Part 21 (1/2)
”Certainly not,” she laughed, ”but there will be compensations. And now, don't interrupt again, Joshua, else I will lose--”
”The thread of the strategical plans for the invasion of Rawitsch!”
”Joshua!” She a.s.sumed an injured air.
”But, my dear girl, don't you see how delighted I myself am with all this? The most serious things can stand a bit of joking; but now I'll be real quiet, as well-behaved as Hugo and Rita, and all good children when they are having things explained to them. Well, _avanti_.”
She hesitated an imperceptible moment, and then continued: ”Some of the most prominent families, among others the president of the congregation, offered to entertain some of the guests. In an unusual case like this we may avail ourselves of such invitations. They are the friends and acquaintances of the Friedlander family; and besides the whole congregation considers--”
”_Khille_ is the proper term in this case,” he laughingly suggested.
”Well, then, the whole Khille, yes, the whole town, considers this day of honor to Uncle Leopold as its own.”
She knew that much depth of feeling lay hidden in her husband's jests.
”These outsiders, too, are planning to confer especial honors upon him.
At all events, the freedom of the city will be extended to him, for his philanthropy embraces all without distinction of religious belief.”
”Then perhaps it might be appropriate for us to found 'The Leopold Friedlander Home for Widows and Orphans' on that day, too?”
She looked at him gratefully, and reached her hand across the table to him. He had not spoken to her of this plan. Obeying a generous impulse suggested by her words, he proposed it as something self-evident.
”With a capital of about one hundred thousand marks?”
”Joshua!” her voice trembled with deep excitement. Hugo and Rita regarded their father in astonishment.
”O papa,” the girl said softly in grat.i.tude; while Hugo showed the pride he felt in his father, who had decided upon the large sum without hesitation, and then, as if it were a mere aside, Mr. Benas continued: ”The main thing is to a.s.semble as large a number as possible in Rawitsch, and to be sure that in respect to lodging everything is well arranged. Now will follow the report of the commissariat: Mrs. Benas has the floor.”
His good humor infected his wife.
”Well, in regard to food. I shall send a capable Jewish cook, who knows all about keeping _kosher_. There will be people to help her in Rawitsch. A new table service will have to be bought,--that I attend to, here, and also whatever is necessary to complete the silver service.”
”You will provide, then, as I judge, a complete Pa.s.sover service for sixty persons. And what is to become of all of it afterwards?”
”I have not thought of that yet. But it will not be wasted.”
”Suppose each one were to receive his own service to take home as a souvenir?”
She and the children laughed gayly.
”That would not be so bad.”
”And for us quite worth the while, we should return with four new sets of table service.”
With an expression of content, he glanced at the costly silver service on the tea-table at which they were seated.
”That's what I have been wis.h.i.+ng for a long time; and if we are fortunate, we may receive a soup tureen with it.”
”You're a tease, Joshua. Why should there not be souvenirs of the day?”
”But not exactly silver forks and knives. It might lead to sad complications.” Then as if an idea had suddenly occurred to him, he continued, ”Do you know, f.a.n.n.y, leave it all to me. What would you think if I bought so beautiful and valuable a silver service that it might be used after the festival for Rita's future household? It would be fine to own silver dedicated on such an occasion. What do you think of it, Rita?”