The White Fox
31
- Kakutaro.—To-night? … But isn’t your native place in France?
- The Fox.—Yes, my country is France… I was born in Paris.
- Kakutaro.—In Paris? … To get there, it would take me many, many days, and I should have to travel by boats and trains, shouldn’t I?
- The Fox.—No. It is not necessary to go there by boat or train. I will show you an easy way to get to Paris, for I know it quite well. Paris is over yonder. (The fox points toward the upper part of the river.) We must walk up the river for many miles, and soon we shall reach Paris. Won’t you come with me, Kakutaro-san? (She places her hand on his shoulder.) Come, I will take you with me. I will treat you kindly, so won’t you come?
- Kakutaro.—(nods his head, and rises to his feet.) Yes, Rosa-san, I will go anywhere with you, and will you always love me deeply?
- The Fox.—Of course I will, dear boy. You are truly a very ‘nice’ boy, and I promise you that, as soon as we reach my home in Paris, you shall have a new suit of clothes, and I will give you every kind of delicious food. Come, we must hurry! (As they prepare to leave, a rustling is heard among the hagi-flower bushes on the right bank of the river, and the fox’s two children, in the guise of girls, make their appearance. They have been crouching there for some time listening to the conversation between the fox and Kakutaro. Both of them are wearing shin-
