WOMEN 475
stones, and all shout together, so that they may know what we have decided."
"Eight ! Right ! To the Shool !" cried a chorus of voices.
A common feeling of triumph running through them, they took each other friendly-wise by the hand, and made gaily for the court of the Shool. When they got into the town, they fell on each other's necks, and kissed each other with tears and joy. They knew their plan was the best and most excellent that could be devised, and would protect them all from further shame and trouble.
The Pidvorkes shuddered to hear their tread.
All the remaining inhabitants, big and little, men and women, gathered in the court of the Shool, and stood with pale faces and beating hearts to see what would happen.
The eyes of the young bachelors rolled uneasily, the girls had their faces on one another's shoulders, and sobbed.
Breindel, agile as a cat, climbed on to the highest millstone, and proclaimed in a voice of thunder :
"Seeing that such and such a thing has happened, a great scandal such as is not to be hid, and such as we do not wish to hide, all we women have decided to excom- municate "
Such a tumult arose that for a minute or two Breindel could not be heard, but it was not long before every- one knew who and what was meant.
"We also demand that neither he nor his nearest friends shall be called to the Eeading of the Law;
