BURKE—[Promptly.] I did that! I'm a divil for sticking it out when them that's weak give up. But much good it did anyone! 'Twas a mad, fightin' scramble in the last seconds with each man for himself. I disremember how it come about, but there was the four of us in wan boat and when we was raised high on a great wave I took a look about and divil a sight there was of ship or men on top of the sea.
ANNA—[In a subdued voice.] Then all the others was drowned?
BURKE—They was, surely.
ANNA—[With a shudder.] What a terrible end!
BURKE—[Turns to her.] A terrible end for the like of them swabs does live on land, maybe. But for the like of us does be roaming the seas, a good end, I'm telling you—quick and clane.
ANNA—[Struck by the word.] Yes, clean. That's yust the word for—all of it—the way it makes me feel.
BURKE—The sea, you mean? [Interestedly.] I'm thinking you have a bit of it in your blood, too. Your Old Man wasn't only a barge rat—begging your pardon—all his life, by the cut of him.
ANNA—No, he was bo'sun on sailing ships for years. And all the men on both sides of the family have gone to sea as far back as he remembers, he says. All the women have married sailors, too.
BURKE—[With intense satisfaction.] Did they, now? They had spirit in them. It's only on the sea you'd find rale men with guts is fit to wed with fine, high-tempered girls [Then he adds half-boldly] the like of yourself.
ANNA—[With a laugh.] There you go kiddin' again. [Then seeing his hurt expression—quickly.] But you was going to tell me about yourself. You're Irish, of course I can tell that.