"Well,"  said  the  woman,  "I  wish  to  ask  i?  you
have  not  heard  of  a  beautiful  young  girl  of  noble
bearing  roaming  about  in  this  neighbourhood
companionless. "

This  question  startled  Miyuki  as  she  fancied
that  it  might  very  well  refer  to  herself,  but  she
answered  with  assumed  composure :

"Well,  people  not  a  few  come  and  go  along  this
road,  you  see;  and  among  all  these  there  may  be
found  many  girls  travelling  alone.  But  tell  me
the  name  of  this  particular  girl,  and  what  province
she  hails  from."

"  Her  name  is  Akizuki  Miyuki,  and  she  is  of  the
Kishido  Clan  in  Aki  Province."

Great  was  the  amazement  of  the  blind  girl,
when  she  realized  from  these  words  that  the
questioner  was  none  other  than  her  nurse,  Asaka,
who  had  come  in  search  of  Miyuki  herself.  Up
to  this  point,  owing  to  her  blindness,  she  had  failed
to  recognize  Asaka,  though  speaking  with  her
face  to  face;  nor,  on  the  other  hand,  did  Asaka
recognize  her,  owing  to  the  great  change  in  her
appearance.  Her  blindness,  especially,  had  trans-


MISS  "DEEP-SNOW"  241

formed  her,  though  Asaka,  it  is  true,  noticed  in
her  features  some  points  of  resemblance  to  Miyuki.
Miyuki  was  now  convinced  that  the  stranger
was  indeed  her  nurse,  but  shame  of  her  wretched
condition  forbade  her  to  confess  the  truth.  She
felt  besides,  that  if  she  told  her  name  Asaka  would
insist  on  her  returning  home.  But  how,  in  such
a  condition,  could  she  dare  to  face  her  parents?
The  mere  thought  of  such  an  ordeal  made  her
determine  to  tell  Asaka  a  falsehood  and  lead  her
to  abandon  her  search.
