“But that lada has also worked in the same shop with him, hasn’t she?” Gitl broke in, with a desolate look in her eye.
“Why, did Jake tell you she had?” Fanny asked in surprise.
“No, not at all, not at all! I am just asking. May I be sick if I know anything.”
“The idea! How could they work together, seeing that she is a shirtmaker and he a cloakmaker. Ah, if you knew what a witch she is! She has set her mind on your husband, and is bound to take him away from you. She hitched on to him long ago. But since you came I thought she would have God in her heart, and be ashamed of people. Not she! She be ashamed! You may sling a cat into her face and she won’t mind it. The black year knows where she grew up. I tell you there is not a girl in the whole dancing school but can not bear the sight of that Polish lizard!”
“Why, do they meet and kiss?” Gitl moaned out. “Tell me, do tell me all, my little crown, keep nothing from me, tell me my whole dark lot.”
“Ull right, but be sure not to speak to anybody. I’ll tell you the truth: My name is not Rosy Blank at all. It is Fanny Scutelsky. You see, I am telling you the whole truth. The other evening they stood near the house where she boards, on Chrystie Street; so they were looking into each other’s eyes and talking like a pair of little doves. A lady who is a particla friend of mine saw them; so she says a child could have guessed that she was making love to him and trying to get him away from you. ’F cou’se it is none of my business. Is it my business, then? What do I care? It is only becuss I pity you. It is like the nature I have; I can not bear to see anybody in trouble. Other people would not care, but I do. Such is my nature. So I thought to myself I must go and tell Mrs. Podkovnik all about it, in order that she might know what to do.”
For several moments Gitl sat speechless, her head hung down, and her bosom heaving rapidly. Then she fell to swaying her frame sidewise, and vehemently wringing her hands.
“Oi! Oi! Little mother! A pain to me!” she moaned. “What is to be done? Lord of the world, what is to be done? Come to the rescue! People, do take pity, come to the rescue!” She broke into a fit of low sobbing, which shook her whole form and was followed by a torrent of tears.
Whereupon Fanny also burst out crying, and falling upon Gitl’s shoulder she murmured: “My little heart! you don’t know what a friend I am to you! Oh, if you knew what a serpent that Polish thief is!”