'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 you 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?'