To the Spring Equinox and Beyond by Natsume Soseki

Author:Natsume, Soseki [Natsume, Soseki]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
ISBN: 0804814902
Publisher: Perseus Books Group
Published: 2005-03-14T23:00:00+00:00

A Rainy Day

A long period of time passed without Keitaro's receiving an opportunity to learn from Matsumoto himself the reason for his refusal to see visitors on rainy days. It had even slipped from his own mind, much too busy as he was to concern himself with it. Only after he had gained a position through Taguchi's assistance, which led to free access to the Taguchi household, did he by chance hear about it.

By that time his experience at the streetcar stop had begun to lose the freshness it once had. When Sunaga occasionally brought up the subject, all Keitaro could do was shrug off the entire incident with a smile. Sunaga would demand why Keitaro had not taken him into his confidence before he had even attempted the scheme. And he would also chide him that since his mother had informed Keitaro about his Uchisaiwaicho uncle's habit of tricking others, he certainly ought to have known about it. And finally Sunaga began badgering Keitaro for having too much interest in women. Keitaro braved it out by telling Sunaga to keep quiet, but each time there came to his mind the image of the woman he had seen from behind at Sunaga's gate, the woman who he had realized was the same one he had seen at the streetcar stop. And in some remote way he felt ashamed. That her name was Chiyoko and that her younger sister was called Momoyoko were items of information that no longer held any novelty for him.

After learning all the inside information through Matsumoto at their first encounter, Keitaro had felt embarrassed about putting in an appearance at Taguchi's, but because the conclusion of some business demanded his presence, he had passed through Taguchi's gate prepared to be laughed at, and Taguchi, as Keitaro had expected, did just that. However, Keitaro interpreted in Taguchi's laugh not so much the sound of haughty pride in his resourcefulness as that of triumphant joy in having put on the right path a man who had gone astray. Taguchi did not use any condescending words and thus imply the trick had been done for admonition's sake or as a means of education. Instead, he asked only that Keitaro not be angry because no harm had been intended and immediately gave an on-the-spot promise that he would have a considerable position available for the young man. Taguchi then clapped his hands to summon his older daughter, the one who had been waiting at the stop for Matsumoto. He formally introduced her to Keitaro, thus confirming her as his daughter. He also told her that Keitaro was a friend of Ichizo's. She gave a cold though polite greeting, apparently a little confused at being introduced to a stranger. It was then that Keitaro had learned her name was Chiyoko.

This first opportunity for him to come in contact with Taguchi's family led to frequent visits on business and other matters. Sometimes he even entered the houseboy's room beside the entrance to gossip with the one he had once bickered with over the phone.

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