A variety of images passed through his mind, scenes out of his long life, certain people, faces he had seen here and there, comrades of his childhood, but they all had no interest for him. He kept his eyes fixed on the door of his room, waiting for death, as though it would come in by the door. He lay like that the whole day. His wife came in continually, and asked him questions, and he was silent, not taking his eyes off the door, or interrupting the train of his thoughts. It seemed as if he had ceased either to see or to hear. In the evening the teachers began coming. "Finished!" said Reb Shloimeh, looking at the door. Suddenly he heard a voice he knew, and raised his head. "We have come to visit the sick," said the voice. The door opened, and there came in four workmen at once. At first Reb Shloimeh could not believe his eyes, but soon a smile appeared upon his lips, and he tried to sit up. "Come, come!" he said joyfully, and his heart beat rapidly with pleasure. The workmen remained standing some way from the bed, not venturing to approach the sick man, but Reb Shloimeh called them to him. "Nearer, nearer, children!" he said. They came a little nearer. "Come here, to me!" and he pointed to the bed. They came up to the bed. "Well, what are you all about?" he asked with a smile. The workmen were silent. "Why did you not come last night?" he asked, and looked at them smiling. The workmen were silent, and shuffled with their feet. "How are you, Reb Shloimeh?" asked one of them. "Very well, very well," answered Reb Shloimeh, still smiling. "Thank you, children! Thank you!" "Sit down, children, sit down." he said after a pause. "I will tell you some more stories." "It will tire you, Reb Shloimeh," said a workman. "When you are better----" "Sit down, sit down!" said Reb Shloimeh, impatiently. "That's _my_ business!" The workmen exchanged glances with the teachers and the teachers signed to them _not_ to sit down. "Not to-day, Reb Shloimeh, another time, when you--" "Sit down, sit down!" interrupted Reb Shloimeh, "Do me the pleasure!" Once more the workmen exchanged looks with the teachers, and, at a sign from them, they sat down. Reb Shloimeh began telling them the long story of the human race, he spoke with ardor, and it was long since his voice had sounded as it sounded then. He spoke for a long, long time. They interrupted him two or three times, and reminded him that it was bad for him to talk so much. But he only signified with a gesture that they were to let him alone. "I am getting better," he said, and went on. At length the workmen rose from their seats. "Let us go, Reb Shloimeh. It's getting late for us," they begged. "True, true," he replied, "but to-morrow, do you hear? Look here, children, to-morrow!" he said, giving them his hand. The workmen promised to come. They moved away a few steps, and then Reb Shloimeh called them back.