You did some hard work, didn't you?

BURKE--[Promptly.] I did that! I'm a divil for sticking it out
when them that's weak give up. But much good it did anyone! 'Twas
a mad, fightin' scramble in the last seconds with each man for
himself. I disremember how it come about, but there was the four
of us in wan boat and when we was raised high on a great wave I
took a look about and divil a sight there was of ship or men on
top of the sea.

ANNA--[In a subdued voice.] Then all the others was drowned?

BURKE--They was, surely.

ANNA--[With a shudder.] What a terrible end!

BURKE--[Turns to her.] A terrible end for the like of them swabs
does live on land, maybe. But for the like of us does be roaming
the seas, a good end, I'm telling you--quick and clane.

ANNA--[Struck by the word.] Yes, clean. That's yust the word for--
all of it--the way it makes me feel.

BURKE--The sea, you mean? [Interestedly.] I'm thinking you have a
bit of it in your blood, too. Your Old Man wasn't only a barge
rat--begging your pardon--all his life, by the cut of him.

ANNA--No, he was bo'sun on sailing ships for years. And all the
men on both sides of the family have gone to sea as far back as he
remembers, he says. All the women have married sailors, too.