Page:Tayama Katai and His Novel Entitled Futon (Reece).pdf/249

 upstairs. They expected her to come down soon,butsoon, but [sic] some time went by and still she did not appear. "Yoshiko-san, Yoshiko-san," Mrs. Takenaka called out. A drawn-out "Ye-es" was heard in reply; yet still she did not come down. O-Tsuru went upstairs to get her. At last she came down and sat sidewise by a [a column] leaving her supper untouched.

"Don't you want to eat your supper?" Mrs. Takenaka asked Yoshiko.

"I don't feel like eating, as I feel full...."

"That's because you ate too many sweet potatoes."

"Oh, dear! That's mean, Oku-san!" Yoshiko replied, pretending to chide her.

Mrs. Takenaka smiled, "Yoshiko-san, what's the matter?"

"Wh--y?" she replied in a drawn-out voice.

"You should know."

"Never mind, Oku-san." Again she looked sharply at her.

Tokio silently observed their banter. Of course he was disturbed. A sense of discomfort overwhelmed him. Yoshiko glanced at Tokio's face and realized that he was in a bad mood. Thereupon, she promptly changed her attitude and said, "Sensei, Tanaka visited me today."

"So I heard."

"Tanaka said he must personally see you and express his gratitude; he will pay you a formal visit. He asked me to convey his regards to you."

"Is that so," he said as he abruptly stood up and entered his study.