Now I am a traveller. She sees me pleasantly.--Grandmother! OBAA-SAN Ay, sir! THE GAKI Which way to Kyushu? OBAA-SAN You have lost your way. Far, far back beyond the ferry landing at Ishiyama to your right. That is the way to Kyushu. THE GAKI Ah, me! OBAA-SAN You are tired. Will you not sit and rest?--Will you not have some rice? THE GAKI Oh, no.--Where is your brood, grandmother? OBAA-SAN I have no brood. I am no grandmother. I am no mother. THE GAKI What! Are there tears in your voice? OBAA-SAN Tears! Why should I weep? THE GAKI I do not know, grandmother! OBAA-SAN I am no grandmother!--Who sent you here to laugh at me?--O-Sode-San? 'Tis she who laughs at me, because-- THE GAKI No one, old woman-- OBAA-SAN Yes, yes, old woman. That is it. Old woman!--Who are you? I am not wont to cry my griefs to any one. THE GAKI Griefs? You have griefs? OBAA-SAN Ay! Even _I_--she whom they call Obaa-San--have griefs.--Even I! But they are locked deep within me. No one knows! THE GAKI Someone must know. OBAA-SAN I shall tell no one. THE GAKI Someone must know! OBAA-SAN You speak like some spirit--and I feel that I must obey. THE GAKI Someone must know! OBAA-SAN I shall not speak. Who cares?--What is it I shall do? Tell my story--unlock my heart--so that O-Sode-San may laugh and laugh and laugh. Is it not enough that some evil spirit feeds upon my deep unrest? THE GAKI How can one feed upon your unrest when you lock it in your heart? (_The voices of O-Sode-San and O-Katsu-San are heard calling to Obaa-San_) Here come some friends of yours. Tell them your tale. [_He goes out._ OBAA-SAN Strange. I feel that I must speak out my heart. [_O-Sode-San and O-Katsu-San come in._ O-SODE-SAN Good morning, grandmother! OBAA-SAN (_with a strange wistfulness in her tone_) Good morning, O-Sode-San. Good morning, O-Katsu-San. May the bright day bring you a bright heart. O-KATSU-SAN And you, Obaa-San. O-SODE-SAN How is the weeping willow tree, grandmother? OBAA-SAN It is there--close to me. O-SODE-SAN And does it speak to you, grandmother-- OBAA-SAN