English
PromptlyatseventhenextmorningJurgisreportedforwork.
Hecametothedoorthathadbeenpointedouttohim,andtherehewaitedfornearlytwohours.
Thebosshadmeantforhimtoenter,buthadnotsaidthis,andsoitwasonlywhenonhiswayouttohireanothermanthathecameuponJurgis.
Hegavehimagoodcursing,butasJurgisdidnotunderstandawordofithedidnotobject.
Hefollowedtheboss,whoshowedhimwheretoputhisstreetclothes,andwaitedwhilehedonnedtheworkingclotheshehadboughtinasecondhandshopandbroughtwithhiminabundle;thenheledhimtothe“killingbeds.”
TheworkwhichJurgiswastodoherewasverysimple,andittookhimbutafewminutestolearnit.
Hewasprovidedwithastiffbesom,suchasisusedbystreetsweepers,anditwashisplacetofollowdownthelinethemanwhodrewoutthesmokingentrailsfromthecarcassofthesteer;thismasswastobesweptintoatrap,whichwasthenclosed,sothatnoonemightslipintoit.
AsJurgiscamein,thefirstcattleofthemorningwerejustmakingtheirappearance;andso,withscarcelytimetolookabouthim,andnonetospeaktoanyone,hefelltowork.
ItwasaswelteringdayinJuly,andtheplaceranwithsteaminghotblood—onewadedinitonthefloor.
Thestenchwasalmostoverpowering,buttoJurgisitwasnothing.
Hiswholesoulwasdancingwithjoy—hewasatworkatlast!Hewasatworkandearningmoney!
Alldaylonghewasfiguringtohimself.
Hewaspaidthefabuloussumofseventeenandahalfcentsanhour;andasitprovedarushdayandheworkeduntilnearlyseveno’clockintheevening,hewenthometothefamilywiththetidingsthathehadearnedmorethanadollarandahalfinasingleday!
Athome,also,therewasmoregoodnews;somuchofitatoncethattherewasquiteacelebrationinAniele’shallbedroom.
JonashadbeentohaveaninterviewwiththespecialpolicemantowhomSzedvilashadintroducedhim,andhadbeentakentoseeseveralofthebosses,withtheresultthatonehadpromisedhimajobthebeginningofthenextweek.
AndthentherewasMarijaBerczynskas,who,firedwithjealousybythesuccessofJurgis,hadsetoutuponherownresponsibilitytogetaplace.
Marijahadnothingtotakewithhersavehertwobrawnyarmsandtheword“job,”laboriouslylearned;butwiththeseshehadmarchedaboutPackingtownallday,enteringeverydoorwherethereweresignsofactivity.
Outofsomeshehadbeenorderedwithcurses;butMarijawasnotafraidofmanordevil,andaskedeveryoneshesaw—visitorsandstrangers,orworkpeoplelikeherself,andonceortwiceevenhighandloftyofficepersonages,whostaredatherasiftheythoughtshewascrazy.
Intheend,however,shehadreapedherreward.
Inoneofthesmallerplantsshehadstumbleduponaroomwherescoresofwomenandgirlsweresittingatlongtablespreparingsmokedbeefincans;andwanderingthroughroomafterroom,Marijacameatlasttotheplacewherethesealedcanswerebeingpaintedandlabeled,andhereshehadthegoodfortunetoencounterthe“forelady.”
Marijadidnotunderstandthen,asshewasdestinedtounderstandlater,whattherewasattractivetoa“forelady”aboutthecombinationofafacefullofboundlessgoodnatureandthemusclesofadrayhorse;butthewomanhadtoldhertocomethenextdayandshewouldperhapsgiveherachancetolearnthetradeofpaintingcans.
Thepaintingofcansbeingskilledpiecework,andpayingasmuchastwodollarsaday,MarijaburstinuponthefamilywiththeyellofaComancheIndian,andfelltocaperingabouttheroomsoastofrightenthebabyalmostintoconvulsions.
Betterluckthanallthiscouldhardlyhavebeenhopedfor;therewasonlyoneofthemlefttoseekaplace.
JurgiswasdeterminedthatTetaElzbietashouldstayathometokeephouse,andthatOnashouldhelpher.
HewouldnothaveOnaworking—hewasnotthatsortofaman,hesaid,andshewasnotthatsortofawoman.
Itwouldbeastrangethingifamanlikehimcouldnotsupportthefamily,withthehelpoftheboardofJonasandMarija.
Hewouldnotevenhearoflettingthechildrengotowork—therewereschoolshereinAmericaforchildren,Jurgishadheard,towhichtheycouldgofornothing.
Thatthepriestwouldobjecttotheseschoolswassomethingofwhichhehadasyetnoidea,andforthepresenthismindwasmadeupthatthechildrenofTetaElzbietashouldhaveasfairachanceasanyotherchildren.
Theoldestofthem,littleStanislovas,wasbutthirteen,andsmallforhisageatthat;andwhiletheoldestsonofSzedvilaswasonlytwelve,andhadworkedforoverayearatJones’s,JurgiswouldhaveitthatStanislovasshouldlearntospeakEnglish,andgrowuptobeaskilledman.
SotherewasonlyoldDedeAntanas;Jurgiswouldhavehadhimresttoo,buthewasforcedtoacknowledgethatthiswasnotpossible,and,besides,theoldmanwouldnothearitspokenof—itwashiswhimtoinsistthathewasaslivelyasanyboy.
HehadcometoAmericaasfullofhopeasthebestofthem;andnowhewasthechiefproblemthatworriedhisson.
ForeveryonethatJurgisspoketoassuredhimthatitwasawasteoftimetoseekemploymentfortheoldmaninPackingtown.
Szedvilastoldhimthatthepackersdidnotevenkeepthemenwhohadgrownoldintheirownservice—tosaynothingoftakingonnewones.
Andnotonlywasittherulehere,itwastheruleeverywhereinAmerica,sofarasheknew.
TosatisfyJurgishehadaskedthepoliceman,andbroughtbackthemessagethatthethingwasnottobethoughtof.
TheyhadnottoldthistooldAnthony,whohadconsequentlyspentthetwodayswanderingaboutfromonepartoftheyardstoanother,andhadnowcomehometohearaboutthetriumphoftheothers,smilingbravelyandsayingthatitwouldbehisturnanotherday.
Theirgoodluck,theyfelt,hadgiventhemtherighttothinkaboutahome;andsittingoutonthedoorstepthatsummerevening,theyheldconsultationaboutit,andJurgistookoccasiontobroachaweightysubject.
Passingdowntheavenuetoworkthatmorninghehadseentwoboysleavinganadvertisementfromhousetohouse;andseeingthattherewerepicturesuponit,Jurgishadaskedforone,andhadrolleditupandtuckeditintohisshirt.
Atnoontimeamanwithwhomhehadbeentalkinghadreadittohimandtoldhimalittleaboutit,withtheresultthatJurgishadconceivedawildidea.
Hebroughtouttheplacard,whichwasquiteaworkofart.
Itwasnearlytwofeetlong,printedoncalenderedpaper,withaselectionofcolorssobrightthattheyshoneeveninthemoonlight.
Thecenteroftheplacardwasoccupiedbyahouse,brilliantlypainted,new,anddazzling.
Theroofofitwasofapurplehue,andtrimmedwithgold;thehouseitselfwassilvery,andthedoorsandwindowsred.
Itwasatwo-storybuilding,withaporchinfront,andaveryfancyscrollworkaroundtheedges;itwascompleteineverytiniestdetail,eventhedoorknob,andtherewasahammockontheporchandwhitelacecurtainsinthewindows.
Underneaththis,inonecorner,wasapictureofahusbandandwifeinlovingembrace;intheoppositecornerwasacradle,withfluffycurtainsdrawnoverit,andasmilingcherubhoveringuponsilver-coloredwings.
Forfearthatthesignificanceofallthisshouldbelost,therewasalabel,inPolish,Lithuanian,andGerman—”Dom.Namai.Heim.”“Whypayrent?”
thelinguisticcircularwentontodemand.“Whynotownyourownhome?
Doyouknowthatyoucanbuyoneforlessthanyourrent?
Wehavebuiltthousandsofhomeswhicharenowoccupiedbyhappyfamilies.”
—Soitbecameeloquent,picturingtheblissfulnessofmarriedlifeinahousewithnothingtopay.
Itevenquoted“Home,SweetHome,”andmadeboldtotranslateitintoPolish—thoughforsomereasonitomittedtheLithuanianofthis.
Perhapsthetranslatorfounditadifficultmattertobesentimentalinalanguageinwhichasobisknownasagukcziojimasandasmileasanusiszypsojimas.
Overthisdocumentthefamilyporedlong,whileOnaspelledoutitscontents.
Itappearedthatthishousecontainedfourrooms,besidesabasement,andthatitmightbeboughtforfifteenhundreddollars,thelotandall.
Ofthis,onlythreehundreddollarshadtobepaiddown,thebalancebeingpaidattherateoftwelvedollarsamonth.
Thesewerefrightfulsums,butthentheywereinAmerica,wherepeopletalkedaboutsuchwithoutfear.
Theyhadlearnedthattheywouldhavetopayarentofninedollarsamonthforaflat,andtherewasnowayofdoingbetter,unlessthefamilyoftwelvewastoexistinoneortworooms,asatpresent.
Iftheypaidrent,ofcourse,theymightpayforever,andbenobetteroff;whereas,iftheycouldonlymeettheextraexpenseinthebeginning,therewouldatlastcomeatimewhentheywouldnothaveanyrenttopayfortherestoftheirlives.
Theyfigureditup.TherewasalittleleftofthemoneybelongingtoTetaElzbieta,andtherewasalittlelefttoJurgis.
Marijahadaboutfiftydollarspinnedupsomewhereinherstockings,andGrandfatherAnthonyhadpartofthemoneyhehadgottenforhisfarm.
Iftheyallcombined,theywouldhaveenoughtomakethefirstpayment;andiftheyhademployment,sothattheycouldbesureofthefuture,itmightreallyprovethebestplan.
Itwas,ofcourse,notathingeventobetalkedoflightly;itwasathingtheywouldhavetosifttothebottom.
Andyet,ontheotherhand,iftheyweregoingtomaketheventure,thesoonertheydiditthebetter,forweretheynotpayingrentallthetime,andlivinginamosthorriblewaybesides?
Jurgiswasusedtodirt—therewasnothingcouldscareamanwhohadbeenwitharailroadgang,whereonecouldgatherupthefleasoffthefloorofthesleepingroombythehandful.
ButthatsortofthingwouldnotdoforOna.
Theymusthaveabetterplaceofsomesortsoon—Jurgissaiditwithalltheassuranceofamanwhohadjustmadeadollarandfifty-sevencentsinasingleday.
Jurgiswasatalosstounderstandwhy,withwagesastheywere,somanyofthepeopleofthisdistrictshouldlivethewaytheydid.
ThenextdayMarijawenttoseeher“forelady,”andwastoldtoreportthefirstoftheweek,andlearnthebusinessofcan-painter.
Marijawenthome,singingoutloudalltheway,andwasjustintimetojoinOnaandherstepmotherastheyweresettingouttogoandmakeinquiryconcerningthehouse.
Thateveningthethreemadetheirreporttothemen—thethingwasaltogetherasrepresentedinthecircular,oratanyratesotheagenthadsaid.
Thehouseslaytothesouth,aboutamileandahalffromtheyards;theywerewonderfulbargains,thegentlemanhadassuredthem—personally,andfortheirowngood.
Hecoulddothis,soheexplainedtothem,forthereasonthathehadhimselfnointerestintheirsale—hewasmerelytheagentforacompanythathadbuiltthem.
Thesewerethelast,andthecompanywasgoingoutofbusiness,soifanyonewishedtotakeadvantageofthiswonderfulno-rentplan,hewouldhavetobeveryquick.
Asamatteroffacttherewasjustalittleuncertaintyastowhethertherewasasinglehouseleft;fortheagenthadtakensomanypeopletoseethem,andforallheknewthecompanymighthavepartedwiththelast.
SeeingTetaElzbieta’sevidentgriefatthisnews,headded,aftersomehesitation,thatiftheyreallyintendedtomakeapurchase,hewouldsendatelephonemessageathisownexpense,andhaveoneofthehouseskept.
Soithadfinallybeenarranged—andtheyweretogoandmakeaninspectionthefollowingSundaymorning.
ThatwasThursday;andalltherestoftheweekthekillinggangatBrown’sworkedatfullpressure,andJurgisclearedadollarseventy-fiveeveryday.
Thatwasattherateoftenandone-halfdollarsaweek,orforty-fiveamonth.
Jurgiswasnotabletofigure,exceptitwasaverysimplesum,butOnawaslikelightningatsuchthings,andsheworkedouttheproblemforthefamily.
MarijaandJonaswereeachtopaysixteendollarsamonthboard,andtheoldmaninsistedthathecoulddothesameassoonashegotaplace—whichmightbeanydaynow.Thatwouldmakeninety-threedollars.
ThenMarijaandJonaswerebetweenthemtotakeathirdshareinthehouse,whichwouldleaveonlyeightdollarsamonthforJurgistocontributetothepayment.
Sotheywouldhaveeighty-fivedollarsamonth—or,supposingthatDedeAntanasdidnotgetworkatonce,seventydollarsamonth—whichoughtsurelytobesufficientforthesupportofafamilyoftwelve.
AnhourbeforethetimeonSundaymorningtheentirepartysetout.
Theyhadtheaddresswrittenonapieceofpaper,whichtheyshowedtosomeonenowandthen.
Itprovedtobealongmileandahalf,buttheywalkedit,andhalfanhourorsolatertheagentputinanappearance.
Hewasasmoothandfloridpersonage,elegantlydressed,andhespoketheirlanguagefreely,whichgavehimagreatadvantageindealingwiththem.
Heescortedthemtothehouse,whichwasoneofalongrowofthetypicalframedwellingsoftheneighborhood,wherearchitectureisaluxurythatisdispensedwith.
Ona’sheartsank,forthehousewasnotasitwasshowninthepicture;thecolorschemewasdifferent,foronething,andthenitdidnotseemquitesobig.
Still,itwasfreshlypainted,andmadeaconsiderableshow.
Itwasallbrand-new,sotheagenttoldthem,buthetalkedsoincessantlythattheywerequiteconfused,anddidnothavetimetoaskmanyquestions.
Therewereallsortsofthingstheyhadmadeuptheirmindstoinquireabout,butwhenthetimecame,theyeitherforgotthemorlackedthecourage.
Theotherhousesintherowdidnotseemtobenew,andfewofthemseemedtobeoccupied.
Whentheyventuredtohintatthis,theagent’sreplywasthatthepurchaserswouldbemovinginshortly.
Topressthematterwouldhaveseemedtobedoubtinghisword,andneverintheirliveshadanyoneofthemeverspokentoapersonoftheclasscalled“gentleman”exceptwithdeferenceandhumility.
Thehousehadabasement,abouttwofeetbelowthestreetline,andasinglestory,aboutsixfeetaboveit,reachedbyaflightofsteps.
Inadditiontherewasanattic,madebythepeakoftheroof,andhavingonesmallwindowineachend.
Thestreetinfrontofthehousewasunpavedandunlighted,andtheviewfromitconsistedofafewexactlysimilarhouses,scatteredhereandthereuponlotsgrownupwithdingybrownweeds.
Thehouseinsidecontainedfourrooms,plasteredwhite;thebasementwasbutaframe,thewallsbeingunplasteredandthefloornotlaid.
Theagentexplainedthatthehouseswerebuiltthatway,asthepurchasersgenerallypreferredtofinishthebasementstosuittheirowntaste.
Theatticwasalsounfinished—thefamilyhadbeenfiguringthatincaseofanemergencytheycouldrentthisattic,buttheyfoundthattherewasnotevenafloor,nothingbutjoists,andbeneaththemthelathandplasteroftheceilingbelow.
Allofthis,however,didnotchilltheirardorasmuchasmighthavebeenexpected,becauseofthevolubilityoftheagent.
Therewasnoendtotheadvantagesofthehouse,ashesetthemforth,andhewasnotsilentforaninstant;heshowedthemeverything,downtothelocksonthedoorsandthecatchesonthewindows,andhowtoworkthem.
Heshowedthemthesinkinthekitchen,withrunningwaterandafaucet,somethingwhichTetaElzbietahadneverinherwildestdreamshopedtopossess.
Afteradiscoverysuchasthatitwouldhaveseemedungratefultofindanyfault,andsotheytriedtoshuttheireyestootherdefects.
Still,theywerepeasantpeople,andtheyhungontotheirmoneybyinstinct;itwasquiteinvainthattheagenthintedatpromptness—theywouldsee,theywouldsee,theytoldhim,theycouldnotdecideuntiltheyhadhadmoretime.
Andsotheywenthomeagain,andalldayandeveningtherewasfiguringanddebating.
Itwasanagonytothemtohavetomakeuptheirmindsinamattersuchasthis.
Theynevercouldagreealltogether;thereweresomanyargumentsuponeachside,andonewouldbeobstinate,andnosoonerwouldtheresthaveconvincedhimthanitwouldtranspirethathisargumentshadcausedanothertowaver.
Once,intheevening,whentheywereallinharmony,andthehousewasasgoodasbought,Szedvilascameinandupsetthemagain.
Szedvilashadnouseforpropertyowning.
Hetoldthemcruelstoriesofpeoplewhohadbeendonetodeathinthis“buyingahome”swindle.
Theywouldbealmostsuretogetintoatightplaceandlosealltheirmoney;andtherewasnoendofexpensethatonecouldneverforesee;andthehousemightbegood-for-nothingfromtoptobottom—howwasapoormantoknow?
Then,too,theywouldswindleyouwiththecontract—andhowwasapoormantounderstandanythingaboutacontract?
Itwasallnothingbutrobbery,andtherewasnosafetybutinkeepingoutofit.Andpayrent?askedJurgis.
Ah,yes,tobesure,theotheranswered,thattoowasrobbery.Itwasallrobbery,forapoorman.
Afterhalfanhourofsuchdepressingconversation,theyhadtheirmindsquitemadeupthattheyhadbeensavedatthebrinkofaprecipice;butthenSzedvilaswentaway,andJonas,whowasasharplittleman,remindedthemthatthedelicatessenbusinesswasafailure,accordingtoitsproprietor,andthatthismightaccountforhispessimisticviews.Which,ofcourse,reopenedthesubject!
Thecontrollingfactorwasthattheycouldnotstaywheretheywere—theyhadtogosomewhere.
Andwhentheygaveupthehouseplananddecidedtorent,theprospectofpayingoutninedollarsamonthforevertheyfoundjustashardtoface.
Alldayandallnightfornearlyawholeweektheywrestledwiththeproblem,andthenintheendJurgistooktheresponsibility.
BrotherJonashadgottenhisjob,andwaspushingatruckinDurham’s;andthekillinggangatBrown’scontinuedtoworkearlyandlate,sothatJurgisgrewmoreconfidenteveryhour,morecertainofhismastership.
Itwasthekindofthingthemanofthefamilyhadtodecideandcarrythrough,hetoldhimself.
Othersmighthavefailedatit,buthewasnotthefailingkind—hewouldshowthemhowtodoit.
Hewouldworkallday,andallnight,too,ifneedbe;hewouldneverrestuntilthehousewaspaidforandhispeoplehadahome.
Sohetoldthem,andsointheendthedecisionwasmade.
Theyhadtalkedaboutlookingatmorehousesbeforetheymadethepurchase;butthentheydidnotknowwhereanymorewere,andtheydidnotknowanywayoffindingout.
Theonetheyhadseenheldtheswayintheirthoughts;whenevertheythoughtofthemselvesinahouse,itwasthishousethattheythoughtof.
Andsotheywentandtoldtheagentthattheywerereadytomaketheagreement.
Theyknew,asanabstractproposition,thatinmattersofbusinessallmenaretobeaccountedliars;buttheycouldnotbuthavebeeninfluencedbyalltheyhadheardfromtheeloquentagent,andwerequitepersuadedthatthehousewassomethingtheyhadrunariskoflosingbytheirdelay.
Theydrewadeepbreathwhenhetoldthemthattheywerestillintime.
Theyweretocomeonthemorrow,andhewouldhavethepapersalldrawnup.
ThismatterofpaperswasoneinwhichJurgisunderstoodtothefulltheneedofcaution;yethecouldnotgohimself—everyonetoldhimthathecouldnotgetaholiday,andthathemightlosehisjobbyasking.
Sotherewasnothingtobedonebuttotrustittothewomen,withSzedvilas,whopromisedtogowiththem.
Jurgisspentawholeeveningimpressinguponthemtheseriousnessoftheoccasion—andthenfinally,outofinnumerablehidingplacesabouttheirpersonsandintheirbaggage,cameforththepreciouswadsofmoney,tobedoneuptightlyinalittlebagandsewedfastintheliningofTetaElzbieta’sdress.
Earlyinthemorningtheysalliedforth.
Jurgishadgiventhemsomanyinstructionsandwarnedthemagainstsomanyperils,thatthewomenwerequitepalewithfright,andeventheimperturbabledelicatessenvender,whopridedhimselfuponbeingabusinessman,wasillatease.
Theagenthadthedeedallready,andinvitedthemtositdownandreadit;thisSzedvilasproceededtodo—apainfulandlaboriousprocess,duringwhichtheagentdrummeduponthedesk.
TetaElzbietawassoembarrassedthattheperspirationcameoutuponherforeheadinbeads;forwasnotthisreadingasmuchastosayplainlytothegentleman’sfacethattheydoubtedhishonesty?
YetJokubasSzedvilasreadonandon;andpresentlytheredevelopedthathehadgoodreasonfordoingso.
Forahorriblesuspicionhadbegundawninginhismind;heknittedhisbrowsmoreandmoreasheread.
Thiswasnotadeedofsaleatall,sofarashecouldsee—itprovidedonlyfortherentingoftheproperty!
Itwashardtotell,withallthisstrangelegaljargon,wordshehadneverheardbefore;butwasnotthisplain—”thepartyofthefirstpartherebycovenantsandagreestorenttothesaidpartyofthesecondpart!”
Andthenagain—”amonthlyrentaloftwelvedollars,foraperiodofeightyearsandfourmonths!”
ThenSzedvilastookoffhisspectacles,andlookedattheagent,andstammeredaquestion.
Theagentwasmostpolite,andexplainedthatthatwastheusualformula;thatitwasalwaysarrangedthatthepropertyshouldbemerelyrented.
Hekepttryingtoshowthemsomethinginthenextparagraph;butSzedvilascouldnotgetbytheword“rental”—andwhenhetranslatedittoTetaElzbieta,shetoowasthrownintoafright.
Theywouldnotownthehomeatall,then,fornearlynineyears!
Theagent,withinfinitepatience,begantoexplainagain;butnoexplanationwoulddonow.
ElzbietahadfirmlyfixedinhermindthelastsolemnwarningofJurgis:“Ifthereisanythingwrong,donotgivehimthemoney,butgooutandgetalawyer.”
Itwasanagonizingmoment,butshesatinthechair,herhandsclenchedlikedeath,andmadeafearfuleffort,summoningallherpowers,andgaspedoutherpurpose.
Jokubastranslatedherwords.Sheexpectedtheagenttoflyintoapassion,buthewas,toherbewilderment,aseverimperturbable;heevenofferedtogoandgetalawyerforher,butshedeclinedthis.
Theywentalongway,onpurposetofindamanwhowouldnotbeaconfederate.
Thenletanyoneimaginetheirdismay,when,afterhalfanhour,theycameinwithalawyer,andheardhimgreettheagentbyhisfirstname!
Theyfeltthatallwaslost;theysatlikeprisonerssummonedtohearthereadingoftheirdeathwarrant.
Therewasnothingmorethattheycoulddo—theyweretrapped!
Thelawyerreadoverthedeed,andwhenhehadreaditheinformedSzedvilasthatitwasallperfectlyregular,thatthedeedwasablankdeedsuchaswasoftenusedinthesesales.Andwasthepriceasagreed?
theoldmanasked—threehundreddollarsdown,andthebalanceattwelvedollarsamonth,tillthetotaloffifteenhundreddollarshadbeenpaid?Yes,thatwascorrect.
Anditwasforthesaleofsuchandsuchahouse—thehouseandlotandeverything?
Yes,—andthelawyershowedhimwherethatwasallwritten.
Anditwasallperfectlyregular—therewerenotricksaboutitofanysort?
Theywerepoorpeople,andthiswasalltheyhadintheworld,andiftherewasanythingwrongtheywouldberuined.
AndsoSzedvilaswenton,askingonetremblingquestionafteranother,whiletheeyesofthewomenfolkswerefixeduponhiminmuteagony.
Theycouldnotunderstandwhathewassaying,buttheyknewthatuponittheirfatedepended.
Andwhenatlasthehadquestioneduntiltherewasnomorequestioningtobedone,andthetimecameforthemtomakeuptheirminds,andeitherclosethebargainorrejectit,itwasallthatpoorTetaElzbietacoulddotokeepfromburstingintotears.
Jokubashadaskedherifshewishedtosign;hehadaskedhertwice—andwhatcouldshesay?
Howdidsheknowifthislawyerweretellingthetruth—thathewasnotintheconspiracy?
Andyet,howcouldshesayso—whatexcusecouldshegive?
Theeyesofeveryoneintheroomwereuponher,awaitingherdecision;andatlast,halfblindwithhertears,shebeganfumblinginherjacket,whereshehadpinnedthepreciousmoney.
Andshebroughtitoutandunwrappeditbeforethemen.
AllofthisOnasatwatching,fromacorneroftheroom,twistingherhandstogether,meantime,inafeveroffright.
Onalongedtocryoutandtellherstepmothertostop,thatitwasallatrap;butthereseemedtobesomethingclutchingherbythethroat,andshecouldnotmakeasound.
AndsoTetaElzbietalaidthemoneyonthetable,andtheagentpickeditupandcountedit,andthenwrotethemareceiptforitandpassedthemthedeed.
Thenhegaveasighofsatisfaction,androseandshookhandswiththemall,stillassmoothandpoliteasatthebeginning.
OnahadadimrecollectionofthelawyertellingSzedvilasthathischargewasadollar,whichoccasionedsomedebate,andmoreagony;andthen,aftertheyhadpaidthat,too,theywentoutintothestreet,herstepmotherclutchingthedeedinherhand.
Theyweresoweakfromfrightthattheycouldnotwalk,buthadtositdownontheway.
Sotheywenthome,withadeadlyterrorgnawingattheirsouls;andthateveningJurgiscamehomeandheardtheirstory,andthatwastheend.
Jurgiswassurethattheyhadbeenswindled,andwereruined;andhetorehishairandcursedlikeamadman,swearingthathewouldkilltheagentthatverynight.
Intheendheseizedthepaperandrushedoutofthehouse,andallthewayacrosstheyardstoHalstedStreet.
HedraggedSzedvilasoutfromhissupper,andtogethertheyrushedtoconsultanotherlawyer.
Whentheyenteredhisofficethelawyersprangup,forJurgislookedlikeacrazyperson,withflyinghairandbloodshoteyes.
Hiscompanionexplainedthesituation,andthelawyertookthepaperandbegantoreadit,whileJurgisstoodclutchingthedeskwithknottedhands,tremblingineverynerve.
OnceortwicethelawyerlookedupandaskedaquestionofSzedvilas;theotherdidnotknowawordthathewassaying,buthiseyeswerefixeduponthelawyer’sface,strivinginanagonyofdreadtoreadhismind.
Hesawthelawyerlookupandlaugh,andhegaveagasp;themansaidsomethingtoSzedvilas,andJurgisturneduponhisfriend,hisheartalmoststopping.
“Well?”hepanted.
“Hesaysitisallright,”saidSzedvilas.
“Allright!”
“Yes,hesaysitisjustasitshouldbe.”AndJurgis,inhisrelief,sankdownintoachair.
“Areyousureofit?”hegasped,andmadeSzedvilastranslatequestionafterquestion.
Hecouldnothearitoftenenough;hecouldnotaskwithenoughvariations.
Yes,theyhadboughtthehouse,theyhadreallyboughtit.
Itbelongedtothem,theyhadonlytopaythemoneyanditwouldbeallright.
ThenJurgiscoveredhisfacewithhishands,forthereweretearsinhiseyes,andhefeltlikeafool.
Buthehadhadsuchahorriblefright;strongmanashewas,itlefthimalmosttooweaktostandup.
Thelawyerexplainedthattherentalwasaform—thepropertywassaidtobemerelyrenteduntilthelastpaymenthadbeenmade,thepurposebeingtomakeiteasiertoturnthepartyoutifhedidnotmakethepayments.
Solongastheypaid,however,theyhadnothingtofear,thehousewasalltheirs.
Jurgiswassogratefulthathepaidthehalfdollarthelawyeraskedwithoutwinkinganeyelash,andthenrushedhometotellthenewstothefamily.
HefoundOnainafaintandthebabiesscreaming,andthewholehouseinanuproar—forithadbeenbelievedbyallthathehadgonetomurdertheagent.
Itwashoursbeforetheexcitementcouldbecalmed;andallthroughthatcruelnightJurgiswouldwakeupnowandthenandhearOnaandherstepmotherinthenextroom,sobbingsoftlytothemselves.
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