Waldman wanted to expostulate, but his father-in-law cut him short.
"At home, and especially on Saturday, I don't allow business talk. If you can't be merry, go to your rooms with your wife."
"No use being so cross with him," Goldberg's wife said after the young people had retired.
"I don't want him to spoil my holiday, the young smut-nose-know-everything. Goes two years to school and thinks that even God owes him an accounting. He must remember that he is in Moishe Goldberg's house."
Saturday passed quietly. Sofia's eyes were a little red, but her husband seemed to want to make up for past misdeeds, and was very merry. At the synagogue he comported himself beautifully. Moishe Goldberg was especially proud of his son-in-law's reading from the scroll.
"Well, what do you say to my American? He reads from the Holy Scroll like a charm." And everybody complimented him.
Sunday was a half holiday, but on Monday when the business started agoing, Waldman could not stand it.
"Father," he said in the evening, "it can't go on that way. We must have some books. No business is carried on that way."
"Books! bosh; don't bother about books. Attend to business."