it shall have been
happily accomplished.

WIFE.--I shall have the pleasure of seeing you when it is over.

HUSBAND AND WIFE.--Good-by! good-by! [_She moves away._

HUSBAND.--I say!

WIFE.--What is it?

HUSBAND.--As I mentioned before, mind you don't come to me. We have
the Buddhist's warning words: "When there is a row in the kitchen, to
be rapt in abstraction is an impossibility."[173] So whatever you do,
do not come to me.

WIFE.--Please feel no uneasiness. I shall not think of intruding.

HUSBAND.--Well, then, we shall meet again when the devotion is over.

WIFE.--When it is done, I shall have the pleasure of seeing you.

HUSBAND AND WIFE.--Good-by! Good-by!

HUSBAND [_laughing_].--What fools women are, to be sure! To think of
the delight of her taking it all for truth, when I tell her that I am
going to perform the religious devotion of abstraction for one whole
day and night! Taraukuwazhiya, are you there? halloo?

SERVANT.--Yes, sir!

HUSBAND.--Are you there?

SERVANT.--At your service.

HUSBAND.--Oh! you have been quick in coming.

SERVANT.--You seem, master, to be in good spirits.

HUSBAND.--For my good spirits there is a good reason. I have made, as
you know, an engagement to go and visit Hana this evening. But as my
old woman has got scent of the affair, thus making it difficult for me
to go, I have told her that I mean to perform the religious devotion
of abstraction for a whole day and night--a very good denial, is it
not? for carrying out my plan of going to see Hana!

SERVANT.--A very good device indeed, sir.

HUSBAND.--But in connection with it, I want to ask you to do me a good
turn. Will you?

SERVANT.--Pray, what may it be?

HUSBAND.--Why, just simply this: it is that I have told my old woman
not to intrude on my devotions; but, being the vixen that she is, who
knows but what she may not peep and look in? in which case she would
make a fine noise if there were no semblance of a religious practice
to be seen; and so, though it is giving you a great deal of trouble, I
wish you would oblige me by taking my place until my return.

SERVANT.--Oh! it would be no trouble; but I shall get such a scolding
if found out, that I would rather ask you to excuse me.

HUSBAND.--What nonsense you talk! Do oblige me by taking my place; for
I will not allow her to scold you.

SERVANT.--Oh sir! that is all very well; but pray excuse me for this
time.

HUSBAND.--No, no! you must please d