Illustrations
| “She did not speak to the attendant while she dined, but continued to stare before her through the open shoji” | [Frontispiece] |
| “A score of ripe cherries descended upon her head” | [35] |
| “‘Look,’ cried Sado-ko, clutching his sleeve” | [143] |
| Mists of Kamakura | [183] |
| “Then up and down the room in the long, trailing robe of Princess Sado-ko, walked, peacock-like, the maiden Masago” | [217] |
| “Then soft alighted on a cherry tree, and filled the air with its sweet song” | [223] |
| “She met his eyes, then flushed and trembled” | [331] |
| “Between the parted shoji, she stood like one uncertain” | [365] |
DAUGHTERS OF NIJO
Daughters of Nijo
BEFORE THE STORY’S ACTION
IN the early part of the year of the Restoration there lived within the Province of Echizen a young farmer named Yamada Kwacho. Although he belonged only to the agricultural class, he was known and honored throughout the entire province, for at one time he had saved the life of the Daimio of the province, the powerful Lord of Echizen, premier to the shogunate.
In spite of the favor of the Daimio of the province, Yamada Kwacho made no effort to rise above the class to which he had been born. Satisfied with his estate, he was proud of his simple and honest calling. So the Lord of Echizen, having no opportunity of repaying the young farmer for his service, contented himself perforce with a promise that if at any time Yamada Kwacho should require his aid, he would not fail him.