On his progress towards the palace of his sire, Isaac Borrachsohn, with Christian symbols printed large upon his person, alienated nine loyal Hebrew votes from his father's party and collected a following of small boys which nearly blocked the narrow streets. The crosses were bad enough, but when it was made clear that the contamination, in the form of bright pink soap, had penetrated to the innermost recesses of the heir of the Barrachsohns, the aunts, in frozen horror, turned for succour and advice to the Rabbi. But he could only confirm their worst fears. "Soap," said he, "is from the fat of pigs. Our boy is defiled. To-morrow he must be purified at the synagogue. I told you it was a Christian school." Then did the Assemblyman quail before the reproach of his women. Then did he bite his nails in indecision and remorse and swear to be revenged upon the woman who had dared so to pollute his son. Then did Isaac weep continuously, noisily, but ineffectually for, on the morrow, to the synagogue he went. Miss Bailey, when she saw that he was absent, was mildly self-reproachful and uneasy. If she could have known of the long and complicated rites and services which she had brought upon the boy who had been entrusted to her to be kept happy and out of mischief, she might not have listened so serenely to the janitor's announcement two days later. "Borrachsohn and a whole push of women, and an old bird with a beard, are waitin' for you in the boys' yard," he whispered with great _empressement_. "I sent them there," he explained, "because they wouldn't fit anywhere else. There's about a hundred of them." Mr. Borrachsohn's opening remark showed that the force of Isaac's speech was hereditary. "Are you the ---- ---- young woman who's been playing such fool tricks with my son? You'll wish you minded your own ---- business before I get through with you." The belligerent attitude was reflected by the phalanx of female relatives, whose red roses waved in defiance now, as they had nodded in amity a few short weeks before. For an instant Teacher did not grasp the full meaning of Mr. Borrachsohn's greeting. Then suddenly she realized that this man, this trafficker in the blood and the honour of his people, had dared to swear at her, Constance Bailey. When her eyes met those of the Assemblyman he started slightly, and placed Isaac between him and this alarming young person who seemed not at all to realize that he could "break her" with a word. "Is this your child?" she demanded. And he found himself answering meekly: "Yes ma'an." "Then take him away," she commanded. "He is not fit to be with decent children. I refuse to teach him." "You can't refuse," said Mr. Borrachsohn. "It is the law--" [Illustration: "YOU'LL WISH YOU MINDED YOUR OWN ---- BUSINESS BEFORE I GET THROUGH WITH YOU"] [Illustration: Morris Mogilewsky]