The Ghetto Part 27

[_Wringing her hands._] Rafael!

SACHEL.

She calls him Rafael! A curse! A d.a.m.ning curse!

[_The crowd murmurs._

RAFAEL.

Silence! It is my blood we are drinking! It is my soul we are selling! [_To AARON._] And you bid more than all you have, and yet it will not do; and you, Rosa, angel--angel--for my heart--for my soul--bid, bid!

ROSA.

For your heart--my heart! For your soul--my soul!

RAFAEL.

Ha, ha! Going! Going!

THE RABBI.

Going the way of the profligate--to the d.a.m.ned!

[_Exit into the synagogue, closing the doors._

RAFAEL.

Gone to the highest bidder! She has been my wife for months!

[_SACHEL sinks into a chair; hisses and groans from the crowd._] Now let the Ghetto d.a.m.n me if it can!

ONE OF THE CROWD.

She's a Christian!

[_The crowd surround RAFAEL, who holds them at bay._]

END OF THE THIRD ACT.

THE FOURTH ACT

SCENE: _The same as ACT I. It is seven days later. AARON discovered at the door; he holds some letters in his hand._

AARON.

I had rather talk to you here.

_Enter SACHEL, pale, bowed and trembling; the two sit on a bench at the right._

Then it is true that you have not heard from Rafael for a week? What happened that day, after the officers had dispersed the crowd?

SACHEL.

[_With a sob, then restraining his emotions._] He brought her back here to get the few things that belong to her. He said that as soon as he had done with Hanakoff he would come and get her. Then he went away. He said he would be back in the morning; and he has been gone a week! My G.o.d, it was I who made him so anxious to leave--it is the judgment of the Almighty upon my sins!

AARON.

[_Calculatingly, as he looks at the letters in his hand._] Oh, he's your son; I fancy if he got in the vicinity of harm, he saw it before it saw him! And the girl, why do you let her stay here?

SACHEL.

The Rabbi! The Rabbi came here and made me promise to keep the girl until Rafael could find a home for her. I thought it would be the next day; I promised. The Rabbi said he repented the strong words he had uttered when he slammed the door of the synagogue. H'm! The Rabbi is not much better than you, or at least, than me! The only difference is that the Rabbi is always repenting! If Rafael would only come back, I'd let him keep the girl here for ever--what do I care! I want my son--the only thing I live for!

AARON.

But doesn't the girl know where he is?

SACHEL.

No, no. Esther kept telling me that Rosa has had no word from Rafael. I would not believe it; and this morning I took hold of her; I cursed her up and down for not telling me where he was. She said if she knew where he was she would walk to him, if it was a thousand miles, rather than stay another night under my roof. Then, for the third time this week, she had a fit of hysterics--I never heard such sobs in all my life! When she quieted down she went up and put on the rags she first came here in; and since then she has refused to take food from us; she won't enter the house; she is wandering about here somewhere now. I don't know; though she be a Christian and a pauper, I suppose I'll have to accept her for my daughter-in-law, if he'll only come!

AARON.

She, that broke up your home and took your son away from the finest young woman in the Ghetto? She, that robbed him of his faith and brought him to a pa.s.s where every one is saying that he has run away rather than face the consequences of his acts? H'm!

SACHEL.

What am I going to do? If he's dead, I _will_ keep her! Isn't she the only one in the world whose sorrow will approach mine?

AARON.

But if he is not dead? If he comes back? [_Circ.u.mspectly makes as if to open one of the letters._] Look here--

[_Enter the RABBI; AARON hastily puts away the letters._

Oh, the Rabbi! [_Whispers._] We must get rid of him. I want to talk to you.

RABBI.

Good evening! How is that girl? Is she still crying her eyes out? It's pitiful! It is dangerous! I must see her! [_AARON nudges SACHEL._

SACHEL.

She's all right. I have not heard her stir since she went to bed.

RABBI.