392 RAISIN
that extent, he would never be able to open his mouth to make his request known, and he tried to cheer him- self:
"If I catch him in a good humor, he will lend ! "Why should he be afraid of lending me a few rubles over the fair? I shall tell him that as soon as ever I have sold the corn, he shall have the loan back. I will swear it by wife and children, he will believe me and I will pay it back."
But this does not make Chayyim any the bolder, and he tries another sort of comfort, another remedy against nervousness.
"He isn't a bad man and, after all, our acquaintance won't date from to-day we've been living in the same street twenty years Parabotzker Street "
And Chayyim recollects that a fortnight ago, as Loibe-Bares was passing his house on his way to the market-place, and he, Chayyim, was standing in the yard, he gave him the greeting due to a gentleman ("and I could swear I gave him my hand," Chayyim reminded himself). Loibe-Bares had made a friendly reply, he had even stopped and asked, like an old acquaintance, "Well, Chayyim, and how are you getting on ?" And Chayyim strains his memory and remembers further that he answered on this wise:
"I thank you for asking! Heaven forgive me, one does a little bit of business !"
And Chayyim is satisfied with his reply, "I answered him quite at my ease."
Chayyim resolves to speak to him this time even more leisurely and independently, not to cringe before him.
