THE GOD OF VENGEANCE
yourself. The guests will soon be here. The Rabbi and. . .
Rifkele
I'll call up Manke and have her comb me. . . I love to have her comb me. She does it so beautifully. Makes my hair so smooth. . . And her hands are so cool. (Takes something and taps the floor with it, calling.) Manke! Manke!
Sarah, frightened.
Rifkele! What are you doing ? Don't! Your father will be furious! It isn't becoming for you to chum with Manke. You're already a marriageable young lady, a virtuous child. And we've just been talking about some good matches for you, — excellent matches with learned scholars. . .
Rifkele
But I do love Manke so much!
Sarah
It's a shame for you to chum with Manke, I tell you! You are a decent girl; you'll have clean, respectable girls to go around with. . . We're arranging a match for you, an excellent match. Your father's just gone to see the bridegroom, Reb Ali said, . . . (Goes into the next room,) We must wash, dress, and put on our best clothes. . . The guests will be here at any moment.
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