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126 “I found that he was an apprentice in the shop where I bought the scales.”

“How strengestrange [sic]!”

Mr. A. then told his wife how he had entertained the lad, and of the strange feeling he had after he had done it.

“Why, what was the cause? It was strange to feel in that way!” his wife answered good-humouredly. She seemed to be musing, and then suddenly she remarked, “Yes, I can well understand your feelings, and once I had such an experience myself, my dear.”

“Then you can understand how I felt?”

“Yes, I quite understand. What did Mr. B. say about it?”

“I did not tell him.”

“Didn’t you? But the poor lad must have been very pleased, I’m sure! Anyone would have been happy to receive such unexpected treatment from a stranger. I should be happy too. Couldn’t we send for some of that sushi by telephone?”

Senkichi went back to his stop, pulling his empty cart. His stomach was more than full. Up to that time it was not a rare thing for him to have eaten much, but he could not remember ever being so content and satisfied with food as he had been on that day. Somehow his mind went back to his awkward situation a few days previous when he visited the sushi-stall, and it gradualygradually [sic] dawned upon him that there was some relation between his entertainment of to-day and that embarrassing occurrence.