Tessie came in, tossing off her hat. Tessie hated hats and gloves.
“—Hasn’t Abe been here? O hello Statt.”
“He’s nursing a hurt,” he answered her. “I’ve raised his price.”
The little girl glowered over the big man.
“You look out,” she muttered. “Don’t hurt Abe Mangel too much.”
“No?... why not?” sneered Jim Statt.
“He’ll turn good——“
Fanny took a magazine and went into the corner of the room beside the curtains. She tried to read. She did not see the page. What did this mean? He’ll turn good! Was that what Jews did when they were hurt too much! Was that when they saw God?...—Harry and I blinded by a blow that you see God by? Fanny sat brooding over the blank page of her book ... brooding of the Bible, brooding over the words of Jesus Christ: hearing the sneers of Statt, the swift shrill scold of Tessie, the warm weary murmur of Clara.
—O it is good I am here!
Learning ... learning....