has been made out as with
O'Iwa, daughter of Kanemon, the younger brother of this Cho[u]bei and
green-grocer of Abegawacho[u] of Asakusa. Deign to remember that the
twenty _ryo[u]_ is needed to save a father in peril of default and
imprisonment."--"The cases are not so different," whispered O'Iwa. "Just
so," said Cho[u]bei. "Here is the place. Condescend to wait a moment,
here at the entrance." Briskly he entered the house. "A request to
make!"--"Ah! Is it Cho[u]bei San? The Danna Sama is absent for the day,
at the office of the ward magistrate. Some drunkard considers that he
has been robbed. The girl he accused was punished--perhaps unjustly. All
the women of this house are honest."--"Beyond repair," laughed
Cho[u]bei. "However, the other matter has been agreed on. The girl is
here. An uncontrollable jade! The master has deigned to aid Cho[u]bei.
Thanks are felt. Since she will run with the men, it is as well for
Kanemon to get the profit of the business. If she breaks out--put a ring
in her nose, and treat her as the farmers treat their cattle. Don't let
her again bother home or Cho[u]bei. She will lie--of course. At Toemon's
they are used to lies?" The woman Matsu laughed--"No fear as to that."
She looked over the contract with care. "Ah! She is sold for life
service; otherwise the twenty _ryo[u]_ would be a scandalous price. Is
that her?... Um! Not a likely jade. Stand a little in the light.... This
Matsu would never have closed the bargain without a view. But Toemon San
has left no choice. In the scarcity of women, and his good-will to
Cho[u]bei San, he would pay any sum. At twenty _ryo[u]_ she is a gem!
You can come up here. Take! Haru! A new girl. Take her in charge and
show her the house and its ways.... Cho[u]bei San, some tea." Cho[u]bei
put a word into this running comment and invitation. As the girls were
leading off the hesitating O'Iwa he said loudly and roughly--"Remember
to obey the Okamisan (wife) in everything. Whatever she commands is
right and must be done: no nonsense. Ah! Something forgotten: a moment
please." He drew O'Iwa aside, seeing that she was on the verge of tears.
Speaking gently--"Be astonished at nothing; be ignorant of everything.
The house of Toemon in Honjo[u] is not the drawing room of Tamiya in
Yotsuya. Deign to remember that Cho[u]bei must play his part. Life is
like an excursion in a pleasure boat. There are rough places to pass,
some danger, and much refuse to get rid of. Condesc