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right；　the　rarity　is　in　the　girl　that's　worth　it　ten　times　over。　
Faithful？　　I　couldn't　help　it　if　I　tried！　　No；　sweetheart；　and　I　
fear　nothing：　　I　don't　know　what　fear　is；　but　just　of　losing　you。　
（STARTING。）　　Lord；　that's　not　the　Admiral？

ARETHUSA。　　Aha；　Mr。　Dreadnought！　you　see　you　fear　my　father。

KIT。　　That　I　do。　　But；　thank　goodness；　it's　nobody。　　Kiss　me：　
no；　I　won't　kiss　you：　　kiss　ME。　　I'll　give　you　a　present　for
that。　　See！

ARETHUSA。　　A　wedding…ring！

KIT。　　My　mother's。　　Will　you　take　it？

ARETHUSA。　　Yes；　will　I　…　and　give　myself　for　it。

KIT。　　Ah；　if　we　could　only　count　upon　your　father！　　He's　a　man　
every　inch　of　him；　but　he　can't　endure　Kit　French。

ARETHUSA。　　He　hasn't　learned　to　know　you；　Kit；　as　I　have；　nor　yet
do　you　know　him。　　He　seems　hard　and　violent；　at　heart　he　is　only
a　man　overwhelmed　with　sorrow。　　Why　else；　when　he　looks　at　me　and
does　not　know　that　I　observe　him；　should　his　face　change；　and
fill　with　such　tenderness；　that　I　could　weep　to　see　him？　　Why；
when　he　walks　in　his　sleep；　as　he　does　almost　every　night；　his
eyes　open　and　beholding　nothing；　why　should　he　cry　so　pitifully
on　my　mother's　name？　　Ah；　if　you　could　hear　him　then；　you　would
say　yourself：　　here　is　a　man　that　has　loved；　here　is　a　man　that
will　be　kind　to　lovers。

KIT。　　Is　that　so？　　Ay；　it's　a　hard　thing　to　lose　your　wife；　ay；　
that　must　cut　the　heart　indeed。　　But　for　all　that；　my　lass；　your　
father　is　keen　for　the　doubloons。

ARETHUSA。　　Right；　Kit：　　and　small　blame　to　him。　　There　is　only
one　way　to　be　honest；　and　the　name　of　that　is　thrift。

KIT。　　Well；　and　that's　my　motto。　　I've　left　the　ship；　no　more　
letter　of　marque　for　me。　　Good…bye　to　Kit　French；　privateersman's
mate；　and　how…d'ye…do　to　Christopher；　the　coasting　skipper。　　I've
seen　the　very　boat　for　me：　　I've　enough　to　buy　her；　too；　and　to　
furnish　a　good　house；　and　keep　a　shot　in　the　locker　for　bad　luck。　
So　far；　there's　nothing　to　gainsay。　　So　far　it's　hopeful　enough；　
but　still　there's　Admiral　Guinea；　you　know　…　and　the　plain　truth
is　that　I'm　afraid　of　him。

ARETHUSA。　　Admiral　Guinea？　　Now　Kit；　if　you　are　to　be　true　lover
of　mine；　you　shall　not　use　that　name。　　His　name　is　Captain　Gaunt。　
As　for　fearing　him；　Kit　French；　you're　not　the　man　for　me；　if　you
fear　anything　but　sin。　　He's　a　stern　man　because　he's　in　the
right。

KIT。　　He　is　a　man　of　God；　I　am　what　he　calls　a　child　of
perdition。　　I　was　a　privateersman　…　serving　my　country；　I　say；
but　he　calls　it　pirate。　　He　is　thrifty　and　sober；　he　has　a
treasure；　they　say；　and　it　lies　so　near　his　heart　that　he　tumbles
up　in　his　sleep　to　stand　watch　over　it。　　What　has　a　harum…scarum
dog　like　me　to　expect　from　a　man　like　him？　　He　won't　see　I'm
starving　for　a　chance　to　mend；　'Mend；'　he'll　say；　'I'll　be　shot
if　you　mend　at　the　expense　of　my　daughter；'　and　the　worst　of　it
is；　you　see；　he'll　be　right。

ARETHUSA。　　Kit；　if　you　dare　to　say　that　faint…hearted　word　again；
I'll　take　my　ring　off。　　What　are　we　here　for　but　to　grow　better
or　grow　worse？　　Do　you　think　Arethusa　French　will　be　the　same　as　
Arethusa　Gaunt？

KIT。　　I　don't　want　her　better。

ARETHUSA。　　Ah；　but　she　shall　be！

KIT。　　Hark；　here　he　is！　　By　George；　it's　neck　or　nothing　now。　　
Stand　by　to　back　me　up。


SCENE　III

TO　THESE；　GAUNT；　C。

KIT　（WITH　ARETHUSA'S　HAND）。　　Captain　Gaunt；　I　have　come　to　ask
you　for　your　daughter。

GAUNT。　　Hum。　　（HE　SITS　IN　HIS　CHAIR；　L。）

KIT。　　I　love　her；　and　she　loves　me；　sir。　　I've　left　the　
privateering。　　I've　enough　to　set　me　up　and　buy　a　tidy　sloop　…
Jack　Lee's；　you　know　the　boat；　Captain；　clinker　built；　not　four
years　old；　eighty　tons　burthen；　steers　like　a　child。　　I've　put　my
mother's　ring　on　Arethusa's　finger；　and　if　you'll　give　us　your　
blessing；　I'll　engage　to　turn　over　a　new　leaf；　and　make　her　a
good　husband。

GAUNT。　　In　whose　strength；　Christopher　French？

KIT。　　In　the　strength　of　my　good；　honest　love　for　her：　　as　you
did　for　her　mother；　and　my　father　for　mine。　　And　you　know；
Captain；　a　man　can't　command　the　wind；　but　（excuse　me；　sir）　he
can　always　lie　the　best　course　possible；　and　that's　what　I'll　do；
so　God　help　me。

GAUNT。　　Arethusa；　you　at　least　are　the　child　of　many　prayers；
your　eyes　have　been　unsealed；　and　to　you　the　world　stands　naked；
a　morning　watch　for　duration；　a　thing　spun　of　cobwebs　for
solidity。　　In　the　presence　of　an　angry　God；　I　ask　you：　　have　you
heard　this　man？

ARETHUSA。　　Father；　I　know　Kit；　and　I　love　him。

GAUNT。　　I　say　it　solemnly；　this　is　no　Christian　union。　　To　you；　
Christopher　French；　I　will　speak　nothing　of　eternal　truths：　　I
will　speak　to　you　the　language　of　this　world。　　You　have　been
trained　among　sinners　who　gloried　in　their　sin：　　in　your　whole
life　you　never　saved　one　farthing；　and　now；　when　your　pockets　are
full；　you　think　you　can　begin；　poor　dupe；　in　your　own　strength。　
You　are　a　roysterer；　a　jovial　companion；　you　mean　no　harm　…　you
are　nobody's　enemy　but　your　own。　　No　doubt　you　tell　this　girl　of
mine；　and　no　doubt　you　tell　yourself；　that　you　can　change。　
Christopher；　speaking　under　correction；　I　defy　you！　　You　ask　me
for　this　child　of　many　supplications；　for　this　brand　plucked　from
the　burning：　　I　look　at　you；　I　read　you　through　and　through；　and
I　tell　you　…　no！　　　（STRIKING　TABLE　WITH　HIS　FIST。）

KIT。　　Captain　Gaunt；　if　you　mean　that　I　am　not　worthy　of　her；　I'm
the　first　to　say　so。　　But；　if　you'll　excuse　me；　sir；　I'm　a　young　
man；　and　young　men　are　no　better'n　they　ought　to　be；　it's　known；　
they're　all　like　that；　and　what's　their　chance？　　To　be　married　to
a　girl　like　this！　　And　would　you　refuse　it　to　me？　　Why；　sir；　you　
yourself；　when　you　came　courting；　you　were　young　and　rough；　and
yet　I'll　make　bold　to　say　that　Mrs。　Gaunt　was　a　happy　woman；　and
the　saving　of　yourself　into　the　bargain。　　Well；　now；　Captain
Gaunt；　will　you　deny　another　man；　and　that　man　a　sailor；　the　very
salvation　that　you　had　yourself？

GAUNT。　　Salvation；　Christopher　French；　is　from　above。

KIT。　　Well；　sir；　that　is　so；　but　there's　means；　too；　and　what
means　so　strong　as　the　wife　a　man　has　to　strive　and　toil　for；　and
that　bears　the　punishment　whenever　he　goes　wrong？　　Now；　sir；　I've
spoke　with　your　old　shipmates　in　the　Guinea　trade。　　Hard　as
nails；　they　said；　and　true　as　the　compass：　　as　rough　as　a　slaver；
but　as　just　as　a　judge。　　Well；　sir；　you　hear　me　plead：　　I　ask　you
for　my　chance；　don't　you　deny　it　to　me。

GAUNT。　　You　speak　of　me？　　In　the　true　balances　we　both　weigh　
nothing。　　But　two　things　I　know：　　the　depth　of　iniquity；　how　foul
it　is；　and　the　agony　with　which　a　man　repents。　　Not　until　seven　
devils　were　cast　out　of　me　did　I　awake；　each　rent　me　as　it
passed。　　Ay；　that　was　repentance。　　Christopher；　Christopher；　you
have　sailed　before　the　wind　since　first　you　weighed　your　anchor；
and　now　you　think　to　sail　upon　a　bowline？　　You　do　not　know　your
ship；　young　man：　　you　will　go　to　le'ward　like　a　sheet　of　paper；　I
tell　you　so　that　know　…　I　tell　you　so　that　have　tried；　and
failed；　and　wrestled　in　the　sweat　of　prayer；　and　at　last；　at
last；　have　tasted　grace。　　But；　meanwhile；　no　flesh　and　blood　of
mine　shall　lie　at　the　mercy　of　such　a　wretch　as　I　was　then；　or　as
you　are　this　day。　　I　could　not　own　the　deed　before　the　face　of
heaven　if　I　sanctioned　this　unequal　yoke。　　Arethusa；　pluck　off
that　ring　from　off　your　finger。　　Christopher　French；　take　it；　and
go　hence。

KIT。　　Arethusa；　what　do　you　say？

ARETHUSA。　　O　Kit；　you　know　my　heart。　　But　he　is　alone；　and　I　am
his　only　comfort；　and　I　owe　all　to　him；　and　shall　I　not　obey　my
father？　　But；　Kit；　if　you　will　let　me；　I　will　keep　your　ring。　
Go；　Kit；　go；　and　prove　to　my　father　that　he　was　mistaken；　go　and
win　me。　　And　O；　Kit；　if　ever　you　should　weary；　come　to　me　…　no；
do　not　come！　but　send　a　word　…　and　I　shall　know　all；　and　you
shall　have　your　ring。　　（GAUNT　OPENS　HIS　BIBLE　AND　BEGINS　TO
READ。）

KIT。　　Don't　say　that；　don't　say　such　things　to　me；　I　sink　or　swim
with　you。　　（TO　GAUNT。）　　Old　man；　you've　struck　me　hard；　give　me　a

good　word　to　go　with。　　Name　your　time；　I'll　stand　the　test。　　Give
me　a　spark　of　hope；　and　I'll　fight　through　for　it。　　Say　just　this
…　'Prove　I　was　mistaken；'　and　by　George；　I'll　prove　it。

GAUNT　（LOOKING　UP）。　　I　make　no　such　compacts。　　Go；　and　swear　not
at　all。

ARETHUSA。　　Go；　Kit！　　I　keep　the　ring。


SCENE　IV

ARETHUSA；　GAUNT

ARETHUSA。　　Father；　what　have　we　done　that　you　should　be　so　cruel？

GAUNT　（LAYING　DOWN　BIBLE；　AND　RISING）。　　Do　you　call　me　cruel？　
You　speak　after　the　flesh。　　I　have　done　you　this　day　a　service
that　you　will　live　to　bless　me　for　upon　your　knees。

ARETHUSA。　　He　loves　me；　and　I　love　him：　　you　can　never　alter
that；　do　what　you　will；　father；　that　can　never　change。　　I　love
him；　I　believe　in　him；　I　will　be　true　to　him。

GAUNT。　　Arethusa；　you　are　the　sole　thing　death　has　left　me　on
this　earth；　and　I　must　watch　over　your　carnal　happiness　and　your
eternal　weal。　　You　do　not　know　what　this　implies　to　me。　　Your
mother　…　my　Hester　…　tongue　cannot　tell；　nor　heart　conceive　the
pangs　she　suffered。　　If　it　lies　in　me；　your　life　shall　not　be
lost　on　that　same　reef　of　an　ungodly　husband。　　（GOES　OUT；　C。）


SCENE　V

ARETHUSA

ARETHUSA。　　I　thought　the　time　dragged　long　and　weary　when　I　knew