Bessie. You like my name! I wonder you remembered it.... That"s why, I suppose.
Harry (_Slight swagger in voice_). What"s the odds! As long as a fellow has lived. And a voyage isn"t a marriage--as we sailors say.
Bessie. So you"re not married--(_Movement of Harry_)--to any ship.
Harry (_Soft laugh_). Ship! I"ve loved and left more of them than I can remember. I"ve been nearly everything you can think of but a tinker or a soldier; I"ve been a boundary rider; I"ve sheared sheep and humped my swag and harpooned a whale; I"ve rigged ships and skinned dead bullocks and prospected for gold--and turned my back on more money than the old man would have sc.r.a.ped together in his whole life.
Bessie (_Thoughtfully_). I could talk him over in a week.. . .
Harry (_Negligently_). I dare say you could. (_Joking_.) I don"t know but what I could make shift to wait if you only promise to talk to me now and then. I"ve grown quite fond of your voice. I like a right woman"s voice.
Bessie (_Averted head_). Quite fond! (_Sharply_.) Talk! Nonsense! Much you"d care. (_Businesslike_.) Of course I would have to sometimes....
(_Thoughtful again_.) Yes. In a week--if--if only I knew you would try to get on with him afterwards.
Harry (_Leaning against lamp-post; growls through his teeth_). More humouring. Ah! well, no! (_Hums significantly_)
Oh, oh, oh, Rio, . . .
And fare thee well My bonnie young girl, We"re bound for Rio Grande.
Bessie (Shivering). What"s this?
Harry. Why! The chorus of an up-anchor tune. Kiss and go. A deep-water ship"s good-bye.... You are cold. Here"s that thing of yours I"ve picked up and forgot there on my arm. Turn round a bit. So. (_Wraps her up--commanding_.) Hold the ends together in front.
Bessie (_Softly_). A week is not so very long.
Harry (_Begins violently_). You think that I-------
(_Stops with sidelong look at her_.) I can"t dodge about in ditches and live on air and water. Can I? I haven"t any money--you know.
Bessie. He"s been sc.r.a.ping and saving up for years. All he has is for you, and perhaps...
Harry (_Interrupts_). Yes. If I come to sit on it like a blamed toad in a hole. Thank you.
Bessie (_Angrily_). What did you come for, then?
Harry (_Promptly_). For five quid--(_Pause_.)--after a jolly good spree.
Bessie (_Scathingly_). You and that--that--chum of yours have been drinking.
Harry (_Laughs_). Don"t fly out, Miss Bessie--dear. Ginger"s not a bad little chap. Can"t take care of himself, tho". Blind three days.
(_Serious_.) Don"t think I am given that way. Nothing and n.o.body can get over me unless I like. I can be as steady as a rock.
Bessie (_Murmurs_). Oh! I don"t think you are bad.
Harry (_Approvingly_). You"re right there. (_Impulsive_.) Ask the girls all over-------(_Checks himself_.) Ginger, he"s long-headed, too, in his way--mind you. He sees the paper this morning, and says he to me, "Hallo! Look at that, Harry--loving parent--that"s five quid, sure." So we sc.r.a.ped all our pockets for the fare....
Bessie (_Unbelieving_). You came here for that.
Harry (_Surprised_). What else would I want here? Five quid isn"t much to ask for--once in sixteen years. (_Through his teeth with a sidelong look at B._) And now I am ready to go--for my fare.
Bessie (_Clasping her hands_). Whoever heard a man talk like this before! I can"t believe you mean it?
Harry. What? That I would go? You just try and see.
Bessie (_Disregarding him_). Don"t you care for anyone? Didn"t you ever want anyone in the world to care for you?
Harry. In the world! (_Boastful_.) There"s hardly a place you can go in the world where you wouldn"t find somebody that did care for Harry Hagberd. (_Pause_.) I"m not of the sort that go about skulking under false names.
Bessie. Somebody--that means a woman.
Harry. Well! And if it did.
Bessie (_Unsteadily_). Oh, I see how it is. You get round them with your soft speeches, your promises, and then...
Harry (_Violently_). Never!
Bessie (_Startled, steps back_). Ah--you never. . .
Harry (_Calm_). Never yet told a lie to a woman.
Bessie. What lie?
Harry. Why, the lie that comes glib to a man"s tongue. None of that for me. I leave the sneaking off to them soft-spoken chaps you"re thinking of. No! If you love me you take me. And if you take me--why, then, the capstan-song of deep-water ships is sure to settle it all some fine day.
Bessie (_After a short pause, with effort_). It"s like your ships, then.
Harry (_Amused_). Exactly, up to now. Or else I wouldn"t be here in a silly fix.
Bessie (_a.s.sumed indifference_). Perhaps it"s because you"ve never yet met------- (_Voice fails_.)
Harry (_Negligently_). Maybe. And perhaps never shall.... What"s the odds? It"s the looking for a thing.... No matter. I love them all--ships and women. The sc.r.a.pes they got me into, and the sc.r.a.pes they got me out of--my word! I say, Miss Bessie, what are you thinking of?
Bessie (_Lifts her head_). That you are supposed never to tell a lie.
Harry. Never, eh? You wouldn"t be that hard on a chap.
Bessie (_Recklessly_). Never to a woman, I mean.
Harry. Well, no. (_Serious_.) Never anything that matters. (_Aside_.) I don"t seem to get any nearer to my railway fare. (_Leans wearily against the lamppost with a far-off look. B. looks at him_.)
Bessie. Now what are _you_ thinking of?
Harry (_Turns his head; stares at B_.). Well, I was thinking what a fine figure of a girl you are.
Bessie (_Looks away a moment_). Is that true, or is it only one of them that don"t matter?
Harry (_Laughing a little_). No! no! That"s true. Haven"t you ever been told that before? The men...