with a sigh of relief.] You're coming to all right, eh? Gee, I was
scared for a moment I'd killed you.

BURKE--[With difficulty rising to a sitting position--
scornfully.] Killed, is it? It'd take more than a bit of a blow to
crack my thick skull. [Then looking at her with the most intense
admiration.] But, glory be, it's a power of strength is in them
two fine arms of yours. There's not a man in the world can say the
same as you, that he seen Mat Burke lying at his feet and him dead
to the world.

ANNA--[Rather remorsefully.] Forget it. I'm sorry it happened,
see? [BURKE rises and sits on bench. Then severely.] Only you had
no right to be getting fresh with me. Listen, now, and don't go
getting any more wrong notions. I'm on this barge because I'm
making a trip with my father. The captain's my father. Now you
know.

BURKE--The old square--the old Swede, I mean?

ANNA--Yes.

BURKE--[Rising--peering at her face.] Sure I might have known it,
if I wasn't a bloody fool from birth. Where else'd you get that
fine yellow hair is like a golden crown on your head.

ANNA--[With an amused laugh.] Say, nothing stops you, does it?
[Then attempting a severe tone again.] But don't you think you
ought to be apologizing for what you said and done yust a minute
ago, instead of trying to kid me with that mush?