"What do you think of my stock, Levinsky?" Nodelman asked.
"Quite a lot, isn't it? May no evil eye strike them. What do you
think of the baby? Come here, Beatrice! Recite something for
uncle!" The command had barely left his mouth when Beatrice
sprang to her feet and burst out mumbling something in a
kindergarten singsong. This lasted some minutes Then she
courtesied, shook her skirts, and slipped back into her seat
"She is only six and she is already more educated than her father,"
Nodelman said. "And Sidney he's studyin' French at high school.
Sidney, talk some French to Mr. Levinsky. He'll understand you.
Come on, show Mr. Levinsky you ain't going to be as ignorant as
your pa."
The scene was largely a stereotyped copy of the one I had
witnessed upon my first call at the Margolises'
Sidney scowled
"Come on, Sidney, be a good boy," Nodelman urged, taking him
by the sleeve
"Let me alone," Sidney snarled, breaking away and striking the air
a fierce backward blow with his elbow
"What do you want of him?" Mrs.
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