The Ghetto Part 29

AARON.

[_Tapping the letters._] Here are some letters. One for you and four for Rosa.

SACHEL.

Where did _you_ get them? Is mine from Rafael? Yes? Ah, ah! Read it, quick!

AARON.

[_Reads._] "Father: Rosa will tell you where I am. I am your son; do not be harsh to Rosa. The Rabbi told me that he knew you would keep her over night; as I left her for a night, relying upon his good offices with you, so I feel I may leave her for a week. Good-bye, father. Rafael."

SACHEL.

He's all right! He's all right! [_Pauses, suddenly._] Look here, you miserable rascal, you've had this for a week. You've bribed that postman; it's a crime!

AARON.

One for you and four for her. Will you listen to one of those he wrote to her? [_Opens it._] Shall I open it?

SACHEL.

You have, already.

AARON.

Shall I read it?

SACHEL.

[_After hesitation._] Yes.

AARON.

[_Reads._] "My darling: If I take s.h.i.+p at once with Hanakoff for London, I have the opportunity of a life time; it will fix me in my career as I had never dreamed of. My mind tells my heart that I must go; but I am as joyful as I am sorrowful; for in a week, dear, I take you away from the stifling air you breathe to-night--out of the Ghetto, into the freedom which is the right of our love. Good night, my angel! Your Rafael."

SACHEL.

He'll have money now. He'll never look at me again. She's got him!

She's got him! O, I would to my Maker I were dead!

AARON.

No, no! She hasn't got him! She shan't have him! Don't you see, this clears the way for the very thing I proposed to you.

SACHEL.

What? What? It might succeed, with the girl in the state she is. But if it does, what will Rafael say, to-morrow?

AARON.

Eh? Why, if he finds her gone and she left no word, let him draw his own conclusions; that she was afraid to stand by him; afraid to share his poverty. You say "to-morrow"? He may be back to-night!

It's your one chance. If it succeeds, the girl goes, with two hundred guilders in her pocket; Rafael stays home--in due time marries Rebecca--becomes a successful Jew. If it fails--then this Christian robs you of him anyway! [_SACHEL ponders; then suddenly touches him; they listen; AARON whispers._] Only casually; not an effort to convince her! She can't help believing it, then!

SACHEL.

Sh--!

_Enter ROSA, by the bridge; she drops her hands, hopelessly, and stays near the bridge, turned away from them._

AARON.

[_Without looking about, whispers._] Was that her step? [_SACHEL nods; a pause; AARON begins in a moderate tone._] Yes; but a man who gives his word to one girl and then deserts her, would desert another girl. Shall I let my daughter risk that? No!

SACHEL.

But I tell you it is not a parallel case! A marriage solemnised in a synagogue is one thing; but a marriage such as this--which we all know is not a marriage, either inside or outside the Ghetto--I tell you it's totally different!

AARON.

Didn't he commit himself morally? Very well! Then he goes and finds that he has been tricked by a venial under-magistrate, for the sake of thirty guilders; and he finds that it was no marriage at all! The girl is reduced merely to the position of his mistress----

SACHEL.

Well, doesn't that dispose of _her_? Doesn't that rid him of responsibility?

AARON.

Yes; but it is a high moral consideration that occupies me. The boy found that he could rid himself of his burden; the discovery came when he had been looking about for a week, and finding nothing but poverty, privation and despair on every side; no one would lend him money; none of his former friends would speak to him; there was only the choice between an absolutely hopeless struggle and running away.

He ran! And I say a young man who has thus been tried and found wanting is no man to be my daughter's husband!

SACHEL.

O! Because Rafael has had one mistress is he not good enough to be your daughter's husband?

ROSA.

What do you mean! What do you mean, Sachel! [_The two men rise, affecting surprise._] It is a lie! It is a cruel lie!

AARON.

Eh? Doesn't the _girl_ know about it?

ROSA.

What do you mean by saying that he ran away from me? How do you know that he ran away from me? Where is he! Tell me where he is! Quick, you shall!

AARON.

No one will know where he is until he has spent the money he sent for. And that ought to keep him a year, even in England.