CHRIS—[Unable to hold back his exultation.] Ay know it! Ay know dat vas so!
BURKE—[Jumping to his feet—unable to believe his ears.] Anna! Is it making game of me you'd be? 'Tis a quare time to joke with me, and don't be doing it, for the love of God.
ANNA—[Looking him in the eyes—steadily.] D'you think I'd kid you now? No, I'm not joking, Mat. I mean what I said.
BURKE—Ye don't! Ye can't! 'Tis mad you are. I'm telling you!
ANNA—[Fixedly.] No I'm not.
BURKE—[Desperately.] But what's come over you so sudden? You was saying you loved me—
ANNA—I'll say that as often as you want me to. It's true.
BURKE—[Bewilderedly.] Then why—what, in the divil's name—Oh, God help me, I can't make head or tail to it at all!
ANNA—Because it's the best way out I can figure, Mat. [Her voice catching.] I been thinking it over and thinking it over day and night all week. Don't think it ain't hard on me, too, Mat.
BURKE—For the love of God, tell me then, what is it that's preventing you wedding me when the two of us has love? [Suddenly getting an idea and pointing at CHRIS—exasperatedly.] Is it giving heed to the like of that old fool ye are, and him hating me and filling your ears full of bloody lies against me?