One Day More | Page 7

old
man calls a home, I would kick it down about my ears on the third
day--or else go to bed and die before the week was out. Die in a
house--ough!
Bessie (Returning; stops and speaks from garden railing). And where
is it that you would wish to die?
Harry. In the bush, in the sea, on some blamed mountain-top for choice.
No such luck, tho', I suppose.
Bessie (From distance). Would that be luck? Harry. Yes! For them that
make the whole world their home.
Bessie (Comes forward shyly). The world's a cold home--they say.
Harry (A little gloomy). So it is. When a man's done for.
Bessie. You see! (Taunting). And a ship's not so very big after all.
Harry. No. But the sea is great. And then what of the ship! You love
her and leave her, Miss--Bessie's your name--isn't it?... I like that name.
Bessie. You like my name! I wonder you remembered it.... That's why,
I suppose.
Harry (Slight swagger in voice). What's the odds! As long as a fellow
has lived. And a voyage isn't a marriage--as we sailors say.
Bessie. So you're not married--(Movement of Harry)--to any ship.

Harry (Soft laugh). Ship! I've loved and left more of them than I can
remember. I've been nearly everything you can think of but a tinker or a
soldier; I've been a boundary rider; I've sheared sheep and humped my
swag and harpooned a whale; I've rigged ships and skinned dead
bullocks and prospected for gold--and turned my back on more money
than the old man would have scraped together in his whole life.
Bessie (Thoughtfully). I could talk him over in a week.. . .
Harry (Negligently). I dare say you could. (Joking.) I don't know but
what I could make shift to wait if you only promise to talk to me now
and then. I've grown quite fond of your voice. I like a right woman's
voice.
Bessie (Averted head). Quite fond! (Sharply.) Talk! Nonsense! Much
you'd care. (Businesslike.) Of course I would have to sometimes....
(Thoughtful again.) Yes. In a week--if--if only I knew you would try to
get on with him afterwards.
Harry (Leaning against lamp-post; growls through his teeth). More
humouring. Ah! well, no! (Hums significantly)
Oh, oh, oh, Rio, . . . And fare thee well My bonnie young girl, We're
bound for Rio Grande.
Bessie (Shivering). What's this?
Harry. Why! The chorus of an up-anchor tune. Kiss and go. A
deep-water ship's good-bye.... You are cold. Here's that thing of yours
I've picked up and forgot there on my arm. Turn round a bit. So.
(_Wraps her up--commanding_.) Hold the ends together in front.
Bessie (Softly). A week is not so very long.
Harry (Begins violently). You think that I-------
(Stops with sidelong look at her.) I can't dodge about in ditches and live
on air and water. Can I? I haven't any money--you know.

Bessie. He's been scraping and saving up for years. All he has is for
you, and perhaps...
Harry (Interrupts). Yes. If I come to sit on it like a blamed toad in a
hole. Thank you.
Bessie (Angrily). What did you come for, then?
Harry (Promptly). For five quid--(Pause.)--after a jolly good spree.
Bessie (Scathingly). You and that--that--chum of yours have been
drinking.
Harry (Laughs). Don't fly out, Miss Bessie--dear. Ginger's not a bad
little chap. Can't take care of himself, tho'. Blind three days. (Serious.)
Don't think I am given that way. Nothing and nobody can get over me
unless I like. I can be as steady as a rock.
Bessie (Murmurs). Oh! I don't think you are bad.
Harry (Approvingly). You're right there. (Impulsive.) Ask the girls all
over-------(Checks himself.) Ginger, he's long-headed, too, in his
way--mind you. He sees the paper this morning, and says he to me,
'Hallo! Look at that, Harry--loving parent--that's five quid, sure.' So we
scraped all our pockets for the fare....
Bessie (Unbelieving). You came here for that.
Harry (Surprised). What else would I want here? Five quid isn't much
to ask for--once in sixteen years. (_Through his teeth with a sidelong
look at B._) And now I am ready to go--for my fare.
Bessie (Clasping her hands). Whoever heard a man talk like this before!
I can't believe you mean it?
Harry. What? That I would go? You just try and see.
Bessie (Disregarding him). Don't you care for anyone? Didn't you ever
want anyone in the world to care for you?

Harry. In the world! (Boastful.) There's hardly a place you can go in the
world where you wouldn't find somebody that did care for Harry
Hagberd. (Pause.) I'm not of the sort that go about skulking under false
names.
Bessie. Somebody--that means a woman.
Harry. Well! And if it did.
Bessie (Unsteadily). Oh, I