master’s daughter, quickly resigned his apprenticeship after the marriage, hut Jita-ko, who was gentle in character, continued to work for Yoshisaburo, and at once commenced addressing him as master.
Yoshisaburo’s father-in-law died half a year later, and his wife also passed away some months after him.
Yoshisaburo was a master-hand in the art of using a razor. He was so painstaking and thorough in his profession, that, when the smallest spot on a freshly-shaven face felt rough to his fingers, he was not satisfied, nor could he cease his shaving until he had made it smooth and clean. Yet he had never been known to hurt the skin of any of his clients. His customers all declared that their faces remained smooth one day longer by Yoshi’s shaving than by the work of any other barber. He was very proud of the reputation he had of never having hurt a single customer in all his past ten years as a barber.
Gen-ko, who had left the shop at the time of Yoshisaburo’s marriage, returned again unexpectedly some years later, and Yoshi, remembering their former friendship, could not help offering again to take the repentant Gen-ko as his apprentice. But during the two years which had elapsed Gen-ko had somewhat degenerated in character, and now began to neglect his duty. He also enticed Jita-ko to go with him to some disreputable house in Kasumi-cho, which was the resort of military men. Gen-ko at last became so dissipated that he even instigated the gentle Jita-ko to
