Page:Eminent Authors of Contemporary Japan, volume 2.pdf/69

Rh *Clerk.—Certainly, Sir. Have you got your railway tickets?
 * Husband.—(taking out a bank-note) No, not yet, but will you be so good as to get them for us?
 * Clerk.—Certainly, Sir. … two, second-class to Tokyo?
 * Husband.—No, two third!
 * Clerk.—(bows, and goes out.)
 * Wife.—Our return journey seems as if it were going to be rather miserable.
 * Husband.—Nonsense! If you think of all that are waiting for us in Tokyo you wouln’twouldn’t [sic] talk in that way. Think of that fruit-shop, Sembikiya, … of the ‘Overland,’ … and think of that nice summer scarf!
 * Wife.—What scarf?
 * Husband.—And lots of other nice things.
 * Wife.—Yes, many things quite beyond our reach!
 * Husband.—Oh, rubbish! No harm if they are beyond our reach. Take sea-bathing, for instance. Until recently it was one of the things we considered beyond our reach, and yet it has been realised!
 * Wife.—Do you think it has?
 * Husband.—Yes … well … it would have been if it hadn’t rained!
 * Wife.—It would be much better if we would stay here a little longer.
 * Husband.—Perhaps so. But you are never satisfied. It has been quite as profitable gazing out at the sea as bathing in it. It is quite easy to imagine that you have bathed every day since you have