GIMPEL THE FOOL
309
Whereas I am a man, the husband of a fine wife, the father of prom–
ising children."
I approached the house and my heart started to pound as though
it were the heart of a criminal. I felt no fear, but my heart went
thump! thump! ... Well, no drawing back. I quietly lifted the latch
and went in. Elka was asleep. I looked at the infant's cradle. The
shutter was closed but the moon forced its way through the cracks.
I saw the newborn child's face there and loved it as soon as I saw
it. Immediately. Each tiniest bone. Then I came nearer to the bed.
And what did I see but the apprentice lying there beside Elka. The
moon went out all at once.
It
was utterly black, and I trembled
both hand and foot. My teeth chattered. The bread fell from my
hands and my wife waked and said, "Who is that, ah?"
I muttered, "It's me ..."
"Gimpel?" she asked. "How do you come here? I thought
it
was forbidden."
"The rabbi said," I answered, and shook as with a fever.
"Listen to me, Gimpel," she said, "go out to the shed and see
if
the goat's all right.
It
seems she's been sick." I have forgotten to
say that we had a goat. When I heard she was unwell I went into
the yard. The nannygoat was a good little creature. I had a nearly
human feeling for her.
With hesitant steps, I went up to the shed and opened the door.
The goat stood there on her four feet. I felt her everywhere, drew
her by the horns, examined her udders and found nothing wrong.
She had probably eaten too much bark. "Good night, little goat,"
I said. "Keep well." And the little beast answered with a "Maa" as
though to thank me for the good will.
I went back. The apprentice had vanished.
"Where," I asked, "is the lad?"
"What lad?" my wife answered.
"What do you mean?" I said. "The apprentice. You were sleep–
ing with him."
"The things I have dreamed this night and the night before,"
she said, "may they come true and lay you low, body and soul. An
evil spirit has taken root in you and dazzles your sight." She screamed
out, "You hateful creature! You moon-calf! You spook! You uncouth
mane! Get out, or I'll scream all Frampol out of bed."
