ard the refusal of O'Iwa. Cook this eel--or else Iemon pronounces the
formula of divorce against the disobedient wife."

In silence O'Iwa rose. She went to the portable stove. With the bellows
she stirred up the fire therein. She did not dare even for a moment to
pray at the Butsudan. The skillet was on the fire. The eels were
sizzling in the hot liquor. Suddenly Iemon made an exclamation. Taking a
towel he grasped the handle of the vessel. The next moment he had forced
down the hot pan and its contents on the head of O'Iwa. "Kiya!" With the
single cry she fell over backwards, writhing in pain under the
infliction of the scalding mess streaming over face, neck, and bosom.
Imaizumi fled in dismay. Even Natsume Kyuzo[u] protested. Seizing the
arm of Iemon--"Iemon Uji, you go too far. Don't kill her." "Kill the
O'Bake? It's impossible." Iemon spoke coldly. He was the one person of
collected wits in the room.

Groaning with agony O'Iwa came to her senses. A man was leaning over
her. Half blind as she was, she could recognize Cho[u]bei. His look was
grave. His voice was reticent and confused. "What has been going on
here, O'Iwa Dono? Ah! Cho[u]bei comes at a bad season. Ma! Ma! The
house, too; stripped bare to the very boards, and the season still
wintry. Truly this Iemon is a beast--a very brute (_chikusho[u]_). What
is Cho[u]bei to do? There is this matter of the honour of Tamiya." He
wrung his hands as in great perplexity, glancing sideways toward O'Iwa.
The first part of his speech she disregarded. Such talk and consolation
were growing stale. That all should pity her caused no surprise. Her
situation was not unusual. It was the last words which caught her ear.
"The honour of Tamiya: Cho[u]bei San?" Cho[u]bei turned away; to put
some peppermint in his eyes. Tears stood in them as he turned again to
her. O'Iwa was alarmed. "What has happened?" She caught his sleeve, drew
close to him. He answered--"Cho[u]bei cannot speak. To find O'Iwa San in
such dreadful state renders it impossible to explain. Iemon San has gone
too far." So he had, from Cho[u]bei's point of view and for his
purposes. These young fellows never can keep within bounds; even in
abuse of a woman. His resentment was extreme. O'Iwa insisted. Finally
the resistance of Cho[u]bei was overcome. Iemon's name was posted at the
Kuramae of Asakusa. He was in debt on every side. As the final blow, he
had stolen the seal of Ito[u] Kwaiba and forged an acknowledgment fo