entrance to put her wooden clogs in the right direction. Even an ignorant woman has to make observations on any woman she comes across. A certain philosopher once said that one of that sex regards another she meets, if only on the street and for the first time, as a rival. And this country wench, who constantly put her thumb into a bowl of soup, seemed to have been eavesdropping on Otama, who was too beautiful to ignore.
âAll right then,â said Otama's father, remaining seated on his cushion. âCome soon. And give my regards to Suezo.â
Otama took a small wallet from the layers of her black sash and gave the maid some money wrapped in paper, put on her low clogs, and left the house.
She had entered the gate with the intention of revealing her troubles to her father and gaining a partner in her misery, but she came out in high spirits that seemed strange even to herself. While she had talked to him, she was conscious of trying to appear strong and firm instead of adding any anxieties to the freedom he had found, and she sensed the release of some hidden quality in her. Previously she had depended on others, but now she knew the power of an unexpected self-reliance. And as she walked around the pond, she felt cheered.
Already high above Ueno Hill, the sun blazed with its heat and dyed the Benten Shrine on the pond's inner island a deeper red. In spite of the hot glare Otama walked on without opening the small parasol that she carried.
Chapter Twelve
O NE NIGHT after his return from Muenzaka, Suezo found his wife, Otsune, sitting up alone after the children at her side had fallen asleep. Her usual practice was to doze off with them. On this occasion she knew her husband had come in under the mosquito net. She didn't turn her head toward him but kept it bent down.
His bed was laid out farther back near the wall and away from the other members of the family. A cushion, smoking set, and tea things had been arranged beside his pillow. He sat down, lit a cigarette over the charcoal fire in the smoking set, and said tenderly: âWhat's wrong? You're still awake?â
His wife said nothing.
Since she refused to accept this proposal of peace from him, he wouldn't make any further concessions. And deliberately ignoring her, he leaned back smoking.
âWhere you been till now?â she asked, suddenly lifting her head and looking at him. Since they had hired a maid, her speech had gradually improved, but when alone with her husband, she lapsed into former vulgarities.
Suezo looked at her sharply, but remained silent. He realized that she had learned something, but since he couldn't measure its range, he could say nothing yet. He wasn't the kind of man who gives bait for the opposition's advantage.
âNow I know everything!â she cried, her voice shrill and trembling at the end of her words to the point of tears.
âYou sound so mysterious. What do you know?â he said, like a man who is surprised by the unexpected but who still retains a gentle tone.
âYou ask too much of a person! How can you pretend like that? Even without any shame!â Her husband's calm so excited her that her voice broke, and she was forced to wipe her eyes on the sleeve of her underwear.
âI still don't understand what you're talking about. Tell me what's on your mind. I can't even guess.â
âAh! Is that all you can say when I'm asking you where you been tonight? How could you do such a thing? Keeping a whore, telling me you got work to do!â Her red, flat-nosed face looked as if it had been boiled in tears, and a lock of hair was stuck to her cheek. Her wet, narrow eyes opened as wide as possible, and she looked directly into his face. Suddenly she crawled over and grabbed the hand holding his cigarette.
âStop it!â he said, shaking her off. He put out the ashes that were scattered over the mats. But she grabbed his arm again and cried: âIs there another person like you in the
âAll right then,â said Otama's father, remaining seated on his cushion. âCome soon. And give my regards to Suezo.â
Otama took a small wallet from the layers of her black sash and gave the maid some money wrapped in paper, put on her low clogs, and left the house.
She had entered the gate with the intention of revealing her troubles to her father and gaining a partner in her misery, but she came out in high spirits that seemed strange even to herself. While she had talked to him, she was conscious of trying to appear strong and firm instead of adding any anxieties to the freedom he had found, and she sensed the release of some hidden quality in her. Previously she had depended on others, but now she knew the power of an unexpected self-reliance. And as she walked around the pond, she felt cheered.
Already high above Ueno Hill, the sun blazed with its heat and dyed the Benten Shrine on the pond's inner island a deeper red. In spite of the hot glare Otama walked on without opening the small parasol that she carried.
Chapter Twelve
O NE NIGHT after his return from Muenzaka, Suezo found his wife, Otsune, sitting up alone after the children at her side had fallen asleep. Her usual practice was to doze off with them. On this occasion she knew her husband had come in under the mosquito net. She didn't turn her head toward him but kept it bent down.
His bed was laid out farther back near the wall and away from the other members of the family. A cushion, smoking set, and tea things had been arranged beside his pillow. He sat down, lit a cigarette over the charcoal fire in the smoking set, and said tenderly: âWhat's wrong? You're still awake?â
His wife said nothing.
Since she refused to accept this proposal of peace from him, he wouldn't make any further concessions. And deliberately ignoring her, he leaned back smoking.
âWhere you been till now?â she asked, suddenly lifting her head and looking at him. Since they had hired a maid, her speech had gradually improved, but when alone with her husband, she lapsed into former vulgarities.
Suezo looked at her sharply, but remained silent. He realized that she had learned something, but since he couldn't measure its range, he could say nothing yet. He wasn't the kind of man who gives bait for the opposition's advantage.
âNow I know everything!â she cried, her voice shrill and trembling at the end of her words to the point of tears.
âYou sound so mysterious. What do you know?â he said, like a man who is surprised by the unexpected but who still retains a gentle tone.
âYou ask too much of a person! How can you pretend like that? Even without any shame!â Her husband's calm so excited her that her voice broke, and she was forced to wipe her eyes on the sleeve of her underwear.
âI still don't understand what you're talking about. Tell me what's on your mind. I can't even guess.â
âAh! Is that all you can say when I'm asking you where you been tonight? How could you do such a thing? Keeping a whore, telling me you got work to do!â Her red, flat-nosed face looked as if it had been boiled in tears, and a lock of hair was stuck to her cheek. Her wet, narrow eyes opened as wide as possible, and she looked directly into his face. Suddenly she crawled over and grabbed the hand holding his cigarette.
âStop it!â he said, shaking her off. He put out the ashes that were scattered over the mats. But she grabbed his arm again and cried: âIs there another person like you in the
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