To-day, however, these questions had presented themselves with more insistence than usually. She had received a letter that had led her to seek her husband at this unwonted hour.
As she entered the room a nervous tension was apparent in her features, and, turning to him hastily, after the servant left, she said: "I must speak with you, Joshua, about a matter of great importance."
"Goodness! What's the matter, Fanny? At such an unusual time, and so excited. I hope nothing has occurred. Is it a letter from your sister or...."
During this rapid-fire interrogation she had approached the desk and sunk into an arm-chair.
"Please, Benas, not so many questions at once. I came here to tell you all about it, and I myself hardly know whether this letter is pleasant or unpleasant. It's not from my sister, in fact, from somebody very different."
"Well, from whom? You make me curious. How should I guess from whom?"
"I shall tell you immediately, but please sit down quietly next to me; for we must decide upon the answer."
He glanced at the clock: "I ordered Elkish to come at half-past five."
"Elkish can wait."
"Indeed not! I must consult him about to-morrow's committee meeting of the Magdeburg Machine Construction Company."