Part 8
Your son? Did I ask you for your son? Did I?
SACHEL.
Did I ask you for your daughter? What is she to me?
REBECCA.
[_Aside._] Oh, they are really getting on!
AARON.
Oh, my daughter! I wish your son were her equal! If _I_ had such a son----
SACHEL.
I don't want your advice! [_Rises._] You manage your own child. I'll manage mine. [_Starts for shop._
AARON.
You will? You can't manage him. Where is he now? Dallying with some wanton, for all you know! My G.o.d, one would think him a second Joseph!
SACHEL.
Do you house him? Do you feed him? Does he trouble you? Speak well of him, or go home!
AARON.
I will go home!
ESTHER.
Sit down! Now talk sense! It's a good match: you both know it's a good match, and so--[_to REBECCA_]--have you seen the repairs to the old bridge?
[_REBECCA moves farther away, leaving the photograph of RAFAEL on the wall._
[_Lowering her voice._] They are both only children. And so, in any case, the money will stay in the family. You let Sachel consider it.
[_ROSA takes the photograph of RAFAEL and hides it behind her._
REBECCA.
[_Aside._] I wonder how Rafael will consider it?
SACHEL.
It costs nothing to consider it, but----
ESTHER.
We'll see you to-morrow.
AARON.
At my house--before service. Come on, Rebecca; I have arranged about the wool. Good-night! [_Exit._
ESTHER.
Good-night!
REBECCA.
Oh, where's my picture of Rafael? [_ROSA drops the photograph into the ca.n.a.l._] It's gone!
[_She looks about for it._
ESTHER.
How could it have gone?
[_REBECCA sees it in the ca.n.a.l._
REBECCA.
It has fallen into the ca.n.a.l! It's ruined! [_Looks at ROSA._] I don't understand. I don't understand!
ESTHER.
Oh, well; Rafael has some others. I'll see Rafael. Good-night.
REBECCA.
[_To ROSA._] If the portrait dropped in where I left it, then it must have floated against the current.
ROSA.
[_Fiercely, sotto._] It did go against the current.
[_Exit REBECCA._
SACHEL.
Not a cent under twelve thousand.
[_ROSA, at the bridge, struggles with tears._
ESTHER.
We shall see! [_Exit._
