et of water
with great impetus right into O'Iwa's face. "Un!" was the latter's
exclamation as she came to consciousness. "She consents! She consents!"
cried O'Kin with delight. The wife was decidedly sceptical, but her aid
plainly would go no further at this time. Said she--"Leave her as she is.
There are other matters to attend to than the whims of an idle vicious
jade. She would cheat this Matsu out of twenty _ryo[u]_? Well: time will
show the victor." She departed--"to drink her wine, pare her nails, and
sing obscene songs to the accompaniment of the _samisen_."

Tied hand and foot O'Iwa lay semi-conscious in the cold shed of
punishment. At midnight the girls returned to this "home." They gathered
around the prostate O'Iwa. From O'Kin they had an inkling of the courage
displayed. They admired her, but none dared to touch her bonds. At last
O'Haru San, unusually successful in her night's raid, ventured to
approach the half drunk mistress of the house. "Haru makes report." She
spread her returns before the gratified Okamisan. Timidly the girl
added--"O'Iwa San repents. Deign to remit her punishment. She looks very
ill and weak."--"Shut up!" was the fierce retort. Then as afterthought
of sickness and possible loss came to mind. "She can be untied and sent
to bed."--"And food?"--"She can earn it." The woman turned on O'Haru,
who bowed humbly and slipped away. That night the girls contributed from
their store to feed O'Iwa; as they did on the succeeding days and
nights. The wife would have stopped the practice, but Toemon interfered.
He meant to keep his dilapidated stock in as good repair as possible. He
fed them pretty well. "The woman is not to be starved--at least too
openly. The last case gave this Toemon trouble enough, and on the very
day this epileptic came into the house, to bring confusion with her.
Beat her if you will; but not enough to kill her." O'Matsu followed his
words to the letter. One beating was followed by another; with interval
enough between the torture to insure recuperation and avoid danger to
life. These scenes came to be regarded as a recreation of the house. The
other inmates were allowed to attend, to witness the example and
fascinate their attention. But at last the Okamisan despaired. Amusement
was one thing; but her hatred of O'Iwa was tempered by the desire to
find some use for her, to get a return for the twenty _ryo[u]_ of which
she had been swindled. Finally the advice of the _banto[u]_