“Wed?—I cannot do that! You know there is only one maiden in all Japan—in all the world!”
“It is true that the maiden to whom you refer cannot be given to any other than one of exalted rank.”
“The heart of Iyeyoshi has been troubled. He questioned the maiden, and found that the words of the tojin were true. Yet how could the Sei-i-tai Shogun give his daughter to a tojin?”
I stared at the Prince, aflame with an ardent hope that overpowered me. “He—you say that he—Speak!”
“The heir of Owari is a fitting husband for the daughter of the Shogun. You know the arrangement regarding him who has gone from us. There now remains only the son of his elder brother. I have long since reached the age when it is customary to lay aside the burden of the title and of the clan administration. The boy is too young. In such cases it is not unusual to adopt an elder son to bear the burden of the title until such time as it is thought best for him to retire in favor of the younger heir.”
“My lord!” I gasped, “you cannot mean—?”
“Iyeyoshi’s heart is touched by the grief of his daughter. He is willing to do so much to assure her happiness. My kinsman guest has a true heart—he is to be trusted. When an heir succeeds during the lifetime of his father, he bends to the guidance of the retired daimio. There is no more to be said. The decision is now with Woroto.”
I kowtowed to him. For several moments I could not speak, for I was utterly overcome with the great joy and unable to believe that such good fortune could be mine. The serene face of Yoritomo appeared before my mental vision. It was as if he had returned to serve me as guardian spirit.
“Father of my brother!—my father!” I murmured. I could say no more.