And then she understood that the characters signified:—
Maireba au—they would meet, for he would call upon her. Arare nai—then they would not be separated. Korobi au—they would repose together.
And the meaning of the rest was thus:—
"This letter should be opened within the sleeve, so that others may know nothing of it. Keep the secret in your own bosom.
"You must yield to me even as the rush bends to the wind. I am earnest to serve you in all things.
"We shall surely be united at last, whatever chance may separate us at the beginning. I wish for you even as the stag for its mate in the autumn.
"Even though long kept apart we shall meet, as meet the waters of a river divided in its upper course into two branches.
"Divine, I pray you, the meaning of this letter, and preserve it. I hope for a fortunate answer. Thinking of Terute-Hime, I feel as though I could fly."
And the Princess Terute found at the end of the letter the name of him who wrote it,—Oguri-Hangwan Kane-uji himself,—together with her own name, as being written to her.
Then she felt greatly troubled, because she had not at first supposed that the letter was addressed to her, and had, without thinking, read it aloud to the female attendants.