s not fit for a man to live
in." He looked around as one waking from a dream. "No wonder: yet all
can be restored. Iemon has surprised you?" Said O'Iwa timidly--"Matters
are a little at odds and ends. O'Iwa needs but little; a stalk of
_daikon_ (radish) and a handful of wheat (_mugi_). Does the Danna remain
here? If so...." There was a painful hitch in her voice, a puzzled look
on her face. She had one _bu_ in cash. In fact she was hoping for the
monthly visit of Yosuke the farmer; if there was a farm any longer. She
did not know.

"For the night," replied Iemon. "Sleep and food are the essentials of
good play. All has been lost in the gambling houses of Shinjuku and
Shinagawa, at the Nakanocho[u]. Is there no money in the house?...
Evidently not. Deign to secure some, no matter how." He took the silver
_bu_ she presented to him. "At least a bath and tobacco can be had. See
to it that a meal is ready at even; not much, _sashimi_ (sliced raw
fish) and wine. Iemon would play, not eat." With this he rose. O'Iwa
heard the sound of the closing gate. Long she remained, her face buried
in her knees. In this gloomy situation what was she to do? She looked
around. There was not a thing to sell; not even herself. Who would buy
the ugly O'Iwa? An idea came into her head. In a moment she was in the
street. Soon she stood at the door of her uncle, Yoemon. With this uncle
and aunt she had but little to do. Matazaemon had been at daggers drawn
with his brother, whom he accused of being a wretched miser, one
acquiring wealth by very questionable means for a _samurai_. In old days
Cho[u]bei had been a hired agent of Yoemon. The principal had escaped;
the second had to leave Yotsuya and its neighbourhood. The Obasan (aunt)
came out at O'Iwa's call. She greeted her niece with surprise. "Oya!
Oya! Iwa is a stranger to this house. It has been heard that a splendid
_muko_ was received at Tamiya." The old woman looked at O'Iwa shrewdly,
and not without kindness. O'Iwa took heart. She made answer--"It is
true; of late matters have not gone well. Just now Iwa would ask the
loan of a _sho[u]_ (1/5 peck) of rice, together with a _bu_ to buy eels
or _sashimi_.[24] It is very rude indeed...."--"Very rude indeed!" said
a harsh voice close by. O'Iwa shrank to the outer part of the doorway.
The aunt fled to the inner part of the house. Continued Yoemon--"And
what is Iwa doing at the house of Yoemon? That there is relationship
between them this Yoemon