Page:Meir Ezofovitch a novel, from the Polish of Eliza Orzeszko.djvu/159

Rh all ages followed in their wake; their low exclamations increasing gradually to shouts and noise undescribable.

Some grown-up people swelled their ranks, whilst the more respectable families looked at the show from their porches. At the school door, stood the melamed in his usual garment and etared with wide-open eyes at the unusual sight, Leopold in his fashionable dress and cigarette between his lips, and Mera in her showy dreas, bridling on his arm to show off her superior breeding were the cynosure of all eyes.

"See! see! the pretty young lady, the handsome gentleman," shouted the children.

“Who are they? Surely not Israelites," said some of the elder people, pointing st Leopold’s cigarette.

"Misnagdin!” (sinner) suddenly somebody yelled in the crowd, and a small stone whizzed past Leopold’s head. The young man changed color and threw the offensive cigarette away. Eli frowned. Mistress Hana drew her- self up and said aloud to her sister,—

"We must make allowances for them, they are only low people." Leopold did not look as if he were inclined to make any allowances; his eyes still looked frightened ant his lips were pressed close together when they entered into Exofovitoh’s sitting-room.

There, in place of honor, eat old Saul surrounded by his numerous family. Near one of the windows sat the great grandmother, Meir stood leaning against the other. When the visitors entered the room, be only glanced at Mera, she did not interest him in the least, but his longing eyes tested upon Leopold. Him he wished to see end sped