season at the door of the Tamiya. "Ah! O'Iwa San; and to-night does
Iemon join the company at the house of the _Kumi-gashira_? Rokuro[u]bei
comes from Kawagoe, and perhaps is not too late to find company on the
road."--"Oya! Is it Kondo[u] Sama? Iya! the Danna has but begun his
preparations.... Iemon! The Danna of Yotsuyazaka has come; for company
on the way to Ito[u] Sama's house.... Deign to enter. In a short time
Iemon will be ready." Kondo[u] looked at her quizzically. There was no
sign of distress or misgivings in this quarter. He felt encouraged.
Probably the rumour was false or exaggerated; perhaps it was wholly due
to the malice of Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon, from whom that day he had heard
it.

He turned to greet Iemon, who emerged ready for the street. At the
entrance they halted. Said Iemon--"It will be a long drawn-out affair.
Deign to retire, and not await the return." Replied O'Iwa--"A small
matter. The sound of the Danna's footstep will arouse Iwa to receive
him." Iemon laughed. "How so? How distinguish my steps from those of
Akiyama San or other constant callers?" Said O'Iwa gravely--"When the
wife can no longer distinguish the husband's footstep, then affection
has departed. O'Iwa will be ready to receive Iemon, no matter what the
hour."--"And, indeed, a late one," put in Kondo[u]. "The party consists
mainly of young men. After it they will adjourn to Nakacho[u]. Is it
allowed to Iemon Dono to accompany them?" O'Iwa winced a little. "The
Master is always master, within and without the house. He will do as he
pleases."--"Gently said; like a true wife. Truly such a married pair are
rarely to be encountered. They are the mandarin duck and drake of
Morokoshi transplanted to Yotsuya. Rokuro[u]bei feels proud of his
guardianship." As he and Iemon took their way along the Teramachi, he
said--"Iemon is indeed a wonderful man. He is handsome and pursued by
the women. O'Iwa undeniably is ugly; yet never is there failure to show
her respect and consideration, in private as well as public. One's life
here in Yotsuya is open to all the neighbours, and these speak well of
Iemon." Said the younger man, in matter of fact tone--"Who could fail
toward Iwa? She is amiability itself. Plain, perhaps, but gentleness is
the compensating quality, a truer source of household wealth than
beauty."--"Well spoken! Deign to keep it in heart, for the neighbours'
tongues wag as to Iemon and O'Hana. Malice can cause as much unhappiness
as