The Melting-Pot. Israel Zangwill. Читать онлайн. Newlib. NEWLIB.NET

Автор: Israel Zangwill
Издательство: Bookwire
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Жанр произведения: Языкознание
Год издания: 0
isbn: 4064066060756
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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 the message—can I write at this desk?

      KATHLEEN

      If the ould woman don't come in and shpy you.

      VERA

      What old woman?

      KATHLEEN

      Ould Mr. Quixano's mother—she wears a black wig, she's that houly.

      VERA [Bewildered]

      What? … But why should she mind my writing?

      KATHLEEN

      Look at the clock.

      [Vera looks at the clock, more puzzled than ever.]

      If ye're not quick, it'll be Shabbos.

      VERA

      Be what?

      KATHLEEN [Holds up hands of horror]

      Ye don't know what Shabbos is! A Jewess not know her own Sunday!

      VERA [Outraged]

      I, a Jewess! How dare you?

      KATHLEEN [Flustered]

      Axin' your pardon, miss, but ye looked a bit furrin and I——

      VERA [Frozen]

      I am a Russian.

      [Slowly and dazedly]

      Do I understand that Mr. Quixano is a Jew?

      KATHLEEN

      Two Jews, miss. Both of 'em.

      VERA

      Oh, but it is impossible.

      [Dazedly to herself]

      He had such charming manners.

      [Aloud again]

      You seem to think everybody Jewish. Are you sure Mr. Quixano is not Spanish?—the name sounds Spanish.

      KATHLEEN

      Shpanish!

      [She picks up the old Hebrew book on the armchair.]

      Look at the ould lady's book. Is that Shpanish?

      [She points to the Mizrach.]

      And that houly picture the ould lady says her pater-noster to! Is that Shpanish? And that houly table-cloth with the houly silver candle——

      [Cry of sudden astonishment]

      Why, I've ounly put——

      [She looks toward mantel and utters a great cry of alarm as she drops the Hebrew book on the floor.]

      Why, where's the other candleshtick! Mother in hivin, they'll say I shtole the candleshtick!

      [Perceiving that Vera is dazedly moving toward door]

      Beggin' your pardon, miss——

      [She is about to move a chair toward the desk.]

      VERA

      Thank you, I've changed my mind.

      KATHLEEN

      That's more than I'll do.

      VERA [Hand on door]

      Don't say I called at all.

      KATHLEEN

      Plaze yerself. What name did ye say?

      [Mendel