Page:Eminent Authors of Contemporary Japan, volume 2.pdf/58

42 *Husband.—I’ll visit the Beppu Hot Springs.
 * Wife.—With only that guide-book to assist you?
 * Husband.—Of course! Why not? No trip could be less expensive. After all, a guide-book is rather wonderful! After scanning the time-table, and reading of the arrival hours of the different trains, you begin to feel just as if you had already begun to travel.
 * Wife.—(Does not answer.)
 * Husband.—It’s rather interesting that, after finding the name of a station where a box-lunch can be purchased, one can almost smell the appetising odour of the food in it.
 * Wife.—I am afraid it isn’t very interesting to me.
 * Husband.—Isn’t it? You don’t seem to find anything very interesting. You are even so careless about things as to allow a mosquito to sting you on the bottom of your foot. Does it still hurt?
 * Wife.—Oh, I don't know.
 * Husband.—The famous Onuma Park is mentioned also for its fine scenery … or it wouldn’t be a bad idea to visit Hokkaido … Well, where would be the best place to go?
 * Wife.—My dear, if you are going anywhere else, for goodness sake do so without talking so much about it!
 * Husband.—Can I arrange a trip in silence? It will surely be a dumb sort of a business if I do!
 * (The music of the phonograph stops.)
 * Husband.—(continuing) Wouldn’t you like something