Darrell
[Hectically]
Right!
[He looks through the glasses—excitedly]
I see a flashing in the water way up there! Must be their oars! They’re coming! I’ll tell Sam!
[He hurries into the cabin]
Nina
[Thinking dully]
He’ll tell Sam . . . no, he doesn’t mean that . . . I must find some other way . . .
Marsden
[Walks a bit uncertainly to Nina’s chair]
Gordon really should get beaten today—for the good of his soul, Nina. That Madeline is pretty, isn’t she? These Gordons are too infernally lucky—while we others—
[He almost starts to blubber—angrily]
we others have got to beat him today!
[He slumps clumsily down to a sitting position on then deck by her chair and takes her hand and pats it]
There, there, Nina Cara Nina! Don’t worry your pretty head! It will all come out all right! We’ll only have a little while longer to wait and then you and I’ll be quietly married!
[Thinking frightenedly]
The devil! . . . what am I saying? . . . I’m drunk! . . . all right, all the better! . . . I’ve wanted all my life to tell her! . . .
Of course, I realize you’ve got a husband at present but, never mind, I can wait. I’ve waited a lifetime already; but
