All the rest of those at table began looking at Chayyim, and he thought every moment that he must fall of a heap onto the floor.
"It will look very bad if I fall," he said to himself, made a step forward, and, without saying good evening, stammered out:
"I just happened to be passing, you understand, and I saw you sitting—so I knew you were at home—well, I thought one ought to call—neighbors—"
"Well, welcome, welcome!" said Loibe-Bäres, smiling. "You've come at the right moment. Sit down."
A stone rolled off Chayyim's heart at this reply, and, with a glance at the two little boys, he quietly took a seat.
"Leah, give Reb Chayyim a glass of tea," commanded Loibe-Bäres.
"Quite a kind man!" thought Chayyim. "May the Almighty come to his aid!"
He gave his host a grateful look, and would gladly have fallen onto the Gevir's thick neck, and kissed him.
"Well, and what are you about?" inquired his host.
"Thanks be to God, one lives!"