MARTHY--[Glares at him for a second--then cannot control a burst
of laughter.] Ho-ho! Yuh're a scream, Square-head--an honest-ter-
Gawd knockout! Ho-ho! [She wheezes, panting for breath.]

CHRIS--[With childish pique.] Ay don't see nutting for laugh at.

MARTHY--Take a slant in the mirror and yuh'll see. Ho-ho!
[Recovering from her mirth--chuckling, scornfully.] A square-head
tryin' to kid Marthy Owen at this late day!--after me campin' with
barge men the last twenty years. I'm wise to the game, up, down,
and sideways. I ain't been born and dragged up on the water front
for nothin'. Think I'd make trouble, huh? Not me! I'll pack up me
duds an' beat it. I'm quittin' yuh, get me? I'm tellin' yuh I'm
sick of stickin' with yuh, and I'm leavin' yuh flat, see? There's
plenty of other guys on other barges waitin' for me. Always was, I
always found. [She claps the astonished CHRIS on the back.] So
cheer up, Dutchy! I'll be offen the barge before she comes. You'll
be rid o' me for good--and me o' you--good riddance for both of
us. Ho-ho!

CHRIS--[Seriously.] Ay don' tank dat. You vas good gel, Marthy.

MARTHY--[Grinning.] Good girl? Aw, can the bull! Well, yuh treated
me square, yuhself. So it's fifty-fifty. Nobody's sore at nobody.
We're still good frien's, huh? [LARRY returns to bar.]

CHRIS--[Beaming now that he sees his troubles disappearing.] Yes,
py golly.

MARTHY--That's the talkin'! In all my time I tried never to split