Oh, no, madam, don't be uneasy; I am not bringing you any bad news. But how pleasant it is to see such love.--Do you love your husband very much, madam Leizer? He must be a very strong and healthy man, earning much money. SARAH. _Frowning._ No, he is sick and old and unable to work. But he has not sinned against God or man in any way, and even his enemies dare not say anything bad about him. Here is some seltzer, sir, it is better than soda. And if you are not afraid of the heat, I would ask you to sit down and wait a while; David will soon be here. ANATHEMA. _Sitting down._ Yes, I have heard many good things about your husband, but I did not know that he was so feeble and old. Have you any children, madam Leizer? SARAH. We had six, but the first four died.... ANATHEMA. _Nods his head compassionately._ SARAH. Yes, we lived miserably, sir. And we have only two left. Our son Naum.... BEZKRAINY. A good-for-nothing, who makes believe that he is sick and saunters about the city all day long. SARAH. Stop, Ivan, aren't you ashamed to slander honest people? Naum is going around because he has to get credit. Then, sir, we have a daughter, and her name is Rosa. But unfortunately she is too beautiful, too beautiful, sir. Happiness what is happiness? One person dies of smallpox, while another person needs smallpox, but it would not come, and the face is as pure as a flower leaf. ANATHEMA. _Feigning amazement._ Why are you so sorry about it? Beauty is a gift from God, which He has bestowed upon man, whom he has thus elevated and brought nearer to Himself. SARAH. Who knows? It may be a gift from God, and it may be a gift from somebody else of whom I would not speak. But there is one thing I do not know; why has a man beautiful eyes, if he must hide them? Why has he a white face, if he must cover it with soot and filth? Beauty is a too dangerous treasure, for it is easier to hide money from a robber, than beauty from a wicked man. (_Suspiciously._) Did you come perhaps to see Rosa? Then you better go away,--Rosa is not here, and I will not tell you where she is. PURIKES. A buyer. Sarah, look, a buyer is here. SARAH. Yes, yes, Purikes. But he will not buy that which he has come for, and he will not find that which he is seeking. _Anathema smiles good-naturedly and listens attentively to the conversation; every time some one begins to speak, he stretches his neck and turns his head to the speaker, holding it slightly bent on one side. He makes grimaces like an actor, expressing now amazement, now sorrow or indignation. He laughs, inappropriately, thereby frightening and surprising the people._ BEZKRAINY. Sarah, you are making a mistake in valuing your goods too highly and not selling when people are ready to buy. Every article loses its value if you keep it too long. SARAH _Tearfully._