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ousehold scenes. He would settle matters with Chu[u]dayu. "Yokubei" he had heard him called; and covetousness turns not only to gold and such like. As fact Chu[u]dayu had good excuse for absence. Much out of sorts he had betaken himself to his own rooms and the care of the old woman in charge, his only female companion in lieu of wife. Ah! What weather! The snow changed to sleet and rain drove into and chilled to the marrow those out in the storm. The baya (old woman) at his entrance was all astonishment--"Danna Sama! The garments are wet through. Condescend at once to make a change." Gruffly Chu[u]dayu accepted her aid. Stripping off first one and then another of the outer garments he too grumbled in his turn--"What a fool the woman was! To lose life against the sacrifice of such a trifling thing. Ah! She was a maddening beauty; of the kind to drive the blood to boiling heat. Never again.... What's that?" Pon-pon: the sound of someone knocking ashes from a pipe into the receiver came from the inner room. The baya was laughing--"Ha! Ah! The Danna Sama is a sly one. He is the one to make friends with the beauties. The lady regretted the Danna's absence, said that she would wait the honoured return.... Who? 'Tis she so sought by the Tono Sama himself; and who instead favours the Danna. O'Kiku Dono...." Before the wild stare of Chu[u]dayu, the clutch on her wrist, the old woman stopped in fright. Then from within came the counting--"One, two, three, four, five"--"Six," Chu[u]dayu mechanically joined in. "Seven"--"Seven"--"Eight"--"Eight"--"Nine"--"Nine"--the words were followed by the chilling lamentable wail of a soul in agony. "What shall I do! What shall I do!" With a yell Chu[u]dayu dashed to the sho[u]ji and threw them back. No one! With astonishment and terror the old woman gazed at him as seeking an explanation which did not come. "The lights in the Butsudan! Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! Praise to Amida, the Lord Buddha!... Wine! Wine, and much of it; very hot!"
He sat