Part 41 (1/2)
”Aha!” snorted Simcha triumphantly.
”And says not the Talmud,” put in the Pole as if he were on the family council, ”'Flay a carca.s.s in the streets rather than be under an obligation'?” This with supreme unconsciousness of any personal application. ”Yea, and said not Rabban Gamliel, the son of Rabbi Judah the Prince, 'it is commendable to join the study of the Law with worldly employment'? Did not Moses our teacher keep sheep?
”Truth,” replied the host. ”I agree with Maimonides that man should first secure a living, then prepare a residence and after that seek a wife; and that they are fools who invert the order. But Pinchas works also with his pen. He writes articles in the papers. But the great thing, Hannah, is that he loves the Law.”
”H'm!” said Hannah. ”Let him marry the Law, then.”
”He is in a hurry,” said Reb Shemuel with a flash of irreverent facetiousness. ”And he cannot become the Bridegroom of the Law till _Simchath Torah_.”
All laughed. The Bridegroom of the Law is the temporary t.i.tle of the Jew who enjoys the distinction of being ”called up” to the public reading of the last fragment of the Pentateuch, which is got through once a year.
Under the encouragement of the laughter, the Rabbi added:
”But he will know much more of his Bride than the majority of the Law's Bridegrooms.”
Hannah took advantage of her father's pleasure in the effect of his jokes to show him Pinchas's epistle, which he deciphered laboriously. It commenced:
Hebrew Hebe All-fair Maid, Next to Heaven Nightly laid Ah, I love you Half afraid.
The Pole, looking a different being from the wretch who had come empty, departed invoking Peace on the household; Simcha went into the kitchen to superintend the removal of the crockery thither; Levi slipped out to pay his respects to Esther Ansell, for the evening was yet young, and father and daughter were left alone.
Reb Shemuel was already poring over a Pentateuch in his Friday night duty of reading the Portion twice in Hebrew and once in Chaldaic.
Hannah sat opposite him, studying the kindly furrowed face, the ma.s.sive head set on rounded shoulders, the s.h.a.ggy eyebrows, the long whitening beard moving with the mumble of the pious lips, the brown peering eyes held close to the sacred tome, the high forehead crowned with the black skullcap.
She felt a moisture gathering under her eyelids as she looked at him.
”Father,” she said at last, in a gentle voice.
”Did you call me, Hannah?” he asked, looking up.
”Yes, dear. About this man, Pinchas.”
”Yes, Hannah.”
”I am sorry I spoke harshly of him,''
”Ah, that is right, my daughter. If he is poor and ill-clad we must only honor him the more. Wisdom and learning must be respected if they appear in rags. Abraham entertained G.o.d's messengers though they came as weary travellers.”
”I know, father, it is not because of his appearance that I do not like him. If he is really a scholar and a poet, I will try to admire him as you do.”
”Now you speak like a true daughter of Israel.”
”But about my marrying him--you are not really in earnest?”
”_He_ is.” said Reb Shemuel, evasively.
”Ah, I knew you were not,” she said, catching the lurking twinkle in his eye. ”You know I could never marry a man like that.”
”Your mother could,” said the Reb.