CLEMENTINE. [Listening at telephone.] Yes!--Papa isn't here. How long will he be, Kaps?
CLEMENTINE. [Startled.] What did you say? A hatch marked 47--and--[Trembling.]--I don't understand you. [Screams and lets the receiver fall.]
CLEMENTINE. [Painfully shocked.] I don't dare listen--Oh, oh!
CLEMENTINE. [Passionately.] Barend washed ashore. Oh God, now it is ended!
CLEMENTINE. A telegram from Nieuwediep. A hatch--and a corpse----
BOS. What's going on here? Why are you crying?
KAPS. The water bailiff is on the 'phone.
BOS. The water bailiff?--Step aside--Go along, you! What are you gaping at?
BOS. [Ringing.] Hello! Who is that? The water bailiff? A telegram from Nieuwediep? North of the Hook? I don't understand a word! Stop your howling! a hatch, you say? 47?--Well, that's damned--miserable--that! the corpse--advanced stage of decomposition! Barend--mustered in as oldest boy! Recognized by who? by--oh!--The Expectation has come into Nieuwediep disabled? And did Skipper Maatsuiker recognize him? Earrings? Yes, yes, silver earrings. No, never mind that. So it isn't necessary to send any one from here for the identification? Yes, damned sad--yes--yes--we are in God's hand--Yes--yes--I no longer had any doubts--thank you--yes--I'd like to get the official report as soon as possible. I will inform the underwriters, bejour! [Hangs up the receiver.] I'm simply dead! twelve men!
KAPS. Barend? Kneirtje's son? Washed ashore? That's--that's a wonder. I never expected to hear of the ship again. With the Clementine.
BOS. [Angrily.] Yes--yes--yes--yes--[To Clementine.] Go inside to your mother! What stupidity to repeat what you heard in that woman's presence. It won't be five minutes now till half the village is here! Don't you understand me? You sit there, God save me, and take on as if your lover was aboard----
CLEMENTINE. Why didn't you listen? [Sobs softly.]
CLEMENTINE. When Simon, the shipbuilder's assistant----
BOS. He was, too! And if he hadn't been, what right have you to stick your nose into matters you don't understand?
CLEMENTINE. Dear God, now I am also guilty----
BOS. [Angrily.] Guilty? Guilty! Have the novels you read gone to your head? Guilty! Are you possessed, to use those words after such an accident?