A ROSE OF THE GHETTO. 311
which she would have to be won, and she had acquiesced in the comedy. At the least it would save her the trouble of father-taming.
Sugarman's entry was brusque and breathless. He was overwhelmed with joyous emotion. His blue bandanna trailed agitatedly from his coat-tail.
"At last!" he cried, addressing the little white-haired master-tailor, " I have the very man for you."
"Yes?" grunted Eliphaz, unimpressed. The monosyl- lable was packed wi f h emotion. It said : " Have you really the face to come to me again with an ideal man? "
" He has all the qualities that you desire," began the Shadchan, in a tone that repudiated the implications of the monosyllable. " He is young, strong, God-fearing — "
"Has he any money?" grumpily interrupted Eliphaz.
"He wi//ha.ve money," replied Sugarman unhesitatingly, "when he marries."
"Ah!" The father's voice relaxed, and his foot lay limp on the treadle. He worked one of his machines himself, and paid himself the wages so as to enjoy the profit. " How much will he have? "
" I think he will have fifty pounds ; and the least you can do is to let him have fifty pounds," replied Sugarman, with the same happy ambiguity.
Eliphaz shook his head on principle.
"Yes, you will," said Sugarman, "when you learn how fine a man he is."
The flush of confusion and trepidation already on Leibel's countenance became a rosy glow of modesty, for he could not help overhearing what was being said, owing to the lull of the master-tailor's machine.
" Tell me, then," rejoined Eliphaz.
" Tell me, first, if you will give fifty to a young, healthy,
