662
PARTISAN REVIEW
for repair. Who he was the shoemaker for a moment had no idea,
then
his
heart trembled a little as he realized, before he had thoroughly
discerned the face, that Max himself was standing there, embarras–
sedly explaining what he wanted done to the shoes. Though Feld
listened with all his heart, he could not hear a word, for the oppor–
tunity that had burst upon him, was deafening.
He couldn't recall exactly when the thought had occurred to
him, because it was clear he had more than once considered suggest–
ing to the boy that he go out with Miriam. But he had not dared
speak for if Max said no, how would he face him again? Or suppose
Miriam, who harped so often on independence, blew up and shouted
at him for his meddling? Still, the chance w,as too good to let by:
all it meant was an introduction. They might long ago have become
friends had they happened to meet somewhere, therefore was it not
his duty-an obligation-to bring them together, nothing more, a
harmless connivance to replace an accidental encounter in the subway
or a mutual friend's introduction in the street? Just let him once see
and talk with her and he would for sure be interested.
As
for Miriam,
what possible harm for a working girl in an office, who met only
loud-mouthed salesmen and illiterate shipping clerks, to make the
acquaintance of a fine scholarly boy? Maybe he would awaken in
her a desire to go to college; if not- the shoemaker's mind at last
came to grips with the truth-let her marry an educated man and
live a better life.
When Max finished describing what he wanted done to the shoes,
Feld marked them, both with enormous holes in the soles which he
pretended not to notice, with large white-chalk x's, and the rubber
heels, thinned to the nails, he marked with o's, though it troubled
him that he might have mixed up the letters. Max inquired the price
and the shoemaker cleared his throat and asked the boy, above Sobel's
insistent hammering, would he please step through the side door there
into the hall. Though obviously surprised, Max did as the shoemaker
requested and Feld went in after him. For a minute they were both
silent, because Sobel had stopped banging, and it seemed they under–
stood neither was to say anything until the noise began again. When
it
did, loudly, the shoemaker quickly explained to Max why he had
asked to talk to
him.
"Ever since you was in high school a student," he said, in the
