562 BERKOWITZ
was no more davvening, but in Feivke's ears was the same ringing of bells. It now seemed to him that he saw the room and the men for the first time, and the old Jew sitting at the head of the table, presiding over bottles and wine-glasses, and clicking with his tongue, could not possibly be the old man with the silver- white beard who had held the scroll of the Law to his breast.
Mattes went up to the table, gave a cough, bowed to the company, and said, "A good year !"
The old man raised his head, and thundered so loudly that Feivke's face twitched as with pain :
"Ha?"
"I said I am just going going home home again so I wish wish you a good year!"
"Ha, a good year ? A good year to you also ! Wait, have a little brandy, ha ?"
Feivke shut his eyes. It made him feel bad to have the lamp burning so brightly and the old man talk- ing so loud. Why need he speak in such a high, rasp- ing voice that it went through one's head like a saw?
"Ha ? Is it your little boy who scratched my Aaront- che's face ? Ha ? A rascal is he ? Beat him well ! There, give him a little brandy, too and a bit of cake ! He fasted too, ha? But he can't recite the prayers? Fie ! You ought to be beaten ! Ha ? Are you going home? Go in health! Ha? Your wife has just been confined? Perhaps you need some money for the holi- days? Ha? What do you say?"
Mattes and Feivke started to walk home. Mattes gave a look at the clear sky, where the young half-
