"How could I, Sammie? A man that's a man at all is bound to carry sail at times. And fishermen, sail-carryin' or no sail-carryin', they comes and goes."
"Ay, girl, and sometimes goes quicker than they comes. Oh, Bess, the fine men I've been shipmates with! And now 'twould take a chart of all the banks 'tween Hatteras and Greenland to find out where the bones of the half of 'em lie."
"But do go now, Sammie." She snuggled closer to him. "Have a care now, for I'm lovin' you now, Sammie."
"Ay, you are. And I'm lovin' you, Bess. But your father, Bess; he'll put you out."
"Well, if he do——"
"If he do, Bess, you know who'll be waitin' for you."
"Ay, I do. An' I'll come to you, too, no fear, boy. But no matter about John Lowe now, boy, so you won't forget me, Sammie."
"Never a forget, Bessie."
"Then hold me again, Sammie, afore we part. And don't forget—never a man afore did I like like I likes you, Sammie."