es a wife--perforce, and charges those of us who like
women with effeminacy. O[u]kubo, how about this Kiku.... The Sempstress?
Oh, you stupid fellow! Why--there is no more beautiful woman in Edo. She
is the mistress of Aoyama; who deceives and mocks us all. And now--to
bring him to open shame." Aoyama Shu[u]zen, quick to note their absence,
and the return so refreshed, was much put out. "Where have these fellows
been?"

Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon was not slow in the attack. "Truly, Aoyama Uji,
words do not fit deeds. Are you not a bit of a rascal?"--"Why so?" was
the calm reply of Shu[u]zen, always ready to a quarrel. "You pretend to
hate women; you charge us with effeminacy who have wives; and take your
own but on compulsion. Yet in this very house there is not only a wife,
but the most beautiful woman in Edo for concubine." Shu[u]zen's
astonishment was too manifest. "Who?" said Endo[u], with some misgiving
that he had missed fire. "This Kiku; would you deny it?"--"Surely so,"
was Shu[u]zen's assured reply. Then seeing the curiosity of those around
he added with courtesy--"This Kiku is a slave girl, a criminal under
judgment, a _yatsu-ho[u]ko[u]nin_ by favour. Would you know about her?
She is daughter to the robber Jinnai, not long since put to death. The
law may be harsh, yet it condemns the line of such men to extinction,
and sends their issue to the execution ground. Whether through good
will, or mistaking the Aoyama Harajuku, the resort of this Jinnai, for
this _yashiki_, the villagers brought the two girls Kiku and Yui from
near Tsukuba. In pity one was taken into the life service of the
_yashiki_. For his business Jinzaemon of the Yoshiwara Miuraya
considered the younger Yui as more fitting. To him she was bound as
_yatsu-yu[u]jo[u]_.... Husband? No: and thus all posterity of the robber
is stamped out. Yui serves for life as harlot in the Yoshiwara, with no
recognized issue. Kiku serves for life at the _yashiki_. The case is a
pitiable one." All present echoed what he said. "It is the offence, not
the person, which is to be hated. Truly it is a hard lot." They were
curious to see her. Said Shu[u]zen--"Surely she has been rated too high,
but--summon Kiku here." As the girl stood in the midst for all to
observe, blushing and panting a little with fright at all these eyes
upon her, there was no gaze more intent than that of Aoyama Shu[u]zen.
The pity expressed and the praises lavished reached his ears. He studied
her f