'I am sorry she doesn't please you; but, after all, it's my business, and not yours.' 'Not mine? After I gave you my Fanny, and she slaved for you and bore you children?' 'It's just for her children that I had to marry.' 'What? You had to marry a Christian for the sake of Fanny's children? Oh, God forgive you!' 'We are not in Poland now,' he said sulkily. 'Ah, I always said you were a sinner in Israel. My Fanny has been taken for your sins. A black death on your bones.' 'If you don't leave off cursing, I shall call a policeman.' 'Oh, lock me up, lock me up--instead of your shame. Let the whole world know that.' 'Go away, then. You have no right to come here and frighten Madge--my wife. She is in delicate health, as it is.' 'May she be an atonement for all of us! I have the right to come here as much as I please.' 'You have no right.' 'I have a right to the children. My blood is in their veins.' 'You have no right. The children are their father's.' 'Yes, their Father's in heaven,' and she raised her hand like an ancient prophetess, while the other supported her bag over her shoulder. 'The children are the children of Israel, and they must carry forward the yoke of the Law.' 'And what do you propose?' he said, with a scornful sniff. 'Give me the children. I will elevate them in the fear of the Lord. You go your own godless way, free of burdens--you and your Christian poppet. You no longer belong to us. Give me the children, and I'll go away.' He looked at her quizzingly. 'You have been drinking, my good mother-in-law.' 'Ay, the waters of affliction. Give me the children.' 'But they won't go with you. They love their step-mother.' 'Love that painted jade? They, with Jewish blood warm in their veins, with the memory of their mother warm in their hearts? Impossible!' He opened the door gently. 'Becky! Joe! No, don't you come, Madge, darling. It's all right. The old lady wants to say "Good-day" to the children.' The two children tripped into the passage, with napkins tied round their chins, their mouths greasy, but the rest of their persons unfamiliarly speckless and tidy. They stood still at the sight of their grandmother, so stern and frowning. Henry shut the door carefully. 'My lambs!' Natalya cried, in her sweetest but harsh tones, 'Won't you come and kiss me?' Becky, a mature person of seven, advanced courageously and surrendered her cheek to her grandmother. 'How are you, granny?' she said ceremoniously. 'And Joseph?' said Natalya, not replying. 'My heart and my crown, will he not come?' The four-and-a-half year old Joseph stood dubiously, with his fist in his mouth. 'Bring him to me, Becky. Tell him I want you and him to come and live with me.' Becky shrugged her precocious shoulders. 'He may. I won't,' she said laconically. 'Oh, Becky!' said the grandmother. 'Do you want to stay here and torture your poor mother?' Becky stared. 'She's dead,' she said.