Esther flushed at the abrupt question without knowing why. "I—I don't know," she stammered.
"No, I don't think anybody does, quite," Hannah answered. "I feel sure I don't. And yet—yes, I do. I must be a good Jewess. I must believe my life."
Somehow the tears came into her eyes; her face had the look of a saint. Esther's eyes met hers in a strange subtle glance. Then their souls were knit. They walked on rapidly.
"Well, I do hope you'll hear from him soon," said Esther.
"It's cruel of him not to write," replied Hannah, knowing she meant
Levi; "he might easily send me a line in a disguised hand. But then, as
Miriam Hyams always says, brothers are so selfish."
"Oh, how is Miss Hyams? I used to be in her class."
"I could guess that from your still calling her Miss," said Hannah with a gentle smile.
"Why, is she married?"
"No, no; I don't mean that. She still lives with her brother and his wife; he married Sugarman the Shadchan's daughter, you know."
"Bessie, wasn't it?"