SCOTT. (_more and more ruffled_) Then all I got to say is, you’re a soft, weak-willed critter to be permittin’ a boy--and women, too--to be layin’ your course for you wherever they damn pleases. MAYO. (_slyly amused_) It’s just the same with me as ’twas with you, Dick. You can’t order the tides on the seas to suit you, and I ain’t pretendin’ I can reg’late love for young folks. SCOTT. (_scornfully_) Love! They ain’t old enough to know love when they sight it! Love! I’m ashamed of you, Robert, to go lettin’ a little huggin’ and kissin’ in the dark spile your chances to make a man out o’ yourself. It ain’t common sense--no siree, it ain’t--not by a hell of a sight! (_He pounds the table with his fists in exasperation_). MRS. MAYO. (_laughing provokingly at her brother_) A fine one you are to be talking about love, Dick--an old cranky bachelor like you. Goodness sakes! SCOTT. (_exasperated by their joking_) I’ve never been a damn fool like most, if that’s what you’re steerin’ at. MRS. MAYO. (_tauntingly_) Sour grapes, aren’t they, Dick? (_She laughs._ ROBERT _and his father chuckle_. SCOTT _sputters with annoyance_) Good gracious, Dick, you do act silly, flying into a temper over nothing. SCOTT. (_indignantly_) Nothin’! You talk as if I wasn’t concerned nohow in this here business. Seems to me I’ve got a right to have my say. Ain’t I made all arrangements with the owners and stocked up with some special grub all on Robert’s account? ROBERT. You’ve been fine, Uncle Dick; and I appreciate it. Truly. MAYO. ’Course; we all does, Dick. SCOTT. (_unplacated_) I’ve been countin’ sure on havin’ Robert for company on this vige--to sorta talk to and show things to, and teach, kinda, and I got my mind so set on havin’ him I’m goin’ to be double lonesome this vige. (_He pounds on the table, attempting to cover up this confession of weakness_) Darn all this silly lovin’ business, anyway. (_Irritably_) But all this talk ain’t tellin’ me what I’m to do with that sta’b’d cabin I fixed up. It’s all painted white, an’ a bran new mattress on the bunk, ’n’ new sheets ’n’ blankets ’n’ things. And Chips built in a book-case so’s Robert could take his books along--with a slidin’ bar fixed across’t it, mind, so’s they couldn’t fall out no matter how she rolled. (_With excited consternation_) What d’you suppose my officers is goin’ to think when there’s no one comes aboard to occupy that sta’b’d cabin? And the men what did the work on it--what’ll _they_ think? (_He shakes his finger indignantly_) They’re liable as not to suspicion it was a woman I’d planned to ship along, and that she gave me the go-by at the last moment! (_He wipes his perspiring brow in anguish at this thought_). Gawd A’mighty! They’re only lookin’ to have the laugh on me for something like that. They’re liable to b’lieve anything, those fellers is!