Page:The Mikado or the town of titipu.djvu/20

 Do you think Yum-Yum would really be distracted at my death?

I am convinced of it. Bless you, she's the most tender-hearted little creature alive.

I should be sorry to cause her pain. Perhaps, after all, if I were to withdraw from Japan, and travel in Europe for a couple of years, I might contrive to forget her.

Oh, I don't think you could forget Yum-Yum so easily; and, after all, what is more miserable than a love-blighted life?

True.

Life without Yum-Yum— why, it seems absurd!

And yet there are a good many people in the world who have to endure it.

Poor devils, yes! You are quite right not to be of their number.

(suddenly). I won't be of their number!

Noble fellow!

I'll tell you how we'll manage it. Let me marry Yum-Yum to-{{sc|morrow, and in a month you may behead me.

No, no. I draw the line at Yum-Yum.

Very good. If you can draw the line, so can I. (Preparing rope.)

Stop, stop— listen one moment— be reasonable. How can I consent to your marrying Yum-Yum if I'm going to marry her myself.

My good friend, she'll be a widow in a month, and you can marry her then.

That's true, of course. I quite see that. But, dear me! my position during the next month will be most unpleasant— most unpleasant.

Not half so unpleasant as my position at the end of it.

But— dear me!— well— I agree— after all, it's only putting off my wedding for a month. But you won't prejudice her against me, will you? You see, I've educated her to be my wife; she's been taught to regard me as a wise and good man. Now I shouldn't like her views on that point disturbed.

Trust me, she shall never learn the truth from me. {{nop}}