The Melting-Pot. Israel Zangwill

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СКАЧАТЬ at? I give ye a week's notice. I won't be the joke of Jews, no, begorra, that I won't.

      [She pulls the cloth on viciously.]

      MENDEL [Sobered, rising from the piano]

      Don't talk nonsense, Kathleen. Nobody is making a joke of you. Have a little patience—you'll soon learn our ways.

      KATHLEEN [More mildly]

      Whose ways, yours or the ould lady's or Mr. David's? To-night being yer Sabbath, you'll be blowing out yer bedroom candle, though ye won't light it; Mr. David'll light his and blow it out too; and the misthress won't even touch the candleshtick. There's three religions in this house, not wan.

      MENDEL [Coughs uneasily.]

      Hem! Well, you learn the mistress's ways—that will be enough.

      KATHLEEN [Going to mantelpiece]

      But what way can I understand her jabberin' and jibberin'?—I'm not a monkey!

      [She takes up a silver candlestick.]

      Why doesn't she talk English like a Christian?

      MENDEL [Irritated]

      If you are going on like that, perhaps you had better not remain here.

      KATHLEEN [Blazing up, forgetting to take the second candlestick]

      And who's axin' ye to remain here? Faith, I'll quit off this blissid minit!

      MENDEL [Taken aback]

      No, you can't do that.

      KATHLEEN

      And why can't I? Ye can keep yer dirthy wages.

      [She dumps down the candlestick violently on the table, and exit hysterically into her bedroom.]

      MENDEL [Sighing heavily]

      She might have put on the other candlestick.

      [He goes to mantel and takes it. A rat-tat-tat at street-door.]

      Who can that be?

      [Running to Kathleen's door, holding candlestick forgetfully low.]

      Kathleen! There's a visitor!

      KATHLEEN [Angrily from within]

      I'm not here!

      MENDEL

      So long as you're in this house, you must do your work.

      [Kathleen's head emerges sulkily.]

      KATHLEEN

      I tould ye I was lavin' at wanst. Let you open the door yerself.

      MENDEL

      I'm not dressed to receive visitors—it may be a new pupil.

      [He goes toward staircase, automatically carrying off the candlestick which Kathleen has not caught sight of. Exit on the left.]

      KATHLEEN [Moving toward the street-door]

      The divil fly away wid me if ivir from this 'our I set foot again among haythen furriners——

      [She throws open the door angrily and then the outer door. Vera Revendal, a beautiful girl in furs and muff, with a touch of the exotic in her appearance, steps into the little vestibule.]

      VERA

      Is Mr. Quixano at home?

      KATHLEEN [Sulkily]

      Which Mr. Quixano?

      VERA [Surprised]

      Are there two Mr. Quixanos?

      KATHLEEN [Tartly]

      Didn't I say there was?

      VERA

      Then I want the one who plays.

      KATHLEEN

      There isn't a one who plays.

      VERA

      Oh, surely!

      KATHLEEN

      Ye're wrong entirely. They both plays.

      VERA [Smiling]

      Oh, dear! And I suppose they both play the violin.

      KATHLEEN

      Ye're wrong again. One plays the piano—ounly the young ginthleman plays the fiddle—Mr. David!

      VERA [Eagerly]

      Ah, Mr. David—that's the one I want to see.

      KATHLEEN

      He's out.

      [She abruptly shuts the door.]

      VERA [Stopping its closing]

      Don't shut the door!

      KATHLEEN [Snappily]

      More chanst of seeing him out there than in here!

      VERA

      But I want to leave a message.

      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 СКАЧАТЬ