42
Eminent Authors of Japan
- Husband.—I’ll visit the Beppu Hot Springs.
- Wife.—With only that guide-book to assist you?
- Husband.—Of course! Why not? No trip could be less expensive. After all, a guide-book is rather wonderful! After scanning the time-table, and reading of the arrival hours of the different trains, you begin to feel just as if you had already begun to travel.
- Wife.—(Does not answer.)
- Husband.—It’s rather interesting that, after finding the name of a station where a box-lunch can be purchased, one can almost smell the appetising odour of the food in it.
- Wife.—I am afraid it isn’t very interesting to me.
- Husband.—Isn’t it? You don’t seem to find anything very interesting. You are even so careless about things as to allow a mosquito to sting you on the bottom of your foot. Does it still hurt?
- Wife.—Oh, I don't know.
- Husband.—The famous Onuma Park is mentioned also for its fine scenery … or it wouldn’t be a bad idea to visit Hokkaido … Well, where would be the best place to go?
- Wife.—My dear, if you are going anywhere else, for goodness sake do so without talking so much about it!
- Husband.—Can I arrange a trip in silence? It will surely be a dumb sort of a business if I do!
- (The music of the phonograph stops.)
- Husband.—(continuing) Wouldn’t you like something