"Why did you not come last night?" he asked, and looked at them smiling.
The workmen were silent, and shuffled with their feet.
"How are you, Reb Shloimeh?" asked one of them.
"Very well, very well," answered Reb Shloimeh, still smiling. "Thank you, children! Thank you!"
"Sit down, children, sit down." he said after a pause. "I will tell you some more stories."
"It will tire you, Reb Shloimeh," said a workman. "When you are better——"
"Sit down, sit down!" said Reb Shloimeh, impatiently. "That's my business!"
The workmen exchanged glances with the teachers and the teachers signed to them not to sit down.
"Not to-day, Reb Shloimeh, another time, when you—"
"Sit down, sit down!" interrupted Reb Shloimeh, "Do me the pleasure!"