So he got up, and she gave him the new address of the family, a tenement over in the Ghetto district.  “You go there,” she said.  “They’ll be glad to see you.”

But Jurgis stood hesitating.

“I—­I don’t like to,” he said.  “Honest, Marija, why don’t you just give me a little money and let me look for work first?”

“How do you need money?” was her reply.  “All you want is something to eat and a place to sleep, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” he said; “but then I don’t like to go there after I left them—­and while I have nothing to do, and while you—­you—­”

“Go on!” said Marija, giving him a push.  “What are you talking?—­I won’t give you money,” she added, as she followed him to the door, “because you’ll drink it up, and do yourself harm.  Here’s a quarter for you now, and go along, and they’ll be so glad to have you back, you won’t have time to feel ashamed.  Good-by!”

So Jurgis went out, and walked down the street to think it over.  He decided that he would first try to get work, and so he put in the rest of the day wandering here and there among factories and warehouses without success.  Then, when it was nearly dark, he concluded to go home, and set out; but he came to a restaurant, and went in and spent his quarter for a meal; and when he came out he changed his mind—­the night was pleasant, and he would sleep somewhere outside, and put in the morrow hunting, and so have one more chance of a job.  So he started away again, when suddenly he chanced to look about him, and found that he was walking down the same street and past the same hall where he had listened to the political speech the night ’before.  There was no red fire and no band now, but there was a sign out, announcing a meeting, and a stream of people pouring in through the entrance.  In a flash Jurgis had decided that he would chance it once more, and sit down and rest while making up his mind what to do.  There was no one taking tickets, so it must be a free show again.

He entered.  There were no decorations in the hall this time; but there was quite a crowd upon the platform, and almost every seat in the place was filled.  He took one of the last, far in the rear, and straightway forgot all about his surroundings.  Would Elzbieta think that he had come to sponge off her, or would she understand that he meant to get to work again and do his share?  Would she be decent to him, or would she scold him?  If only he could get some sort of a job before he went—­if that last boss had only been willing to try him!

—­Then suddenly Jurgis looked up.  A tremendous roar had burst from the throats of the crowd, which by this time had packed the hall to the very doors.  Men and women were standing up, waving handkerchiefs, shouting, yelling.  Evidently the speaker had arrived, thought Jurgis; what fools they were making of themselves!  What were they expecting to get out of it anyhow—­what had they to do with elections, with governing the country?  Jurgis had been behind the scenes in politics.