Sue—But things can’t go on like this. Don’t you see how it’s killing Ma?
Bartlett—She’ll forget her stubborn notions, now I be sailin’ away.
Sue—But you’re not—not going for a while now, are you?
Bartlett—Ain’t I been sayin’ I’d sail at dawn today? They’re makin’ her ready to cast off. I’m waitin’ for Horne to hail.
Sue—[Looking at him for a moment with shocked amazement.] But—you can’t mean—right now!
Bartlett—[Keeping his face averted.] Aye—or we’ll miss this tide.
Sue—[Putting her hands on his shoulders and trying to look into his face.] Pa! You can’t mean that! [His face is set with his obsessed determination. She lets her hands fall with a shudder.] You can’t be as cruel as that! Why, I thought, of course, you’d put off—[Wildly.] You have, haven’t you, Pa? You did tell those men you couldn’t sail when you saw how sick Ma was, didn’t you—when she fainted down on the wharf?
Bartlett—[Implacably.] I said I was sailin’ by this tide—and sail I will, by thunder!
Sue—Pa! [Then pleadingly.] When the doctor comes and you hear what he says—
Bartlett—[Roughly.] I ain’t stoppin’ on his word nor any man’s. I know what’s best to do. [Intensely.] That schooner’s been fit to sail these two weeks past. I been waitin’ on her stubborn will [he gestures toward the house], eatin’ my heart out day and night. Then I swore I’d sail today. I tell ye, Sue, I got a feelin’ in my bones if I don’t put out now I never will. Aye, I feel it deep down inside me. [In a tone of superstitious awe.] And when she christened the schooner—jest to the minute, mind ye!—a fair breeze sprung up and come down out o’ the land to blow her out to sea—like a sign o’ good luck.