“For if you should do so,” said Aoi, sadly, “they might persuade you to abandon us.”
“Ah, no; never, mother. No one could ever do so.”
“Save Yamashiro Yoshida,” said Aoi, quickly.
A cloud stole for an instant over the girl’s face. She sighed as she repeated, half under her breath:
“Save Yoshida—perhaps.”
XII
About a fortnight later the honorable Yamashiro family condescended to pay a visit to the house of Aoi. Although they lived but a field’s length away, they came in their carriages, very elegant jinrikishas, drawn by liveried runners.