"Certainly. In our holy religion everything a man ought to do is a _Mitzvah_, even if it is pleasant." "Oh, then, even I must have laid up some good deeds," laughed David, "for I have always enjoyed myself. Really, it isn't such a bad religion after all." "Bad religion!" echoed Reb Shemuel genially. "Wait till you've tried it. You've never had a proper training, that's clear. Are your parents alive?" "No, they both died when I was a child," said David, becoming serious. "I thought so!" said Reb Shemuel. "Fortunately my Hannah's didn't." He smiled at the humor of the phrase and Hannah took his hand and pressed it tenderly. "Ah, it will be all right," said the Reb with a characteristic burst of optimism. "God is good. You have a sound Jewish heart at bottom, David, my son. Hannah, get the _Yomtovdik_ wine. We will drink, a glass for _Mazzoltov_, and I hope your mother will be back in time to join in." Hannah ran into the kitchen feeling happier than she had ever been in her life. She wept a little and laughed a little, and loitered a little to recover her composure and allow the two men to get to know each other a little. "How is your Hannah's late husband?" inquired the Reb with almost a wink, for everything combined to make him jolly as a sandboy. "I understand he is a friend of yours." "We used to be schoolboys together, that is all. Though strangely enough I just spent an hour with him. He is very well," answered David smiling. "He is about to marry again." "His first love of course," said the Reb. "Yes, people always come back to that," said David laughing. "That's right, that's right," said the Reb. "I am glad there was no unpleasantness." "Unpleasantness. No, how could there be? Leah knew it was only a joke. All's well that ends well, and we may perhaps all get married on the same day and risk another mix-up. Ha! Ha! Ha!" "Is it your wish to marry soon, then?" "Yes; there are too many long engagements among our people. They often go off." "Then I suppose you have the means?" "Oh yes, I can show you my--" The old man waved his hand. "I don't want to see anything. My girl must be supported decently--that is all I ask. What do you do for a living?" "I have made a little money at the Cape and now I think of going into business." "What business?" "I haven't settled." "You won't open on _Shabbos_?" said the Reb anxiously. David hesitated a second. In some business, Saturday is the best day. Still he felt that he was not quite radical enough to break the Sabbath deliberately, and since he had contemplated settling down, his religion had become rather more real to him. Besides he must sacrifice something for Hannah's sake. "Have no fear, sir," he said cheerfully. Reb Shemuel gripped his hand in grateful silence.