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How would you like to get married?" Shosshi's face became like a peony. "Don't make laughter," he said. "But I mean it. You are twenty-four years old and ought to have a wife and four children by this time." "But I don't want a wife and four children," said Shosshi. "No, of course not. I don't mean a widow. It is a maiden I have in my eye."
But she preferred her first husband," said Mrs. Belcovitch laughing, "and followed him only four years after Shosshi's marriage. Shosshi has now all her money a very seemly and honorable youth." "But will it come to anything?" "It is already settled. Becky gave in two days ago. After all, she will not always be young. The Tanaim will be held next Sunday.
There had been sharp domestic discussions during the week, and Becky had only sniffed at her parents' commendations of Shosshi as a "very worthy youth." She declared that it was "remission of sins merely to look at him." Next Sabbath Mr. and Mrs. Belcovitch paid a formal visit to Shosshi's parents to make their acquaintance, and partook of tea and cake.
For a moment Shosshi's heart beat wildly. He thought the buxom figure was Becky's. "I have come for my sixpence." Ah! The words awoke him from his dream. It was only the Widow Finkelstein. And yet ! Verily, the widow, too, was plump and agreeable; if only her errand had been pleasant, Shosshi felt she might have brightened his back yard.
The logic of that smile was unanswerable. Shosshi's mouth opened, but no sound issued from it. He did not even say the Evening Prayer. The moon sailed slowly across the heavens. The water flowed into the cistern with a soft soothing sound. Suddenly it occurred to Shosshi that the widow's waist was not very unlike that which he had engirdled imaginatively.
On his next visit he arrived with his arms laden with choice morsels of carpentry. He laid them on the table for her admiration. They were odd knobs and rockers for Polish cradles! The pink of Becky's cheeks spread all over her face like a blot of red ink on a piece of porous paper. Shosshi's face reflected the color in even more ensanguined dyes.
"Hoi, hoi," said Shosshi in horror, his red hands quivering. "Yes," said Bear mournfully, "I had worn them for ten years and moreover the leaven had denied all my Passovers." Belcovitch also entertained the lover with details of the internal politics of the "Sons of the Covenant." Shosshi's affection for Becky increased weekly under the stress of these intimate conversations with her family.
"Who spoke to thee?" demanded Belcovitch, incensed. "Who spoke to thee?" echoed Becky. And when Shosshi, with empurpled pimples, cowered before both, father and daughter felt allies again, and peace was re-established at Shosshi's expense. But Esther's curiosity was satisfied. She seemed to see the whole future of this domestic group: Belcovitch accumulating gold-pieces and Mrs.
By my life and by my children's life, they cost me more than that. So sure as I stand here and well, come, gie's seven and six and they're yours. You can't afford more? Well, 'old up your apron, old gal. I'll make it up out of the rich. Here old Mrs. Shmendrik, Shosshi's mother, came up, a rich Paisley shawl over her head in lieu of a bonnet.
"Nu, Becky!" breathed Belcovitch, in a whisper that could have been heard across the way. "How are you? All right?" said Becky, very loud, as if she thought deafness was among Shosshi's disadvantages. Shosshi grinned reassuringly. There was another silence. Shosshi wondered whether the convenances would permit him to take his leave now. He did not feel comfortable at all.
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