Page:Tayama Katai and His Novel Entitled Futon (Reece).pdf/229

 But he had already made up his mind. . . . He said what had been done could not be undone. . . ."

"why?"

"A Christian named Kōzu got Tanaka a scholarship on behalf of the Kobe Church. Tanaka told this man that since he could not devote himself to religion he wished to make his way in literature in the future, and asked Kōzu to send him to Tokyo. Kōzu got very angry on hearing this, and said, 'If that's the way you want it, do as you please.' So Tanaka made all arrangements to act on his own. . . . I really don't know what to do with him."

"Nonsense!" Tokio said, "Try once more to stop him. Even if he wants to establish himself as a writer, he can't do it; it's only an illusion, one of the worst kinds. And not only that, if Tanaka comes to Tokyo, it'll be exceptionally hard for me to supervise you. Since I'll not be able to take care of you any more, you had better tell him sternly not to come!"

Looking all the more embarrassed, Yoshiko said, "I'll try to stop him, but I fear my letter might miss him. . . ."

"Miss him? You mean, he's already on the way?" Tokio opened his eyes in amazement.

"In his last letter, he said that it would be useless for me to write to him as he would be already en route to Tokyo."

"His last letter? You mean, another one came after the post card?"

Yoshiko nodded.

"Too bad. That's why I always say a young daydreamer is hopeless."