"Rabbi, I wished to marry him to the daughter of the pious Jankiel, but the child lay at my feet and begged me not to force him."
"Why then did you not put your feet on his back, and make him obey you?"
Saul dropped his eyes and was silent. He felt that he was guilty.
Love for the orphan made him sin always.
Todros spoke further:
"Marry him as soon as you can, because it is written that when on a young man's face the hair is growing, and he has not a wife, then he will fall into uncleanliness. Your grandson's soul has already fallen into uncleanliness. Yesterday I saw him with a girl—"
Saul raised his eyes.
"I saw him," continued the Rabbi, "talking with Karaim's girl."
"Karaim's girl?" repeated Saul, in a voice full of surprise and fright.
"He was standing on the edge of the pond and took from her hand some flowers, and I read in their faces that the unclean fire was embracing them."
"With Karaim's girl," repeated Saul once more.