64 Shadowings 



But at this request the Samebito shook his 

 head, and answered in a tone of surprise and of 

 reproach : 



" Do you think that I am like a harlot, able 

 to weep whenever I wish ? Oh, no ! Harlots shed 

 tears in order to deceive men ; but creatures of the 

 sea cannot weep without feeling real sorrow. I 

 wept for you because of the true grief that I felt 

 in my heart at the thought that you were going 

 to die. But now I cannot weep for you, because 

 you have told me that your sickness is cured." 



" Then what am I to do ? " plaintively asked 

 Totaro. " Unless I can get ten thousand jewels, 

 I cannot marry the girl ! " 



The Same'bito remained for a little while silent, 

 as if thinking. Then he said : 



" Listen ! To-day 1 cannot possibly weep any 

 more. But to-morrow let us go together to the 

 Long Bridge of Seta, taking with us some 

 wine and some fish. We can rest for a time on 

 the bridge ; and while we are drinking the wine 

 and eating the fish, 1 shall gaze in the direction 

 of the Dragon-Palace, and try, by thinking of 

 the happy days that I spent there, to make my- 

 self feel homesick so that I can weep." 



Totaro joyfully assented. 



