The First Seven Years — Vocabulary
Bernard Malamud
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But just at the moment of his darkest despair, this Polish refugee, Sobel, appeared one night from the street and begged for work.†4 more

Would it be all right to inquire if you have a picture of her?†3 more

Who he was, the shoemaker for a moment had no idea; then his heart trembled as he realized, before he had thoroughly discerned the face, that Max himself was standing there, embarrassedly explaining what he wanted done to his old shoes.†1 more

When Feld has sufficiently recovered from his anguished disappointment to ask why, she answered without hesitation, "Because he's nothing more than a materialist."†

Yet his conscience bothered him for not insisting that the assistant accept a better wage than he was getting, though Feld had honestly told him he could earn a handsome salary if he worked elsewhere or maybe opened a place of his own.†1 more

And all his dreams for her — why he had slaved and destroyed his heart with anxiety and labor — all these dreams of a better life were dead.†

Feld, the shoemaker, was annoyed that his helper, Sobel, was so insensitive to his reverie that he wouldn't for a minute cease his frantic pounding at the other bench.†

During the week, by placing here and there a deft question, he managed to get from Miriam some information about Max.†

Miriam spoke of going for Sobel, but sick as he was, Feld rose in wrath against the idea.†

When Feld has sufficiently recovered from his anguished disappointment to ask why, she answered without hesitation, "Because he's nothing more than a materialist."†

He was tall and grotesquely thin, with sharply cut features, particularly a beaklike nose.†

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 he was seething with excitement, his mind was coldly clear, and he had to admit to himself that he had sensed all along that Sobel felt this way.†

Feld did not probe, for his wife was not particularly observant.†

Yet he could not help but contrast the diligence of the boy, who was a peddler's son, with Miriam's unconcern for an education.†1 more

Sobel vehemently denied it.†

Five years ago, after an attack, it had appeared as though he would either have to sacrifice his business on the auction block and live on a pittance thereafter or put himself at the mercy of some unscrupulous employee who would in the end probably ruin him.†

As for Miriam, what possible harm for a working girl in an office, who met only loudmouthed salesmen and illiterate shipping clerks, to make the acquaintance of a fine scholarly boy?†

Or suppose Miriam, who harped so often on independence, blew up in anger and shouted at him for his meddling?†

It contained a narrow cot, a low table, and several stacks of books piled haphazardly around on the floor around the wall, which made him think how queer Sobel was, to be uneducated and read so much.†