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 enters hastily from his bedroom, completely
transmogrified, minus the skull-cap, with a Prince Albert coat,
and boots instead of slippers, so that his appearance is
gentlemanly. KATHLEEN begins to search quietly and
unostentatiously in the table-drawers, the chiffonier, etc.,
etc., for the candlestick._

ME