"There's no way out of it!" asserted Channah. "And, after all, mother, it's only twenty minutes' walk away. Besides, there's the tram up Blenheim Road!"
The three made their appearance before long at Dorah's. They found her already in possession of the main facts, as she had sent Benjamin down that morning to find out how the family was feeling after the fast and Benjamin had met Reb Monash proceeding to Longton. They had both accepted the hospitality and the lemon-tea of Mr. Levine, the parnass, who had ushered them in from the door of his furniture shop. Benjamin had rendered his report duly.
With Channah, Dorah was monosyllabic. Philip she ignored.
"From where he takes this godlessness, mutter," she said in Yiddish, "I understand not! A shkandal it is, over the whole neighbourhood!"
"He is growing older, he will understand more. Folg mir, Dorah, he will be a good Jew yet!"
"Would that one saw the least sign! I have made his bed for him, with a perinny on top and a perinny below. He will be comfortable!"
"Oh, mother, don't!" broke in Channah. "Don't! It's not far from Angel Street! You'll be able to see her every day after school, won't you, Philip?"
"Yes!" said Philip thickly, "Every day! He'll be sleeping!"
Dorah turned to Philip for the first time. "Well, you'd best go home and get your things ready! Will you want to bring all those books?"
"I must have my books!"