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upstairs. They expected her to come down soon,but some time went by and still she did not appear. "Yoshiko-san, Yoshiko-san," Mrs. Takenaka called out. A drawn-out "Ye-es" was heard in reply; yet still she did not come down. O-Tsuru went upstairs to get her. At last she came down and sat sidewise by a hashira [a column] leaving her supper untouched.
"Don't you want to eat your supper?" Mrs. Takenaka asked Yoshiko.
"I don't feel like eating, as I feel full...."
"That's because you ate too many sweet potatoes."
"Oh, dear! That's mean, Oku-san!" Yoshiko replied, pretending to chide her.
Mrs. Takenaka smiled, "Yoshiko-san, what's the matter?"
"Wh--y?" she replied in a drawn-out voice.
"You should know."
"Never mind, Oku-san." Again she looked sharply at her.
Tokio silently observed their banter. Of course he was disturbed. A sense of discomfort overwhelmed him. Yoshiko glanced at Tokio's face and realized that he was in a bad mood. Thereupon, she promptly changed her attitude and said, "Sensei, Tanaka visited me today."
"So I heard."
"Tanaka said he must personally see you and express his gratitude; he will pay you a formal visit. He asked me to convey his regards to you."
"Is that so," he said as he abruptly stood up and entered his study.
