Page:Meir Ezofovitch a novel, from the Polish of Eliza Orzeszko.djvu/211

Rh "But I want to know what Reb Jankiel and his inn- keepers are going to do with the casks," persisted Meir.

"It does not concern you," whispered Jochel, "let neither your eyes see, nor your ears hear what Reb Jankiel is doing. He is engaged in a big business, you will only hinder him. Why should you stand in his way? What do you gain by it? beside, what can you do against him?"

Meir remained silent, and turned into another direction.

"What can I do?" he whispered to himself, with quiver- ing lips.

Passing near Abel Karaim's hut he saw Golda still standing at the window. He nodded to her.

"Sleep in peace."

But she called out to him,—

"Meir, here is a child sitting on the floor asleep."

He came nearer, and saw, close to the bench where he had been sitting, the crouching figure of a child.

"Leibele!" he said, wonderingly. He had not seen the lad, who had quietly followed him, and sat down close to him."

"Leibele!" repeated Meir, and put his hand upon the child's head. He opened a pair of half -unconscious eyes and smiled.

"Why did you come here," asked Meir, smilingly.

The child seemed to collect his thoughts, then answered, —

"I followed you."

"Father and mother will not know what has become of you."

"Father sleeps, and mother sleeps," began Leibele rocking his head,—and the goats are sleeping," he added after