) 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 (_Assumed 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 scrapes they got me into, and the scrapes they got me out
of--my word! I say, Miss Bessie, what are you thinking of?
Bessie (_Lifts her head_).
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