last her sword with shaking hands, Konami sits bravely under it with her hands joined in prayer. [Illustration: Tonase has a raised sword behind kneeling Konami. A person is behind a screen] KONAMI. Oh, save us, Amida Buddha. RECITATIVE. As she recites this prayer, she hears a voice call out. A VOICE. Stop. RECITATIVE. Without her knowing it, Tonase’s arms weaken, and the flute, too, becomes suddenly still. TONASE. Oh, yes, yes. The voice that called stopped the flute of the _komuso_. As I wished so much to save you, my heart grew faint at the sound of the voice. But let me not be laughed at for a faint-hearted woman. Daughter, are you ready? RECITATIVE. As she lifts her sword again, again the flute is played, and again the voice calls out. A VOICE. Stop. TONASE. H’m, the voice that calls out, “Stop,” does it stop the hand of the flute-player or this uplifted hand? A VOICE. I stopped the hand with the sword. The marriage with my son Rikiya shall take place. TONASE. What, that voice is Mistress Oishi’s. Is it true what you tell me? RECITATIVE. While she asks, the wedding song is heard from within the sliding-door: “Auspicious, indeed, are the pine-trees that grow together.” Out comes Oishi carrying on a level with her eyes a small stand of plain wood. OISHI. You showed, Mistress Tonase, a resolute heart when you raised your hand against a daughter to whom you are bound by a sense of duty; and great, too, is Mistress Konami’s chastity of heart. From admiration for your spirit, I will permit the ceremony I am loth to perform; and in return I expect a wine-cup from the bride that is not commonly given. I will receive it on this stand, and have you it ready? RECITATIVE. As Oishi places the stand before her, Tonase feels a little relieved, and she returns to the scabbard her drawn sword. TONASE. By a wine-cup uncommon in the world I suppose you mean a wedding-present. These two swords are my husband’s heirloom; the sword was made by Masamune and the dirk by Namino-hira Yukiyasu. They are treasures that cannot be exchanged for house or life. I offer them as presents. RECITATIVE. Before she has done speaking, Oishi breaks out. OISHI. Looking down upon us as _ronin_, you give us two swords of high value as wedding-presents, as much as to say that we may sell them when we are straitened in our means. They are not what we desire. TONASE. What, then, do you wish? OISHI. We wish placed on this stand the head of Master Kakogawa Honzo. TONASE. What? and why?