Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/430

348 you may be beaten and hurt. If you risk your life merely to gain a miserable reward, all your fine speeches to me are but lies. You have often asked me to be your wife. If you wish to marry me, you must take care of yourself."

"Do you really mean what you say, my dear O-Funé?" asked Rokuzō, his tone suddenly softening. "I believe that you are enamoured of that fellow upstairs, and deceiving me to save his life."

"If you doubt me so much," answered she peevishly, "you had better do as you please."

"Well, then," said Rokuzō, bursting out into a cold sweat. "Do you intend to become my wife, if I?"

"Yes, of course," assured she, looking at him tenderly. "If you understand that it is my intention to save you from getting hurt, it would be better for you to hasten, and consult my father about the matter. He has gone to the village headman's house."

"Well, then, I will go there and see him. While I am away, please take care not to let that fellow upstairs escape, my dear wife."

With these words, Rokuzō ran out joyfully.