The Ghetto Part 23

[_REBECCA appears at the window of AARON'S house._

RAFAEL.

True, Rabbi, true! And you do wisely not to meddle with them. Do you know there was a faint suggestion in the air--like the subtle odour of some tender flower--that possibly Rebecca would not be averse to marrying me!

SACHEL.

Well, well, well! Hee, hee! [_He nudges THE RABBI._

 

ESTHER.

Dear me; love at first sight!

RAFAEL.

Not at first sight; we have had previous interviews----

SACHEL.

Eh? eh? The rascal!

RAFAEL.

----about fourteen years ago. And now we have met again, and I thought she would be willing to marry me, but being so shrinking a creature, like--what shall I say--like a snail withdrawing into its sh.e.l.l---- [_REBECCA draws back in pain._

ESTHER.

[_Mildly deprecating._] Oh!

RAFAEL.

She would not say so in as many words.

[_REBECCA looks out again._

ESTHER.

I am sorry for the poor girl; for, if the truth be told--But, there, you are not serious about anything!

SACHEL.

Why do you say "poor girl" when she would bring----

THE RABBI.

But Rafael doesn't look to dowries; he has a romantic turn. The fact that she would bring five or six thousand guilders----

SACHEL.

Ten thousand guilders!

RAFAEL.

Ten thousand guilders! [_In irony._] H'm! But--Oh, well, I'm not a very keen observer, Rabbi; it is probable that Rebecca never----

THE RABBI.

On the contrary. For, speaking of that very matter, which, of course, is no affair of mine, she----

RAFAEL.

Quite true, quite true! What did you say, aunt?

ESTHER.

Eh? Oh, I was going to say that she begged your photograph of me yesterday, and when it dropped into the ca.n.a.l she was almost ready to cry.

RAFAEL.

H'm! But it was careless of her to drop me into that nasty ca.n.a.l!

SACHEL.

It blew in; there came a great gust of wind.

RAFAEL.

The wind must have been Aaron, disputing the value of his wool!

THE RABBI.

Good! Good! Ha, ha, ha! He has a mind; he will not let his heart run away with his head!

RAFAEL.

And so Rebecca----H'm! But I shall not let my heart run away with my purse. I should hold my hot young blood in bounds!

SACHEL.

Not always! Not always! A young man must have his day!

RAFAEL.

But is she well? Is she sound? One cannot be too cautious. I knew of a girl who seemed as strong as a green peach on a tree; and she had not been two days married when, what do you think? Why, she died!

She knew she was going to die, but she never told him! That's awful, awful! Oh! Oh! I could not stand a thing like that! [_THE RABBI rises to look at RAFAEL'S face._] I have a soul, Rabbi, I know, because you taught me so, and a deception like that--it would kill my love.

[_REBECCA draws in, distressed._