RUTH—I've taken a holiday in honor of yo...

RUTH—I've taken a holiday in honor of your arrival—from work in the kitchen. [Laughing excitedly.] I feel so free I'd like to have wings and fly over the sea. You're a man. You can't know how awful and stupid it is—cooking and washing dishes all the time.

ANDREW—[Making a wry face.] I can guess.

RUTH—Besides, your mother just insisted on getting your first dinner to home, she's that happy at having you back. You'd think I was planning to poison you the flurried way she shooed me out of the kitchen.

ANDREW—That's just like Ma, bless her!

RUTH—She's missed you terrible. We all have. And you can't deny the farm has, after what I showed you and told you when we was looking over the place this morning.

ANDREW—[With a frown.] Things are run down, that's a fact! It's too darn hard on poor old Rob.

RUTH—[Scornfully.] It's his own fault. He never takes any interest in things.

ANDREW—[Reprovingly.] You can't blame him. He wasn't born for it; but I know he's done his best for your sake and the old folks and the little girl.

RUTH—[Indifferently.] Yes, I suppose he has. [Gaily.] But thank the Lord, all those days are over now. The "hard luck" Rob's always blaming won't last long when you take hold, Andy. All the farm's ever needed was someone with the knack of looking ahead and preparing for what's going to happen.

ANDREW—Yes, Rob hasn't got that. He's frank to own up to that himself. I'm going to try and hire a good man for him—an experienced farmer—to work the place on a salary and percentage. That'll take it off of Rob's hands, and he needn't be worrying himself to death any more. He looks all worn out, Ruth. He ought to be careful.

RUTH—[Absent-mindedly.] Yes, I s'pose. [Her mind is filled with premonitions by the first part of his statement.]

ANDREW—It would be a good idea if Rob could pull out of here—get a job in town on a newspaper, or something connected with writing—and this plan of mine'd give him a chance.

RUTH—[Vaguely.] He's always wanted to get away. [Suspiciously.] Why do you want to hire a man to oversee things? Seems as if now that you're back it wouldn't be needful.

ANDREW—Oh, of course I'll attend to everything while I'm here. I mean after I'm gone.

RUTH—[As if she couldn't believe her ears.] Gone!

ANDREW—Yes. When I leave for the Argentine again.

RUTH—(Aghast.) You're going away to sea again!

ANDREW—Not to sea, no; I'm through with the sea for good as a job. I'm going down to Buenos Aires to get in the grain business.

RUTH—But—that's way far off—isn't it?

ANDREW—(Easily.) Six thousand miles more or less. It's quite a trip. (With enthusiasm.) I've got a peach of a chance down there, Ruth. Ask Rob if I haven't. I've just been telling him all about it. I won't bother you by repeating. Rob can tell you.

RUTH—(A flush of anger coming over her face.) And didn't he try to stop you from going?

ANDREW—(In surprise.) No, of course not. Why?

RUTH—(Slowly and vindictively.) That's just like him—not to.

ANDREW—(Resentfully.) Rob's too good a chum to try and stop me when he knows I'm set on a thing. And he could see just as soon's I told him what a good chance it was. You ask him about it.

RUTH—(Dazedly.) And you're bound on going?

ANDREW—Sure thing. Oh, I don't mean right off. I'll have to wait for a ship sailing there for quite a while, likely. Anyway, I want to stay to home and visit with you folks a spell before I go.

RUTH—(Dumbly.) I s'pose. (With sudden anguish.) Oh, Andy, you can't go! You can't. Why we've all thought—we've all been hoping and praying you was coming home to stay, to settle down on the farm and see to things. You mustn't go! Think of how your Ma'll take on if you go—and how the farm'll be ruined if you leave it to Rob to look after. You can see that.

ANDREW—(Frowning.) Rob hasn't done so bad. When I get a man to direct things the farm'll be safe enough.

RUTH—(Insistently.) But your Ma—think of her.

ANDREW—She's used to me being away. She won't object when she knows it's best for her and all of us for me to go. You ask Rob. In a couple of years down there I'll make my pile, see if I don't; and then I'll come back and settle down and turn this farm to the crackiest place in the whole state. In the meantime, I can help you both from down there. (Earnestly.) I tell you, Ruth, I'm going to make good right from the minute I land, if working hard and a determination to get on can do it; and I know they can! I'll have money and lots of it before long, and none of you'll have to worry about this pesky little farm any more. (Excitedly—in a rather boastful tone.) I tell you, I feel ripe for bigger things than settling down here. The trip did that for me, anyway. It showed me the world in a larger proposition than ever I thought it was in the old days. I couldn't be content any more stuck here like a fly in molasses. There ain't enough to do. It all seems trifling, somehow. You ought to be able to understand what I feel.

RUTH—(Dully.) Yes—I s'pose I ought.

ANDREW—I felt sure you'd see; and wait till Rob tells you about—

RUTH—(A dim suspicion forming in her mind—interrupting him.) What did he tell you—about me?

ANDREW—Tell? About you? Why, nothing.

RUTH—(Staring at him intensely.) Are you telling me the truth, Andy Mayo? Didn't he say—I—(She stops confusedly.)

ANDREW—(Surprised.) No, he didn't mention you, I can remember. Why? What made you think he did?

RUTH—(Wringing her hands.) Oh, I wish I could tell if you're lying or not!

ANDREW—(Indignantly.) What're you talking about? I didn't used to lie to you, did I? And what in the name of God is there to lie for?

RUTH—(Still unconvinced.) Are you sure—will you swear—it isn't the reason— (She lowers her eyes and half turns away from him.) The same reason that made you go last time that's driving you away again? 'Cause if it is—I was going to say—you mustn't go—on that account. (Her voice sinks to a tremulous, tender whisper as she finishes.)

ANDREW—(Confused—forces a laugh.) Oh, is that what you're driving at? Well, you needn't worry about that no more— (Soberly.) I don't blame you, Ruth, feeling embarrassed having me around again, after the way I played the dumb fool about going away last time. You'll have to put it down to me just being young and foolish and not responsible for my actions—and forgive me and forget it. Will you?

RUTH—(In anguish buries her face in her hands.) Oh, Andy!

ANDREW—(Misunderstanding.) I know I oughtn't to talk about such foolishness to you. Still I figure it's better to get it out of my system so's we three can be together same's years ago, and not be worried thinking one of us might have the wrong notion. No, don't you fret about me having any such reason for going this time. I'm not a calf any more. Why honest, Ruth, before the ship got to Hong Kong I'd near forgot all that part of it. All I remembered was the awful scrap I'd had with Pa—and I was darned cut up about that.

RUTH—Andy! Please! Don't!

ANDREW—Let me finish now that I've started. It'll help clear things up. I don't want you to think once a fool always a fool, and be upset all the time I'm here on my fool account. I want you to believe I put all that silly nonsense back of me a long time ago—and now—it seems—well—as if you'd always been my sister, that's what, Ruth.

RUTH—(At the end of her endurance—laughing hysterically.) For God's sake, Andy—won't you please stop talking! (She again hides her face in her hands, her bowed shoulders trembling.)

ANDREW—(Ruefully.) Seem's if I put my foot in it whenever I open my mouth today. Rob shut me up with almost them same words when I tried speaking to him about it.

RUTH—(Fiercely.) You told him—what you've told me?

ANDREW—(Astounded.) Why sure! Why not?

RUTH—(Shuddering.) Oh, my God!

ANDREW—(Alarmed.) Why? Shouldn't I have?

RUTH—(Hysterically.) Oh, I don't care what you do! I don't care! Leave me alone! (ANDREW gets up and walks down the hill to the left, embarrassed, hurt, and greatly puzzled by her behavior.)

ANDREW—(After a pause—pointing down the hill.) Hello! Here they come back—and the Captain's with them. How'd he come to get back so soon, I wonder? That means I've got to hustle down to the port and get on board. Rob's got the baby with him. (He comes back to the boulder. RUTH keeps her face averted from him.) Gosh, I never saw a father so tied up in a kid as Rob is! He just watches every move she makes. And I don't blame him. You both got a right to feel proud of her. She's surely a little winner. (He glances at RUTH to see if this very obvious attempt to get back in her good graces is having any effect.) I can see the likeness to Rob standing out all over her, can't you? But there's no denying she's your young one, either. There's something about her eyes—

RUTH—(Piteously.) Oh, Andy, I've a headache! I don't want to talk! Leave me alone, won't you please?

O’Neill, Eugene. Beyond the Horizon. Web. http://www.bartleby.com/132/22.html