Page:Eminent Authors of Contemporary Japan, volume 2.pdf/147

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Eminent Authors of Japan
123

very much for carrying my scales this far, but before you return, I should like to entertain you by giving you a small meal. So will you come with me to the restaurant over there?” He smiled at the lad, and Senkichi felt very grateful to him for his kindness, but he also felt a little apprehensive over accepting the kind offer. But he was nevertheless very happy, and bowed his head many times to show his gratefulness.

They passed by a sushi-house, a sushi-stall, and a beef-restaurant. “I wonder where we are going,” thought she boy, beginning now to feel a trifle uneasy. They passed under the elevated railway at Kanda Station, and came to the Matsuya Department Store, and crossing over the tram-lines, they stopped in front of a small sushi-restaurant in a certain lane.

“Wait a little while, will you?” said Mr. A., and he entered the restaurant. The boy placed the shafts of his cart upon the ground and waited outside.

Soon Mr. A. came out of the restaurant, followed by the mistress of the establishment, who was rather young. She said to the boy, “Come in, young fellow!”

Mr. A. turned to the lad and said, “Now, my boy, go in, and eat as much as you want!” After saying this, he hurried towards that tramway and soon disappeared.

Senkichi did ample justice enough for three men. He ate his sushi ravenously, just as a hungy dog would have done after finding some unexpected food. There were no other customers in the restaurant, and as the windows had been closed by the woman, Senkichi had