"But I want to know what Reb Jankiel and his innkeepers are going to do with the casks," persisted Meir.
"It does not concern you," whispered Johel. "Let neither your eyes see nor your ears hear what Reb Jankiel is doing. He is engaged in a big business; you will only hinder him. Why should you stand in his way? What will you gain by it? Besides, what can you do against him?"
Meir remained silent, and turned in another direction.
"What can I do?" he whispered to himself; with quivering lips.
Passing near Abel Karaim's hut, he saw Golda still standing at the window. He nodded to her.
"Sleep in peace."
But she called out to him:
"Meir, here is a child sitting on the floor asleep."
He came nearer and saw, close to the bench where he had been sitting, the crouching figure of a child.
"Lejbele!" he said, wonderingly. He had not seen the lad, who had quietly followed him and sat down close to him.