LOVE KNOTS
Many were the visits paid by Iémon to contest at _go_ with Ito[u]
Kwaiba. Rapid was the progress of the love affair between a young man
and a young woman, both inspired with a consuming passion for each
other. In former days--something more than two years before--when Iémon
was priest in the Jo[u]shinji of the Reigan district of Fukagawa, and
was spending the money of the _osho[u]_ so freely, he had met O'Hana at
the Fukagawa of Yagura no Shita. Just entering on her career, she at
once captivated him with a permanent passion. It was in her company that
the funds of the temple had been cast to the four winds of heaven. His
love had been fully reciprocated by O'Hana. The one purpose was to
ransom the lady, and then to live together as husband and wife. Such was
the engagement plighted between them. However, the ransom figure was
large. Iémon--or Kazuma at that time, he dropped his priestly name when
out of bounds--had already planned a larger raid than usual on the
ecclesiastical treasury. Warned by O'Hana that his operations had been
discovered, he had sought safety in flight; not without a last tearful
parting with his mistress, and assurance that fate somehow would bring
them again together. The engagement thus entered on was to flourish
under the new conditions.
As to this pursuit of O'Hana, in which the maiden was coy and willing,
the lover circumspect and eager, or at least thought he was, those
around the pair were soon well informed; that is, with the exception of
the most interested--O'Iwa and Kwaiba. The marked neglect which now
ensued O'Iwa took in wifely fashion; and attributing it to some passing
attraction of Shinjuku Nakacho[u], she did not take it to heart as she
would have done if a concubine had been at issue. As for Kwaiba, the
usually astute and prying old man was so immersed in his _go_ as to be
struck blind, deaf, and dumb. The matter coming to the ears of Kondo[u]
Rokuro[u]bei, the worthy gentleman was seriously alarmed. If true, the
old man had indeed reached a parting of the ways, at which he had to
satisfy Iémon, Master of Tamiya, O'Iwa, his ward, and Ito[u] Kwaiba, the
powerful influence in the daily life of all of them. That night there
was a meeting at the house of Kwaiba, a competition in _gidayu_
recitation, dancing, and poetry (_uta_) making. He presented himself in
season at the door of the Tamiya. "Ah! O'Iwa San; and to-night does
Iémon join the company at the house of the _Kumi-gashira_? Rokuro[u]bei
comes from Kawagoé, and perhaps is not too late to find company on the
road."--"Oya! Is it Kondo[u] Sama? Iya! the Danna has but begun his
preparations.... Iémon! The Danna of Yotsuyazaka has come; for company
on the way to Ito[u] Sama's house.... Deign to enter. In a short time
Iémon will be ready." Kondo[u] looked at her quizzically. There was no
sign of distress or misgivings in this quarter. He felt encouraged.
Probably the rumour was false or exaggerated; perhaps it was wholly due
to the malice of Akiyama Cho[u]zaémon, from whom that day he had heard
it.
He turned to greet Iémon, who emerged ready for the street. At the
entrance they halted. Said Iémon--"It will be a long drawn-out affair.
Deign to retire, and not await the return." Replied O'Iwa--"A small
matter. The sound of the Danna's footstep will arouse Iwa to receive
him." Iémon laughed. "How so? How distinguish my steps from those of
Akiyama San or other constant callers?" Said O'Iwa gravely--"When the
wife can no longer distinguish the husband's footstep, then affection
has departed. O'Iwa will be ready to receive Iémon, no matter what the
hour."--"And, indeed, a late one," put in Kondo[u]. "The party consists
mainly of young men. After it they will adjourn to Nakacho[u]. Is it
allowed to Iémon Dono to accompany them?" O'Iwa winced a little. "The
Master is always master, within and without the house. He will do as he
pleases."--"Gently said; like a true wife. Truly such a married pair are
rarely to be encountered. They are the mandarin duck and drake of
Morokoshi transplanted to Yotsuya. Rokuro[u]bei feels proud of his
guardianship." As he and Iémon took their way along the Teramachi, he
said--"Iémon is indeed a wonderful man. He is handsome and pursued by
the women. O'Iwa undeniably is ugly; yet never is there failure to show
her respect and consideration, in private as well as public. One's life
here in Yotsuya is open to all the neighbours, and these speak well of
Iémon." Said the younger man, in matter of fact tone--"Who could fail
toward Iwa? She is amiability itself. Plain, perhaps, but gentleness is
the compensating quality, a truer source of household wealth than
beauty."--"Well spoken! Deign to keep it in heart, for the neighbours'
tongues wag as to Iémon and O'Hana. Malice can cause as much unhappiness
as downright wickedness. Besides, Kwaiba is no man to trifle with."
Iémon was a little put out and alarmed at the directness of Kondo[u]'s
reference. "Be sure there is nothing in such talk. A slight service,
rendered in earlier days, makes O'Hana San more cordial to one otherwise
a stranger. The excess shown is perhaps to be discouraged. But Ito[u]
Dono is good company and has good wine; and besides really is a good
_go_ player. It would be loss to shun his house."
Kondo[u] noted a first symptom on their arrival. He spoke sharply to
the maid--"Middle age in company with youth plainly finds a poor
reception. Is that the master's order? The clogs of Tamiya are not the
only ones. Is Rokuro[u]bei to shift for himself?" The girl, all
confusion, made profuse apology as she hastened to repair the neglect.
Kondo[u] was easily mollified. "Bah! No wonder. Bring Tamiya near a
woman, and all is confusion.... But Ito[u] Dono?"--"This way, honoured
Sirs: the Danna awaits the guests." They entered the sitting room, to
find Kwaiba in a high state of anger and sulks. For some reason, error
in transmission or date or other ambiguity, not a man of the guests had
appeared. "The supper prepared is next to useless. We four can do but
little in its dispatch. Not so with the wine; let every man do double
duty here." He hustled around and gave his orders with some excitement;
more than cordial with the guests who had not failed him. There was
present one Kibei. Iémon had noted with curiosity his first appearance
on this ground. What effect was this factor going to have on O'Hana's
position in the household. He had been reassured on the physical point.
Kibei was exceedingly ugly, a regular mask, and O'Hana was a woman to
make much of physical beauty, as well as strength and ruggedness. He was
a younger son of Inagaki Sho[u]gen, a _hatamoto_ with a _yashiki_ in
Honjo[u] and an income of three thousand _koku_.[22] It was almost
certain that Kwaiba would adopt Kibei. The negotiations had been long
continued, and there was some hitch in the matter that Iémon could not
make out. What he did realize was Kibei's hostility to himself. A noted
fencer, making some sort of a living as teacher of the art, he was the
last man with whom Iémon had any desire for a quarrel. Iémon was a
coward, and the cold eye of Kibei sent a chill down his spine. Himself,
he was always excessively polite in their intercourse.
Limited as to number the party tried to make up for the missing guests
by liveliness. There was a dance by Kibei, drinking as substitutes of
the absent, and competition in _uta_ (poetry). Handing in his own
effort--no mean one--Iémon left the room for a moment. As he came out on
the corridor, and was about to return to the guest room, he found the
maid O'Moto awaiting him with water and towel. A slight puckering frown
came over Iémon's face at this imprudence. Said the girl
pleadingly--"Danna Sama, deign to exercise patience. That of the
mistress is sorely tried. The absence of the other guests, the pursuit
of Kibei Dono, who only seeks to compromise her and secure her expulsion
from the house, or even death at the hand of Kwaiba Dono, has driven her
well nigh mad. A moment--in this room." Iémon drew back.--"A room
apart, and in darkness! The age of seven years once passed, and boy and
girl are never to be allowed alone together." He would have refused, but
a sudden push and he was within. The _sho[u]ji_ closed at once.
Kwaiba's voice called loudly--"Hana! Hana! What has become of the
girl? There is no one to serve the wine. If the ugliness of Kibei drives
her to cover, Tamiya's beauty should lure her out. Hana! Hana!" O'Hana
slipped hastily from the arms of Iémon. Passing through the garden she
entered the kitchen and snatched up a _saké_ bottle from the stove. She
did not notice that the fire had gone entirely out. She and Iémon
entered the sitting room together, from different sides. Rokuro[u]bei
looked sharply at Iémon. Kibei was engaged in hot talk with Kwaiba. Said
Kondo[u]--"Where have you been? Pressed by necessity? For such a lapse
of time! nonsense! Is rice powder found in such a place? 'Plaster'? It
does not leave the mark of a cheek on the sleeve." He laid a warning
hand on Iémon, skilfully removing the telltale mark in so doing. "What
has happened is clear enough. Fortunately Kwaiba and Kibei have got into
a dispute over the merits of Heinai and Sho[u]setsu as fencing masters;
both of them dead as the long ago quarrels of the Toyotomi and Tokugawa
Houses. Heinai was loyal, and Sho[u]setsu a traitor; but Kibei tries the
old man and officer by supporting the prowess of the latter. Besides the
_saké_ is cold and Kwaiba at start was in a very bad temper. He has
thought for naught but his drink and disappointment. Cajole him by
agreeing with him, but don't get into a quarrel with Kibei. He is expert
with the sword, has a temper as ugly as his face, and would willingly
engage in one. He don't like you...." He stopped. Kwaiba was speaking
sharply. He had just taken the fresh bottle. "Cold as a stone! How
careless you are."--"Not so," said O'Hana in some surprise. "It has just
come off the stove." Kwaiba put the bottle in her hand, to her
confusion. "O'Hana must have been asleep; or much engaged, not to note
the difference." For the first time he looked sharply at her, then at
Iémon. O'Hana often executed great freedom with him--"Asleep! Just so;
and no wonder. Without guests the evening has been stupid enough. If
Tamiya Sama had brought his wife with him it would have been complete."
Kwaiba, Kibei, Kondo[u] smiled at the sally. Iémon took the cue, and
chose to resent the words. He said coldly--"O'Iwa certainly brings spice
into everything she engages in. Her intelligence is unusual." O'Hana
looked at him; then smiled a little, reassured. Passing behind him she
stumbled. "Forgotten"--Iémon felt a letter thrust into his hand, which
he passed quickly to his sleeve. Then he and Kondo[u] rose to take their
leave. The usual salutations followed. As if to compensate for the
failure of the entertainment all joined in seeing them depart. Kwaiba
was still grumbling and half quarrelling with O'Hana. O'Moto was engaged
with Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei. Kibei insisted on aiding Iémon; and Iémon
did not dare to refuse his services in donning the _haori_. As he
adjusted the awkward efforts of Kibei on one side, this amateur valet
made a mess of it on the other. Besides, neither of them was any too
steady on his feet. Then Kondo[u] and Iémon set out in the rain.
"_Sayonara! Sayonara!_"