The Ghetto Part 12

ESTHER.

Sachel, your medicine!

[_ROSA brings a jug of hot water to the table; ESTHER prepares some medicine with the water._

_Enter SACHEL._

SACHEL.

That girl--where is she?

ESTHER.

She's here.

SACHEL.

[_Aside._] That's what Rafael said last night. Rosa! Go and water the flowers in my window and pick off the dead leaves, and be sure you give plenty of time to it. [_Exit ROSA._

ESTHER.

Well! Since when have you taken such an interest in flowers?

[_She goes upstairs._

SACHEL.

I want to talk; I've been awake all night. This girl keeps lying to me. Last night she had the effrontery to tell me--[_with calculation_]--she told me she was considered beautiful!

ESTHER.

[_Not interested._] Well, she is beautiful!

[_Exit ESTHER._

SACHEL.

H'm! [_He thinks deeply; rises._] Rosa!

_Enter ROSA._

Last night you tried to make me think you were ugly;--you deceived me. You are not a woman--you are a fiend come into my house--come in out of the Christian world--to do what? What do you expect to do here? Do you know you are in the heart of the Ghetto? What do you expect to do in my house?

ROSA.

Nothing but what my G.o.d gives me the right to do!

SACHEL.

Your G.o.d? I tell you the wall your G.o.d built against us still shuts Him away from here! You came into my house to divide it against itself. You have been getting too near my son. Do you think I don't know? You've been trying to turn him against his religion, you've been trying to turn him against me!

ROSA.

If I have, then I have failed. Rafael loves you.

SACHEL.

You say so? I ask no better proof that he hates me! You came into my house to accomplish this, you vampire! Could you not have fastened on someone else than Rafael? Who sent you here to find him? Did your Christian G.o.d send you here?

ROSA.

[_Thinking of RAFAEL._] Yes, yes, my G.o.d did send me here--[_checks herself_]--or else I should have starved.

SACHEL.

Starve! Does a demon ever starve? Not while young men have hot blood! Hah! It is well that I have found you out before this thing has gone too far. Don't I know your d.a.m.ned tricks; _you_ wouldn't be satisfied with a pa.s.sing touch of his lips. You've got a brain--a lying, scheming, devilish brain! You want his heart--you want his soul! By G.o.d! [_He goes vigorously and opens the door, to the street._] Do you know what I'm going to do? There's where we found you--out there in the streets, without a friend, without a cent, and your dead father----

ROSA.

Sachel, my father helped your people!

SACHEL.

Now let the Jews help his daughter! You've lied to me always! Shall I believe this story of your father? I believe he was a demon like you! I believe he was sent out of h.e.l.l to steal away men's souls, as you were. You've found something to fight when you've come across me! Shall I feel a snake in my bosom and not cast it out? [_He points to the door._] You--[_He checks himself; a pause._] Shut the door! Go on with your work! [_Exit ROSA._] No, no, no--it won't do to _tear_ him away from her. She is beautiful;--we must marry him to Rebecca. Rebecca is handsome, Rebecca is rich, Rebecca is minx enough. We must marry him to Rebecca if we can. If not, to some one else--any one else, as soon as we can. But we must handle him with care. Ah! I had better get the Rabbi to talk to him; the Rabbi has tact. And, for the present, we must let Rosa be.

_Enter ESTHER. A knock on the door._

Aaron. Come in!

_Enter AARON._

AARON.

Good morning!

SACHEL.

Good morning!

ESTHER.

Good morning!

AARON.

I shouldn't have come, my friend, if I hadn't promised Esther. For I've been thinking it over; and if there is any question of your son marrying my daughter, I tell you I will give eight thousand guilders and no more!