Scott monologue (Act 3) — Beyond the Horizon

(_unplacated_) I’ve been countin’ sure on havin’ Robert for company on this vige--to sorta talk to and show things to, and teach, kinda, and I got my mind so set on havin’ him I’m goin’ to be double lonesome this vige. (_He pounds on the table, attempting to cover up this confession of weakness_) Darn all this silly lovin’ business, anyway. (_Irritably_) But all this talk ain’t tellin’ me what I’m to do with that sta’b’d cabin I fixed up. It’s all painted white, an’ a bran new mattress on the bunk, ’n’ new sheets ’n’ blankets ’n’ things. And Chips built in a book-case so’s Robert could take his books along--with a slidin’ bar fixed across’t it, mind, so’s they couldn’t fall out no matter how she rolled. (_With excited consternation_) What d’you suppose my officers is goin’ to think when there’s no one comes aboard to occupy that sta’b’d cabin? And the men what did the work on it--what’ll _they_ think? (_He shakes his finger indignantly_) They’re liable as not to suspicion it was a woman I’d planned to ship along, and that she gave me the go-by at the last moment! (_He wipes his perspiring brow in anguish at this thought_). Gawd A’mighty! They’re only lookin’ to have the laugh on me for something like that. They’re liable to b’lieve anything, those fellers is!