Sue—[Trying to calm him—her voice trembling.] Nat! Don’t be such a donkey! Danny’s only going a little way—just trying the boat to see how she sails while they’re waiting for Pa.
Nat—[Uncertainly.] Oh. [Then bitterly.] I was never allowed to do even that—his own son! Look, Sue, that must be Danny at the stern waving.
Sue—[Brokenly.] Yes. [She waves her handkerchief over her head—then breaks down, sobbing again. There is the noise of Bartlett’s voice from inside and a moment later he appears in the doorway. He seems terribly shattered, at the end of his tether. He hesitates uncertainly, looking about him wildly as if he didn’t know what to do or where to go.]
Sue—[After one look at his face, runs to him and flings her arms about his neck.] Pa! [She weeps on his shoulder.]
Bartlett—Sue, ye did wrong beggin’ me to see her. I knowed it’d do no good. Ye promised she’d not hound me——“Confess,” she says—when they be naught to tell that couldn’t be swore to in any court. “Don’t go on this vige,” she says, “there be the curse o’ God on it.” [With a note of baffled anguish.] She kin say that after givin’ the ship her own name! [With wild, haggard defiance.] But curse or no curse, I be goin’! [He moves toward the platform, Sue clinging to his arm.]
Sue—[Frightenedly.] Pa! Go back in the house, won’t you?
Bartlett—I be sorry to go agin your will, Sue, but it’s got to be. Ye’ll know the reason some day—and be glad o’ it. And now good-bye to ye. [With a sudden strange tenderness he bends and kisses his daughter. Then as she seems about to protest further, his expression becomes stern and inflexible.] No more o’ talk, Sue! I be bound out. [He takes her hand off his arm and strides to the platform. One look down at the harbor and he stands transfixed—in a hoarse whisper.] What damned trick be this? [He points to the schooner and turns to Nat bewilderedly.] Ain’t that my schooner, boy—the Sarah Allen—reachin’ toward the p’int?
Nat—[Surprised.] Yes, certainly. Didn’t you know? Danny’s trying her to see how she sails while they’re waiting for you.
Bartlett—[With a tremendous sigh of relief.]
Aye. [Then angrily.] He takes a lot o’ rope to himself without askin’ leave o’ me. Don’t he know they’s no time to waste on boy’s foolin’? [Then with admiration.] She sails smart, don’t she, boy? I knowed she’d show a pair o’ heels.