his face. Okee could not understand him. Did he never think of his little daughter Yukiko?
But later on when active workers from the union came and told her of the workers’ bitter lot, she sympathized with the workers’ struggle. She herself grew to hate the exploiters who were robbing the oppressed classes. She came to understand that the work of her husband and his comrades was indeed a great work. Okee began to feel a pride in her husband, and to agree with the movement for which he laboured, though she did not believe in its success.
After his third detention Rinkichi lost his post as teacher. Then he opened a tiny shop and sold haberdashery, hoping in this way to support his family. Okee had expected that he would lose his his job. She had known for a long time that it would turn out like that. Still, tears would not help, she thought, and so had remained silent.
Rinkichi had more time to spare now, and he worked for the trade union with greater zeal than ever.
As a result the attention of the detectives redoubled.
The first time Okee noticed that a spy was strolling up and down in front of their shop she was terrified. The worst was yet to come, however. Sometimes one of these persons would study the signboard for some time, suddenly enter the shop and announce, “Come with me to the police station, will you?”
A couple of policemen would then come up and Rinkichi would be taken to the police station.
