Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/304

234 Wanuké at the price of a hundred ryō. This trader had in mind to clear a large profit by selling the girl for a harlot. But a maiden who had held her life cheap as the price of her chastity, could not be expected to take kindly to such shameful courses. Blows, threats, persuasions, were alike powerless to bend her to the trader's will. To him she proved indeed "a useless treasure." Finally he gave her up and led her back to Aratayé's cave, demanding the restoration of the purchase-money. The old woman, at this, flew into a rage and caught the girl by the arm. "You thankless hussy!" she roared. "So you presume to object to being a woman of pleasure! It is clear that a very severe lesson is needed to bring you to your senses!" With that she snatched the red-hot tongs from the hearth and pointed them at Miyuki's face. "Come, will you drive me to sear that pretty face of yours with these tongs, or brand your cheeks with them?"

"Oh, madame, forgive me!" cried Miyuki, starting back and wailing bitterly.

"Well, if you are so much afraid of the tongs will your fear drive you to consent to go to Nagasaki as a harlot?"