until he felt that his
intellect was giving way. It was while he was determining to call the
whole thing off that Hillel Fatkin entered.

"Mr. Seiden," he said, "could I speak to you a few words something?"

He wore an air of calm dignity that only a long rabbinical ancestry can
give, and his errand in his employer's office was to announce his
impending resignation, as a consequence of Seiden's offensive
indifference to the memory of Hillel's grandfather. When Seiden looked
up, however, his mind reverted not to Hillel's quotation of his
grandfather's maxims, but to Sternsilver's conversation on the day of
the betrothal; and Hillel's dignity suggested to him, instead of
distinguished ancestry, a savings-bank account of two hundred dollars.
He jumped immediately to his feet.

"Sit down, Fatkin," he cried.

Hillel seated himself much as his grandfather might have done in the
house of an humble disciple, blending dignity and condescension in just
the right proportions.

"So," he said, referring to Mr. Seiden's supposed contrition for the
affront to the late rabbi, "when it is too late, Mr. Seiden, you are
sorry."

"What do you mean, sorry?" Mr. Seiden replied. "Believe me, Fatkin, I
am glad to be rid of the feller. I could get just as good foremen as
him without going outside this factory even--for instance, you."

"Me!" Fatkin cried.

"Sure; why not?" Seiden continued. "A foreman must got to be fresh to
the operators, anyhow; and if you ain't fresh, Fatkin, I don't know who
is."

"Me fresh!" Fatkin exclaimed.

"I ain't kicking you are too fresh, y'understand," Seiden said. "I am
only saying you are fresh enough to be a foreman."

Fatkin shrugged. "Very well, Mr. Seiden," he said in a manner
calculated to impress Seiden with the magnitude of the favour. "Very
well; if you want me to I would go to work as foreman for you."

Seiden with difficulty suppressed a desire to kick Hillel and smiled
blandly.

"_Schon gut_," he said. "You will go to work Monday morning."

"Why not to-day, Mr. Seiden?" Hillel asked.

Seiden smiled again and this time it was not so bland as it was
mechanical, suggesting the pulling of an invisible string.

"Because, Fatkin, you are going to be too busy to-day," Seiden replied.
"A feller couldn't start in to work as a foreman and also get married
all in one day."

Hillel stared at his employer.

"Me get married, Mr. Seiden! What are you talking nonsense, Mr. Seiden?
I ain't goi