_Saturday, July 4, evening. The Roof-Garden of the Settlement
House, showing a beautiful, far-stretching panorama of New York,
with its irregular sky-buildings on the left, and the harbour
with its Statue of Liberty on the right. Everything is wet and
gleaming after rain. Parapet at the back. Elevator on the right.
Entrance from the stairs on the left. In the sky hang heavy
clouds through which thin, golden lines of sunset are just
beginning to labour. DAVID is discovered on a bench, hugging his
violin-case to his breast, gazing moodily at the sky. A muffled
sound of applause comes up from below and continues with varying
intensity through the early part of the scene. Through it comes
the noise of the elevator ascending. MENDEL steps out and hurries
forward_.

MENDEL
Come down, David! Don't you hear them shouting for you?
[_He passes his hand over the wet bench._]
Good heavens! You will get rheumatic fever!

DAVID
Why have you followed me?

MENDEL
Get up--everything is still damp.

DAVID [_Rising, gloomily_]
Yes, there's a damper over everything.

MENDEL
Nonsense--the rain hasn't damped your triumph in the least. In fact, the
more delicate effects wouldn't have gone so well in the open air.
Listen!

DAVID
Let them shout. Who told you I was up here?

MENDEL
Miss Revendal, of course.

DAVID [_Agitated_]
Miss Revendal? How should _she_ know?

MENDEL [_Sullenly_]
She seems to understand your crazy ways.

DAVID [_Passing his hand over his eyes_]
Ah, _you_ never understood me, uncle.... How did she look? Was she pale?

MENDEL
Never mind about Miss Revendal. Pappelmeister wants you--the people
insist on seeing you. Nobody can quiet them.

DAVID
They saw me all through the symphony in my place in the orchestra.

MENDEL
They didn't know you were the composer as well as the first violin. Now
Miss Revendal has told them.
[_Louder applause._]
There! Eleven minutes it has gone on--like for an office-seeker. You
_must_ come and show yourself.

DAVID
I won't--I'm not an office-seeker. Leave me to my misery.

MENDEL
Your misery? With all this glory and greatness opening before you? Wait
till you're _my_ age----
[_Shouts of "QUIXANO!"_]
You hear! What is to be done with them?

DAVID
Send somebody on the platform to remind them this is the interval for
refreshments!

MENDEL
Don't be cynical. You know your dearest w