Mr. Fujinami Gentaro, thoroughly scared, protested that he himself was in favour of the match. He begged for time so as to be able to convert the other members of the family council.
"Perhaps," suggested Ito, "if Asa San were sent away from Akasaka, perhaps if she were living alone, it would be more easy to manage. What is absent is soon forgotten. Mr. Fujinami Gennosuké is a very old gentleman; he would soon forget. Sada San could then take her proper position as the only daughter of the Fujinami. Was there not a small house by the river side at Mukojima, which had been rented for Asa San? Perhaps she would like to live there--quite alone."
"Perhaps Ito Kun would visit her from time to time," said Mr. Fujinami, pleased with the idea; "she will be so lonely; there is no knowing."
The one person who was never consulted, and who had not the remotest notion of what was going on, was Asako herself.
Asako was most unhappy. The disappearance of Fujinami Takeshi exasperated the competition between herself and her cousin. Just as formerly all Sadako's intelligence and charm had been exerted to attract her English relative to the house in Akasaka, so now she applied all her force to drive her cousin out of the family circle. For many weeks now Asako had been ignored; but after the return from Ikégami a positive persecution commenced. Although the nights were growing chilly, she was given no extra bedding. Her meals were no longer served to her; she had to get what she could from the kitchen. The servants, imitating their mistress's attitude were deliberately disobliging and rude to the little foreigner.
Sadako and her mother would sneer at her awkwardness and at her ignorance of Japanese customs. Her _obi_ was tied anyhow; for she had no maid. Her hair was untidy; for she was not allowed a hairdresser.
They nicknamed her _rashamen_ (goat face), using an ugly slang word for a foreigner's Japanese mistress; and they would pretend that she smelt like a European.
"_Kusai! Kusai_! (Stink! Stink!)" they would say.
The war even was used to bait Asako. Every German success was greeted with acclamation. The exploits of the _Emden_ were loudly praised; and the tragedy of Coronel was gloated over with satisfaction.