Page:Halek's Stories and Evensongs.pdf/233

 Hereupon Malka had recourse to weeping, and through her tears declared that her fault did not deserve to be remembered, and that he had shamed her before everybody in the ale-house. What a rumpus he made about one little pleasure-trip on the water, and when she had never been anywhere all that year, and had only gone such a little distance. And more she said to the same effect. She added that she would go again on the water deliberately, and that Poldik had no business to take on so about it.

But to-day Poldik was quite inaccessible to reason; when Malka said that she was going again on the water and did not go, he got up and thundered out, “Well, go then at once if thou dost not I wish to be made a hash of like thine own dinner.”

And he spoke each word as if it was a stone. We know that Poldik seldom spoke, and that he never spoke a word more, but rather several words less than he meant. Consequently, when he pronounced these words with so much precision, there was nothing for it but to consider them meant seriously. Malka had recourse to a yet more violent flood of tears, but wasted no more words on him, and soon marched off. Those bystanders who were present in the ale-house with mine host at their head, posted themselves round Poldik, whom they generally reputed to be a man of thoroughly temperate thoughts and habits, and endeavoured by peaceful words to persuade him to reconcile himself with his mistress. “Let him sleep upon it.” “Everything will soon come straight.” “Things like this will occur at times.” “But a man ought not to take on so.” “What would matters come to, if—?" and so forth.

Poldik sat by his table, covered his features with both his horny hands and never stirred. Whether he listened to what the bystanders, sympathizing more or less with his hard fate, said to him, I know not: but when they ceased speaking, Poldik made no response. So that at the conclusion of those well-intended words a silence occurred, such as we are accustomed to call “a torturing pause”. And after that pause, the bystanders began to talk among themselves about indifferent matters, relating to their several trades or occupations; but during their indifferent remarks all kept their eyes fixed on Poldik, so that any one at all versed in the customs of the people, who had entered the house at that moment, must have guessed the conversation of those present was so commonplace and insipid, because they wished to spare him whose face was buried in his palms.