VERA [_Still dazed_] A Jew! That wonderful boy a Jew!... But then so was David the shepherd youth with his harp and his psalms, the sweet singer in Israel. [_She surveys the room and its contents with interest. The windows rattle once or twice in the rising wind. The light gets gradually less. She picks up the huge Hebrew tome on the piano and puts it down with a slight smile as if overwhelmed by the weight of alien antiquity. Then she goes over to the desk and picks up the printed music._] Mendelssohn's Concerto, Tartini's Sonata in G Minor, Bach's Chaconne... [_She looks up at the book-rack._] "History of the American Commonwealth," "Cyclopædia of History," "History of the Jews"--he seems very fond of history. Ah, there's Shelley and Tennyson. [_With surprise_] Nietzsche next to the Bible? No Russian books apparently---- [_Re-enter MENDEL triumphantly with a large sealed letter._] MENDEL Here it is! As it came on Saturday, my mother was afraid David would open it! VERA [_Smiling_] But what _can_ you do with a letter except open it? Any more than with an oyster? MENDEL [_Smiling as he puts the letter on DAVID'S desk_] To a pious Jew letters and oysters are alike forbidden--at least letters may not be opened on our day of rest. VERA I'm sure I couldn't rest till I'd opened mine. [_Enter from the kitchen FRAU QUIXANO, defending herself with excited gesticulation. She is an old lady with a black wig, but her appearance is dignified, venerable even, in no way comic. She speaks Yiddish exclusively, that being largely the language of the Russian Pale._] FRAU QUIXANO _Obber ich hob gesogt zu Kathleen_---- MENDEL [_Turning and going to her_] Yes, yes, mother, that's all right now. FRAU QUIXANO [_In horror, perceiving her Hebrew book on the floor, where KATHLEEN has dropped it_] _Mein Buch!_ [_She picks it up and kisses it piously._] MENDEL [_Presses her into her fireside chair_] _Ruhig, ruhig, Mutter!_ [_To VERA_] She understands barely a word of English--she won't disturb us. VERA Oh, but I must be going--I was so long finding the house, and look! it has begun to snow! [_They both turn their heads and look at the falling snow._] MENDEL All the more reason to wait for David--it may leave off. He can't be long now. Do sit down. [_He offers a chair._] FRAU QUIXANO [_Looking round suspiciously_] _Wos will die Shikseh?_ VERA What does your mother say? MENDEL [_Half-smiling_] Oh, only asking what your heathen ladyship desires. VERA Tell her I hope she is well. MENDEL _Das Fräulein hofft dass es geht gut_---- FRAU QUIXANO [_Shrugging her shoulders in despairing astonishment_] _Gut? Un' wie soll es gut gehen--in Amerika!_ [_She takes out her spectacles, and begins slowly polishing and adjusting them._] VERA [_Smiling_] I understood that last word. MENDEL She asks how can anything possibly go well in America!