The Melting-Pot (A Tale of Russian Jewish Immigrants). Israel Zangwill

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СКАЧАТЬ [Angrily]

      And is it a liar ye'd make me out now? I've lived wid clothiers and pawnbrokers and Vaudeville actors, but I niver shtruck a house where mate and butther couldn't be as paceable on the same plate as eggs and bacon—the most was that some wouldn't ate the bacon onless 'twas killed kosher.

      MENDEL [Tickled]

      Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

      KATHLEEN [Furious, pauses with the white table-cloth half on.]

      And who's ye laughin' 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 СКАЧАТЬ