kindly made answer: "That, indeed, will be well. If you wish for a kago, you may have one; or if you would like to have a horse, you can have one.