appeared to be very young,--judging from the fashion of her dress
and hair.(1) Putting his ear to the chink, he could hear the
conversation plainly. The woman said:--

"And if I should be disowned by my father, would you then let me
come and live with you?"

Shinzaburo answered:--

"Most assuredly I would--nay, I should be
glad of the chance. But there is no reason to fear that you will
ever be disowned by your father; for you are his only daughter,
and he loves you very much. What I do fear is that some day we
shall be cruelly separated."

She responded softly:--

"Never, never could I even think of accepting any other man for
my husband. Even if our secret were to become known, and my
father were to kill me for what I have done, still--after death
itself--I could never cease to think of you. And I am now quite
sure that you yourself would not be able to live very long
without me."... Then clinging closely to him, with her lips at
his neck, she caressed him; and he returned her caresses.

Tomozo wondered as he listened,--because the language of the
woman was not the language of a common woman, but the language of
a lady of rank.(2) Then he determined at all hazards to get one
glimpse of her face; and he crept round the house, backwards and
forwards, peering through every crack and chink. And at last he