“You laugh at me, fair cousin.”
“Permit me, then, to weep.” She clasped her face with both her hands, but she did not feign tears: they came too readily.
“Cousin,” said Komatzu, solemnly, “will you make an exchange gift with me for my august statue?”
She raised her face defiantly.
“And why should you and I make exchange gifts, Komatzu? We are not affianced.”
“Are we not?” he asked sternly.
“No, save for the gossip of the court and popular fancy. Yet his Majesty has not betrothed us, and I am both his niece and ward.”
“He will betroth us,” said Komatzu, with gloomy assurance, “for all his ministers are in favor of the union.”
“We will abide the time, Komatzu, when his Majesty sanctions it. Meanwhile we are but cousins.”
“Sado-ko, give me that picture of you painted by the artist.”