Out of the Eastern light now came armed men, lances, falchions, spears, all glittering in the unreal glow. She knew it for a daimyo's procession. It came forward swiftly to the gap which held her wide from Pierre. Decked horses, bullock-carts with huge black-lacquered wheels, and countless warriors, some mounted, some on foot, must pass her. There was movement of tramping; the horses reared and struck heavily on the earth, yet no sound came. Staring at that point from which the long procession rose, she saw it still curving up from an illimitable horizon,--first points of spears and banners; then heads; then men, horses, chariots,--an endless chain. She crouched nearer to the ghosts within her reach, hoping to recognize a friendly face, or at least a kind one, whom she could importune to let her through the line. She peered under hoods and helmets and into the bamboo-blinds of bullock-carts, then fell to earth with a scream, for the faces were not human; each was an ape that grinned at her. In Japan no dream is more prophetic of evil than a dream of apes. At the agonized cry Suzumé ran from her room at the far side of the house. From the adjoining room came Iriya. Fusuma were flung wide. "Forgive--forgive--my rudeness in honorably disturbing you at this hour," gasped the girl. "It was a dream, so terrible a dream!" "Oh, tell it to the nanten-bush, Miss Yuki. There is one beside your doorstone!" screamed little Maru as she came. "Too late!" muttered Suzumé. "Already she has broken silence." "She shivers with fear, poor jewel," said Iriya, chafing the icy hands. "Suzumé, if a coal of fire can be found, brew hot tea for her. That will be best." "A coal always sleeps in my ashes," boasted the nurse. "I shall at once prepare the drink." "Mother, you must not remain awake with me at such an hour," chattered the girl. "Dawn is very near, my child. I hear,--yes, listen,--I hear the first sparrow." "Little friendly sparrow, how I thank you!" cried Yuki, aloud; then throwing herself into her mother's arms, she began to sob. * * * * * That afternoon, when Yuki stepped into the big double kuruma where Tetsujo was already seated, she had never, in spite of sleeplessness and bad dreams, looked more beautiful. Iriya, as her daughter had predicted, found on this last day many excellent reasons for staying at home.