ANNA—[With a gasp of joy.] Mat!
BURKE—[Suddenly holding her away from him and staring into her eyes as if to probe into her soul—slowly.] If your oath is no proper oath at all, I'll have to be taking your naked word for it and have you anyway, I'm thinking—I'm needing you that bad!
ANNA—[Hurt—reproachfully.] Mat! I swore, didn't I?
BURKE—[Defiantly, as if challenging fate.] Oath or no oath, 'tis no matter. We'll be wedded in the morning, with the help of God. [Still more defiantly.] We'll be happy now, the two of us, in spite of the divil! [He crushes her to him and kisses her again. The door on the left is pushed open and CHRIS appears in the doorway. He stands blinking at them. At first the old expression of hatred of BURKE comes into his eyes instinctively. Then a look of resignation and relief takes its place. His face lights up with a sudden happy thought. He turns back into the bedroom—reappears immediately with the tin can of beer in his hand grinning.]
CHRIS—Me have drink on this, py golly! [They break away from each other with startled exclamations.]
BURKE—[Explosively.] God stiffen it! [He takes a step toward CHRIS threateningly.]
ANNA—[Happily—to her father.] That's the way to talk! [With a laugh.] And say, it's about time for you and Mat to kiss and make up. You're going to be shipmates on the Londonderry, did you know it?
BURKE—[Astounded.] Shipmates—Has himself—
CHRIS—[Equally astounded.] Ay vas bo'sun on her.
BURKE—The divil! [Then angrily.] You'd be going back to sea and leaving her alone, would you?