lin-case to MENDEL._]
They at my symphony!

MENDEL
Mother _would_ come--even though, being _Shabbos_, she had to walk.

DAVID
But wasn't she shocked at my playing on the Sabbath?

MENDEL
No--that's the curious part of it. She said that even as a boy you
played your fiddle on _Shabbos_, and that if the Lord has stood it all
these years, He must consider you an exception.

DAVID
You see! She's more sensible than you thought. I daresay whatever I
were to do she'd consider me an exception.

MENDEL [_In sullen acquiescence_]
I suppose geniuses _are_.

KATHLEEN [_Reaching them; panting with admiration and breathlessness_]
Oh, Mr. David! it was like midnight mass! But the misthress was ashleep.

DAVID
Asleep!
[_Laughs half-merrily, half-sadly._]
Ha! Ha! Ha!

FRAU QUIXANO [_Panting and laughing in response_]
He! He! He! _Dovidel lacht widder._ He! He! He!
[_She touches his arm affectionately, but feeling his wet coat,
utters a cry of horror._]
_Du bist nass!_

DAVID
_Es ist gor nicht_, Granny--my clothes are thick.
[_She fusses over him, wiping him down with her gloved hand._]

MENDEL
But what brought you up here, Kathleen?

KATHLEEN
Sure, not the elevator. The misthress said 'twould be breaking the
_Shabbos_ to ride up in it.

DAVID [_Uneasily_]
But did---did Miss Revendal send you up?

KATHLEEN
And who else should be axin' the misthress if she wasn't proud of Mr.
David? Faith, she's a sweet lady.

MENDEL [_Impatiently_]
Don't chatter, Kathleen.

KATHLEEN
But, Mr. Quixano----!

DAVID [_Sweetly_]
Please take your mistress down again--don't let her walk.

KATHLEEN
But _Shabbos_ isn't out yet!

MENDEL
Chattering again!

DAVID [_Gently_]
There's no harm, Kathleen, in going _down_ in the elevator.

KATHLEEN
Troth, I'll egshplain to her that droppin' down isn't ridin'.

DAVID [_Smiling_]
Yes, tell her dropping down is natural--not _work_, like flying up.
[_Kathleen begins to move toward the stairs, explaining to FRAU
QUIXANO._]
And, Kathleen! You'll get her some refreshments.

KATHLEEN [_Turns, glaring_]
Refrishments, is it? Give her refrishments where they mix the mate with
the butther plates! Oh, Mr. David!
[_She moves off toward the stairs in reproachful sorrow._]

MENDEL [_Smiling_]
I'll get her some coffee.

DAVID [_Smiling_]
Yes, that'll keep her awake. Besides, Pappelmeister was so sure the
people wouldn't understand me, he's relaxing them