Elias made no reply. He appeared not to have heard. He was busy fastening the buttons into a shirt-bosom.
“I'll wait till you've finished dressing,” said the rabbi.
He went to the window, and stood looking out.
The rabbi's presence troubled Elias exceedingly. But, he thought, considering every thing, the least he could do would be to put up with it as graciously as possible and not grumble. “What do you want with me, any how?” it was his impulse to demand. But he held his tongue, and proceeded with his toilet.
When at last he had tied his cravat and buttoned his coat, “Are you ready now to come down stairs with me?” the rabbi began.
“What for?”
“Several things. Are you ready? Will you come?”
“Oh, I suppose so,” Elias answered, and followed the old man from the room.
To himself: “I don't care what he does or says. It may be annoying, but it can't do any serious harm. To-day is the last day; and I'll let him him have his own way in every thing, no matter how absurd and exasperating it may be. I'll keep my temper and treat him respectfully, no matter how hard he may try me.”
They had reached the front hall of the house. The rabbi put his hand upon the knob of the front parlor door.