Ber. What’s the trouble? Of course ’tain’t none of my business, but sometimes an outsider can help, unexpected like, you know.
Cyn. I’m afraid no outsider can help in this. It looks like some trouble between Arey and Abner. He’s set on her marrying Nat Williams.
Ber. Cap’n Williams that sails for Howland Gordon o’ Boston?
Cyn. Yes.
Ber. Well, he’s said to be a likely sort o’ chap, ain’t he?
Cyn. Oh, yes, but you don’t believe in a girl’s being forced to marry a man she doesn’t care for, do you, even if he is a likely sort of chap?
Ber. Is Cap’n Abner forcing her?
Cyn. I don’t know as he is exactly, but he’s terrible set on it, an’ I don’t see why. He’s had two spells before this of trying to induce her to say “yes” to Nat. It’s terrible queer. He tries to make her feel that she owes everything, even her life, to him, and it’s her duty to obey.
Ber. (frowning). Oh, he does, eh? Then she knows she ain’t really Freeman’s daughter?
Cyn. Oh, yes, she knows it, but she doesn’t realize the difference. She wasn’t more’n a year old when he found her.