ＷＥＢ絵本『女中奉公（金子文子）』第１６巻
伊藤は三日にあげず店に来て、信仰友だちである店員の山本や家人の誰彼に、宗教上の話をして帰って行くのであった．
が、その頃は試験が近づいているのにパンに追われて勉強も碌にできないことをかなり苦痛に病んでいるらしい様子であった．
Mr. Ito frequently came to the shop.
He talked to his religious friend Yamamoto, who was a shop worker, and to anyone and everyone of the family about religion. After that, he went back.
Those days, an examination was drawing near. But he had to work for food expenses. So, he couldn't make enough preparations for it. He appeared to be mentally tired out.
そこで私は、河田さんから貰った金を、恩返しだの何だの鹿爪らしいことを言わずに、ただ彼に、少し落ち着いて勉強のできるようにと、すっかりそのまま、伊藤にやりたいと思った．
ところが、そう思って待っていると、伊藤はなかなかやって来なかった．
Then I wanted to give him all the money given by Miss Kawada. I didn't intend to say thanks for his favor or something formal. I just hoped to give him a calm learning environment.
Thinking so, I was waiting for him. But he was taking forever to come.
私はもう待って待って待ちくたびれた．そこでそれを、為替にして伊藤に送った．
「わけは後でお話ししますが、私にちょうど要らない金がありますのでお送りします．これだけあれば一ヶ月やそこいらは間に合うと思います．どうぞ、当分の間、仕事を休んで、しっかり勉強して試験を受けて下さい」
こういった意味の手紙を書いて、為替を同封して送った．封筒にはもちろん男のように「金子生」と書いた．
I continued waiting for him and I got tired of waiting. So, I changed the money to a money order and sent it to him.
"I will say the reason later. Now, I have extra money. So, I send it to you. I think that it is enough money for living expenses of a month or so. Please take days off for enough preparations and take the examination."
I enclosed the money order with such a message. Of course, I wrote my name in the gentlemen's style on the envelope.
２、３日して伊藤が来た．私はいつものように、彼を電車停留所のところまで送って行った．
A few days later, Mr. Ito came. As usual, I saw him off at the streetcar stop.
二人になると伊藤は言った．
「お金ありがとう．だが、あれにはちょっとびっくりしましたねぇ．用事があれば僕の来た時話してくれるとして、これからは決して手紙なんか寄こさないで下さい．女から来た手紙だなんてことがわかったら、僕の信用がなくなりますからねぇ・・・」
「ええ、でも待ちきれなかったんですもの．それに、だからと思って字も名前も男のように書いたつもりだけど・・・」
「いや、そのお志はありがたいんです．ただ、手紙なんか寄こさないで・・・」
「すみませんでした」と私は寂しい気持ちで答えた．そして別れた．
We were alone together.
And then, he said "Thank you for the money. But I was surprised at it. I want you to tell me about matters when I come. Please don't send me any letter in the future. If people notice that I have letters sent by a female, I will lose their confidence ..."
"Sure. But I couldn't continue waiting for you. And then, I wrote my name in the gentlemen's style ..."
"Oh, I thank you for your kindness. I just hope for you not to send any letter ..."
"Sorry," I answered with sadness. And I left him there.
とはいえ、私は決して伊藤を恨んだのではなかった．
それどころか、わたしの心のうちにはますます深く伊藤への信頼が喰い入っていた．
で、伊藤が来るたびごとに私は、伊藤を送って出た．夜などは、「あの電灯の下まで」とか「あの柱のところまで」とか、ついかなり遠いところまでも話しながら歩いて行くのであった．
が、家の人たちは、伊藤をも私をも信じていたから、決して私達を怪しみはしなかった．
But I never hated Mr. Ito. On the contrary, my faith in him got into my heart deeply and deeply.
Whenever he came, I saw him off.
In nights, saying "To that light." or "To that telephone pole." and so on, we walked quite a long distance.
The family members had trusted him and me. Then, they never doubted our relations.
（続く）
―― 奥付 ――
ＷＥＢ絵本『女中奉公（金子文子）』第１６巻
絵・訳：茜町春彦
原作：金子文子
Title: A Housemaid (Kaneko Fumiko) volume 16
Illustrated and translated by: Akanemachi Haruhiko
Original author: Kaneko Fumiko
