Page:Eminent Authors of Contemporary Japan, volume 2.pdf/112

92 Nobu-ko thought that her sister’s short answer showed the contentment of a young wife who placed the utmost confidence in her husband’s true love. The thought of it caused her pensiveness to increase, and she said, “You seem very happy, my dear.” She spoke good-humouredly, yet she could not keep back a certain veiled tone of jealousy as she talked to her sister. Her sister, however, seemed quite unconscious of it, and smiling vivaciously, she said, “Don’t forget that your remark applies to yourself too, my dear,” and she pretended to glare at her sister. Then she added rather caressingly, “But aren’t you also happy?” These last words struck Nobu-ko’s ears rather sharply.

“Do you think I am?” answered the elder sister, looking up. But as soon as she had made the remark, she regretted what she had said. Teru-ko looked at her sister curiously for a moment, and noticed her blush of repentance. The latter forced a smile and said, “Yes, I suppose I’m happy.”

For a little time there was silence between them, and the only sound in the room came from the boiling kettle on the brazier, and the ticking of the clock.

“Isn’t your husband very kind?” asked Teru-ko rather timidly after a while. There was a tone of gentle compassion in her voice. Nobu-ko noticed it, and as she did not wish to reply, she took up a newspaper, and placing it upon her knees, she began to read it. In the paper she found some articles dealing with the price of rice, and she commenced to read them. Suddenly her reading was interrupted by the