Part 7 (1/2)

I don't feel so complimented as you expect. You see I did have a professional training.

MENDEL [_Smiling_]

And I thought you came to _me_ for lessons!

[_DAVID laughs._]

VERA [_Smiling_]

No, I went to Petersburg----

DAVID [_Dazed_]

To Petersburg----?

VERA [_Smiling_]

Naturally. To the Conservatoire. There wasn't much music to be had at Kis.h.i.+neff, a town where----

DAVID Kis.h.i.+neff!

[_He begins to tremble._]

VERA [_Still smiling_]

My birthplace.

MENDEL [_Coming toward him, protectingly_]

Calm yourself, David.

DAVID Yes, yes--so you are a Russian!

[_He shudders violently, staggers._]

VERA [_Alarmed_]

You are ill!

DAVID It is nothing, I--not much music at Kis.h.i.+neff! No, only the Death-March!... Mother! Father! Ah--cowards, murderers! And you!

[_He shakes his fist at the air._]

You, looking on with your cold butcher's face! O G.o.d! O G.o.d!

[_He bursts into hysterical sobs and runs, shamefacedly, through the door to his room._]

VERA [_Wildly_]

What have I said? What have I done?

MENDEL Oh, I was afraid of this, I was afraid of this.

FRAU QUIXANO [_Who has fallen asleep over her book, wakes as if with a sense of the horror and gazes dazedly around, adding to the thrillingness of the moment_]

_Dovidel! Wu is' Dovidel! Mir dacht sach_----

MENDEL [_Pressing her back to her slumbers_]

_Du traumst, Mutter! Schlaf!_ [_She sinks back to sleep._]

VERA [_In hoa.r.s.e whisper_]