There were two more fittings, each seeming less horrible than the one before.  Then about 11:30, with Natalie’s mother asleep on a couch in the bedroom, her aunt fighting to stay awake, and Natalie watching nervously, Hanna snipped off the last thread, got to her feet, shook the gown gently, then held it up.  Natalie slipped into it, and turned to the mirror.

She let out a cry of disbelief, and then stood there, biting her lower lip.  Her aunt got up and walked closer.  Natalie turned towards Hanna, tears welling in her eyes.  “Oh, Frau Charnoff, I cannot believe it.  It’s beautiful.”

Hanna stepped to one side to inspect it from that angle.  “Yes, it is,” she answered softly.  “And so are you.”

Impulsively, Natalie reached out and hugged her, and then she danced over to her mother.  “Mami, Mami,” she said, shaking her awake.  Her mother opened her eyes and got quickly to her feet.  She held Natalie at arm’s length, stared with wide eyes, and then she began crying too.

Hanna had put her things back in the straw box and gotten into her coat.

“Won’t you take something to eat now,” said Natalie, her face beaming.

“No, thank you.  I must get home.  It is quite late.”

“Please eat something,” she pleaded.  “Jules is waiting downstairs.  He will take you home.”

“All right.  A tea, perhaps.”  Natalie reluctantly slipped off her gown and into a house robe, and the four women trooped downstairs.  Jules was asleep on a sofa.  One look at Natalie’s radiant face told him the story.

Natalie herself served Hanna tea and cakes.  She ate quickly and got up.

Natalie passed her some rolled up money.  “Thank you,” said Hanna.

“It’s me who should be thanking you,” she replied.  “I will never forget you.”

 

When Jules stopped his car in front of the Rosenthal house, he handed over some folded up bills.  “I cannot take that,” said Hanna.  “I have already been paid.”

“Please take it, Frau Charnoff.  It is not for the work.  It is a gift.  What you did was a mitzvah.”

“Thank you,” she said, taking the money.  He escorted her to the door.

Upstairs, in her room, she hung up her coat and sat wearily on her bed.  She counted out the money.  Natalie had paid her twenty marks, and Jules had given her thirty more.  She stared at the money in amazement.  It was more than she had made in any six weeks of her life, and she could use it desperately.