"Leave the room! I want to talk to your mother."
Beile put away her work and walked out into the lane.
"Rejoice with me, Jentele," said the delighted husband, as he rubbed his shrivelled hands. "Beile is a kalle; she will marry to-morrow."
"Has anybody fallen in love with her?" asked the mother.
"No; but she will marry all the same."
"Well, speak out, man! You kill one with suspense."
"Do you know Reb Bensef, our parnas?"
"Yes; but what has he to do with our Beile?"
"Reb Bensef being very much distressed by the death of Rabbi Jeiteles, went to Tchernigof to ask counsel of the bal-shem and has just returned."
"Well, what did the wise man advise?" asked Jentele, burning with impatience, while her partially washed baby lay kicking in her arms.