childish prattle with me, and her merriment and wildness knew no
limits. Little by little I got used to her, and fell, in turn, a
longing for her company during my own fits of lonesomeness.

The day after I had witnessed Jacob's punishment I felt miserable.
I was restless and excitable, and did not know what to do with
myself. I thought my heart would burst within me. I asked myself
all kinds of questions: What am I doing here? What did I come here
for? What are all those people to me? As if I had come there only
the day before, and of my own free will. . . .

Marusya looked sharply at me. Very likely she recognized that
something was worrying me. I felt a desire to share my feelings
with her. I got up and walked out into the garden behind the house.
In a moment she followed me. I made a clean breast of it, and told
her all I had to witness the day before.

She listened, shivering, and asked in a tremulous voice:

"And what did they beat him for?"

"He said a Hebrew prayer, and refused to eat meat."

"And why did he refuse to eat meat?"

"It is forbidden."

"Forbidden? Why?"

I was silent.