Page:Eminent Authors of Contemporary Japan.pdf/66

52 not started his supper, but had to go out again at once.
 * Wife.—Poor man! He must be very busy. What has happened this time?
 * Tsugi.—They say that a dead baby has been found in the bamboo wood.
 * Wife.—Oh, horrible! I suppose some immoral young woman must have got rid of her unlawful baby there.
 * Tsugi.—Yes, I suppose that is it.
 * Wife.—What a shameful creature such a girl must be! And your poor father is always the one to be troubled with such distressing things. He must sicken of such cases.
 * Tsugi.—Yes, Madam; but he cannot help it; it is his duty, you know.
 * Wife.—I know it is his duty, but there is no one who would be so conscientious as your father. Why is it that such honest folks should have so much trouble? To lose one’s wife and child; it is terrible!
 * Tsugi.—It is our sad karma. So we just resign ourselves to it.
 * Wife.—You say it is our sad karma, but it is exceedingly hard for us to have such misfortunes.
 * Tsugi.—But fate is fate, so we must resign ourselves to it.(She finishes her supper, and moves away from the table.)
 * Wife.—I am angry with this world. It seems a wicked