Page:Meir Ezofovitch a novel, from the Polish of Eliza Orzeszko.djvu/165

Rh prised at it. You are an educated man, with all the advantages of learning and I—I am only a common Jew, who knows the Bible and Talmud, but nothing else; but I have many thoughts; they are all dim and undefined; perhaps you will help me to clear them up."

Leopold listened to this humble youthful speech with an ironical smile.

"If I can help you in any way, Mr. Meir, I shall be glad.”

"Leopold! do not call me mister. It hurts me, because IT like you very much.”

Leopold looked with astonished eyes at the young man.

"I am much obliged," he said; "but we scarcely know each other."

"That is nothing," said Meir. "I have longed to meet an Israelite like you, that I might say, as Rabbi Eliezer said to the sage of Jerusalem, Let me be your disciple, and be you my teacher."

The young worldling looked with open-eyed astonishment and a sarcastic smile at Meir, who seemed to him as unintelligible as an untrained savage.

Meir, carried away by his enthusiasm, did not notice this.

"Leopold," he began, "how long did you study at the foreign schools?"

"What do you mean by foreign schools?” asked Leopold.

"Why! the schools where they teach things not Jewish."

Leopold understood. He half shut his eyes and looked supercilious.