Part 56 (1/2)
She shook her head.
”Why should we be married in a synagogue?” she asked.
”Why?” repeated he, puzzled.
”Yes, why?”
”Because we are Jews.”
”You would use Jewish forms to outwit Jewish laws?” she asked quietly.
”No, no. Why should you put it that way? I don't doubt the Bible is all right in making the laws it does. After the first heat of my anger was over, I saw the whole thing in its proper bearings. Those laws about priests were only intended for the days when we had a Temple, and in any case they cannot apply to a merely farcical divorce like yours. It is these old fools,--I beg your pardon,--it is these fanatical Rabbis who insist on giving them a rigidity G.o.d never meant them to have, just as they still make a fuss about _kosher_ meat. In America they are less strict; besides, they will not know I am a _Cohen_.”
”No. David,” said Hannah firmly. ”There must be no more deceit. What need have we to seek the sanction of any Rabbi? If Jewish law cannot marry us without our hiding something, then I will have nothing to do with Jewish law. You know my opinions: I haven't gone so deeply into religious questions as you have--”
”Don't be sarcastic,” he interrupted.
”I have always been sick to death of this eternal ceremony, this endless coil of laws winding round us and cramping our lives at every turn; and now it has become too oppressive to be borne any longer. Why should we let it ruin our lives? And why, if we determine to break from it, shall we pretend to keep to it? What do you care for Judaism? You eat _triphas_, you smoke on _Shabbos_ when you want to--”
”Yes, I know, perhaps I'm wrong. But everybody does it now-a-days. When I was a boy n.o.body dared be seen riding in a 'bus on _Shabbos_--now you meet lots. But all that is only old-fas.h.i.+oned Judaism. There must be a G.o.d, else we shouldn't be here, and it's impossible to believe that Jesus was He. A man must have some religion, and there isn't anything better. But that's neither here nor there. If you don't care for my plan,” he concluded anxiously, ”what's yours?”
”Let us be married honestly by a Registrar.”
”Any way you like, dear,” he said readily, ”so long as we are married--and quickly.”
”As quickly as you like.”
He seized her disengaged hand and pressed it pa.s.sionately. ”That's my own darling Hannah. Oh, if you could realize what I felt last night when you seemed to be drifting away from me.”
There was an interval of silence, each thinking excitedly. Then David said:
”But have you the courage to do this and remain in London?”
”I have courage for anything. But, as you say, it might be better to travel. It will be less of a break if we break away altogether--change everything at once. It sounds contradictory, but you understand what I mean.”
”Perfectly. It is difficult to live a new life with all the old things round you. Besides, why should we give our friends the chance to cold-shoulder us? They will find all sorts of malicious reasons why we were not married in a _Shool_, and if they hit on the true one they may even regard our marriage as illegal. Let us go to America, as I proposed.”
”Very well. Do we go direct from London?”
”No, from Liverpool.”
”Then we can be married at Liverpool before sailing?”
”A good idea. But when do we start?”
”At once. To-night. The sooner the better.”
He looked at her quickly. ”Do you mean it?” he said. His heart beat violently as if it would burst. Waves of dazzling color swam before his eyes.
”I mean it,” she said gravely and quietly. ”Do you think I could face my father and mother, knowing I was about to wound them to the heart? Each day of delay would be torture to me. Oh, why is religion such a curse?”
She paused, overwhelmed for a moment by the emotion she had been suppressing. She resumed in the same quiet manner. ”Yes, we must break away at once. We have kept our last Pa.s.sover. We shall have to eat leavened food--it will be a decisive break. Take me to Liverpool, David, this very day. You are my chosen husband; I trust in you.”
She looked at him frankly with her dark eyes that stood out in l.u.s.trous relief against the pale skin. He gazed into those eyes, and a flash as from the inner heaven of purity pierced his soul.