FIRST WIFE.
What? His father has sent for him? What a pity; he comes here so seldom. But if your father has sent for you, you must go to him. Come soon again to give your mother comfort!
(The SERVANT takes TSUKIWAKA back to the SECOND WIFE.)
SERVANT.
Madam, I have brought back Master Tsukiwaka.
SECOND WIFE.
What does this mean, Tsukiwaka? Have you been blabbing again at the House of the Tall Pines? Listen! Your father told me before he went away that if it came on to snow, I was to tell some one to brush the snow off the bamboos round the four walls of the yard.
It is snowing very heavily now. So be quick and brush the snow off the bamboos. Come now, take off your coat and do it in your shirt-sleeves.
(The boy obeys. The CHORUS describes the “sweeping of the bamboos.” It grows colder and colder.)