Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/198

140 So he gave a hint, by saying: "The occasion is bad! The place is wrong!"

Kyūsaku was astonished at his son's words. "The place is wrong?" he said, "what do you mean by that, Hisamatsu?"

Hisamatsu for a while was puzzled how to reply.

"Well," he said at last, "I mean O-Mitsu is applying the moxa in the wrong place."

"That's untrue," said O-Mitsu impatiently.

"A beautiful hussy from Ōsaka has come here inquiring for Hisamatsu. He shows, by saying such strange things, that he is possessed heart and soul with that she-devil."

"What do you say, O-Mitsu Don?" said Hisamatsu, looking at her fiercely. "A beautifull hussy! A devil! Never let me hear you repeat such things again, or you will repent it bitterly."

"Oh, I am not afraid. I shall repeat it if I wish. I am sure that you are infatuated with that wanton hussy! Is it not so?"

"Ha! Ha!" broke in Kyūsaku laughing. "It is early days for you to be jealous and squabble like that. Why, you are not married yet. Hark! The old woman is groaning again. This time you must nurse her with me, O-Mitsu."