Eugene O'Neill

“ Mrs. Bartlett— [Seeming to shrivel up on her chair as she sees she has lost—weakly.] You be lost, Isaiah—no one can stop you.
Bartlett— [Triumphantly.] Aye, none’ll stop me. I’ll go my course alone. I’m glad ye see that, Sarah.
Mrs. Bartlett— [Feebly trying to get to her feet.] I’ll go to home.
Bartlett—Ye’ll stay, Sarah. Ye’ve had your say, and I’ve listened to ye; now I’ll have mine and ye listen to me. [Mrs. Bartlett sinks back in her chair exhaustedly. Bartlett continues slowly.] The schooner sails at dawn on the full tide. ”

“ When I’ve sailed back in the schooner, ye’ll see for yourself. There be a big chest o’ it, yellow and heavy, and fixed up with diamonds, emeralds and sech, that be worth more, even, nor the gold. We’ll be rich, Sarah—rich like I’ve always dreamed we’d be! There’ll be silks and carriages for ye—all the woman’s truck in the world ye’ve a mind to want—and all that Nat and Sue’ll want, too.{56}
Mrs. Bartlett— [With a shudder.] Are you tryin’ to bribe me, Isaiah—with a treasure that’s been cursed by God? ”

“ Bartlett— [Keeping his face averted.] Aye—or we’ll miss this tide.
Sue— [Putting her hands on his shoulders and trying to look into his face.] Pa! You can’t mean that! [His face is set with his obsessed determination. She lets her hands fall with a shudder.] You can’t be as cruel as that! Why, I thought, of course, you’d put off— [Wildly.] You have, haven’t you, Pa? You did tell those men you couldn’t sail when you saw how sick Ma was, didn’t you—when she fainted down on the wharf?
Bartlett— [Implacably.] I said I was sailin’ by this tide—and sail I will, by thunder! ”

“ It is gold—real gold—isn’t it?
Bartlett— [Slowly takes the studded anklet from his pocket and holds it out to Nat. The latter brings it to the light of the lantern. Bartlett sits on a chair, covering his face with his hands—in a tone of terrible suffering.] Ye’ll tell me, boy—if it’s gold or no. I’ve had it by me all this time—but I’ve been afeerd to show——
Nat— [In a tone of wild scorn.] Why, it’s brass, of course! The cheapest kind of junk—not worth a damn! [He flings it savagely into a corner of the room. Bartlett groans and seems to shrink up and turn into a figure of pitiable feebleness.] ”

“ Bartlett—Ye’ve your own work to do—good work. Attend to that and leave me to mine.
Nat—But you always wanted me to go on voyages to learn whaling with you.
Bartlett—This be different.
Nat— [With excited indignation.] Yes, this is different! Don’t I know it? Do you think you can hide that from me? It is different, and that’s why I want to go.{50}
Bartlett—Ye can’t, I say.
Nat— [Pleadingly.] But why not, Pa? I’m not a boy. I can do a man’s work on a ship, or anywhere else.
Bartlett— [Roughly.] Let’s have done with talk! Your place is here, with Sue and your Ma, and here you’ll stay. ”

“ Sue—Don’t you think Pa’ll come to realize the schooner is lost as time goes by and she doesn’t come back?
Doctor—If he was going to realize that, the report of the facts five months ago would have convinced him. There it was, plain as the nose on your face. British freighter reports finding derelict schooner. Steams near enough to read the name on the stern—Sarah Allen, Harborport. Well, who could get around that evidence except a man with an obsession? No, your father won’t let himself look the facts in the face. ”

“ Sue—Oh, Pa, what kind of things must they be—when you’re ashamed to tell them!
Bartlett—I ain’t ashamed. It ain’t that. On’y they be things a girl’s no call to meddle in. They be men’s business and I be man enough to carry ’em out alone. Ye’ll know all they be to know—and your Ma and Nat, too—when I come back from this vige. And the sooner I sail, the quicker I’ll be back to ye. Oh, ye’ll be glad enough then—when ye see with your own eyes! Ye’ll bless me then ’stead o’ turning agin me! ”