BURKE--I'll be going down to her, then. But first I'm thinking I'll take this chance when we're alone to have a word with you. [He sits down opposite CHRIS at the table and leans over toward him.] And that word is soon said. I'm marrying your Anna before this day is out, and you might as well make up your mind to it whether you like it or no. CHRIS--[Glaring at him with hatred and forcing a scornful laugh.] Ho-ho! Dat's easy for say! BURKE--You mean I won't? [Scornfully.] Is it the like of yourself will stop me, are you thinking? CHRIS--Yes, Ay stop it, if it come to vorst. BURKE--[With scornful pity.] God help you! CHRIS--But ain't no need for me do dat. Anna-- BURKE--[Smiling confidently.] Is it Anna you think will prevent me? CHRIS--Yes. BURKE--And I'm telling you she'll not. She knows I'm loving her, and she loves me the same, and I know it. CHRIS--Ho-ho! She only have fun. She make big fool of you, dat's all! BURKE--[Unshaken--pleasantly.] That's a lie in your throat, divil mend you! CHRIS--No, it ain't lie. She tal me yust before she go out she never marry fallar like you. BURKE--I'll not believe it. 'Tis a great old liar you are, and a divil to be making a power of trouble if you had your way. But 'tis not trouble I'm looking for, and me sitting down here. [Earnestly.] Let us be talking it out now as man to man. You're her father, and wouldn't it be a shame for us to be at each other's throats like a pair of dogs, and I married with Anna. So out with the truth, man alive. What is it you're holding against me at all? CHRIS--[A bit placated, in spite of himself, by BURKE'S evident sincerity--but puzzled and suspicious.] Vell--Ay don't vant for Anna gat married. Listen, you fallar. Ay'm a ole man. Ay don't see Anna for fifteen year. She vas all Ay gat in vorld. And now ven she come on first trip--you tank Ay vant her leave me 'lone again? BURKE--[Heartily.] Let you not be thinking I have no heart at all for the way you'd be feeling. CHRIS--[Astonished and encouraged--trying to plead persuasively.] Den you do right tang, eh? You ship avay again, leave Anna alone. [Cajolingly.] Big fallar like you dat's on sea, he don't need vife. He gat new gel in every port, you know dat. BURKE--[Angry for a second.] God stiffen you! [Then controlling himself--calmly.] I'll not be giving you the lie on that. But divil take you, there's a time comes to every man, on sea or land, that isn't a born fool, when he's sick of the lot of them cows, and wearing his heart out to meet up with a fine dacent girl, and have a home to call his own and be rearing up children in it. 'Tis small use you're asking me to leave Anna. She's the wan woman of the world for me, and I can't live without her now, I'm thinking. CHRIS--You forgat all about her in one veek out of port, Ay bet you!