She became conscious that Ohano was beside her. She looked at the girl strangely, and as she did so something in Ohano’s eyes revealed the truth to her. She shrank from her daughter-in-law with a motion almost of loathing.
“Why, Ohano!” she cried. “It was thou who sent for—it is—”
Ohano turned from her abruptly and moved briskly toward the gateman.
“It was thy duty,” she haughtily censured, “to pursue and seize the woman.”
“Her feet had wings, august young mistress. With the honorable young lord upon her back she fairly flew by the gates, as if possessed of infernal power.”
“And thou art very old!” said the Lady Saito, gently. “Thy ancient limbs are unable to compete with the fleet wings of a mother’s love!”
CHAPTER XXIV
AT the evening meal, which was served upon an open balcony because of the intense heat, Ohano kept her eyes assiduously upon her food. The mood of her mother-in-law had changed. There was nothing gentle in her expression now as she savagely stabbed at the live fish upon her plate, speared it in just the proper place, and then lifted a morsel of the still palpitating flesh upon her chop-stick.