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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn: give her to me, I shall ever cherish you as parents... And, in the
meantime, please to accept this poor acknowledgment of your kindest
hospitality."
So saying, he placed before his humble host a purse of gold ryo. But the
old man, after many prostrations, gently pushed back the gift, and said:--
"Kind master, the gold would be of no use to us; and you will probably
have need of it during your long, cold journey. Here we buy nothing; and we
could not spend so much money upon ourselves, even if we wished... As for
the girl, we have already bestowed her as a free gift;-- she belongs to
you: therefore it is not necessary to ask our leave to take her away.
Already she has told us that she hopes to accompany you, and to remain your
Kwaidan |
