teach her even a few words of English having proved quite unavailing.
“Yes,” I reply; “we are going to England soon.”
I somehow feel as though I were committing a robbery; and her next remark serves rather to deepen my disquietude.
“You are going to take my daughter with you, honourable sir?”
“Yes.”
“I thought you would only require her whilst you remained in Nagasaki.”
I have never yet succeeded in making my mother-in-law understand the permanency of my attachment, and I do not hope to accomplish the feat now; but I explain, hinting that there will be “handsome presents” to all the members of her (for me inconveniently large) household when we take our departure.
This, if nothing else, she comprehends; and she offers no further objection to Mousmé’s accompanying me.
