Page:Tayama Katai and His Novel Entitled Futon (Reece).pdf/271

 "In any case, do you still disapprove of their marriage?"

"It would still be out of the question whether I agreed or not. Suppose I permit their marriage: He is only 22 years old, and still a junior student at Dōshisha...."

"Yes, you are right, but after you have interviewed him, and if he meets with your expectations, would you promise that they might marry some time in the future...."

"No, I'll not make any promise to that effect. I've never seen him, nor do I know anything about him, but I think a man who took advantage of my daughter and made her break her journey en route to Tokyo, and deserted a benefactor in the Kobe Church to whom he had been indebted for a long time, is not worth talking about. The other day, in her letter to her mother, she said that as Tanaka was suffering from lack of money, please take this into consideration; it would be all right to her even if her tuition were reduced, if he were given the money so that he could continue his studies at Waseda. I have a feeling Yoshiko has been taken in by some such scheme."

"I don't think there has been any deception."

"There's something questionable about him. Right after he became acquainted with Yoshiko, he gave up religion at once and became attached to literature. It's even more strange that he followed my daughter and stayed in Tokyo, disregarding your advice, even though he found it very hard to make both ends meet. I have a feeling that there is something queer about his behavior."

"It could be interpreted in his favor since it might be his all-absorbing passion for love...."