FL UT1 '/•: R-D I r CK. 379
watched Emanuel's assiduous attentions to his girl in the way of picking up scissors and threading needles, and he frowned when Flutter-Duck hovered about the young man, chattering and monopolising his conversation.
But one fine morning, some months after Emanuel's arrival, a change came over the spirit of the scene. There was a knock at the door, and an ugly, shabby woman, in a green tartan shawl, entered. She scrutinised the room sharply, then uttered a joyful cry of " Emanuel, my love ! " and threw herself upon the handsome young man with an affectionate embrace. Emanuel, flushed and paralysed, was a ludicrous figure, and the workers tittered, not unfamiliar with marital contretemps.
" Let me be," he said sullenly at last, as he untwined her dogged arms. " I tell you I won't have anything to do with you. It's no use."
" Oh no, Emanuel, love, don't say that ; not after all these months?"
" Go away ! " cried Emanuel hoarsely.
"Be not so obstinate," she persisted, in wheedling accents, stroking his flaming cheeks. " Kiss little Joshua and little Miriam."
Here the spectators became aware of two woe-begone infants dragging at her skirts.
" Go away ! " repeated Emanuel passionately, and pushed her from him with violence.
The ugly, shabby woman burst into hysterical tears.
" My own husband, dear people," she sobbed, addressing the room. " My own husband — married to me in Poland five years ago. See, I have the Cesubah .' ' She half drew the marriage parchment from her bosom. " And he won't live with me ! Every time he runs away from me. Last time I saw him was in Liverpool, on the eve of Tabernacles.
