Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/185

Rh Hisamatsu had lost the great sum of 150 ryō, belonging to his mistress. The honest and upright Kyūsaku thought that he himself was responsible for the missing money, and that he must by some means or other repay the full sum. With this firm resolution, he struggled with great difficulty to raise the amount required by selling his patch of land, and by raising a mortgage on O-Mitsu's garments, combs, and ornaments. His next intention was to hasten to Ōsaka, with the money, and to apologize for his foster-son's carelessness.

Notwithstanding the fact that it was already past noon, he made preparations for his journey. O-Mitsu begged him to postpone his journey until the following morning, saying that it was too late. But Kyūsaku obstinately refused to listen. He said that he was not too old to walk a dozen to fifteen miles or so, and he would be back before dusk. He then bade her take good care of the sick woman and started for the city.

Soon after his departing, Kosuké arrived, accompanied by Hisamatsu. He had come in obedience to his mistress' command to take the young man to his father's home for the time being, until the matter of the lost money should be