THE CHILD Upon Kinsan's arrival at Tetsutaisho's house she was treated with every consideration by her master, and in reality though not in fact given equal rank with the mistress. She was settled in that part of the house over which his mother was supposed to reign and his lawful wife, Nehachibana, had been the principal personage, and while not raised to the place of a concubine she was given all the privileges of one. Her position was supposed to be that of a servant, yet in turn she was given servants and no duties were, by Tetsutaisho, exacted of her. It was not because he did not intend her to be his full-fledged concubine, nor because he had any scruples about Nehachibana that he did not give Kinsan that position; but simply because he entertained grave doubts about Takara's pleasure in the matter--something with which even he as yet hesitated to trifle. He had gained Takara's love, and her honest love, upon the strength of an affinity--a thing which, so long as it lasted, brooked no rival. He had, though, in taking her into his house assumed responsibilities far beyond personal ones; and recognising the superiority of her position realised that, should he incur her displeasure, she had but to call upon a power that might overthrow and discard him in spite of his usefulness. He sought, therefore, to deceive Takara as to his real purpose in bringing Kinsan into the house, and to let her discover by slow degrees that, without a proper encouragement, even affinity may wane and finally cease to hold the object of its affection. Takara still loved him and was none the wiser; thus he continued without danger his complicated relations, though she felt a growing coldness and the oncoming of something, she knew not what. She was now deeply worried and much given to thinking, for there was approaching also a critical period; but when rumours came to her ears, and she chided him about Kinsan, he answered: "Takara, you do me a great injustice. I am not only true, as you see, but I have anticipated the necessity of keeping at hand one upon whose shoulders may be placed the responsibilities for the care of our child." "But why not intrust that service to one whom we know to be best fitted?" asked Takara, anxiously. "There is Nannoto, whose mother carried in her arms your mother's mother." "No, Takara; it is not the service I would trouble myself about. My lady should not so degrade herself." "Why degraded? You told me not." "It is not the fashion." "But if it is my choice?" "You have no choice." "Would you take from a mother her child?" "The law allows it." "Then the law is unjust, and there is a better way." "Fashion is inexorable, and the law must be upheld." "Whether the fashion or the law, it is wrong. A mother's breast is a woman's joy." "Obedience is a woman's highest virtue."