Part 36 (2/2)
”Thou hast not heard talk of him and Sugarman's daughter?”
”No, is there aught between them?” The listless old woman spoke a little eagerly.
”Only that a man told me that his son saw our Daniel pay court to the maiden.”
”Where?”
”At the Purim Ball.”
”The man is a tool; a youth must dance with some maiden or other.”
Miriam came in, f.a.gged out from teaching. Old Hyams dropped from Yiddish into English.
”You are right, he must.”
Beenah replied in her slow painful English.
”Would he not have told us?”
Mendel repeated:--”Would he not have told us?”
Each avoided the others eye. Beenah dragged herself about the room, laying Miriam's tea.
”Mother, I wish you wouldn't sc.r.a.pe your feet along the floor so. It gets on my nerves and I _am_ so worn out. Would he not have told you what? And who's he?”
Beenah looked at her husband.
”I heard Daniel was engaged,” said old Hyams jerkily.
Miriam started and flushed.
”To whom?” she cried, in excitement.
”Bessie Sugarman.”
”Sugarman's daughter?” Miriam's voice was pitched high.
”Yes.”
Miriam's voice rose to a higher pitch.
”Sugarman the _Shadchan's_ daughter?”
”Yes.”
Miriam burst into a fit of incredulous laughter.
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