Reikeiden had been one of the old emperor's ladies. Taking advantage of a rare break in the early-summer rains, he visited her. Her residence was lonely and quiet, as he had expected. He talked over the memories of his lifetime with her during the night. The tall trees in the garden became darker in the light of the past twentieth day's moon. The scent of orange blossoms from the neighboring house drifted in, to call back the past. He heard the call of a cuckoo that was similar to the one he had heard at the Inner River on his way here. He met the sister of the lady Hanachirusato, with whom he had had a chance encounter at court before.