"I can't help it, ma! If—if—the first time Vetsy took me down to—to the shore, if—if Leo had been a king or a—or just what he is, it wouldn't make no difference. I—I can't help my—my feelings, ma. I can't!"
A large furrow formed between Mrs. Kaufman's eyes, darkening her.
"You wouldn't, Ruby!" she said, clutching her.
"Oh, mommy, mommy, when a—a girl can't help a thing!"
"He ain't good enough for you, baby!"
"He's ten times too good; that—that's all you know about it. Mommy, please! I—I just can't help it, dearie. It's just like when I—I saw him a—a clock began to tick inside of me. I—"
"O my God!" said Mrs. Kaufman, drawing her hand across her brow.
"His uncle Meyer, ma, 's been hinting all along he—he's going to give Leo his start and take him in the business. That's why we—we're waiting without saying much, till it looks more like—like we can all be together, ma."
"All my dreams! My dreams I could give up the house! My baby with a well-to-do husband maybe on Riverside Drive. A servant for herself, so I could pass, maybe, Mrs. Suss and Mrs. Katz by on the street. Ruby, you—you wouldn't, Ruby. After how I've built for you!"
"Oh, mama, mama, mama!"