‘I’m sure you’re not. I’ve been worrying because you looked rather tired. What’s the matter exactly? Have you been to the doctor?’

‘No,’ said Tomo with a vigorous shake of her head. ‘Mr. Suzuki comes to examine Grandfather at least once every three days, but I’ve no faith in a doctor who’s more like a male geisha. I was waiting till you came, to tell the truth. For once I thought I’d get a decent doctor to have a look at me.’

‘ “Waiting,” indeed! Mother, there’s no excuse for waiting where illness is concerned. Why didn’t you phone me sooner?’

‘Now, now, don’t take it to heart so,’ said Tomo with a little laugh as though reproving Etsuko for getting too serious.

It would have seemed exaggerated to telephone just for that, and to write a letter specially would have alarmed people. She had not minded waiting because she was sure that Etsuko would be coming today. And little by little she began to tell her of the new symptoms she had been having since the end of the year.

‘Look how swollen my leg is.’ As she spoke she stretched a leg out in front of her, pulled up the skirt of her kimono, and pressed the shin with her finger. The yellowed skin of her leg sank beneath the touch to form a pallid indentation that remained even after she had removed the finger.

‘You see?’ she said, glancing intently at Etsuko with eyes that were slightly bloodshot.

‘It’s puffy,’ said Etsuko with a frown as she looked at the dull white hollow of her eyes. I’m sure it’s the kidneys, she thought. She felt a sense of shock at Tomo’s unaccustomed behavior in stretching out her leg in front of her; it was something that even she, her daughter, had never seen before. It was as though the mother she saw before her now had put aside everything about which she normally cared.

‘We’d better fetch the doctor as soon as possible. Shall I speak to Father about it?’

‘Yes – yes, I think it would be all right for you to do it …’ She lowered her eyes warily. ‘But I don’t want him to think I said something.’

‘Surely you don’t need to worry about that kind of thing?’

‘But I do. You’re so logical, but this house doesn’t work by logic.’

‘Yes, but it depends on what it’s about, surely. I’m sure even Father wouldn’t be so unreasonable. Or shall I get my husband to tell him?’

‘If you could – yes, that would be best, I feel. But he’s busy, isn’t he? I wonder when he could find time?’

‘I’ll get him to come tomorrow if necessary. Then he can say you don’t seem to be very well and fetch a friend of his who’s a doctor at the university hospital.’

‘I’m sure I could go to see him without bringing him all the way here.’