Ber. Yes, but not jest like this one. This pipe came clear from Calcutta and it sartain is one of my best friends. That pipe an’ me has faced some black times together and she has always proved a true comrade in rough weather. Well, I guess I didn’t drop her here. (Tries to speak carelessly.) Little gal gone?
Cyn. Ariel? Yes.
Ber. (curiously). Ariel? That ain’t no name for a girl.
Cyn. Ain’t it? I always thought it was real kind of pretty and fancy.
Ber. Fancy enough, but it’s a boy’s name. How’d she happen to be called that?
Cyn. Well, of course Cap’n Freeman didn’t know her real name and he said Ariel was some spirit of a storm or a tempest or something, and the name seemed real fitting.
Ber. (with an effort). Ain’t—ain’t she Freeman’s own daughter?
Cyn. Land, no! Ain’t you never heard nobody tell about Arey Freeman?
Ber. (leaning against the table and gripping the edge with his hand). No. Where’d she come from?
Cyn. Abner found her when she was a baby. It was after a big storm and there’d been a lot o’ shipwrecks and she was lashed to a spar.