Page:Anthology of Japanese Literature.pdf/420

  

by Jippensha Ikku



They went down the hill till they reached Nissaka, the rain coming down harder and harder till it was impossible to go on, as everything was blotted out. Finally they took refuge under the eaves of an inn.

“How annoying!” said Yaji. “Such terrible rain!”

“Well, we’re not willow trees, to be planted by the roadside,” said Kita. “We can’t stand under the eaves of people’s houses forever. What do you think, Yaji? We’ve crossed the River Ōi. Don’t you think we might stop here for the night?”

“What?” said Yaji. “Don’t talk nonsense! It can’t be two o’clock yet. It would be absurd to stop now.”

Then the old landlady came out of the inn.

“You can’t go on in this rain,” she said. “Please stop here.”

“I think we ought to,” said Kita. “I say, Yaji, look! There are some women stopping in the back room there.”

“Eh?” said Yaji. “Where? That’s interesting.”

“Won’t your honors stop here?” repeated the old woman.

“Well, suppose we do,” said Yaji.