The Ghetto Part 8

Your son? Did I ask you for your son? Did I?

SACHEL.

Did I ask you for your daughter? What is she to me?

REBECCA.

[_Aside._] Oh, they are really getting on!

AARON.

Oh, my daughter! I wish your son were her equal! If _I_ had such a son----

SACHEL.

I don't want your advice! [_Rises._] You manage your own child. I'll manage mine. [_Starts for shop._

AARON.

You will? You can't manage him. Where is he now? Dallying with some wanton, for all you know! My G.o.d, one would think him a second Joseph!

SACHEL.

Do you house him? Do you feed him? Does he trouble you? Speak well of him, or go home!

AARON.

I will go home!

ESTHER.

Sit down! Now talk sense! It's a good match: you both know it's a good match, and so--[_to REBECCA_]--have you seen the repairs to the old bridge?

[_REBECCA moves farther away, leaving the photograph of RAFAEL on the wall._

[_Lowering her voice._] They are both only children. And so, in any case, the money will stay in the family. You let Sachel consider it.

[_ROSA takes the photograph of RAFAEL and hides it behind her._

REBECCA.

[_Aside._] I wonder how Rafael will consider it?

SACHEL.

It costs nothing to consider it, but----

ESTHER.

We'll see you to-morrow.

AARON.

At my house--before service. Come on, Rebecca; I have arranged about the wool. Good-night! [_Exit._

ESTHER.

Good-night!

REBECCA.

Oh, where's my picture of Rafael? [_ROSA drops the photograph into the ca.n.a.l._] It's gone!

[_She looks about for it._

ESTHER.

How could it have gone?

[_REBECCA sees it in the ca.n.a.l._

REBECCA.

It has fallen into the ca.n.a.l! It's ruined! [_Looks at ROSA._] I don't understand. I don't understand!

ESTHER.

Oh, well; Rafael has some others. I'll see Rafael. Good-night.

REBECCA.

[_To ROSA._] If the portrait dropped in where I left it, then it must have floated against the current.

ROSA.

[_Fiercely, sotto._] It did go against the current.

[_Exit REBECCA._

SACHEL.

Not a cent under twelve thousand.

[_ROSA, at the bridge, struggles with tears._

ESTHER.

We shall see! [_Exit._