登陆注册
14923300000026

第26章 A ROSE OF THE GHETTO BY ISRAEL ZANGWILL(5)

And then arose a hubbub of voices, a chaos of suggestions; friends rushed to and fro between the camps, some emerging from their seats in the synagogue to add to the confusion. But Eliphaz had taken his stand upon a rock--he had no more ready money. To-morrow, the next day, he would have some. And Leibel, pale and dogged, clutched tighter at those machines that were slipping away momently from him. He had not yet seen his bride that morning, and so her face was shadowy compared with the tangibility of those machines. Most of the other maidens were married women by now, and the situation was growing desperate. From the female camp came terrible rumours of bridesmaids in hysterics, and a bride that tore her wreath in a passion of shame and humiliation. Eliphaz sent word that he would give an I O U for the balance, but that he really could not muster any more current coin. Sugarman instructed the ambassador to suggest that Eliphaz should raise the money among his friends.

And the short spring day slipped away. In vain the minister, apprised of the block, lengthened out the formulae for the other pairs, and blessed them with more reposeful unction. It was impossible to stave off theLeibel-Green item indefinitely, and at last Rose remained the only orange- wreathed spinster in the synagogue. And then there was a hush of solemn suspense, that swelled gradually into a steady rumble of babbling tongues, as minute succeeded minute and the final bridal party still failed to appear. The latest bulletin pictured the bride in a dead faint. The afternoon was waning fast. The minister left his post near the canopy, under which so many lives had been united, and came to add his white tie to the forces for compromise. But he fared no better than the others. Incensed at the obstinacy of the antagonists, he declared he would close the synagogue. He gave the couple ten minutes to marry in or quit. Then chaos came, and pandemonium--a frantic babel of suggestion and exhortation from the crowd. When five minutes had passed a legate from Eliphaz announced that his side had scraped together twenty pounds, and that this was their final bid.

Leibel wavered; the long day's combat had told upon him; the reports of the bride's distress had weakened him. Even Sugarman had lost his cocksureness of victory. A few minutes more and both commissions might slip through his fingers. Once the parties left the synagogue, it would not be easy to drive them there another day. But he cheered on his man still: one could always surrender at the tenth minute.

At the eighth the buzz of tongues faltered suddenly, to be transposed into a new key, so to speak. Through the gesticulating assembly swept that murmur of expectation which crowds know when the procession is coming at last. By some mysterious magnetism all were aware that the BRIDE herself--the poor hysteric bride--had left the paternal camp, was coming in person to plead with her mercenary lover.

And as the glory of her and the flowers and the white draperies loomed upon Leibel's vision his heart melted in worship, and he knew his citadel would crumble in ruins at her first glance, at her first touch. Was it fair fighting? As his troubled vision cleared, and as she came nigh unto him, he saw to his amazement that she was speckless and composed--no trace of tears dimmed the fairness of her face, there was no disarray in her bridal wreath.

The clock showed the ninth minute.

She put her hand appeallingly on his arm, while a heavenly light came into her face--the expression of a Joan of Arc animating her country.

"Do not give in, Leibel!" she said. "Do not have me! Do not let them persuade thee! By my life, thou must not! Go home!"So at the eleventh minute the vanquished Eliphaz produced the balance, and they all lived happily ever afterward.

同类推荐
  • 每一次相遇都是奇迹

    每一次相遇都是奇迹

    浩如烟海的宇宙中,我们既然相遇了,那这一切就是我们生命中的奇迹。用爱去珍惜这一切,让爱永驻心间,你的人生才会如鲜花般灿烂。
  • A Passion in the Desert

    A Passion in the Desert

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 一个人也能学好英语

    一个人也能学好英语

    当今社会,英语的实用越来越频繁了。尤其在80,90后表现得尤为突出。实用英语交流几乎成为了一项最基本的技能。就像开车一样,几乎成为了人人必会的项目。看到小伙伴们都能讲一口流利的英语。而自己所学的书面英语,根本不能达到交流的目的。而又碍于情面,逃避交友,社交。建议此种情况,作者根据此类人群的学习和心理特性,特别编写了《一个人也能学好英语》,就是让你一个人悄悄地修炼,等练成出关的时候,一口地道的美语,一定会让你的小伙伴惊讶不已的,羡慕、嫉妒、恨。
  • 考研英语词汇词根词缀高效记忆:轻松背单词

    考研英语词汇词根词缀高效记忆:轻松背单词

    书中所收录的单词都是从历届研究生英语考试题中提炼出来的。编者利用先进的电脑统计分析技术,对历年考试题中出现的单词进行系统的电脑分频,将历年考题中出现频率较高的单词甄选出来,标注为常考单词。考题中出现频率较低的,但是考试范围内的单词,标注为普通单词。极大地方便了考生有的放矢地去背单词。
  • 硝烟中的黑虎

    硝烟中的黑虎

    读者朋友,可以从这些有趣的小故事中,看到动物世界的奇异景象。看到它们的生活习性,它们的生存竞争,它们的神奇本领。看到动物的千姿百态和动物与动物之间,动物与自然之间,动物与人类之间的种种复杂关系,而且还能从这些故事中找到勤劳、善良、友谊,智慧,勇猛等等美好的词汇。
热门推荐
  • 无限诡区

    无限诡区

    这是自己熟悉的世界吗?为什么充满了雾气?魅枂若是没错自己应该在家里虚度人生。雾气中的吼叫,腥红色的天空和周围一道道隐隐约约的影子……怪物?鬼怪?还是诡异的鬼打墙?身上绑定了一个任务通讯器?这都不是关键。关键则是……欢迎来到诡区,我尊贵的客人,您将开始您的炼狱之道……
  • 腹黑殿下:杠上笨蛋丫头

    腹黑殿下:杠上笨蛋丫头

    小时候的不懂事,造就了一段不相见的恋情,姐姐对爱情的霸道占有,车祸后的失忆,无奈的养育,错过的相见都是为了所谓的爱,姐姐的搞鬼能否让两人重新在一起?娃娃亲,还能否实现它的诺言?请期待《腹黑殿下:杠上笨蛋丫头》校园恋情。
  • 家有小萝莉

    家有小萝莉

    家有小萝莉,有人说,红花要,百花也要,粉色的花也得要,怎么办呢?花盆做的大大的,红花拉、百花拉、粉花拉,全都栽一块!喜欢第一人称的看过来!
  • 朽木传奇

    朽木传奇

    生死交替间,他完全清醒了。清醒了!那就好好活,活的好、活的自在、活个明白,哪怕会带给他的无尽的压力,无尽的苦难,哪怕是魔咒一般。但命运既是如此安排,那就来吧!有压力就让它变成动力,有苦难就要摆脱苦难,有魔咒那就将它打的支离破碎。
  • 御女圣尊

    御女圣尊

    你还在看到注定追不到的她而暗自自愧吗?你还在只能看到背影的她而叹息不已吗?你还在遭到她的淡漠甚至厌恶而泪流满面吗?不要紧!身拥御女神器,祝您梦想成真,满血复活,还在等什么?快来驾驭吧!
  • 懒散皇后

    懒散皇后

    上官家的二小姐非常懒,一天到晚睡眼惺忪,在府中长到17岁还是经常会迷路。选秀女时,上官家的长女巧言欺骗,她代替姐姐成了秀女,因为懒,她还没有遇见皇上,就被贬为宫女,因为懒,她被各种各样的人欺负。她终于发现上当了,可是,想出去,有那么容易吗?
  • 爱的早,不如爱的刚刚好

    爱的早,不如爱的刚刚好

    曾经受到感情创伤而“死宅”在家两年多的岑亮和宋汶,在铁哥们朱学晔和好姐妹林芸芸的极力撮合下开始了各种欢乐、哭笑不得的“约会”。原本注定不会有什么交集的两个人却被各自的死党有意拉做一堆。在最初的抗拒排斥中,在一次次磕磕绊绊吵吵闹闹中,两个人,认命地沦陷了。从最初的不来电到爱得如胶似漆,时间刚好,爱情来对了!然而,两情相悦没那么简单!两个人的前任来袭,他们是否能紧握双手并肩而战?又是否能坚守到最后?我们只是要一辈子相爱,在一起!为什么就那么难!
  • 错纵的生命

    错纵的生命

    本是千金女,因为父亲的公司倒闭,只好自力更生,本来她的小日子过得也挺好,可是,因为得罪了某个不要脸的丑男,让她失了业,生了病,还失忆了,也就是在这一刻,她陷入了她坎坷的一生……
  • 雪之少女

    雪之少女

    小说是根据雪之少女游戏所写,如影响到原作者将立即停更。
  • 那年的约定

    那年的约定

    那年他(她)们情窦初开,那年他(她)们相识、相知和相爱,那年他(她)们哭过、笑过和疯狂过。那年他(她)们约定了五年,“莹莹,跟我们五年时间好吗?我张晓天对着苍天发誓,五年后的今天一定娶石莹为妻。”张晓天突如其来的分手,让她曾经一蹶不振。但是经过时间的冲刷她最终答应了他,随着冬去春又来,很快五年时间就过去了。而他(她)们究竟会何聚何从呢?