Front matter (continued 2)

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 pass 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? [Circumspectly 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.

Oh, she's gone to bed—good! Sachel, Rafael had my promise to protect that girl; and I will protect her. Last Saturday we were all overwrought; we were taken by surprise. But now that we all realise it, it comes to this: Rafael has married a Christian girl; she knows what an affront this is to the religion in which Rafael was reared, and to which inevitably he must return his full devotion when he grows an older and wiser man. Now there is but one remedy: Rosa must become a Jewess. Not to-night or to-morrow; but she must be influenced to open her heart to the faith of her husband; and she must be urged to welcome a future day when she shall enter the synagogue and come forth from there with all the hatred, all the revulsion which she has seen in our faces to-day, buried for ever! Teach her to be thankful that this is Holland, where a Christian may become a Jewess.

Aaron.

Rabbi, your sentiments are worthy of your calling. Sachel and I have been talking; we both regret our bitter words of that day. Sachel has become reconciled—as much as any Jew could. And, to tell the truth, we had gone so far as to dismiss the subject and to devote ourselves to a very important matter of business which had to go over from Friday.

The Rabbi.

I see—I see! I am very glad, then! We must make Rosa understand the things that are glorious in our religion; the inspirations that have sustained us through centuries of the bitterest persecution that men have ever known. And she must believe that we shall cling to them until that supreme day when Jerusalem is peopled anew with the race which God has chosen for His own. Is it not so?

Sachel.

Yes, yes! And we'll walk a little way with you. Then, Aaron, you can come back, and we can go on with that business.

[They go up: The Rabbi stops at the bridge.

The Rabbi.

Very well; but you will treat the young girl tenderly, my friends? Look here; you and Esther and Rafael bring her to my house some night when there will be no one else there. We'll let her feel the warmth of our hearts, as if she were already a Jewess. We will show her what the inner life of the Jews is; the life that the Christians have no conception of. And so we will work upon her better nature; but—yes, yes, I see you are busy. You are not worrying about Rafael, then?

Aaron.

Oh, he'll be all right. I'm sure of it.

[They start off over the bridge.

The Rabbi.

I'm glad to see you here, Aaron. It does you credit to forget your disappointments!

[Exeunt.

A bell tolls ten o'clock. Enter Rosa. Her pallor and the tremor of her voice show the effects of intense emotional strain.

Rosa.

The very hour that he went away, and seven days are gone! Seven days—and he stood here and took me in his arms! Oh!—[turning]—you who cry after me that Rafael has deserted his Christian mistress; it is because you never knew the love of anything but money! You look down—always down! But the same clear sky was over our heads when he kissed me here, and we looked up to it and thanked God, who made us dare to lead our life in open truth before the world! Let God punish us for loving each other, if that be a crime! Oh, does He punish us? Where is my Rafael, you star that watched over us then! I love him, I love him; I cannot live without him—sweet star, tell me where he is to-night! Oh, it is from pity that you will not tell! And he lies cold and dead! Rafael, Rafael, I'm all alone—all alone! [Weeps.] No, no; it can't be that! Dear God, who sees me here among these aliens, you could not be so cruel to your own! Not so cruel as that! Not so cruel as that!

[She sobs; exit.

Enter Aaron and Sachel.

Aaron.

Where is Esther?

Sachel.

Can't you hear her snoring? I can, though she is away at the back of the house! I have not slept seven hours in these seven days!

Aaron.

Do you think the girl has any suspicion that Rafael may have found that he has undertaken the impossible? If he did throw her off—I don't say that he has—but if he did, it must strike her that she wouldn't have a place to go in all the world!

Sachel.

She believes in him.

Aaron.

When he is with her, yes! But when he is away, and she waits and waits, are not all women alike? Doesn't she know that he has sacrificed every guilder that he might have had from you?

Sachel.

I said that to them. Why did I not hold my cursed tongue! He hadn't a copper in his pocket; the poor boy had given away everything he had, to bury Mordecai's son.

Aaron.

And does not she know that he gave up every friend he had, too, when he forsook his religion? These things must have passed through her mind.

Sachel.

What do I care what is passing in her mind!

Aaron.

Of course, of course! [Pulls the letters from his pocket.] But the main probability is that Rafael will soon return. I am only thinking whether before he returns this girl could not be influenced to leave here, made to believe that the boy has deserted her? You can't blame me for considering my daughter's feelings in this matter. Now suppose we could let drop a few things in Rosa's presence, without appearing to know that she overheard?

Sachel.

I don't care about her! I want him to come back.

Aaron.

Don't you see: after a whole week, after all her waiting and waiting, without a word from him and with her whole life trembling in the balance, then if she overhears certain things——! Of course if we try to persuade her he is gone, she'll suspect at once. But there are certain remarks that we can let drop, quite casually, you know, that will absolutely make her believe that he does not intend to come back; that he has deserted her.

Sachel.

But she won't believe it!

Aaron.

No, not if we try to convince her! But we won't try! You only make certain statements within her hearing; and if she says they are not true, just shrug your shoulders! What is in that girl's mind? Either that he has met harm, or that he is afraid to come back to her; that the poverty staring him in the face has been too much for him. Seven days is a long time when a woman is alone on the rack of doubt. Now, do you see what I mean?

Sachel.

But I want my son! I don't care whether he marries your daughter! I want my son!

Aaron.

[Tapping the letters.] Here are some letters. One for you and four for Rosa.

Sachel.

Where did you get them? Is mine from Rafael? Yes? Ah, ah! Read it, quick!

Aaron.

[Reads.] "Father: Rosa will tell you where I am. I am your son; do not be harsh to Rosa. The Rabbi told me that he knew you would keep her over night; as I left her for a night, relying upon his good offices with you, so I feel I may leave her for a week. Good-bye, father. Rafael."

Sachel.

He's all right! He's all right! [Pauses, suddenly.] Look here, you miserable rascal, you've had this for a week. You've bribed that postman; it's a crime!

Aaron.

One for you and four for her. Will you listen to one of those he wrote to her? [Opens it.] Shall I open it?

Sachel.

You have, already.

Aaron.

Shall I read it?

Sachel.

[After hesitation.] Yes.

Aaron.

[Reads.] "My darling: If I take ship at once with Hanakoff for London, I have the opportunity of a life time; it will fix me in my career as I had never dreamed of. My mind tells my heart that I must go; but I am as joyful as I am sorrowful; for in a week, dear, I take you away from the stifling air you breathe to-night—out of the Ghetto, into the freedom which is the right of our love. Good night, my angel! Your Rafael."

Sachel.

He'll have money now. He'll never look at me again. She's got him! She's got him! O, I would to my Maker I were dead!

Aaron.

No, no! She hasn't got him! She shan't have him! Don't you see, this clears the way for the very thing I proposed to you.

Sachel.

What? What? It might succeed, with the girl in the state she is. But if it does, what will Rafael say, to-morrow?

Aaron.

Eh? Why, if he finds her gone and she left no word, let him draw his own conclusions; that she was afraid to stand by him; afraid to share his poverty. You say "to-morrow"? He may be back to-night! It's your one chance. If it succeeds, the girl goes, with two hundred guilders in her pocket; Rafael stays home—in due time marries Rebecca—becomes a successful Jew. If it fails—then this Christian robs you of him anyway! [Sachel ponders; then suddenly touches him; they listen; Aaron whispers.] Only casually; not an effort to convince her! She can't help believing it, then!

Sachel.

Sh—!

Enter Rosa, by the bridge; she drops her hands, hopelessly, and stays near the bridge, turned away from them.

Aaron.

[Without looking about, whispers.] Was that her step? [Sachel nods; a pause; Aaron begins in a moderate tone.] Yes; but a man who gives his word to one girl and then deserts her, would desert another girl. Shall I let my daughter risk that? No!

Sachel.

But I tell you it is not a parallel case! A marriage solemnised in a synagogue is one thing; but a marriage such as this—which we all know is not a marriage, either inside or outside the Ghetto—I tell you it's totally different!

Aaron.

Didn't he commit himself morally? Very well! Then he goes and finds that he has been tricked by a venial under-magistrate, for the sake of thirty guilders; and he finds that it was no marriage at all! The girl is reduced merely to the position of his mistress——

Sachel.

Well, doesn't that dispose of her? Doesn't that rid him of responsibility?

Aaron.

Yes; but it is a high moral consideration that occupies me. The boy found that he could rid himself of his burden; the discovery came when he had been looking about for a week, and finding nothing but poverty, privation and despair on every side; no one would lend him money; none of his former friends would speak to him; there was only the choice between an absolutely hopeless struggle and running away. He ran! And I say a young man who has thus been tried and found wanting is no man to be my daughter's husband!

Sachel.

O! Because Rafael has had one mistress is he not good enough to be your daughter's husband?

Rosa.

What do you mean! What do you mean, Sachel! [The two men rise, affecting surprise.] It is a lie! It is a cruel lie!

Aaron.

Eh? Doesn't the girl know about it?

Rosa.

What do you mean by saying that he ran away from me? How do you know that he ran away from me? Where is he! Tell me where he is! Quick, you shall!

Aaron.

No one will know where he is until he has spent the money he sent for. And that ought to keep him a year, even in England.

Rosa.

England—you say he has gone to England? You tell me he has deserted me? After what he said before the synagogue? I say it's a lie—a preposterous lie! It isn't true that I am only his mistress—it's a lie!

Aaron.

I'll tell you what is true; after this escapade with you he'll have to prove himself a man before he marries my daughter.

Rosa.

He can't marry your daughter! He's mine! O, God, what does this mean? Can't you find him? Can't you let me see him? He would have written to me—I know he would! Sachel, let me go to him. Sachel, tell me where he is!

Aaron.

What could Sachel do, even if he could reach the boy? After seven days, at the very moment Sachel has been persuaded to accept all this—to treat you as his daughter—here slinks Rafael along the canal and up through the warehouse and whispers that he has given you up! Then he wheedles his father out of more money than I would give ten sons, and then boards a ship for England! [To Sachel.] Do you think I'll see my daughter marry such a man? If he wants to return next year on the hope of marrying Rebecca, you tell him to remain in England!

Rosa.

It's a lie! He couldn't desert me. He's a man of soul—of honour! It isn't true. My God, it can't be true!

Aaron.

You'd better find a place to sleep, and then compose yourself to make the best of it. I have a friend in the country who will receive you. With the money that Rafael has persuaded his father to give you, begin life over again. Come!

[Touches her.

Rosa.

No, I will not come! It is a lie. You try to convince me because you know I will kill myself—because you——

Aaron.

Has any one tried to convince you? Sachel is the only one to gain by your going. Has he tried to convince you?

Rosa.

I know—I know—O God! Sachel, Sachel, as you fear your God, swear to me that he has deserted me! Swear to me that he wants to marry Rebecca!

Sachel.

I—I——

Aaron.

Shall I take an oath, on the Law of Moses, that is fastened to the lintel there?

Rosa.

I will not believe you on any oath! I will only believe Sachel—Sachel, who could not deceive me—[turns to Sachel]—because you know that if you make me go away and kill myself Rafael will hate you, for ever and ever! Sachel, Sachel, can't we get him back? I'll do anything—anything. I'll become a Jewess if you'll get him back! Sachel, Sachel!

[Cries hysterically.

Aaron.

The poor girl wants your oath. That's a simple matter. [To Sachel.] There is no reason why I should stay here to witness this. Good-night!

[Exit by the bridge.

Sachel.

Such as you to kill yourself—h'm! Now take your money and be off! I'm going to lock my door.

Rosa.

You haven't said the marriage was false! You haven't said he went away! You haven't said he wants to many her—you dare not! It can't be true! It can't be true!

Sachel.

Dare not—dare not. What do you mean? You thankless hussy! You wreck my home, you rob me of my son, and then when he has gone and I offer you money to leave me in peace you dare to say I lie!

Rosa.

No, I did not say you lied, because you have not said that he is deserting me! You will not! You dare not! He loves me; he is coming back! I will stay until he comes!

Sachel.

He wants to be rid of you. He has gone to England. He wants Aaron to——

Rosa.

Sachel, Sachel, think what you are saying! Tell me he is dead—tell me anything but that he's left me! O, could your son dishonour me? Think what you are saying! No, no—not unless you swear it in the sight of God! Sachel, Sachel—[as he puts hand on the lintel]—don't swear to it—[on her knees]—don't swear to it!

Sachel.

[With a burst of rage.] God!—Hear me then. You have been nothing but Rafael's mistress! Rafael has deserted you! Rafael wants to marry Rebecca! Rafael has sailed from Amsterdam! By the sacred Law of Moses, by all that is holy in the sight of God, I swear it! I swear it! Now go! Take your money and go!

[She goes towards the canal.

Rosa.

And so—and so—Dear God—dear God!

Sachel.

Where are you? Here, take it—take it! Where are you going?

Rosa.

[At the canal.] Dear God—dear God—No more—no more!

Sachel.

Come away!

Rosa.

Rafael!

[She jumps into the canal.

Sachel.

Stop! O—O God! It isn't true! Rosa! Rosa! [At the wall.] A stick! A stick! I cannot find one! Where are you? For God's sake, answer! Don't you hear? O God! O God! [Turns to the house, where music is being played.] Daniel! Samson! Open the door! [The music drowns his voice.] Help! help! [He rushes back.] Rosa! Reach out your hand! Where are you—where are you? Answer me—[the music ceases abruptly]—answer. [A silence. He slinks away from the wall. A pause.] What will Rafael do? What will God do?

[He hears the footsteps of Rafael.

Enter Rafael, joyously.

Rafael.

Hello, father, father! I'm home again! Why haven't I heard from you? I—what's the matter?

Sachel.

[Trembling.] I—I—don't mind me! I—I—I thought you wouldn't come back. We didn't get your letters until to-day. But you've come—you've come! Rafael, for God's sake, don't leave me! For God's sake—I'm sick, I'm blind, I've only a little while left! Stay with me. Don't leave me alone—you mustn't leave me alone!

Rafael.

You are not well. Have you been in the heat? Father, why do you tremble so?

Sachel.

I'm not trembling, my boy. I—I—my boy, my boy, ask me anything and I will give it to you! I can't live without my son! If you speak a harsh word to me I shall drop dead, Rafael.

Rafael.

Father, father, be calm; Heaven knows I don't want to be harsh to you; there's a clean page to begin on if you like. We'll leave this place; come and live with Rosa and me. She has never spoken a harsh word to you, has she? Don't you see now that she has the gentleness of an angel? Wait till our people know her!

Sachel.

Yes, yes, I know; my God, I know—I—I—[Rafael makes as if to go in]. Rafael, for God's sake, don't leave me!

Rafael.

Where is she, father? She was afraid to stay here; but I told her she was my wife, and that you loved your son, and that ought to be enough to reassure her. I had to go with Hanakoff. I have made a success, do you hear? Don't worry, don't tremble. I must find Rosa. Where is she? Rosa! I've something to tell you!

Sachel.

No, no; don't speak so loud!

Rafael.

Yes, but she does not hear me! Isn't she in the house? Rosa! What have you said to her? Where is she? She is not here. Where is she?

Sachel.

Don't ask me, don't ask me!

Rafael.

Where is she?

Sachel.

I couldn't stop her!

Rafael.

From what? Where is she?

Sachel.

Don't know, don't know! She went away!

Rafael.

Where—why?

Sachel.

You shall not blame me! It was not my doing. Aaron—Aaron—it was he who bribed the postman! Before God it was not I!

Rafael.

Bribed the postman? She did not hear from me? Where is my wife?

Sachel.

No, no, Rafael, my boy; my dearest boy—she's gone, she took money, she deserted you!

Rafael.

You are lying!

[People collect, looking over the canal wall.

Sachel.

She said—she said she hated our race—she hated you—she hated all of us; she was going away, out of the Ghetto, away, off there, there—[He points away from the canal. The excitement at the canal wall increases. Rafael starts as if towards the wall.] Not there, not there, Rafael, my boy, my boy!

Rafael.

What's the matter down there? [Two men bring Rosa up the steps; the crowd obscures her from Rafael.] Who is that? My God! Is it a woman?

A Man.

Yes.

Rafael.

[Pushes through the crowd.] Rosa, Rosa—Rosa! Oh! oh! oh!

Sachel.

Oh, my boy!—oh, my boy! Rafael! Rafael! I couldn't stop her!

Rafael.

[Turning on his father.] Ugh! Off from me—off! Oh, oh, damnable, damnable monster! Take him away!

An Old Man.

He's your father! Shame! shame!

[Hisses from crowd.

Rafael.

[To Sachel.] Keep your cursed talons off! Murderer! Murderer! You made her drown herself!

A Second Man.

Leave him alone! Shame! This is the man who blasphemes God!

A Third Man.

He profaned the synagogue—he curses his father!

[Rafael meanwhile looks upon the body of Rosa.

The Second Man.

Shall he do all this—this—in our teeth? [Hisses from the crowd.] Hide your face! Hide your face!

[Advances on Rafael.

Rafael.

Stand away from her! [Throws him down, turns to his father.] O God, if I had not concealed your knavery from her, your holiest oath would not have moved her! And now must you live on, while she lies thus?

Sachel.

[To the crowd.] She poisoned my son; she took away his religion—she killed my son's love for his father! She deserves it—she deserves it!

Rafael.

Rosa, my Rosa, you shall not die! Life, life, freedom—the blue sweet sky, we two together singing in the sun—not the dead soul sighing through the trees—not the whisper of night—the sorrowful shade that passes in the mist! No, no, you must feel my breath upon your cheek, you must feel my arms, you must live, live! [Rosa stirs.] Live! She breathes—she breathes! Air—distance—distance, I say! Rosa, it is I, Rafael! You are safe! Not all the fiends in God's grey world shall thrust an arm between us. Rosa! Rosa!

Rosa.

[Raising her head a little.] Rafael, forgive me——

Sachel.

Rafael—Rafael—she means me. Forgive me—for God's sake—[on his knees to Rafael, who turns his back]—Rafael!

Second Man.

Shame! shame! He hates his father!

The Crowd.

Shame! shame! Punish him!

[The crowd closes in on Rafael.

Rosa.

[In fear.] Rafael!

Rafael.

Are you no better than a mob of Christians? Stand back! [Pushes the crowd back violently.] Rosa, Rosa—away—out of the Ghetto—into the air! Rosa!

[The crowd starts to close in again; he takes Rosa in his arms and rushes across the bridge. The crowd follows, walking rapidly. Sachel is left solitary.

Sachel.

Rafael! Raf——

[He falls.

Enter A Watchman.

Watchman.

Eleven o'clock, and all's—[Stops and looks at Sachel, who stirs and sobs.] Eleven o'clock!

[Exit Watchman, thoughtfully.

Eleven o'clock!

THE END.

Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co.

London & Edinburgh

Transcriber's Note:

Inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation have been retained from the original.

Obvious typographical errors have been corrected as follows: Page 28: ust changed to just Page 30: manag changed to manage Page 120: sustain changed to sustained Page 134: want's changed to wants

Errors in punctuation have been corrected without note.