KATHLEEN Then why don"t ye come inside? It"s freezin" me to the bone.
[_She sneezes._]
Atchoo!
VERA I"m sorry.
[_She comes in and closes the door_]
Will you please say Miss Revendal called from the Settlement, and we are anxiously awaiting his answer to the letter asking him to play for us on----
KATHLEEN What way will I be tellin" him all that? I"m not here.
VERA Eh?
KATHLEEN I"m lavin"--just as soon as I"ve me thrunk packed.
VERA Then I must _write_ the message--can I write at this desk?
KATHLEEN If the ould woman don"t come in and shpy you.
VERA What old woman?
KATHLEEN Ould Mr. Quixano"s mother--she wears a black wig, she"s that houly.
VERA [_Bewildered_]
What?... But why should she mind my writing?
KATHLEEN Look at the clock.
[_VERA looks at the clock, more puzzled than ever._]
If ye"re not quick, it"ll be _Shabbos_.
VERA Be what?
KATHLEEN [_Holds up hands of horror_]
Ye don"t know what _Shabbos_ is! A Jewess not know her own Sunday!
VERA [_Outraged_]
I, a Jewess! How dare you?
KATHLEEN [_Fl.u.s.tered_]
Axin" your pardon, miss, but ye looked a bit furrin and I----
VERA [_Frozen_]
I am a Russian.
[_Slowly and dazedly_]
Do I understand that Mr. Quixano is a Jew?
KATHLEEN Two Jews, miss. Both of "em.
VERA Oh, but it is impossible.
[_Dazedly to herself_]
He had such charming manners.
[_Aloud again_]
You seem to think everybody Jewish. Are you sure Mr. Quixano is not Spanish?--the name sounds Spanish.
KATHLEEN Shpanish!
[_She picks up the old Hebrew book on the armchair._]
Look at the ould lady"s book. Is that Shpanish?
[_She points to the Mizrach._]
And that houly picture the ould lady says her pater-noster to! Is that Shpanish? And that houly table-cloth with the houly silver candle---- [_Cry of sudden astonishment_]
Why, I"ve ounly put---- [_She looks toward mantel and utters a great cry of alarm as she drops the Hebrew book on the floor._]
Why, where"s the other candleshtick! Mother in hivin, they"ll say I shtole the candleshtick!
[_Perceiving that VERA is dazedly moving toward door_]
Beggin" your pardon, miss---- [_She is about to move a chair toward the desk._]
VERA Thank you, I"ve changed my mind.
KATHLEEN That"s more than I"ll do.
VERA [_Hand on door_]
Don"t say I called at all.
KATHLEEN Plaze yerself. What name did ye say?
[_MENDEL enters hastily from his bedroom, completely transmogrified, minus the skull-cap, with a Prince Albert coat, and boots instead of slippers, so that his appearance is gentlemanly. KATHLEEN begins to search quietly and unostentatiously in the table-drawers, the chiffonier, etc., etc., for the candlestick._
MENDEL I am sorry if I have kept you waiting---- [_He rubs his hands importantly._]
You see I have so many pupils already. Won"t you sit down?
[_He indicates a chair._]
VERA [_Flushing, embarra.s.sed, releasing her hold of the door handle_]
Thank you--I--I--I didn"t come about pianoforte lessons.
MENDEL [_Sighing in disappointment_]
_Ach!_
VERA In fact I--er--it wasn"t you I wanted at all--I was just going.
MENDEL [_Politely_]
Perhaps I can direct you to the house you are looking for.
VERA Thank you, I won"t trouble you.
[_She turns toward the door again._]
MENDEL Allow me!
[_He opens the door for her._]
VERA [_Hesitating, struck by his manners, struggling with her anti-Jewish prejudice_]
It--it--was your son I wanted.
MENDEL [_His face lighting up_]
You mean my nephew, David. Yes, _he_ gives violin lessons.
[_He closes the door._]