of Kito, except that life cost less. He began to enlarge his domain.
I have said, I think, that he had adored Owannon, the daughter of Madzuri, from infancy. But his adoration was confined to such shy smiles as he might lavish at their infrequent meetings. He had little enough hope; for her father had managed to keep some of the state of a samurai, and in circumstances was infinitely above his father, who had died a mere ronin.[1]
But now, when he was ready for his first full sowing, and was splashing delightedly about in his new rice-fields, strewing the grains, singing a little, all in the early morning, who should come down to him, daintily picking her way along his dikes, but Owannon! He looked up, and at first thought he had seen a vision. But no; she spoke, hurriedly, with a heart that he could see palpitating in her bosom. And her eyes were full of tears. He knelt to her just where he was—in the water and mud of his rice-field.
Would he get his box of remedies quickly, and hasten to her father, who was
- ↑ A samurai who had lost his lord and become a free-booter.
