NDEL
I am sorry if I have kept you waiting----
[_He rubs his hands importantly._]
You see I have so many pupils already. Won't you sit down?
[_He indicates a chair._]

VERA [_Flushing, embarrassed, releasing her hold of the door handle_]
Thank you--I--I--I didn't come about pianoforte lessons.

MENDEL [_Sighing in disappointment_]
_Ach!_

VERA
In fact I--er--it wasn't you I wanted at all--I was just going.

MENDEL [_Politely_]
Perhaps I can direct you to the house you are looking for.

VERA
Thank you, I won't trouble you.
[_She turns toward the door again._]

MENDEL
Allow me!
[_He opens the door for her._]

VERA [_Hesitating, struck by his manners, struggling with her
anti-Jewish prejudice_]
It--it--was your son I wanted.

MENDEL [_His face lighting up_]
You mean my nephew, David. Yes, _he_ gives violin lessons.
[_He closes the door._]

VERA
Oh, is he your nephew?

MENDEL
I am sorry he is out--he, too, has so many pupils, though at the moment
he is only at the Crippled Children's Home--playing to them.

VERA
How lovely of him!
[_Touched and deciding to conquer her prejudice_]
But that's just what _I_ came about--I mean we'd like him to play again
at our Settlement. Please ask him why he hasn't answered Miss Andrews's
letter.

MENDEL [_Astonished_]
He hasn't answered your letter?

VERA
Oh, I'm not Miss Andrews; I'm only her assistant.

MENDEL
I see--Kathleen, whatever are you doing under the table?
[_KATHLEEN, in her hunting around for the candlestick, is now
stooping and lifting up the table-cloth._]

KATHLEEN
Sure the fiend's after witching away the candleshtick.

MENDEL [_Embarrassed_]
The candlestick? Oh--I--I think you'll find it in my bedroom.

KATHLEEN
Wisha, now!
[_She goes into his bedroom._]

MENDEL [_Turning apologetically to VERA_]
I beg your pardon, Miss Andrews, I mean Miss--er----

VERA
Revendal.

MENDEL [_Slightly more interested_]
Revendal? Then you must be the Miss Revendal David told me about!

VERA [_Blushing_]
Why, he has only seen me once--the time he played at our Roof-Garden
Concert.

MENDEL
Yes, but he was so impressed by the way you handled those new
immigrants--the Spirit of the Settlement, he called you.

VERA [_Modestly_]
Ah, no--Miss Andrews is that. And you will tell him to answer her letter
at once, won't you, because there's only a week now to our Concert.
[_A gust of wind shakes the