Chapters XXI Summary

Three months pass and Sara is leaving school to prepare for dinner with Hugo. He calls, saying he has been held up at a meeting and asks her to meet him at Orloff's Café on East Broadway. She hurries in that direction but bumps into an old man selling gum. She stops to help him pick up his wares and discovers it is her father. He is obviously ill and she takes him home. Her stepmother arrives after Sara has already put Reb to bed. Mrs. Smolinsky howls out her despair, saying it appears she will be burying another husband. The doctor arrives and says that with rest, Reb will recover. As soon as school is over the following day, Sara rushes to Reb's side and finds he is worse. Mrs. Smolinsky says that he cannot seem to swallow and begs...