Her calm gave him an uncanny shudder.
“And till the Holy One, blessed be He, takes me, thou wilt live a daily sinner.”
“I am not to blame. God has stricken me. I am a young man.”
“Thou art to blame!” Her eyes flashed fire. “Blasphemer! Life is sweet to thee, yet perhaps thou wilt die first.”
His face grew livid.
“I am a young man,” he repeated tremulously.
“Thou dost forget what Rabbi Eliezer said: ‘Repent one day before thy death’—that is to-day, for who knows?”
“What wouldst thou have me do?”
“Give up——”
“No, no,” he interrupted. “It is useless. I cannot. I am so lonely.”