"Come, what is there to be so shy about? Come a little nearer to me,
pray."
"Thank you, sir. How could I, who am such a vile thing, pollute your
nobility by sitting by your side?" And, as she spoke, the blushes
mantled over her face; and the more Genzaburô looked at her, the more
beautiful she appeared in his eyes, and the more deeply he became
enamoured of her charms. In the meanwhile he called for wine and fish,
and all four together made a feast of it. When Chokichi and O Kuma
saw how the land lay, they retired discreetly into another chamber,
and Genzaburô and O Koyo were left alone together, looking at one
another.
"Come," said Genzaburô, smiling, "hadn't you better sit a little
closer to me?"
"Thank you, sir; really I'm afraid."