serted mansion. O'Iwa,
disturbed, anxious, when was her countenance to be open, her breast
cleared of its darkness? She brought forth the _andon_; took out the
sulphured slivers of wood from the box holding steel, flint, and tinder.
In the depths of her husband's mind no flowers bloomed. She thought it
was her woman's temperament that made her brood. In her anxiety she gave
expression to her gloom:

_O'Iwa_--"Truly as 'tis said, it is a fleeting world; the flowing of
water the future of men. Before this I performed the service of the
inner apartments of the Hosokawa House. The marriage! Connected in
thought with Iemon Dono the honoured dismissal was requested, that I
should become a bride. Without fortune is that Inosuke, heir of the
master, such object of delight to bring him to maturity. In the end all
affection is absent. Nerve-racked from birth, with the pains of
child-birth, the blood clot, such sickness has seized upon me. Then
suddenly--one without a home, shorn of all ornament. Overcome completely
by the struggle, effort and end have culminated. Parent and child,
husband and wife, these (relations) master this self. Detested is the
fleeting world, gloomy one's existence."

As she pondered, unbidden the tears mingled with her depression. Without
restraint, gradually rising-rising-rising, mounted the flow of blood:

_O'Iwa_--"Ah! Ah! Again the ever-present disease shows itself. Deign--a
remedy! Oh! Oh! That! That! That same remedy of aforetime, stirred and
mingled with pure water. Two sips, three sips; if one drinks poison--one
becomes divine; life comes to an end, but pity is aroused."

The curtain before the dressing room was gently raised. Without speaking
Gombei seated himself close to O'Iwa.

"Eh! Who is that? Iya! No one is announced. Hana, I say! Hana, I say!
Oh! 'Tis he--of all men! Gombei San, has he come again? Vengeance is
satisfied, no longer exists."

As she would depart he held her sleeve to stop her.

_Gombei_--"Ah! Ah! I say--please wait. A little while ago, at Iemon's
coughing and clearing his throat, I was frightened away. Trembling, at
that time I went round to the rear. Thinking him really absent, with
stealth I have entered. The motive of a man lies at the bottom of the
heart. Just think to grant me a little affection. Alas! Ma! Submitting
it is deigned to hear what I have to say. Heigh! A woman like this, her
whole mind on Iemon, she would be the chaste wife. But the affections of
Iem