hase-hime was a skilled musician though so young, and often astonished her masters by her wonderful memory and talent. on this momentous occasion she played well. but princess terute, her step-mother, who was a lazy woman and never took the trouble to practice daily, broke down in her accompaniment and had to request one of the court ladies to take her place. this was a great disgrace, and she was furiously jealous to think that she had failed where her step-daughter succeeded; and to make matters worse the emperor sent many beautiful gifts to the little princess to reward her for playing so well at the palace.