Recitative. As mother and daughter talk, hurriedly comes along the road with a palanquin Ichimonjiya, of Gionmachi. Stopping the palanquin, he calls out from outside the door.
Ichimonjiya. Is Master Yoichibei at home?
Recitative. With these words, he enters at the door.
Mother. Why, you have kindly come all this way. Now, bring the tobacco-tray, daughter, and offer tea.
Recitative. As the mother and daughter welcome him, Ichimonjiya speaks.
Ichimonjiya. Well, I thank your old man for coming last night; I hope he came home safely.
Mother. What, have you not brought him with you? That is strange. Since he has not........
Ichimonjiya. What, has he not come home? Strange! Perhaps, as he was loitering before the shrine of Inari,[1] he was bewitched by a fox. Now, just as we had agreed when I came here the other day, we decided last night that your daughter should serve for full five years only and her wages were to be a hundred ryo. Then the old man said that as he had some money to deliver last night, he wanted to sign the bond of service and receive in advance the whole sum of a hundred ryo. As he asked me with tears, I gave him half the sum when the bond was signed and promised to pay the remainder when the girl was delivered to me. And when I handed him the fifty ryo, he was overjoyed and raised the money to his head with rapture. It was about the fourth hour[2] when he went away rejoicing. I told him that he should not walk home alone with the money at night and tried to stop him; but he would not listen to me, and so he went home. It may be, on the road........
Okaru. No, no, nowhere would he stop on the way. Do you not think so, mother?
Mother. Yes, certainly. Especially, as he would not lose a moment if he could help it in hurrying home and making you and me glad by showing us the money. I cannot understand it.