a country girl, but you cannot lure me into your snare! I don't want your paltry present! You may take it home!"
With these words she threw the gift on to the ground, and slammed the door in O-Somé's face. Soon afterwards Kyŭsaku and Hisamatsu came from the sick-room.
"How is the cooking getting on, O-Mitsu?" said the old man, seating himself on the mat. "My old age is beginning to tell on me. I have walked only a short distance, and yet my shoulders and feet ache sorely. Hisamatsu, come and massage my back. O-Mitsu, if you have time, will you cauterize my feet with moxa?"
"Certainly, father," she replied promptly. Hisamatsu at once began to massage Kjūsaku's shoulders, and O-Mitsu applied moxa to his feet. In the meantime O-Somé, who was still outside, caught a glimpse of Hisamatsu through a chink of the door. She was longing for him so ardently, that she could not resist giving a loud cough, to let him know that she was there. When he heard the cough, Hisamatsu glanced through the chink, and was taken aback when he saw his sweetheart. He feared that his father might discover the truth.
