Page:Tayama Katai and His Novel Entitled Futon (Reece).pdf/297

 Now Tokio really felt as if his body would sink into the depths of the earth. Holding her letter, he sprang up. In his enraged heart there was no room for understanding the reason for Yoshiko's daring to make this confession--her attitude of completely baring her heart and leaning on him. Stamping noisily Tokio went upstairs and sat down alongside Yoshiko's desk, where she still hid her face and said., [sic]

"Once things have gone so far, there is no more hope. I can't help you any more. I return this letter to you and swear to keep this matter secret. In any case, your attitude of trusting me as your mentor is nothing to be ashamed of in a modern Japanese woman. However, seeing that things have gone so far, you ought to go home. Tonight--now, let's go immediately to your father's lodgings. It would be best to tell him everything, and arrange to return home right away."

As soon as they had finished supper, they got ready and left the house. Although various kinds of dissatisfaction, complaints, and grief filled Yoshiko's heart, she could not disobey her mentor's stern order. They took a streetcar from Ichigaya. They found seats along side each other, but did not exchange a word. Getting off at Yamashitamon, they went to the inn in Kyōbashi; fortunately her father was at the inn. After they explained the whole story in detail her father did not appear to be particularly angry. It seemed that he only wanted to evade as much as possible from returning to his home with Yoshiko, but there would be no choice except to do just that. Yoshiko neither laughed nor cried, but only appeared to be taken aback by the irony of fate. Tokio assumed she would be disowned and asked Mr. Yokoyama if he would entrust Yoshiko to his care. Mr. Yokoyama replied as far