"Such pickles as mamma makes, Ruby, you never tasted! You should learn how. You two can get out here in the kitchen, with your sleeves rolled up to your elbows, and such housekeeping times you can have! I'll get dill down by Anchute's like last year--not, mamma?... Come; we sit down now. We can all eat in the kitchen, mamma. Don't make company out of Ruby--she knows we got a front room to eat in if we want it. Come and sit down, Ruby, across from mamma, so we get used to it right away--sit here, you little Ruby-la, you!" Mr. Ginsburg exuded radiance like August bricks exude the heat of day. He kissed Miss Cohn playfully under the pink lobe of each ear and repeated the performance beneath Mrs. Ginsburg's not so pink lobes; carved the gravy-oozing slices of pot-roast with a hand that was no less skilful because it trembled under pressure of a sublime agitation. "Ruby, I learn you right away--we always got to save mamma the heel of the bread, 'cause she likes it." Miss Cohn smiled and regarded Mr. Ginsburg from the left corner of each eye. "I wasn't so slow learning the shoe business, was I, Abe?" "You look at me so cute-like, and I'll come over to you right this minute! Look at her, mamma, how she flirts with me--just like it wasn't all settled." "Abie, pass Ruby the beans. Honest, for a beau, you don't know nothing--your papa was a better beau as you. Pass her the beans. Don't you see she ain't got none? You two with your love-making! You remind me of me and poor papa; he--he--" "Now, mamma, don't you go getting sad again like a funeral." "I ain't, Abie. I'm--so happy--for you." "To-night we just play, and to-morrow mamma decides when we get married--not, Ruby? We do like she wants it--to-night we just play. Ruby, pass your glass and mamma's, and we drink to our three selves with claret." Mr. Ginsburg poured with agitated hand, and the red in his face mounted even as the wine in the glass. "To the two grandest women in the world! May we all be happy and prosperous from to-night!" Mr. Ginsburg swung his right arm far from him and brought his glass round to his lips in a grand semi-circle. "To the two grandest women in the world!" Mrs. Ginsburg tipped the glass against her lips. "To my two children! God bless them and poor papa!" "The first time I ever seen mamma drink wine, Ruby. She hates it--that shows how much she likes you already. Eat your dessert, mamma; it'll take the taste away. You like noodle dumplings? Such dumplings as these you should learn to make, Ruby-la." "Children, you have had enough supper?" "It was a grand supper, mamma." They scraped their chairs backward from the table and smiled satiated, soul-deep smiles. From the sitting-room a clock chimed the half-hour. "So late, children! _Ach_, how time flies when there's excitement! You and Ruby go in the parlor--I do the dishes so quick you won't know it." "Ruby can help you with the dishes, mamma."