Part 9 (1/2)
”Say, I understand Koga-san is going to n.o.beoka.”
”Isn't it too bad?”
”Too bad? But it can't be helped if he goes there by his own preference.”
”Going there by his own preference? Who, Sir?”
”Who? Why, he! Isn't Professor Koga going there by his own choice?”
”That's wrong Mr. Wright, Sir.”
”Ha, Mr. Wright, is it? But Red s.h.i.+rt told me so just now. If that's wrong Mr. Wright, then Red s.h.i.+rt is bl.u.s.tering Mr. Bluff.”
”What the head-teacher says is believable, but so Koga-san does not wish to go.”
”Our old lady is impartial, and that is good. Well, what's the matter?”
”The mother of Koga-san was here this morning, and told me all the circ.u.mstances.”
”Told you what circ.u.mstances?”
”Since the father of Koga-san died, they have not been quite well off as we might have supposed, and the mother asked the princ.i.p.al if his salary could not be raised a little as Koga-san has been in service for four years. See?”
”Well?”
”The princ.i.p.al said that he would consider the matter, and she felt satisfied and expected the announcement of the increase before long. She hoped for its coming this month or next. Then the princ.i.p.al called Koga-san to his office one day and said that he was sorry but the school was short of money and could not raise his salary. But he said there is an opening in n.o.beoka which would give him five yen extra a month and he thought that would suit his purpose, and the princ.i.p.al had made all arrangements and told Koga-san he had better go.......”
”That wasn't a friendly talk but a command. Wasn't it?”
”Yes, Sir, Koga-san told the princ.i.p.al that he liked to stay here better at the old salary than go elsewhere on an increased salary, because he has his own house and is living with his mother. But the matter has all been settled, and his successor already appointed and it couldn't be helped, said the princ.i.p.al.”
”Hum, that's a jolly good trick, I should say. Then Koga-san has no liking to go there? No wonder I thought it strange. We would have to go a long way to find any blockhead to do a job in such a mountain village and get acquainted with monkeys for five yen extra.”
”What is a blockhead, Sir?”
”Well, let go at that. It was all the scheme of Red s.h.i.+rt. Deucedly underhand scheme, I declare. It was a stab from behind. And he means to raise my salary by that; that's not right. I wouldn't take that raise.
Let's see if he can raise it.”
”Is your salary going to be raised, Sir?”
”Yes, they said they would raise mine, but I'm thinking of refusing it.”
”Why do you refuse?”
”Why or no why, it's going to be refused. Say, Red s.h.i.+rt is a fool; he is a coward.”
”He may be a coward, but if he raises your salary, it would be best for you to make no fuss, but accept it. One is apt to get grouchy when young, but will always repent when he is grown up and thinks that it was pity he hadn't been a little more patient. Take an old woman's advice for once, and if Red s.h.i.+rt-san says he will raise your salary, just take it with thanks.”
”It's none of business of you old people.”
The old lady withdrew in silence. The old man is heard singing ”utai” in the off-key voice. ”Utai,” I think, is a stunt which purposely makes a whole show a hard nut to crack by giving to it difficult tunes, whereas one could better understand it by reading it. I cannot fathom what is in the mind of the old man who groans over it every night untired. But I'm not in a position to be fooling with ”utai.” Red s.h.i.+rt said he would have my salary raised, and though I did not care much about it, I accepted it because there was no use of leaving the money lying around.