An Artist of the Floating World Read Free

You must be a clever boy." At this point, Ichiro's dignity seemed to give way. Abandoning his pose, he rolled on to his back and began waving his feet in the air. "Ichiro!" Setsuko called in an urgent whisper. "Such bad manners in front of your grandfather. Sit up!" Ichiro's only response was to allow his feet to slump lifelessly on to the floorboards. He then folded his arms over his chest and closed his eyes. "Oji," he said, in a sleepy voice, "is the monster prehistoric?" "Which monster is this, Ichiro?" "Please excuse him," Setsuko said, with a nervous smile. "There was a film poster outside the railway station when we arrived yesterday. He inconvenienced the taxi driver with numerous questions. It's so unfortunate I didn't see the poster myself." "Oji! Is the monster prehistoric or isn't it? I want an answer!" "Ichiro!" His mother gave him a horrified look. "I"m not sure, Ichiro. I should think we have to see the film to find out." "When do we see the film then?" "Hmm. You"d best discuss it with your mother. You never know, it may be too frightening for young children." I had not meant this remark to be provocative, but its effect on my grandson was startling. He rolled back into a sitting position and glared at me, shouting: "How dare you! What are you saying!" "Ichiro!" Setsuko exclaimed in dismay. But Ichiro continued to regard me with the most fearsome look, and his mother was obliged to leave her cushion to come over to us. "Ichiro!" she whispered to him, shaking his arm. "Don't stare at your grandfather like that." Ichiro responded by falling on to his back again and waving his feet in the air. His mother gave me another nervous smile. "So bad-mannered," she said. Then seemingly at a loss for further words, she smiled again. "Ichiro-san," Noriko said, getting to her feet, "why don't you come and help me put away the breakfast things?" "Women's work," Ichiro said, his feet still waving. "So Ichiro won't help me? Now that's a problem. The table's so heavy I"m not strong enough to put that away on my own. I wonder who could help then?" This brought Ichiro abruptly to his feet, and he went striding indoors without glancing back at us. Noriko laughed and followed him in. Setsuko glanced after them, then lifting the teapot, began refilling my cup. "I had no idea things had come so far," she said, her voice lowered. "I mean as regards Noriko's marriage negotiations." "Things haven't come far at all," I said, shaking my head. "In fact, nothing's settled at all. We"re still at an early stage." "Forgive me, but from what Noriko said just a moment ago, I naturally supposed things were more or less..." She trailed off, then said again: "Forgive me." But she said it in such a way that a question was left hanging in the air. "I"m afraid this isn't the first time Noriko's spoken like that," I said. "In fact, she's been behaving oddly ever since these present negotiations began. Last week, we had a visit from Mr Mon--you remember him?" "Of course. He's well?" "Well enough. He was just passing and called to pay his respects. The point is, Noriko began to talk about the marriage negotiations in front of him. She took much the same attitude as just now, that everything was settled. It was most embarrassing. Mr Mori even congratulated me as he was leaving, and asked me the groom's occupation." "Indeed," Setsuko said, thoughtfully. "It must have been embarrassing." "But it was hardly Mr Mori's fault. You heard her yourself just now. What was a stranger supposed to think?" My daughter did not reply, and we sat there in silence for a few moments. Once, when I glanced over at her, Setsuko was gazing out at the garden, holding her teacup in both hands as though she had forgotten it was there. it was one of several occasions during her visit last month when--perhaps because of the way the light caught her, or some such thing--I found myself contemplating her appearance. For there can be no doubt, Setsuko is becoming better looking as she