Nat—[Madly.] I hear them! They’re on the floor below! They’re coming! I’ll open the door. [He springs to the door and flings it open, shouting.] Welcome home, boys! [Sue is discovered outside just climbing up the stairs from below. She steps inside, then stops, looking with amazement and horror from father to brother. Nat pushes her roughly aside to look behind her down the stairs.]
Sue—Nat!
Nat—[Turning to his father.] I’ll go down to the wharf. They must be there or—— [The rest of his words are lost as he hurries down the stairs. Bartlett steps back, shrinking away from his daughter, and sinks on a chair by the table with a groan, his hands over his eyes.]
Sue—[Comes to him and shakes him by the shoulder—alarmed.] Pa! What has happened? What is the matter with Nat? What have you told him? [With bitter despair.] Oh, can’t you see you’re driving him mad, too?
Bartlett—[Letting his hands fall and staring at her haggardly—falteringly, as if reason were slowly filtering back into his brain.] Sue—ye said—drivin’ him mad, too! Then ye think I be——? [He staggers to his feet. Sue breaks down, sobbing. Bartlett falters on.] But I seen her—the Sarah Allen—the signal lights——
Sue—Oh, Pa, there’s nothing there! You know it! She was lost months ago.
Bartlett—Lost? [He stumbles over to a porthole and looks out. His body sags as if he were going to fall. He turns away and cries hopelessly in a tone of heart-rending grief.] Lost! Aye, they be no Sarah Allen there—no lights—nothin’!
Sue—[Pleading fiercely.] Pa, you’ve got to save Nat! He won’t heed anyone else. Can’t you tell him the truth—the whole truth whatever it is—now when I’m here and you’re yourself again—and set him free from this crazy dream!
Bartlett—[With wild grief.] Confess, ye mean? Sue, ye be houndin’ me like your Ma did to her dyin’ hour! Confess—that I spoke the word to Jimmy—in my mind! Confess—brass and junk—not worth a damn! [In frenzied protest.] No! Ye lie!
Sue—Oh, Pa, I don’t know what you mean. Tell Nat the truth! Save him!