ith 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 Fraeulein 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!

VERA
Ah, she doesn't like America.

MENDEL [_Half-smiling_]
Her favourite exclamation is "_A Klog zu Columbessen!_"

VERA
What does that mean?

MENDEL
Cursed be Columbus!

VERA [_Laughingly_]
Poor Columbus! I suppose she's just come over.

MENDEL
Oh, no, it must be ten years since I sent for her.

VERA
Really! But your nephew was born here?

ME