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diff --git a/20176-8.txt b/20176-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4357286 --- /dev/null +++ b/20176-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3522 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Drone, by Rutherford Mayne + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Drone + A Play in Three Acts + + +Author: Rutherford Mayne + + + +Release Date: December 23, 2006 [eBook #20176] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DRONE*** + + +E-text prepared by Audrey Longhurst, Diane Monico, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net/c/) + + + +THE DRONE + +A Play in Three Acts + +by + +RUTHERFORD MAYNE + + + + + + + +Luce & Co. +Boston +Copyright, 1912. Samuel Waddell. + + + + +TO + +SEVEEN + + + + +CHARACTERS + + +JOHN MURRAY, _A farmer._ +DANIEL MURRAY, _His brother._ +MARY MURRAY, _John's daughter._ +ANDREW MCMINN, _A farmer._ +SARAH MCMINN, _His sister._ +DONAL MACKENZIE, _A Scotch engineer._ +SAM BROWN, _A labourer in John Murray's employment._ +KATE, _A servant girl in John Murray's employment._ +ALICK MCCREADY, _A young farmer._ + +_The action takes place throughout in the kitchen of John Murray in +the County of Down._ + +TIME ... _The present day._ + + + + +The Drone + +_A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS_ + +ACT I. + + +SCENE: _The farm kitchen of John Murray. It is large and spacious, +with a wide open fire-place to the right. At the back is one door +leading to the parlour and other rooms in the house, also a large +window overlooking the yard outside. To the left of this window is the +door leading into the yard, and near the door an old-fashioned +grandfather's clock. Opposite to the fire-place on the left side is +another door leading into Daniel Murray's workshop, and beside this +door is a large dresser with crockery, &c. At the back beneath the +window is a table near which_ KATE, _the servant, a slatternly dressed +girl of some thirty years of age or more, is seated. She is carefully +examining some cakes of soda bread, and has a bucket beside her into +which she throws the rejected pieces._ + + +KATE. That one's stale. It would break your teeth to eat it. (_She +throws the cake into the bucket._) And the mice have nibbled that one. +And there's another as bad. (_She throws both pieces into the +bucket._) + +(BROWN, _the servant man, opens the door from yard and enters. He is +elderly, and with a pessimistic expression of face, relieved somewhat +by the sly humour that is in his eyes. He walks slowly to the centre +of the kitchen, looks at_ KATE, _and then turns his eyes, with a +disgusted shake of the head, towards the dresser as if searching for +something._) + +BROWN. Well! Well! Pigs get fat and men get lean in this house. + +KATE. It's you again, is it? And what are you looking now? + +BROWN. I'm looking a spanner for the boss. The feedboard to the +threshing machine got jammed just when halfway through the first +stack, and he is in a lamentable temper. + +KATE (_uneasily_). Is he? (_She starts hurriedly to clear up the +table._) + +BROWN (_watching her slyly to see what effect his words have_). And +he's been grumbling all morning about the way things is going on in +this house. Bread and things wasted and destroyed altogether. + +KATE. Well, it's all Miss Mary's fault. I told her about this bread +yesterday forenoon, and she never took any heed to me. + +BROWN. Miss Mary? (_With a deprecatory shake of his head._) What does +a slip of a girl like that know about housekeeping and her not home a +half-year yet from the boarding-school in the big town, and with no +mother nor nobody to train her. (_He stares in a puzzled way at the +dresser._) I don't see that spanner at all. Did you see it, Kate? + +KATE. No. I've more to do than look for spanners. + +BROWN (_gazing reproachfully at her and then shaking his head_). It's +a nice house, right enough. (_Lowering his voice._) And I suppose old +Mr. Dan is never up yet. I was told by Johnny McAndless, he was +terribly full last night at McArn's publichouse and talking--ach--the +greatest blethers about this new invention of his. + +KATE. Do you say so? + +BROWN. Aye. No wonder he's taking a lie this morning. (_He peeps into +the door of the workshop._) He's not in his wee workshop? + +KATE. No. Miss Mary is just after taking up his breakfast to him. + +BROWN. Some people get living easy in this world. (_He gives a last +look at the dresser._) Well divil a spanner can I see. I'll tell the +master that. (_He goes out again through the yard door, and as he does +so,_ MARY MURRAY _comes through the door from the inner rooms, +carrying a tray with teacups, &c., on it. She is a pretty, vivacious +girl about eighteen years of age._) + +MARY. Who was that? + +KATE. It's the servant man looking for a spanner for your father, Miss +Mary. There's something gone wrong with the threshing machine. + +MARY (_taking the tray to the table and starting to get ready to wash +up the cups_). I do believe sometimes that Uncle Dan's a lazy man. + +KATE (_assisting her at the washing and stopping as if astonished at +the statement_). And is it only now you're after finding that out! +Sure the whole countryside knowed it this years and years. + +MARY (_sharply_). The whole countryside has no business to talk about +what doesn't concern it. + +KATE. Oh, well, people are bound to talk, Miss. + +MARY. But then Uncle Dan is awfully clever. He's got the whole brains +of the Murrays, so father says, and then, besides that, he is a grand +talker. + +KATE. Aye. He can talk plenty. Sure Sarah McMinn, that lives up the +Cut, says its a shame the way he's going on this twenty years and +more, never doing a hand's turn from morning to night, and she says +she wonders your poor father stands him and his nonsense. + +MARY. Who said that? + +KATE. Sarah McMinn told Johnny McAndless that yesterday. + +MARY. Sarah McMinn? Pooh! That hard, mean, old thing. No. I believe in +Uncle Dan and so does father. He'll make a name for himself yet. + +KATE. Well, it's getting near time he done it. + +MARY. And that Sarah McMinn they say just keeps her brother in +starvation, and she just says nasty things like that about Uncle Dan +because he doesn't like her. + +KATE. Aye. He never did like people as seen through him, not but she +is a mean old skin-a-louse. (_The voice of_ DANIEL MURRAY _is heard +calling from within._) He's up, Miss. + +MARY. Are you up, uncle? + +(DAN MURRAY _opens the door from the inner apartments and comes into +the kitchen. He is carelessly dressed and sleepy-looking as if just +out of bed, wears a muffler and glasses, and appears to be some fifty +years of age._) + +DANIEL. Yes. Did the _Whig_ come yet? + +MARY. Yes. I put it in your workshop. + +DANIEL (_glancing at the clock_). Bless my heart, it's half-past one! + +MARY (_reproachfully_). It is, indeed, uncle. + +DANIEL. Well! Well! Time goes round, Mary. Time goes round. (_Kate +picks up the bucket and goes out by the yard door._) Where's your +father? (_He crosses over to the workshop door._) + +MARY. He's out working with Sam Brown at the threshing all morning +since seven o'clock. + +DANIEL. Well! Well! A very industrious man is John Murray. Very. But +lacking in brains, my dear--lacking in brains. Kind, good-hearted, +easy-going, but--ah! well, one can't help these things. (_He goes +towards the workshop._) Where did you say the _Whig_ was, Mary? + +MARY. It's in your workshop. (_He crosses over to go there._) + +MARY. You were very late coming in last night, uncle. + +DANIEL. Eh? (_He goes in, gets the paper, comes out again._) + +MARY. I heard you coming in, and the clock was just after striking +two. (_He sits down and opens paper._) + +DANIEL. Well--I met a few friends last night. Appreciative friends I +could talk to, and I was explaining that new idea of mine that I've +been working at so long--that new idea for a fan-bellows. It's a great +thing. Oh yes. It should be. I sat up quite a while last night, +thinking it over, and I believe I've got more ideas about it--better +ones. + +MARY. Do you think you'll make money off it, uncle? + +DANIEL. Mary--if it comes off--if I can get someone to take it up, I +believe 'twill make our fortune, I do. + +MARY. Oh, uncle, it would be lovely if you did, and I would just die +to see that nasty McMinn woman's face when she hears about you making +such a hit. + +DANIEL. McMinn? Has that woman been sneering about me again? That's +one woman, Mary, I can't stand. I can never do myself justice +explaining ideas in company when that woman is present. + +MARY. Never mind her, uncle. (_Coming close beside him._) Do you mind +the time last time, uncle, when you went up to Belfast for a week to +see about that patent for--what's this the patent was, uncle? + +DANIEL (_uncomfortably_). Last time? Aye? Why? + +MARY. Yes. Don't you remember you said you knew of an awfully nice boy +that you met, and you were going to bring him down here. + +DANIEL. Upon my soul, I had clean forgotten. Yes, yes. I think I did +say something about a young fellow I met. + +MARY. Was he nice, uncle? + +DANIEL (_becoming absorbed in the newspaper_). Eh? I think so. Oh. He +was--very nice chap. + +MARY. Well, you said he was coming here to see me, and he never turned +up yet. + +DANIEL. Did I? Very possibly. I suppose he must have forgotten. + +MARY (_walking away to the left and then back again pouting_). I'm +sick of the boys here. There's only Alick McCready that's anyway +passable. When will you see him again, uncle? + +DANIEL. Well--possibly, when I go up to town again. Very soon, +perhaps. That is if your father, Mary, can spare the money. + +MARY (_thoughtfully_). I don't know, uncle. You see that would be five +times now, and somehow you never seem to get anything done. That's +what he said, mind you, uncle. + +DANIEL (_mournfully_). Well! Well! To think of me toiling and moiling +away in that workshop of mine, day after day, and week after week, and +year after year--and there's all the thanks you get for it. + +MARY. Uncle? + +DANIEL (_somewhat irritably as he gets engrossed reading_). Well? + +MARY. Look, if you went up to Belfast again soon, won't you see that +boy? I wonder what he's like. (_She gets close beside her uncle and +nestles beside him._) Is he dark or fair? + +DANIEL. Yes, yes. I think so. + +MARY. Dark? + +DANIEL. Yes. I believe he is dark. + +MARY. And tall? + +DANIEL (_trying vainly to read in spite of the interruptions_). Very +tall. + +MARY. Oh, how nice! And uncle, is he good-looking? + +DANIEL. Very. Fine looking fellow. + +MARY. That's grand; and uncle, is he well to do? + +DANIEL. He has every appearance of it. + +MARY. Oh you dear old uncle! (_She nestles closer to him._) But maybe +he wouldn't look at me when he has a whole lot of town girls to go +with. + +DANIEL. My dear niece, you don't know what a very good-looking young +lady you are, and besides he saw your photograph. + +MARY. Which photograph? + +DANIEL (_perplexed_). Which photograph? Your own of course! + +MARY. The one I got taken at Lurgan? + +DANIEL. Yes. I think so. + +MARY. Oh uncle! That horrid thing! Why didn't you show him the one I +got taken at Newcastle? + +DANIEL. My mistake. Very sorry, indeed, Mary, I assure you. But I tell +you what, I'll take the album with me next time. Will that do? + +MARY (_laughing_). There. Now you're only joking. (_Suddenly._) What +do you do all the time you stay in Belfast, uncle? + +DANIEL (_uneasily_). Um--um----Business, my dear girl, business. See +engineers and all that sort of thing, and talk things over. It takes +time, you know, Mary, time. + +MARY. You've been an awful long time inventing, uncle, haven't you? + +DANIEL. Well, you know, Mary dear--time--it takes time. You can't rush +an inventor. + +MARY. Well look, uncle. You know I can just wheedle father round my +wee finger, can't I? + +DANIEL. You can indeed. + +MARY. Well, look: if you promise to bring down this boy you are +talking about, I'll get father to give you enough to have two weeks in +Belfast. There. It's a bargain. + +DANIEL. Um--well--he may not be there you know. + +MARY (_disappointed_). O uncle! + +DANIEL. You see he travels a lot and he may be away. He may be in +London. In fact I think--yes. He said he would be going to London. + +MARY. Then why not go to London? + +DANIEL (_starting up and speaking as if struck with delight at the +possibility_). Eh? I never thought of that! (_He collapses again._) +But no. Your father, Mary. He would never give me the money. No. + +MARY. But you're more likely to meet people there who'd take it up, +aren't you, uncle? + +DANIEL. It's _the place_ for an inventor to go, Mary. _The place._ +(_Pauses._) But I'm afraid when John hears about it----(_he becomes +very dubious and shakes his head_). + +MARY. Well, look here, uncle. Do you mind the last time when he would +not give you money to go up to Belfast about your patent. + +DANIEL (_sadly_). I do. + +MARY. You remember you got a letter a few days after asking you to +come up at once and you had to go then. Hadn't you? + +DANIEL. I had. + +MARY. Well, couldn't we do the same this time? + +DANIEL (_looking at her uneasily_). Eh? + +MARY. Couldn't we get someone to send a letter. (_Pausing and +thinking, then suddenly_). Oh, the very thing! You know that silly +Alick McCready that comes running after me. Well, look, I'll get him +to send a letter. + +DANIEL. No good, my dear. I did it before----I mean letters on plain +notepaper don't carry much weight. No. + +MARY. What about----oh, I know! Uncle, a telegram! + +DANIEL. Great idea! It is in soul! + +MARY. And we'll put something on it like "come to London at once to +see about the patent," or something like that. And he'd have to let +you go then. + +DANIEL. Mary, you're really a cleverer girl than your father thinks. +(_Musingly._) Two weeks in London. + +MARY. And don't forget the nice boy, uncle, when you go. + +DANIEL. I'll do my best to get hold of him. + +MARY. No. I want a good definite promise. Promise, uncle. + +DANIEL. Well, really you know, my dear, he---- + +MARY. Uncle, promise. + +DANIEL. Um----well, I promise. + +MARY. You're a dear old thing. You see, uncle, I don't want to marry +Alick McCready or Jim McDowell or any of those boys, unless there's +nobody else. + +DANIEL. Quite right, my dear, quite right. Two weeks in London. +Splendid! But it's time I was going into my workshop. (_He rises and +takes the paper with him._) I must really try and do something this +morning. (_Exit by workshop door._) + +MARY (_calling after him_). You won't forget, uncle? Will you? + +DANIEL. No, certainly not. + +MARY. I do hope uncle brings that nice boy. Dark--tall--well set +up--well to do. + +(KATE _comes in again through the yard door, and looks at_ MARY, _who +is gazing vacantly into space._) + +KATE. Well? What notion have you got now? + +MARY. Oh! just think, Kate! How would you like a boy who was dark and +tall, and well set up and well to do? + +KATE. I'd just leap at him. + +MARY (_laughing_). Agh! I don't think he'll ever come, Kate! + +KATE. I think you've plenty on hand to manage. (BROWN _opens the yard +door and resumes his old-position from which he stares at the +dresser_). You're back again, are you? + +BROWN. Aye. + +KATE. What ails you now? + +BROWN. I'm looking the spanner. + +MARY. The spanner? + +BROWN. The spanner, Miss Mary. It's for turning the nuts like. + +KATE. Have you never got it yet? + +BROWN. Do you think I've got eyes in the back of my head? Underneath +the seat, beside the salt-box, on the right near the wee crock in the +left hand corner. (_He makes a movement to open one of the drawers of +the dresser._) + +KATE. Will you get out of that, ignorance. It's not there. + +BROWN (_with an appealing look at_ MARY). Maybe its in the parlour? + +MARY. Well, I'll take a look round. (_She goes through the door to +living rooms._) + +BROWN (_mysteriously_). Did you hear the news? + +KATE. No. (_Very much interested._) What? + +BROWN. Ach! You women never know anything. + +KATE. What's the news? Somebody killed? + +BROWN. No. More serious. + +KATE (_alarmed_). God bless me! What is it? + +BROWN. Andy McMinn has a sister. + +KATE (_disappointed_). Ach! + +BROWN. And she's trying to get a man. + +KATE. Well. I knowed that this years. + +BROWN. And Mr. John Murray is a widow man. + +KATE. You mean to be telling me that Mr. John has a notion of that old +thing? Go long with you! + +BROWN. Did you ever hear tell of a widow man that never got married +again. + +KATE. Plenty. Don't come in here talking blethers. + +BROWN. Whist. There's more in what I'm telling you than you think. And +I'll hold you to a shilling that Sarah McMinn will be Mrs. John Murray +before one month. + +KATE. Who told you? + +BROWN. Ach. You've no more head than a yellow yorling. Where has Mr. +John been going to these wheen of nights? + +KATE (_thinking_). Andy McMinns! + +BROWN. Aye. Do you think it is to see old Andy? And sure he's been +talking to me all morning about the way the house is being kept. No +hand to save the waste; bread and things destroyed; hens laying away; +eggs ate up by the dozen and chickens lost and one thing and another. +And hinting about what money a good saving woman would bring him. And +Mr. Daniel---- + +KATE. Sh----he's in there working. + +BROWN. Working? Ah, God save us! Him working! The last man that seen +Mr. Dan working is in his grave this twenty years. (_He goes over next +workshop door._) I'll just peep in at him through the keyhole. (_He +goes over and does so, and then beckons_ KATE _over. She peeps in and +grins. As they are thus occupied_ ALICK MCCREADY _opens the door and +stands gazing at them. He is a type of the young well-to-do farmer, +respectably dressed and good-looking._) + +ALICK. Well! Well! Some people earn their money easy! + +BROWN. Aye. In soul. Just look in there to see it. (MCCREADY _looks in +and bursts into a loud hearty laugh._ BROWN _hurriedly goes out by the +yard door and_ KATE _by door to inner rooms._) + +DANIEL (_opening door and standing there, perplexed looking_). What's +the matter? + +ALICK. Ah. I was just laughing at a wee joke, Mr. Murray. + +DANIEL. It must have been very funny. + +ALICK. Aye. It was. (_Coming close to_ DANIEL, _who walks slowly to +the middle of the kitchen._) I say. Were you at McArn's publichouse +last night? + +DANIEL (_looking round cautiously to see that no one else can hear +him_). Well, just a minute or two. Why? + +ALICK. There was someone there told Andy McMinn this morning, I +believe, that you'd been talking of a great invention altogether, and +he was that much curious to see it that him and his sister Sarah are +coming over this day to have a look at it. + +DANIEL. Who? Sarah McMinn? + +ALICK. Aye. She's very anxious to see it, I believe. + +DANIEL. Um. Rather awkward this. She's not a woman that, plainly +speaking, I care very much to talk about my ideas to. + +ALICK. But have you got something struck out? + +DANIEL. McCready, come here. (ALICK _goes closer to him._) It is +really a great idea. Splendid. But I've a great deal of trouble over +it. In fact I've been thinking out details of a particular gear all +morning. + +ALICK. Aye. (_He looks at_ DANIEL _and then endeavours to restrain +unsuccessfully a burst of laughter._) + +DANIEL (_angrily_). You were always an ignorant hound anyway and be +d----d to you. (_He turns to go towards his workshop._) + +ALICK. Ah, Mr. Murray, I beg your pardon. It's another thing +altogether I'm thinking about. I just wanted a talk with you this +morning. You have a nice wee girl for a niece, Mr. Murray. + +DANIEL (_somewhat mollified_). Well? + +ALICK (_bashfully_). And I was wondering if you could put in a good +word for me now and again with her. + +DANIEL. Now, look here, Alick. We can all work nice and comfortably +together, can't we? + +ALICK. Aye. + +DANIEL. Well, if you behave yourself like a man with some manners, and +not like an ignorant clodhopper, I can do a great deal for you. + +ALICK. Thank you, sir. You know, Mr. Murray, I have as nice a wee +farm, and as good stock on it as well, as any man in the county, and +if I'm lucky enough to get that niece of yours, you'll always be +welcome to come and pass a day or two and have a chat. + +DANIEL. I think you and I will get along all right, Alick. There's one +or two little things I need badly sometimes in this house. I mean I +want help often, you know, Alick, to carry my points with John; points +about going to see people and that sort of thing, and it's really very +hard to manage John on points like that, unless we resort to certain +means to convince him they are absolutely necessary. + +ALICK (_uneasily_). Yes. I sort of follow you. + +DANIEL. You know what I mean. John's a little dense, you know. He +can't see the point of an argument very well unless you sort of knock +him down with it. Now, if a thing is fair and reasonable, and a man is +so dense that he can't see it, you are quite justified--at least, I +take it so--to manufacture a way--it doesn't matter how--so long as +you make that dense man accept the thing, whatever it is, as right. Do +you follow me? + +ALICK. I'm just beginning to see a kind of way. + +MARY (_appearing at door from inner rooms_). I can't see that thing +anywhere. (_She suddenly sees_ ALICK.) Oh Alick! You here! + +ALICK. Yes. It's a nice morning, and you're looking beautiful! + +MARY. Oh, bother. (_She seems to suddenly recollect something._) Oh, I +say! uncle! You remember? Uncle! + +DANIEL (_somewhat perplexed_). Eh? + +MARY (_motioning towards_ ALICK). Telegram to come to London. + +DANIEL. Ah----Oh, yes, yes. + +MARY. Let's go into your workshop and tell Alick what we want. Come +on. + +ALICK. I'll do anything in the world you want. + +(_They all go into the workshop. As they disappear,_ JOHN MURRAY, +_sweating and angry looking, comes through from the yard followed by_ +BROWN. JOHN _is a tall, stout man, with a rather dour countenance and +somewhat stolid expression. He is a year or so the elder of Dan in +age. He goes to the dresser, puts his hand on the top shelf, takes +down a spanner and throws it down angrily on the table._) + +JOHN. There. There you are, you stupid-looking, good for nothing, +dunder-headed, Italian idiot you. + +BROWN. You're something terrible cross this morning. + +JOHN. (_heatedly_). Is it any wonder? Away out at once now and put her +to rights and quick about it. (BROWN _meekly goes out._) The like of +servant men nowadays, I never seen in my mortal days. A concern of +ignorant bauchles, every one of them. + +DANIEL (_opening door of workshop and peeping out. He sees_ JOHN _and +goes over to him with a genial air_). Good morning John. + +JOHN (_snappishly_). Morning. + +DANIEL. John, what do you think, I believe I have just come on to a +great idea about---- + +JOHN. Ach! You and your great ideas! Here you've been blundering and +blethering and talking these fifteen years and more, and I've never +seen anything come of them yet. + +DANIEL (_soothingly_). I know, John, I know. But I'm handicapped you +know. Bad place to work in and all the rest of it: but you've been +kind to me, John. Keeping a brother and helping him after he has lost +all his money isn't a common thing with many men, but John a day will +come sometime, and you'll get it all back. (_Impressively_). Every +penny. Aye, and twice over. + +JOHN (_softening_). Thank you, Daniel. + +DANIEL. You will, John, you will. But don't cast up things like that +about the time I've been. It hurts me. A thing like this takes time to +mature, you know, John. The great and chief thing for an inventor is +time. Look at Palissy, the great French potter, who found out how to +make porcelain glaze. Why he worked for years and years at his +invention. And there was the man who found out how to make steam drive +engines. Look at the years those men spent--and no one begrudged them. + +JOHN. I suppose that now. + +DANIEL. Certainly, John, nothing surer. And look at the fortunes those +men made. But the great difficulty is trying to get someone to take up +your patent. You see these men had the eyes of the world fixed on +them. People knew all about them, and had their hands stretched out +ready to grab what they invented. (_Pathetically_). I----I'm just a +poor unknown man struggling in a wee dark corner. + +JOHN (_touched_). Never mind, Danny. You'll make the name of the +Murray's known yet, maybe. + +DANIEL. I'll do my best, John. But mind you it would take me to be +pushing on this thing that I have found out and bringing it before +people to notice. You see I've got it all ready now except for a few +small details. + +JOHN (_much interested_). Have you now? I would like you sometime to +explain it to me, Daniel. I didn't quite get on to it the last time +you were telling me about it. + +DANIEL. Some time again. Oh yes. But John--I'll have to go to some of +the towns soon to see people about it. The bigger the town the better +the chance, and John (_impressively_)--London's the place. + +JOHN (_aghast_). London! In all the name of the world, yon place! +Would Belfast not do you? + +DANIEL. No. I don't like Belfast. They're a mangy, stick-in-the-mud, +follow-in-the-old-ruts crowd. Never strike out anything new. It's a +case of London or nothing. + +JOHN (_dubiously_). It will be a terrible expense this London +visiting. + +DANIEL. It'll be worth it. + +JOHN. Now, Danny, I would like to oblige you, but what do you think it +would cost me? + +DANIEL. Well, I could live cheap you know, John, and do without meals +an odd day, and go steerage and third class, and that sort of thing. I +would say about fifteen pounds roughly. That would let me stay more +than a week. + +JOHN. Fifteen pounds! God bless me, Daniel, would you break me? No, +no, I couldn't afford to give you that much. + +DANIEL. Maybe ten would do it. I could sleep out under the arches an +odd night or two, and---- + +JOHN. No, no. I'll not have that. A Murray aye had a bed to go to and +a sup to eat. (_After a contemplative pause._) Here, I'll give you +three pounds and you can go to Belfast. + +DANIEL. I don't care much about Belfast. You know I have been there +five times now, and I have never got anyone to look into the thing at +all proper. + +JOHN. You're too backward, Daniel, when it comes to the like of that. +But ten pounds! No, I would like you to get on in the world right +enough, Daniel, but I couldn't afford it. You know the way this house +is being kept; it's lamentable. Tea and sugar and flour and things. +Man, I'm just after paying off ten pounds to the McAfees for one thing +and another, and it only a running account for two months. If I had a +good housekeeper now, maybe things would alter for the better. + +MARY (_coming out from the workshop followed by_ ALICK). O Uncle Dan! +He says he'll go at once and get it----(_She stops short in confusion on +seeing her father._) + +ALICK. How are you, Mr. Murray? + +JOHN. O! bravely. What's the news with you? + +ALICK. I was just looking over some of them ideas of Daniel's, about +the new fan bellows. + +JOHN. Aye. Now what do you think of it? + +ALICK (_warned by_ DANIEL _who nudges him_). They're great altogether. + +JOHN. Do you think there will be any sale for it at all? + +ALICK. I think so. (_He perceives_ DANIEL _motioning assent._) I +believe there would be indeed. + +JOHN. Man, I wish I had the head of some of you young fellows to +understand the working of them machinery and things. (DANIEL _goes +back into the workshop._) I've the worst head in the world for +understanding about them sort of things. There's Daniel, a great head +on him, Daniel. + +ALICK (_slyly_). He has, right enough! + +JOHN (_proudly_). One of the best. When he was a wee fellow, dang the +one could beat him at making boats or drawing pictures, or explaining +extraordinary things to you. None. Not one. A great head on him, +Daniel. He'll do something yet. + +ALICK. Did you know Andy McMinn's for coming over to see you this day, +Mr. Murray? + +JOHN (_eagerly_). This day? When? Are you sure? + +ALICK. Aye, so he said. About two o'clock or so. Someone told him +about Daniel's great new idea, and he's very curious to hear about it. + +MARY. He's always poking his nose into people's business. + +JOHN. Whist. Andy McMinn's a very decent man. Tell me (_rather +bashfully_), was Sarah to come with him? + +MARY (_alarmed_). O holy prophets! I hope not. + +ALICK. Aye. She's coming too. She wanted to see it as well as Andy. + +JOHN. Aye. Certainly, and she's welcome too. Mary, you can get the +house ready, and the table set, and a nice tea for them when they +come, and I can go and get tidied up a wee bit. (_He goes off through +door into inner rooms._) + +ALICK (_leaning against the table and looking across at_ MARY, _who is +sitting at the opposite end._) You're as nice a wee girl as ever I---- + +MARY. You're an awful fool. Hurry, Alick, like a decent man and get +that telegram sent. + +ALICK. That uncle of yours, Mary, heth he's as canny a keoghboy as +I've seen. Its the queer tears he'll be taking to himself in London if +I know anything. + +MARY. Hold your tongue. You've no business to talk about Uncle Dan +that way. He could give you tons as far as brains go anyway. + +ALICK. I believe that. (_He goes to yard door, then turns back._) I +say, Mary. What name will I put on that telegram? "Come to London at +once about patent. Intend purchasing." Hadn't we better have a name? + +MARY. Yes. I'll just ask uncle. (_She knocks at door of workshop._) +Uncle! + +DANIEL (_without_). Yes. + +MARY. What name will we put to that telegram? + +DANIEL (_without_). Oh, it's not particular. Wilson or Smith, or +Brown, or Gregg. + +ALICK. I'll put Gregg on it. + +DANIEL. Do well. + +ALICK. Did you see the fluster that your father got into, Mary, when +he heard that Sarah McMinn was coming over? + +MARY (_alarmed_). What? + +ALICK.. Did you not see how he rushed off to tidy himself up when he +heard Sarah McMinn was coming over? + +MARY (_seating herself on chair to right of table_). Nonsense. Father +wouldn't think of that woman. + +ALICK. All right. But I think I know something more than you. + +MARY (_anxiously_). What? Tell me. + +ALICK. Come on and leave me down the loaning a pace, and I'll tell +you. + +MARY (_glancing at him, and then coquettishly turning her back to him +as he leans against the table_). Oh, I can't. Those people are coming +over, and that McMinn woman will be looking at everything and telling +you how to do things in front of father, and all the rest of it. + +ALICK (_entreatingly_). Leave me down the loaning a pace till I tell +you the news. + +MARY (_teasingly_). No. + +ALICK. Come on. + +MARY. No. (ALICK _moves sadly towards the door._ MARY _looks round, +and then laughingly skips past him out through the yard door, and he +follows her._) + +JOHN (_coming through door from inner rooms partly dressed, with a +towel in his hands, evidently making much preparation to clean +himself_). Daniel! (_Loudly and crossly._) Daniel! + +DANIEL (_peeping out from workshop door_). Well! + +JOHN. Tidy yourself up a wee bit, man, Andy McMinn and Sarah's coming +over to see you. + +DANIEL (_somewhat taken back_). Me? + +JOHN. Aye. They want to see about the new invention. You can have the +collar I wore last Sunday, and put on your new coat that you got in +Belfast. (DANIEL _goes back into the workshop._) I wonder what tie +would be the better one? Yon green or the red one that Mary gave me +last Christmas. Aye. (_Seeing no sign of_ DANIEL.) D----n! Is he +making no shapes to dress himself. Daniel! + +DANIEL (_without_). Aye. + +JOHN (_loudly_). Daniel! + +DANIEL (_again appearing at door_). Well! + +JOHN (_impatiently_). Come on and get on you. + +DANIEL. Ach. This is always the way. Just when a man has got the whole +thing worked out and the plans of the apparatus just on the point of +completion he has to stop. + +JOHN. Never mind, Danny. You can do it again the night or the morrow +morning. I want you to look decent. Come on and get on you. + +DANIEL (_beginning to regard his brother with a sudden interest and +suspicion_). Who did you say was coming? + +JOHN (_at door to rooms_). Andy and Sarah McMinn. (He goes out.) + +DANIEL (_suddenly realising the import of the preparations going on._) +McMinn. Mc----. (_He stops short, and then in a horrified voice._) +Surely to God he hasn't a notion of that woman? (_Calling +tremulously._) John! John! + +JOHN (_at door_). Hurry up, man. + +DANIEL (_appealingly_). John. Tell me, John. You haven't----you're not +going to----you haven't a notion of that woman? + +JOHN (_hesitatingly_). Well, Daniel, you see the house needs some one +to look after it proper, and I thought----well--maybe--that Sarah +would be just as nice and saving a woman as I could get, but I thought +I would keep it a bit secret, don't you know, because I don't know yet +if she'd have me or not. And she could talk to you better nor I could +about machinery and things that would interest you, for she has an +agency for sewing machines, and knows something about that sort of +thing, and you'd get on great with each other. Now, hurry and get on +you. (_He goes out by door into rooms._) + +DANIEL (_looking after him in a helpless manner, and sinking into a +chair_). If--if she'd have him! O great God! If that woman comes to +this house, I--I'm a ruined man. + +(CURTAIN.) + + + + +ACT II. + + +_The same scene some hours later. The curtain rises to discover_ KATE +_seated near table at back enjoying a cup of tea which she has made, +and is drinking with relish._ + + +KATE. I suppose they'll be wanting jam and sugar for the tea--aye--and +some of them scones Miss Mary cooked yesterday, not but you couldn't +eat them, and a pat or two of butter. (_She finishes off the remains +of the tea._) Now, that's a nice girl for you! Here's company coming +till the house and tea and things a wanting, and she goes and leaves +all to go strolling down the loaning with that fool of a McCready. + +(BROWN _opens the yard door and comes in. He replaces the spanner on +the top shelf and then turns and looks at_ KATE.) + +KATE. Well? + +BROWN. Well, yourself? + +KATE. Do you see any sign of them McMinns yet? + +BROWN. Aye. I see the trap coming over the Cattle Hill. There was +three in it, as far as I could make out. + +KATE. Who be to be the third party I wonder? Is it their servant man? + +BROWN. Do you think old Andy McMinn's servant man gets leave to drive +them about of an afternoon like the clergy's? Talk sense, woman. + +KATE. Maybe it's yon Scotch body I heard was stopping with them. + +BROWN. Aye. Yon Mackenzie. Ach, man, but yon creature would scunder +you. + +KATE. Aye. + +BROWN. Ach! Cracking jokes and laughing that hearty at them, and I'm +danged if a bat with one eye shut could make out what he was laughing +at. (_Listening._) Here they are. I hear the wheels coming up the +loaning. I'll have to go and put up the horse for them I suppose. (_He +goes out by yard door._) + +KATE. I wonder if the master seen them coming. (_She rapidly clears +the table and then goes over to door into room._) I better tell him. +(_She knocks at the door._) + +JOHN (_without_). Aye. (_He comes and opens the door, dressed in his +best suit of clothes._) What's the matter? + +KATE. They're just come, sir. + +JOHN (_excitedly_). Are they? (_Comes into kitchen._) Is my tie right, +Kate? And my clothes--is there any dirt on the back of them? + +KATE (_inspecting him critically_). You'll do grand. I never seen you +looking better. + +JOHN. Where's Mary? Why isn't she here? + +KATE. She went out about something. She'll be back in a minute. + +JOHN. Right enough, it would do her all the good in the world to have +a sensible woman looking after her. She just gets her own way a deal +too much in this house. (_He goes to window and looks out._) Aye. Here +they are! Tell Daniel to hurry. (KATE _goes off by door to rooms._) +Sarah's looking bravely. Man, that woman could save me thirty, aye +forty, pounds a year if she was here. (_Suddenly._) Ach! Is Daniel +never ready yet? (_Calls._) Daniel! (_Louder._) Daniel! + +DANIEL (_without_). Aye. + +JOHN. Hurry, man. They've come. (JOHN _goes to yard door and goes +out._) + +DANIEL (_in an exasperated voice_). Ach! + +(JOHN _comes in followed by_ ANDREW MCMINN, _an elderly non-descript +sort of man, followed by_ SARAH, _a sour faced spinster of uncertain +age. In the rear is_ DONAL MACKENZIE. _He is wearing a tourist costume +of Norfolk jacket and knickers, and is a keen faced, hard, angular +looking personage._) + +JOHN. Yous are all welcome. Every one of you. You Andy and Sarah, and +Mr. Mackenzie. The Scotch is aye welcome, Mr. Mackenzie. + +MACKENZIE. Aye. That's what I said the last time I was in Ballyannis, +and was verra thirsty, and went into a beer-shop to get a dram--Black +and White it was. Verra guid. (_He laughs loudly at his own joke._) + +SARAH. We brought Mr. Mackenzie along with us to see your brother, +John. You see he's an engineer and knows a good deal about machinery +and plans and things. + +MACKENZIE. Aye. There's not much about machinery that I dinna ken, Mr. +Murray, from a forty thousand horse power quadruple expansion doon to +a freewheel bicycle. (_Proudly._) I hae done spells work at all of +them, you ken. + +ANDY. I suppose Daniel's at home. Is he? + +JOHN. Daniel? Oh aye, Daniel's at home. He's just tidying himself up a +wee bit. + +MACKENZIE. A wee bit paint and powder gangs a lang gait to make up +defects, as you ken yourself, Miss McMinn. (_He laughs loudly._) +That's a guid one. + +ANDY (_looking slyly at Sarah_). He's up out of bed then? + +JOHN (_innocently_). Oh aye. He sits up late of nights working out +things. (_He points to the door of workshop._) That's his workshop. + +MACKENZIE. He works then? + +JOHN. Aye. He works in there. (_Andy goes over and goes into +workshop._) + +MACKENZIE. Because it doesna follow always, as I have discovered in my +experience, that because a man has a workshop, he works. (_He laughs, +evidently much pleased at his own humour._) + +ANDY (_looking out again through door_). There's nothing much to see +in this place except a lot of dirty papers. + +JOHN. That's the plans of the bellows he's working at. + +MACKENZIE (_going over to workshop_). Come out, Mr. McMinn, till I +examine. (_Andy comes out and he passes in._) Eh. This is the plan of +the great bellows. (_He laughs loudly._) + +ANDY. Is he making much headway with it, John? + +JOHN. Indeed, now, I think he's doing bravely at it. He's keeping very +close at it this day or two. + +ANDY. There's a terrible amount of newspapers lying in there. Has he +no other plans and drawings except what's there? + +JOHN. Oh aye. He has plenty of plans and drawings somewhere, for I +seen them once or twice. + +MACKENZIE (_coming out_). I can't say much about that contrivance. +(_He laughs._) And, I say. Look here. He does more than draw bellows. +He draws corks as well. (_He produces a bottle of whiskey almost +empty._) + +JOHN. Ah, well. He's not a great transgressor either in the matter of +a bottle. No, no. + +ANDY. And the smell of smoke in the place! + +SARAH. John, I think Daniel smokes far too much. + +ANDY. He should be dressed by now. + +JOHN. Aye. Oh, aye. He should right enough. He's a wee bit backward +before women, you know, Sarah. (_Calls._) Daniel! (_He goes over and +opens door into rooms._) Daniel! + +DANIEL (_without_). Yes. (_He appears at the door struggling vainly +with his collar._) + +JOHN. Why didn't you come long ago. What kept you? + +DANIEL. Your collar. (_He looks across at_ ANDY _and_ SARAH, _who have +seated themselves at the back._) How do you do, Andy and Sarah? You're +very welcome. (_He looks at_ MACKENZIE, _who stares curiously at +him._) + +ANDY. This is a friend of ours, Daniel, that happened to be stopping +with us last summer at Newcastle in the same house, and he came over +for his holidays to us this time. We brought him over to see you. They +calls him Mackenzie. + +DANIEL (_crossing over to the left and taking a seat near the door of +the workshop._) How do you do? + +MACKENZIE (_patronisingly_). I'm glad to see you at last, Mr. Murray, +for I've heard a good deal about you. + +SARAH. You see, Daniel, Mr. Mackenzie is an engineer in one of the +great Scotch engineering yards. (DANIEL'S _face expresses his dismay, +which he hurriedly tries to hide._) What place was it you were in, Mr. +Mackenzie? + +MACKENZIE. I served six years in the engine and fitting shops with +Messrs. Ferguson, Hartie & Macpherson, and was two years shop foreman +afterwards to Dennison, McLachlan & Co., and now I'm senior partner +with the firm of Stephenson & Mackenzie. If ever you're up in Greenock +direction, and want to see how we do it, just ask for Donal Mackenzie, +and they'll show you the place. (_Proudly._) We're the sole makers of +the Mackenzie piston, if ever you heard of it. + +DANIEL (_uneasily_). I'm sorry to say I haven't. + +MACKENZIE. And you call yourself an engineer and you don't know about +Donal Mackenzie's patent reciprocating piston. + +JOHN (_apologetically_). You see we be a bit out of the world here, +Mr. Mackenzie. + +DANIEL. Yes. Now that's one point. One great point that always tells +against me. (_Getting courageous._) It really needs a man to be +continually visiting the great engineering centres--Greenock, London-- + +MACKENZIE (_scornfully_). London's not an engineering centre--Glasgow, +Hartlepool, Newcastle---- + +DANIEL. Well, all those places. He could keep himself posted up in all +the newest ideas then, and inventions. + +MACKENZIE. But a man can keep himself to the fore if he reads the +technical journals and follows their articles. What technical papers +do you get? Do you ever get the Scottish Engineers' Monthly Handbook, +price sixpence monthly? I'm the writer on the inventors' column. My +articles are signed Fergus McLachlan. Perhaps you've read them? + +DANIEL. I think--um--I'm not quite sure that I have. + +MACKENZIE. You remember one I wrote on the new compressed air drills +last July? + +DANIEL (_looking across at_ JOHN, _who is standing with his back to +the fireplace_). I don't think I do. + +JOHN. No. We don't get them sort of papers. I did buy one or two like +them for Daniel, but he told me he would just as soon have the _Whig_, +for there was just as much information in it. + +MACKENZIE (_laughing_). O spirit of Burns! Just as much +information--well, so much for that. Now, about this new patent, this +new fan bellows that I hear you're working at, Mr. Murray. + +DANIEL. What about it? + +ANDY. We both seen the drawings in there, Daniel, but I don't think +either of us made much of it. Could you not explain it to him, Daniel. +Give him an idea what you mean to do with it. + +JOHN. Aye. Now's your chance, Daniel. You were talking of some +difficulty or other. Maybe this gentleman could help you with it. + +DANIEL (_shifting uneasily, and looking appealingly at_ JOHN). Well. +There's no great hurry. A little later on in the evening. (_He looks +at_ SARAH.) I'm thinking about Miss McMinn. I don't think this +conversation would be very interesting to her. + +SARAH. Oh, indeed now, Mr. Murray, I just love to know about it. A +good fan bellows would be the great thing for yon fireplace of ours, +Andy. + +ANDY. Aye. Soul, it would that. + +DANIEL (_uncomfortably_). No. Not just yet, John. A bit later on. I'm +shy, John, you know. A bit backward before company. + +JOHN. You're a man to talk about going to see people in London. + +SARAH. What? Was he going to London? + +JOHN. Aye. He was talking about going to London, and I was half-minded +to let him go. + +ANDY (_who exchanges meaning glances with_ SARAH). Boys, that would +cost a wheen of pounds! + +MACKENZIE. Who wull you go to see in London? + +DANIEL (_evasively_). Oh--engineers and patent agents and people that +would take an interest in that sort of thing. + +MACKENZIE. Have you anyone to go to in particular? + +DANIEL. Oh, yes. + +SARAH. It will cost a great deal of money, Daniel. Seven or eight +pounds anyway. Won't it, Mr. Mackenzie? + +MACKENZIE. It would, and more. + +JOHN (_looking at_ SARAH _with evident admiration_). Man, that's a +saving woman. She can count the pounds. (_Suddenly_). Daniel, away out +and show Andy and Mr. Mackenzie the thresher, and get used to the +company, and then you can come in and explain the thing to them. I +want Sarah to stay here and help me to make the tea. That fool of a +Mary is away again somewhere. + +ANDY (_after a sly glance at_ SARAH). Aye. Come on, Daniel, and +explain it to us. I hear there's a new kind of feedboard on her. + +MACKENZIE. How is she driven, Mr. Murray? + +DANIEL (_uncomfortably_). How is she what? + +MACKENZIE. How is she worked--steam, horse, or water power, which? + +JOHN (_motioning_ DANIEL _to go, which the latter does very +unwillingly_). Go on out and you can show them, Daniel. (DANIEL, ANDY, +_and_ MACKENZIE _go out through yard door._) He's backward, you know, +Sarah, oh, aye--backward; but a great head. A great head on him, +Daniel. + +SARAH. I suppose he is clever in his way. + +JOHN (_seating himself close beside her and talking with innocent +enthusiasm_). Ah, boys, Sarah, I mind when he went to serve his time +with McArthurs, of Ballygrainey, he was as clever a boy as come out of +the ten townlands. And then he set up for himself, you know, and lost +all, and then he come here. He's doing his best, poor creature, till +pay me for what kindness I showed him, by trying to invent things that +he says would maybe pay off, some time or other, all he owes to me. + +SARAH (_cynically_). Poor Daniel! And he lost all his money? + +JOHN. Aye. Every ha'penny; and he took a hundred pounds off me as +well. And now, poor soul, he hasn't a shilling, barring an odd pound +or two I give him once or twice a month. + +SARAH. Well! Well! And he's been a long time this way? + +JOHN. Aye. (_Reflectively._) I suppose it's coming on now to twenty +years. + +SARAH. It's a wonder he wouldn't make some shapes to try and get a +situation somewhere. + +JOHN. Ach, well, you know, when Annie, the wife, died and left Mary a +wee bit of a wain, I was lonesome, and Daniel was always a right +heartsome fellow, and I never asked him about going when he came here. + +SARAH. He must be rather an expense to you. Pocket money for tobacco, +and whenever he goes out a night to McArn's, its a treat all round to +who is in at the time. And his clothes and boots, and let alone that, +his going to see people about patents and things up to Belfast three +or four times in the year. If he was in a situation and doing for +himself, you could save a bit of money. + +JOHN (_pensively_). Aye. Heth and I never thought much of that, Sarah. +I could right enough. I'll think over that now. (_He looks at her, and +then begins in a bashful manner._) You weren't at Ballyannis School +fête, Sarah? + +SARAH. No. But I heard you were there. Why? + +JOHN (_coming still closer_). I was expecting to see you. + +SARAH (_contemptuously_). I don't believe in young girls going to them +things. + +JOHN (_gazing at her in astonishment_). But God bless me, they +wouldn't call you young! (SARAH _turns up her nose disgustedly._) I +missed you. Man, I was looking for you all roads. + +SARAH. I'm not a fool sort of young girl that you can just pass an +idle hour or two with, John Murray, mind that. + +JOHN. I never thought that of you, Sarah. + +SARAH. Some people think that. + +JOHN (_astonished_). No. + +SARAH. They do. There's Andy just after warning me this morning about +making a fool of myself. + +JOHN (_puzzled_). But you never done that, Sarah. + +SARAH. Well, he was just after giving me advice about going round +flirting with Tom, Dick and Harry. + +JOHN. Ah no. You never done that. Sure I knowed you this years and +years, and you never had a boy to my knowing. + +SARAH (_offended_). Well I had, plenty. Only I just wouldn't take +them. I refused more than three offers in my time. + +JOHN (_incredulously_). Well! Well! And you wouldn't have them! + +SARAH. No. + +JOHN. Why now? + +SARAH (_looking at him meaningly_). Well--I liked somebody else +better. + +JOHN (_piqued_). Did he--the somebody--did he never ask you? + +SARAH. He might yet, maybe. + +JOHN (_hopelessly to himself_). I wonder would it be any use then me +asking her. + +SARAH. And I'm beginning to think he is a long time thinking about it. +(_Knocking at the door._) + +JOHN (_angrily_). Ach! Who's that? + +BROWN (_opening yard door and looking in_). Me, sir. Mr. Dan wants to +know could you not come out a minute, and show the gentlemen what way +you can stop the feedboard working. + +JOHN. Don't you know yourself, you stupid headed lump you. Away back +at once. (BROWN _hurriedly closes the door after an inquiring glance +at the pair._) That's them servant men for you. He knowed rightly what +way it worked, only he was just curious. (_Savagely._) He's a stupid +creature, anyway. + +SARAH. I think all men is stupid. They never see things at all. + +JOHN. Now, Sarah, sure women are just as bad. There's Mary. She's +bright enough someways, but others--ach---- + +SARAH. Mary needs someone--a woman--to look after her. Somebody that +knows how to manage a house and save money. She's lost running about +here. Now, I had a young girl with me once was a wild useless thing +when she came, and when she left me six months after, there wasn't a +better trained, nor as meek a child in the whole country. + +JOHN. And you can manage a house, Sarah, and well, too. Can't you? + +SARAH. I ran the house for Andy there twenty years and more, and I +never once had to ask him for a pound. And what's more, I put some +into the bank every quarter. + +JOHN. Did you now? (_He looks at her in wondering admiration._) + +SARAH. Yes. And I cleared five pounds on butter last half year. + +JOHN (_with growing wonder_). Did you? + +SARAH. And made a profit of ten pounds on eggs alone this year +already. + +JOHN (_unable to contain himself any longer_). Sarah, will you marry +me? + +SARAH (_coyly_). Oh, John, this is very sudden. (_Knocking at yard +door._) I will. I will. Will you tell them when they come in? + +JOHN (_now that the ordeal has been passed, feeling somewhat +uncomfortable_). Well, I would rather you waited a few days, and then +we could let them know, canny, don't you know, Sarah. Break the news +soft, so to speak. Eh? + +SARAH (_disappointedly_). Well, if you want it particular that way +I--(_knocking_). + +JOHN (_going to door_). Aye, I'd rather you did. (_He goes to the door +and opens it and_ MARY _comes in._) + +MARY. I peeped through the window and I thought, perhaps, it would be +better to knock first. It's a nice evening Miss McMinn. (_She takes +off her hat and flings it carelessly on a chair._) Where's Uncle Dan? +I want to see him. + +JOHN. He'll be in soon enough. He's out showing Andy and Mackenzie the +thresher. + +MARY (_laughing_). Uncle Dan! What does he know about----(_she stops +short, remembering that_ SARAH _is present._) Mr. Mackenzie? + +SARAH. Yes. He's a gentleman, a friend of ours, engaged in the +engineering business, who has a large place of his own in Scotland, +and we brought him over here to see your Uncle Dan about the invention +he's working at. + +JOHN. You stop here, Mary, with Sarah, and get the tea ready. You +should have been in the house when company was coming. Where were you? + +MARY. Oh, just down the loaning. + +JOHN. Who with? + +MARY. Alick McCready. + +JOHN (_sternly_). Aye. You're gay fond of tralloping about with the +boys. + +SARAH. He's not just the sort of young man I would like to see in your +company, Mary. + +MARY (_impertinently_). It's none of your business whose company I was +in. + +JOHN (_disapprovingly_). Now, Mary, remember your manners in front of +your elders, and mind you must always show Miss McMinn particular +respect. (_Impressively_). Particular respect. (_Going towards yard +door._) And you can show Sarah what you have in the house, and do what +she bids you. Them's my orders. (_He goes out._) + +SARAH (_looking disapprovingly at_ MARY). I wonder a girl like you has +no more sense than to go gallivanting about at this time of day with +boys, making talk for the whole country side. + +MARY (_sharply_). I don't have to run after them to other people's +houses anyway. + +SARAH. And that is no way to be leaving down your hat. (_She picks it +up and looks at it._) Is that your Sunday one? + +MARY (_snatching it out of her hand_). Just find out for yourself. + +SARAH. Now, you should take and put it away carefully. There's no need +to waste money that way, wearing things out. + +MARY (_with rising temper_). Do you know it's _my_ hat? Not yours. And +I can do what I like with it. (_She throws it down and stamps on it._) +I can tramp on it if I want to. + +SARAH (_smiling grimly_). Oh, well, tramp away. It's no wonder your +father complained of waste and this sort of conduct going on. + +(KATE _comes in through door from rooms._) + +MARY. Have you got the tea things ready, Kate? + +KATE. Yes, Miss. + +MARY. I suppose we better wet the tea. + +SARAH (_looking at the fire_). Have you the kettle on? + +MARY. Can't you see for yourself it's not on. + +SARAH. Here, girl (_to_ KATE), fill the kettle and put it on. (KATE +_looks at_ MARY, _and with a shrug of her shoulders, obeys the +orders._) Where's the tea till I show you how to measure? + +MARY (_in a mocking voice_). Kate, get Miss McMinn the tea cannister +till she shows you how to measure. (KATE _goes to the dresser and +brings the teapot and cannister over to_ SARAH _at the table._) + +SARAH. But it's _you_ I want to show. (MARY _pays no attention, but +sits down idly drumming her fingers on the table._) There now--pay +particular attention to this. (_She takes the cannister from_ KATE, +_opens it and ladles out the tea with a spoon into the teapot._) One +spoonful for your father and uncle, one for my brother and Mr. +Mackenzie, one for yourself and me, and half-a-one for Kate. + +MARY. Do you see that, Kate? + +KATE. Yes, Miss. + +MARY (_mockingly_). Now the next thing, I suppose, is to weigh out the +sugar. + +SARAH. No. You always ask the company first do they take sugar before +you pour out the tea. + +MARY. No; not in good society. You put it on the saucers. + +SARAH. Put some in the bowl, Kate, and never heed her. + +MARY (_almost tearfully_). You've no business to say that, Kate! Who's +your mistress here? + +KATE (_very promptly_). You, Miss. + +MARY. Then do what I tell you. Put on the tablecloth, and lay the cups +and saucers, and make everything ready, and take no orders except from +me. + +SARAH. Very well. I'll learn her manners when I come to this house. +(_To_ MARY) I want to see the china. + +MARY. Well, go into the next room and look for it. + +SARAH (_going towards door to rooms_). You better mind what your +father told you. (_She goes in._) + +MARY (_making a face after her_). You nasty old thing. (DANIEL +_appears at the door from yard. He is nervous and worried looking. He +goes and sits down near the fireplace, wearily._) Uncle Dan. (_She +goes over close beside him._) Wasn't it good of Alick? He went away to +Ballyannis Post Office to get that telegram sent. + +DANIEL. A very decent fellow, Alick. (_Gratefully._) Very obliging. + +MARY (_confidingly_). Do you know, uncle, when he went off to send +that telegram I was nearly calling him back. I don't care so very much +now whether I see that boy you were telling me about or not. Is he--do +you think, uncle--is he much nicer than Alick? + +DANIEL. Nicer? (_He looks at his niece, and then begins to divine the +way her feelings lie._) Well, of course we have all our opinions on +these things you know, Mary, but Alick--well, after all there's many a +worse fellow than Alick, isn't there? (MARY _does not answer, but puts +her head close to her uncle._) Ah, yes. + +MARY (_suddenly_). Uncle! Do you know what has happened? I heard +father proposing to Miss McMinn! + +DANIEL (_groaning_). Oh my! I knew it would happen! I knew it would +happen! When? Where? + +MARY. In here. I wanted to slip in quietly after leaving Alick down +the loaning when I overheard the voices. It was father and Miss +McMinn. She was telling him how she had saved five pounds on butter +last half year, and ten pounds on eggs this year, and then father +asked her to marry him. I knocked at the door out of divilment, and +she just pitched herself at him. I--I'm not going to stay in the house +with that woman. I'd sooner marry Alick McCready. + +DANIEL (_despairingly_). I would myself. I daren't--I couldn't face +the look of that woman in the mornings. + +MARY. It's all right for you to talk, uncle. You'll be working away at +your inventions, and that sort of thing, and will have nothing much to +do with her, but I'd be under her thumb all the time. And I hate her, +and I know she hates me. (_Tearfully._) And then the way father talks +about her being such a fine housekeeper, and about the waste that goes +on in this house, it nearly makes me cry, just because I have been a +bit careless maybe. But I could manage a house every bit as well as +she could, and I'd show father that if I only got another chance. +Couldn't I uncle? + +DANIEL (_soothingly_). And far better, Mary. Far better. + +MARY. And you could do far more at your invention if you only got a +chance. Couldn't you, uncle? + +DANIEL. No doubt about it, Mary. None. I never got much of a chance +here. + +MARY. I wonder could we both try to get another chance. (_Suddenly, +with animation._) Uncle! + +DANIEL. Well? + +MARY. Aren't you going to explain that fan bellows thing you've been +working at to them when they come in? (DANIEL _nods sadly._) Well, +look. That Scotchman--he understands things like that, and that's just +the reason why that nasty woman brought him over. Just to trip you and +show you up, and she thinks she'll make father see through you. But +just you rise to the occasion and astonish them. Eh, uncle? + +DANIEL (_uneasily_). Um--well, I don't know. That Scotchman's rather a +dense sort of fellow. Very hard to get on with somehow. + +MARY. Now, Uncle Dan, it's our last chance. Let us beat that woman +somehow or other. + +DANIEL. It's all very well, Mary, to talk that way. (_Suddenly._) I +wonder is there a book on machinery in the house? + +MARY. Machinery? Let me think. Yes, I do believe KATE was reading some +book yesterday about things, and there was something about machinery +in it. + +DANIEL. For Heaven's sake, Mary, get it. + +MARY (_calling_). Kate! Are you there, Kate? (KATE _comes in from +inner rooms._) Where's that book you were reading last night, Kate? + +KATE (_surprised_). For dear's sake, Miss! Yon dirty old thing? The +one with the big talk between the old fellow and the son about +everything in the world you could think of? + +MARY. Yes, yes. Uncle Dan wants it. (KATE _fetches a tattered volume +from the dresser and hands it to_ DANIEL. DANIEL _opens it, and reads +while the two girls peer over his shoulder._) + +DANIEL (_reading slowly_). "The Child's Educator. A series of +conversations between Charles and his father regarding the natural +philosophy, as revealed to us, by the Very Reverend Ezekiel +Johnston." + +KATE. (_much interested_). Aye. Just go on till you see Mr. Dan. Its +the queerest conversation between an old lad and his son ever you +heard tell of. + +DANIEL (_reading_). Ah! "The simple forms of machines. The lever, the +wedge, the inclined plane--Father--and here we come to further consider +the application of this principle, my dear Charles, to what is known +as the differential wheel and axle. Um Charles--Father--Charles. +Father." (_He looks up despairingly at_ MARY.) No good, my dear. Out +of date. (_He, however, resumes reading the book carefully._) + +KATE (_nudging_ MARY, _and pointing to door into rooms_). She's going +into all the cupboards and drawers, and looking at everything. (_She +turns to go back and opens the door to pass through._) I never seen +such a woman. + +MARY (_raising her voice so as to let_ SARAH _hear her_). Just keep an +eye on her, Kate, and see she doesn't take anything. + +DANIEL. I might get something out of this. Atmosphere. Pressure. + +MARY. Uncle Dan. (_He pays no attention, but is absorbed in the +book_). Uncle Dan, I'm going down the loaning a pace. Alick said he +might be back, and I think--(_she sees he is not listening, and slips +back to look over his shoulder._) + +DANIEL (_reading_). Charles. And now my dear father, after discussing +in such clear and lucid terms the use of the barometer, and how it is +constructed, could you tell me or explain the meaning of the word +"pneumatic." + +MARY (_going towards yard door_). Good luck, Uncle Danny. I'm away. +(_She goes out._) + +DANIEL. There's not much here about bellows. (_Hopelessly._) I wish I +had made up this subject a little better. (KATE _comes in evidently +much perturbed and angry._) + +KATE. The divil take her and them remarks of hers. Who gave her the +right to go searching that way, I wonder? Where's the silver kept, and +was it locked, and how many spoons was there, and why weren't they +better polished; and part of the china broke. + +SARAH (_coming to door and speaking. As soon as_ DANIEL _hears her +voice he hurriedly retreats across to the workshop._) Where do you +keep the knives and forks? + +KATE. You don't want forks for the tea. + +SARAH. I want to count them. + +Kate (_in amazement_). Oh, God save us! You'd think there was a pross +on the house! (_She follows_ SARAH _in through door_ MACKENZIE _comes +in, followed by_ JOHN, _then_ ANDY.) + +MACKENZIE. And it was a great idea, you know. The steam passed through +the condenser, and the exhaust was never open to the atmosphere. + +JOHN (_evidently much impressed, and repeating the word in a wondering +manner_) Aye. The exhaust! + +MACKENZIE. Aye. The exhaust. But now I'm verra anxious to hear your +brother explaining what he's made out about the bellows. Its the small +things like that you ken that a man makes a fortune of, not the big +ones. + +JOHN (_impressed_). Do you think that now? + +MACKENZIE. You know I take a particular interest in bellows myself. I +tried my hand a good while working out a new kind of bellows, and I +flatter myself that I know something about the subject. + +JOHN. Aye. (_Looking round._) Where's Daniel? Daniel! Are you there, +Daniel? (DANIEL _comes out and stands near the door._) You could maybe +bring them plans out you're working at and explain it to them now, +Daniel. Eh? And wait, Sarah wants to hear it too. (_Calling._) Are you +there, Sarah? + +DANIEL (_seating himself sadly_). Aye. She's in there somewhere taking +stock. + +JOHN (_going next door to rooms_). Are you there, dear? (SARAH _comes +out._) Daniel's going to explain the thing to us, and you wanted to +hear about it. Didn't you? + +SARAH. I'm just dying to know all about it. (_She seats herself to the +right at back._ ANDY _sits on one side of the table and_ MACKENZIE +_at the other, expectantly, while_ JOHN _goes over to the fireplace +almost opposite his brother._) You know, Mr. Daniel, that's one thing +we want very bad in our house--a good fan bellows. + +DANIEL. They are very useful, very. + +JOHN. Aye. They are that. (_To_ SARAH). He has a good head on him, +Daniel. Eh? (_To_ DANIEL.) Now go on and make it very plain so that +every one can follow you. Bring out the plans and show us. + +DANIEL (_uneasily._) I can explain it better without them. (_After a +pause._) Well, I suppose this subject of bellows would come under the +heading of pneumatics in natural philosophy. + +JOHN. Oh, now, don't be going off that way. Could you not make it +plainer nor that? + +DANIEL (_appealingly_). Well. Could I be much plainer, Mr. Mackenzie? + +MACKENZIE (_cynically_). I'm here to discuss fan bellows, not +pneumatics. + +DANIEL (_sotto voce_). D----n him. (_He pulls himself together._) +Well. Then I suppose the first thing is--well--to know what is a +bellows. + +ANDY. Aye. Man, Daniel, you start off just the same as the clergy. +That's the way they always goes on expounding things to you. + +SARAH (_severely_). Don't be interrupting, Andy. + +MACKENZIE (_sneeringly_). Well, I think everyone here knows what a +bellows is. + +DANIEL. Everyone here? Do you, John? + +JOHN. Aye. I would like, Daniel, to hear right what a bellows is. I +mean I can see the thing blowing up a fire when you use it, any man +could see that--but its the workings of it. What's the arrangements +and internal works of the bellows now, Daniel? + +DANIEL. Well, you push the handles together in an ordinary bellows +and--and the air--blows out. (_Seeing that this statement is received +coldly._) Now, why does it blow out? + +JOHN (_disappointedly_). Because it's pushed out of course. There's no +sense in asking that sort of a question. + +DANIEL. Well, there's a flap on the bellows--a thing that moves up and +down. Well, that flap has all to do with pushing the air. + +JOHN. Maybe this scientifican business is uninteresting to you, Sarah, +is it? + +DANIEL (_brightening up at the suggestion_). I'm sure it is. Perhaps +we better stop. + +SARAH (_smiling grimly_). Oh, not at all. I want to hear more. + +MACKENZIE. You're wasting a lot of my time, Mr. Murray. I came here to +hear about a fan bellows. + +DANIEL (_confusedly_). Oh, yes. Yes. Certainly. Fan bellows. There's a +difference between a fan bellows and an ordinary bellows. + +MARY (_opening door from yard and coming in_). Oh, Uncle Dan, are you +explaining it to them. Did I miss much of it? + +MACKENZIE. I don't think it matters much what time you come in during +this. + +JOHN (_impatiently_). Go on, Daniel. + +DANIEL. It's very hard for me to go on with these constant +interruptions. Well, I was just saying there was a difference between +a fan bellows and an ordinary bellows. + +MACKENZIE. Now, what is a fan bellows yourself, Mr. Murray? + +DANIEL (_hopelessly_). A fan bellows? Ah. Why now is it called a fan +bellows? + +MACKENZIE (_roughly_). Don't be asking me my own questions. + +DANIEL (_with a despairing effort_). Well, now we will take it for +granted it is because there must be something of the nature of a fan +about a fan bellows. It is because there are fans inside the casing. +And the handle being turned causes these--eh--fans to turn round too. +And then the air comes out with a rush. + +JOHN. Aye. It must be the fans that pushes it out. + +DANIEL. Exactly. Well, now, the difficulty we find here is--(_he +pauses_). + +ANDY. Aye. + +JOHN. Go on, Daniel. + +DANIEL. You want a constant draught blowing. That's number one. +Then--well--the other. You see, if we took some of these fans. + +MACKENZIE. Yes. + +DANIEL (_in a floundering way_). And put them in a tight-fitting case, +and put more of them inside, and understood exactly what their size +was, we could arrange for the way that-- + +JOHN (_in a puzzled way to_ SARAH). I can only follow Daniel a short +way too. (_Repeating slowly._) Put them in a tight-fitting case-- + +BROWN (_appearing at yard door with a telegram in his hand, and +speaking with suppressed excitement_). A telegram for Mr. Daniel. + +DANIEL (_with a gasp of relief_). Ah! (_He tears it open and proudly +reads it out aloud._) "Come to London at once to explain patent. Want +to purchase. Gregg." + +(BROWN _goes out again._) + +MACKENZIE. Who? Gregg? + +DANIEL. I suppose I better go, John? + +JOHN. Let's see the telegram. (_He goes over to_ DANIEL, _who hands it +to him._) + +MACKENZIE. If you go to London, it'll take you to explain yourself a +bit better, Mr. Murray. + +JOHN (_who has resumed his place at the fire, and is looking carefully +at the telegram_). That will mean how many pounds, Daniel, did you +say? + +DANIEL (_promptly_). Fifteen, John. (MARY _goes out by door to +rooms._) + +MACKENZIE. Who is Gregg? + +DANIEL. Gregg? Ah. He's a man lives in London. Engineer. + +JOHN (_dubiously_). Well, I suppose you--(_he pauses, then hands the +telegram to_ SARAH, _who stretches out her hand for it._) + +MARY (_at door_). Tea's ready. (_She stands aside to let the company +past._) + +SARAH. We didn't hear all about the bellows. + +ANDY (_contemptuously_). No, nor you never will. (_He rises and goes +through the door._) + +MACKENZIE (_rising and stretching himself wearily_). Any more, Mr. +Murray? + +DANIEL. I refuse to discuss the matter any further in public. (_He +goes off across to tea._) + +MACKENZIE (_going over to John and looking at him knowingly_). Do you +know what it is, Mr. Murray? Your brother's nothing short of an +impostor. + +JOHN (_much offended_). Don't dare to say that of a Murray. + +MACKENZIE (_shrugging his shoulders_). Well, I'm going for some tea. +(_Exit._) + +SARAH. John, I've something to say to you again about Daniel, but the +company's waiting. (_She goes out to the tea room._) + +JOHN (_sitting down moodily_). Aye. + +MARY. Are you not coming, father? + +JOHN. Aye. + +MARY. Father! Surely you aren't going to marry that woman? + +JOHN. Don't talk of Sarah that ways. I am! + +MARY. Well, if you are, I'm going to say yes to Alick McCready. I +don't want to yet awhile, but I'm not going to stay on here if that +nasty woman comes. (_She kneels close beside her father and puts her +arms round his neck._) Oh, father, if you only give me another chance, +I could show you I could keep house every bit as well as that woman. +(DANIEL _appears at the door. He slips across to the workshop +unobserved._) Give me another chance, father. Don't marry her at all. +Let me stay with you--won't you? + +JOHN. You're too late. She's trothed to me now. + +MARY. Pooh. I'd think nothing of that. (DANIEL _comes out of the +workshop with a bag._) Uncle Dan! What's the matter? + +DANIEL. Mary, I can't eat and sit beside that Scotchman. (_He notices_ +JOHN _is absorbed in deep thought, and motions_ MARY _to slip out. She +does so, and he looks observingly at_ JOHN, _and then goes to the +table, and makes a noise with the bag on the table._ JOHN _watches him +a moment or two in amazed silence._) + +JOHN. What are you doing, Daniel? + +DANIEL. Just making a few preparations. + +JOHN. Ah, but look here. I haven't settled about London yet, Daniel. + +DANIEL. Oh, London, John. (_Deprecatingly._) Let that pass. I won't +worry you about that. (_Broken heartedly._) I'm leaving your house, +John. + +JOHN (_astonished_). What? + +DANIEL. You've been kind, John. Very kind. We always pulled well +together, and never had much cross words with one another, but--well, +circumstances are altered now. + +JOHN. You mean because I'm going to marry Sarah. + +DANIEL. Exactly. That puts an end to our long and pleasant sojourn +here together. I'll have to go. + +JOHN (_affected_). Oh easy, Daniel. Ah, now, Sarah always liked you. +She thinks a deal of you, and I'm sure she'd miss you out of the house +as much as myself. + +DANIEL. John, I know better. She wants me out of this, and I would +only be a source of unhappiness. I wouldn't like to cause you sorrow. +She doesn't believe in me. She brought that Scotchman over to try and +show me up. You all think he did. You think I mugged the thing. You +don't believe in me now yourself. (_He puts a few articles of +clothing, &c., into the bag._) + +JOHN (_awkwardly_). Aye. Well--to tell you the truth, Daniel, you did +not make much of a hand at explaining, you---- + +DANIEL (_pathetically_). I thought so. Look here. One word. (_He +draws_ JOHN _aside._) Do you think Mackenzie invented that patent +reciprocating piston that he's so proud of? + +JOHN (_looking at him in amazement_). What? + +DANIEL (_impressively_). Well. I know something about that. He stole +it off another man, and took all the profits. I knew that. Do you +think I'm going to give away the product of my brains explaining it to +a man like that! No fear, John. (_He turns again to the bag._) I'm +taking details of my bellows, and my coat, and a few socks, and the +pound you gave me yesterday, and I'm going to face the world alone. + +JOHN (_moved_). No, no. You'll not leave me, Daniel. Ah, no. I never +meant that. + +DANIEL. If she's coming here I'll have to go, and may as well now. + +SARAH (_without_). John Murray! + +DANIEL (_retreating slowly to the workshop_). I'm going to get that +other coat you gave me. It's better than this one for seeing people +in. (_He goes into workshop as_ SARAH _comes out into the kitchen. She +is evidently displeased._) + +SARAH. Hurry up, John. The company's waiting on you, and I don't know +what's keeping you. Unless it was that brother of yours, more shame to +him. + +JOHN. Aye. Daniel kept me. (_Looking at her._) He's talking of +leaving. You wouldn't have that, Sarah, would you? + +SARAH (_sharply_). Leaving, is he? And a right good riddance say I. +What has he done but ate up all your substance. + +JOHN (_astonished_). You wouldn't put him out, Sarah? + +SARAH (_snappishly_). I just wouldn't have him about the place. An +idle, good for nothing, useless, old pull a cork. + +JOHN. Do you not like him, Sarah? (_Somewhat disapprovingly._) You +told me you thought a good deal of him before. + +SARAH. Aye. Until I seen through him. Him and his letters and +telegrams. Just look at that. (_She shows him the telegram._) It comes +from Ballyannis. + +JOHN (_scratching his head in puzzled wonder_). I don't understand +that. + +SARAH. He just put up some one to send it. Young McCready or someone. +You couldn't watch a man like that. No. If I come here, out he goes. +You expects me to come and save you money and the like of that old +bauchle eating up the profits. (_She goes towards the door into tea +room._) Come into your tea at once. (_Exit._) + +JOHN. By me sang he was right. (DANIEL _comes out and starts brushing +his coat loudly to attract_ JOHN'S _attention, and then goes across +towards him and holds out his hand._) + +DANIEL. I'll say good-bye, John. Maybe I'll never see you again. (_He +appears much affected._) + +JOHN (_touched_). Ach. Take your time. I don't see the sense of this +hurrying. Stop a week or two, man. I'll be lonesome without you. We +had many a good crack in the evenings, Daniel. + +DANIEL. We had, John. And I suppose now that you'll be married I'll +have to go, but many a time I'll be sitting lonely and thinking of +them. + +JOHN. Aye. You were always the best of company, and heartsome. You +were, Daniel. + +DANIEL. Well, I did my best, John, to keep--(_he half breaks +down_)--to keep up a good heart. + +JOHN. You did. I wouldn't like to lose you, Daniel. (_He looks at the +telegram in his hand._) But Daniel. This telegram. It comes from +Ballyannis. + +DANIEL (_taken aback, but recovering his self possession._) +Ballyannis? Ballyannis? Ah, of course. Sure Gregg, that London man, he +was to go through Ballyannis to-day. He's on a visit, you know, +somewhere this way. It's him I'm going to look for now. + +JOHN. Was that the way of it? (_With rising anger at the thought of +the way in which his brother has been treated._) And she was for +making you out an impostor and for putting you out. I didn't like +them talking of a Murray the way they done. + +DANIEL (_with sudden hope_). Are you engaged to that McMinn woman, +John? + +JOHN. Aye. I spoke the word the day. + +DANIEL. Was there anybody there when you asked her? + +JOHN. There was no one. + +DANIEL. Did you write her letters? + +JOHN. No. Not a line. + +DANIEL. And did you visit and court much at the home? + +JOHN. No. I always seen Andy on business and stopped to have a word or +two with her. + +DANIEL (_appealingly_). Then, John, John, it's not too late yet. +(_Desperately._) Give me--ah, give wee Mary another chance. + +SARAH (_at door_). Come in, John, at once. Your tea's cold waiting, +and it's no way to entertain company that. + +JOHN (_angrily_). D----n her. Daniel! Out of this home you will not +go. I'd rather have your crack of a winter night as two hundred pounds +in the bank and yon woman. (_He reaches out his hand._) I'll break the +match. (_The two men shake hands._) + +(CURTAIN.) + + + + +ACT III + + +_The same scene two weeks later._ BROWN _comes in by yard door holding +letters in his hand, which he examines curiously at intervals._ + + +BROWN (_shouting loudly_). Miss Mary! Are you there, Miss Mary? + +KATE (_coming in from parlour_). Hi there. Stop that shouting. D'ye +want to wake the dead? + +BROWN. I want to give these letters to Miss Mary. Where is she? + +KATE. Who're they for? Let's look at them. + +BROWN. Not for you anyway. (_Loudly._) Miss Mary. + +KATE. Ach quit deaving me with your shouting. + +MARY (_coming in_). What's the matter? Oh! Letters! Any for me, Sam? + +BROWN. Aye. There's a post card for you, Miss Mary, and a registered +letter for Mr. John. The posty says he'll call on the road back for +the account when you sign it. (_He hands the post card to_ MARY _and +looks carefully at the letter._) It's like the MCMINN writing that. +(_He looks at_ MARY, _who is reading and re-reading the post card with +a puzzled expression._) Isn't Mr. Dan to be home to-day from Belfast, +Miss Mary? + +MARY. Eh? + +BROWN. Isn't Mr. Dan expected home to-day from Belfast? + +MARY. Yes. + +BROWN. I wonder did he get the bellows sold? There was great talking +about him last night in McArn's. Some said he had sold it and made a +fortune. (_He breaks off abruptly on seeing that_ MARY _pays no +attention to him, and then peers over to see what she is reading._) +Post cards is interesting things. Picture post cards is. + +KATE. Here. Away out and get them purtas dug for the dinner. We're +tired hearing your gabble. + +BROWN (_retreating to door and eyeing_ KATE _meaningly_). The master +was complaining again to me yesterday evening about the dinner he got. +There's no mistake he likes his meat like myself, and right enough it +was bad yesterday. I was chowing haws all evening to keep off the +hunger. + +KATE. Go on you out of this. + +BROWN. That's all the news this morning. (_He makes a grimace at_ KATE +_and goes out into the yard._) + +MARY. I can't understand this post card. (KATE _goes over and looks at +it along with_ MARY.) + + "O wad that God the gift wad gie us, + To see oorselves as ithers see us." + +What does that mean? "How's the uncle?" It's some cheeky person +anyway--"from D.M." Who could that be? + +KATE. It's not McCready, Miss, is it? + +MARY. No. That's not his writing. + +KATE. Och, Miss Mary! Do you see the picture of the Highland man +dancing, and under it--"A Mackenzie Clansman." It's thon Scotch fellow +sent it. + +MARY. Just like the way he would do. I met him again one night we were +over at the doctor's, and he was trying to make up to me all he was +able. + +KATE. Aye. Any word from Mr. Dan about the boy he was to bring you? + +MARY. No. I'm not going to bother any more about boys, I'm going to +keep house from this on properly. But Uncle Dan said something in his +last letter about a great surprise he had for all of us. + +KATE. Surprise enough it will be, and he lands home with a ha'penny in +his pocket. The last time he come home he borrowed a shilling of me +and niver paid me back yet. Did he sell the plans of the bellows, +Miss? + +MARY. He didn't say. (JOHN MURRAY _comes through yard door. He has +evidently been working outside and has left his work in a hurry._) +Father, there's a letter for you. (_She hands it to him._) A +registered one too. + +JOHN. Aye. So Brown was telling me. Maybe its from thon McAlenan +fellow that owes me two pound for the heifer. (_He tears it open._ +MARY _and_ KATE _watch him with interest. His face changes as he +reads, and an expression of dismay comes over it._) + +MARY (_coming closer to him_). What's the matter, father? + +JOHN (_fidgeting uneasily_). Nothing, child. Nothing. (_He looks at +the letter again._) Well I'm--(_He stops short on remembering_ MARY +_is there._) She's a caution. + +MARY. Father. Tell me. Is it from the McMinns? + +JOHN. Aye. (_Pacing up and down._) I knowed she'd do it. I knowed +she'd do it. + +MARY. What? + +JOHN. Sarah's taking an action against me. + +MARY. An action? + +JOHN. Aye. (_Consulting the letter._) For a thousand pounds. + +MARY (_awestruck_). A thousand pounds! + +JOHN. Aye. Now the fat's in the fire. She says I promised to marry her +and broke it off. At least, it's Andy that writes the letter, but it's +her that put him up to it. I know that too well. (_Reading._) "To Mr. +John Murray. Dear Sir,--You have acted to my sister in a most +ungentlemanly way, and done her much wrong, and I have put the case +intil the hands of Mr. McAllen, the solicitor, who will bring it +forward at the coming Assizes. If you wish, however, to avoid a +scandal, we are oped to settle the matter by private arrangement for +one thousand pounds. Yours truly, Andrew McMinn." + +MARY. That's awful, father, isn't it? + +JOHN (_going over to fireplace and standing there irresolutely_). Aye. +It's a terrible mess, right enough. + +MARY (_brightening up_). Sure she wouldn't get a thousand off you, +father? + +KATE. There's John McArdle up by Slaney Cross got a hundred pounds +took off him by wee Miss Black, the school teacher. + +JOHN (_uncomfortably_). Aye. Heth now, I just call that to mind. And +he never got courting her at all, I believe. + +KATE. It just served him right. He was always a great man for having +five or six girls running after him. + +JOHN. And she hadn't much of a case against him. + +KATE. The school children were standing by when he asked her in a +joking sort of way would she marry him, and the court took their +evidence. + +JOHN (_hopelessly_). Aye. Men are always terrible hard on other men +where women are concerned. + +KATE. And a good job it is, or half the girls would be at the church +waiting, and the groom lying at home rueing his bargain. (_She goes +out by yard door._) + +MARY (_going up to her father_). Father, has she a good case against +you? + +JOHN (_after a moment of deep thought_). No. I don't think it. + +MARY. Don't worry so much then, father. + +JOHN. It's the jury I'm so frightened of. They all come from the +mountainy district at this Assizes, and there's not a man of them but +wouldn't put a knife in me, the way I get beating them down in price +at the fairs. + +MARY. I don't think they'd give her fifty pounds when they see her. +It's only good looking girls would get big sums like a thousand +pounds. + +JOHN. It's all very well, Mary, but she could dress herself to look +nice enough, the same Sarah, if she liked. + +MARY. She could not, indeed. + +JOHN. They say, at least Brown was hinting to me, that its yon Scotch +fellow, Mackenzie, has put up the McMinns to this business. He and +that connection are as thick as thieves. + +MARY. He mightn't be so very fond of them. When a man sends post cards +to a girl he doesn't know very well, he's got a wee bit of a liking +for her. + +JOHN. What are you talking about? I never sent her any post cards. + +MARY. Father, what are you going to do? + +JOHN (_despairingly_). I'm d----d if I know. + +MARY. Will you defend the case? + +JOHN. I don't want to go near the court at all. + +MARY. Father! (_Alarmed._) Father! Sure you wouldn't--you couldn't +think of marrying her after all that row that happened? (JOHN _remains +silent._) Wouldn't you rather lose a thousand pounds and keep me, +father? (JOHN _breaks a piece of soda bread morosely and eats it._) +Wouldn't you, father. + +JOHN. Ah! (_He spits out the bread._) Heaven save us, what kind of +bread's that? + +MARY (_taking away the bread and putting it behind her back._) Father! +Ah please, please, don't marry her anyway. Sure you won't? + +BROWN (_coming in hastily_). Here's Mr. Dan coming up the loaning, +sir, that grand looking you'd hardly know him, and a big cigar in his +mouth. + +JOHN. Daniel back? + +MARY. Oh, I must go out and meet him. (_She goes out by yard door +quickly._) + +JOHN. Had he his luggage with him? + +BROWN. Aye. He has yon big portmanteau of his, and a parcel of +something or other. + +JOHN. Away out and help him then, can't you? (BROWN _goes out._) I +wonder what kept him in Belfast all this time. I suppose he's spent +most of the five pounds I gave him. Like enough. I never mind him +coming back yet with a ha'penny on him. (_He sits down at the +fireplace and looks again at the letter._) A thousand pounds! And +there never was a breach of promise case known where they didn't bring +in a verdict for the woman. Never! (_He becomes absorbed in thought, +and as he sits ruminating_ MARY _opens the door, carrying a large +brown paper parcel, followed by_ DANIEL. DANIEL _is dressed fairly +well, and seems to be in high spirits._ BROWN _follows him carrying a +portmanteau._) + +DANIEL (_brightly_). Home again, John. + +JOHN (_morosely_). Aye. It was near time, I think. + +DANIEL. Saw quite a number of people this time, John. A great number. +They were all very much interested. Fine town, Belfast. Growing very +rapidly. Wonderful place. + +MARY. What's in the parcel? (_She looks at it with great curiosity._) + +DANIEL. Ah, that--that't the great secret. Mum's the word. All in good +time, Mary. + +BROWN. Will I leave your bag here, Mr. Dan? + +DANIEL. Yes. Here's a sixpence for you. (_He hands it to_ BROWN.) + +JOHN. You're brave and free-handed with your money. Giving the like of +that bauchle sixpence. (BROWN, _who is going out through yard door, +stares back at his master protestingly, and then goes out._) The Lord +knows but we will be wanting every ha'penny we can scrape together, +and soon enough. + +MARY. I didn't tell Uncle Dan yet, father. + +DANIEL (_seating himself near the workshop door_). Has anything +happened? + +MARY. Yes. Sarah McMinn has---- + +JOHN. Read that letter, Daniel. (_He goes across and hands_ DANIEL +_the letter, and goes back to the fireplace to watch him._) + +DANIEL (_taking out his glasses and solemnly perusing the letter_). +Um. + +JOHN. Well? What do you think of that? + +DANIEL (_endeavouring to appear cheerful._) Keep up a stout heart, +John. You're safe enough. + +JOHN. Oh, heth, I'm not so sure of that. Sure you never heard tell of +a jury yet that didn't give damages against the defendant in a breach +of promise case. Did you now? + +DANIEL. Tuts, man. She has no case. + +JOHN. Case or no case it doesn't seem to matter. What sort of case had +Jennie Black against John McArdle, of Slaney Cross? None. What sort of +case had Maggie McAndless against old William Boyd? None at all. I was +at both of them trials and says to Pat McAleenan--"the girl has no +case at all!" But for all that they brought in a verdict for one +hundred pounds against McArdle, and they put two hundred against old +Boyd, and nearly broke the two of them. + +DANIEL. It's very awkward this. + +JOHN. Did you do anything, Daniel about the bellows? + +DANIEL. The bellows? Aye. (_He points at the parcel._) A good deal, +John. It's all there. But it's all not quite settled yet. A day or two +more and you'll see. If all goes well I'll have a great surprise for +you in a day or two. + +JOHN (_disgustedly_). Ach! I suppose you spent every ha'penny of the +money, too, that I gave you? + +DANIEL. John. Another surprise for you! Those people I met and went +to, put me up very cheap for the week. Very cheap. (_He produces some +money._) Therees one pound ten and sixpence for you. + +JOHN. What? + +DANIEL. I'll keep the pound to do me to the end of the month and not +ask you for any more, John, after that. That is if--well--(_He looks +at the parcel._) That thing there is all right. + +JOHN (_pocketing the ten and sixpence after counting it carefully_). +Daniel. I'm sorry, but there's an account of some thirty shillings I +owe the McArdles, and I want to pay it the night. So if you don't +mind--(_He holds out his hand._) + +DANIEL (_unwillingly_). Well, I suppose it can't be helped, John. But +it leaves me just with nothing. However, there you are. (_He hands +the pound over to him._ SAM BROWN _opens the yard door and peeps in +cautiously._) + +JOHN (_looking at him angrily_). What ails _you_ anyway? + +BROWN. If you please sir, the posty wants the account signed for that +letter. + +MARY. Oh, I forgot all about that. (_She picks up the receipt for the +letter from the table._) I'll sign it for you, father. (_She goes over +to_ BROWN, _who whispers somethings. She nods._) And I'll give it to +him myself. (_She goes out following_ BROWN.) + +JOHN. It's a serious business, this, about the McMinns. + +DANIEL. You're all right, man. Wait a day or two. Take my advice. Do +nothing in a hurry. Sit down and think it over the way I do when I'm +working out a new idea. Don't rush things. It will all come right in +the end. Just you wait and see if it doesn't. + +JOHN. Would it not be better to settle before going into the court? +You know I couldn't stand being pointed out to of a Sunday morning and +one and another talking--"There's the man that Sarah McMinn took the +breach of promise case against." No, I couldn't stand that at all. It +would be a disgrace to the Murrays for ever. I'm wondering now----(_He +pauses lost in thought._) + +DANIEL (_alarmed_). John. Surely you wouldn't--you couldn't think of +going back on what you said to me. Would you? + +JOHN. I wonder, Daniel, would you mind so much after all if I married +her? + +DANIEL (_in an agonised voice_). I couldn't stand it. No, John, I +couldn't stay. Any other woman but that McMinn. + +MARY (_appearing at the door followed by_ ALICK MCCREADY). Come on in, +Alick. + +ALICK. Good morning, Mr. Murray. How are you, Mr. Dan? So you are back +again? We're all glad to have you back. + +DANIEL. Thank you, Alick. + +MARY. Father. Alick says he heard Andy McMinn talking yesterday to +some one at McArdle's shop, and he was telling them all about the +whole business, and blaming it all on Uncle Dan. + +JOHN. And so the people are talking of me already? Now that I come to +think of it, it was your Uncle Dan, and a brave ha'penny it's going to +cost me. One thousand pounds. + +ALICK. Never mind, Mr. Murray. Maybe Uncle Dan will do something yet. +What about the bellows? (DAN _makes a horrified movement to stop_ +ALICK _talking, but too late._) + +JOHN. Aye. Here, Daniel. I'll make a bargain with you. I'll leave you +to the settling of the case, and you can find the money yourself to +pay for it if you want to. And if you can't find the money, I'll marry +her. + +MARY. Father, surely---- + +JOHN. What? That's enough about it. I would as soon do without the +marrying if I could. I don't want the woman at all, but I'll marry her +before she gets a ha'penny off me. So you can settle it among +yourselves. You can take charge of that letter, Dan, and make the best +you can of it. (_He goes angrily out by yard door._) + +DANIEL. This is a nice mess you put me in for, Alick. What the divil +made you mention the bellows? + +ALICK. I'm sorry, Mr. Dan. I wasn't thinking. + +DANIEL. The sooner you start and think a bit the better. If you don't +help to settle the case--(_he looks angrily at_ ALICK)--well--I've a +good deal of influence with somebody. (_He looks significantly at_ +MARY, _who is again examining the parcel._) + +ALICK. I'll do my best, Mr. Dan, to help you. + +MARY. What will we do, Uncle Dan? + +DANIEL. I suppose you've no money, Alick? + +ALICK. Well, I haven't much ready money, Mr. Dan, but I could lend you +up to twenty pounds at a pinch. + +MARY. Twenty pounds would hardly be enough. Would it, uncle? + +ALICK. Better get hold of Andy and ask him. + +DANIEL. I don't like going near that woman at all. + +MARY. Alick! Could you not slip over and ask Andy to come across? You +know what the McMinns are like. He'd come over for a shilling if he +thought he'd get one. Ah, yes. You will, Alick. Won't you? + +ALICK. I'll go straight across now if you--if you---- + +MARY. What? + +ALICK. If you'd leave us along the road a bit. + +DANIEL. Aye. Do. Mary. Leave him down to the gate anyway. I want to +stay here and think over things a wee bit. That't the good wee girl. +(_He gently urges her out with_ ALICK, _then goes over to the table, +lifts the parcel, and sits down near the fireplace. Feeling the +parcel._) I'm afraid, Dan Murray, it's all U. P. this time. I'm afraid +it is. (_Then an idea seems to dawn on him, and he looks at the +parcel._) Unless--unless--well--I wonder now if I-- + +(KATE _and_ BROWN _enter through yard door._ BROWN _is carrying a +bucket filled with washed potatoes._) + +KATE. There. Put it down there. You didn't know we wanted that much, +did you not? You're getting as big an old liar as Mr.--(_She stops +short on perceiving_ DANIEL.) + +BROWN (_looking up and then realising what had made her pause_). Aye. +Go on. As who do you say, woman? + +KATE (_recovering herself_). Just as big an old liar as Andy McMinn. + +BROWN. Now, whist. The McMinns were aye decent folk. (_He glances +across at_ DANIEL, _who apparently is not listening._) They're near +people, and all that sort of thing, but once they say a thing they +stick to it. + +KATE. They're a lot of mean scrubs, the whole caboosh of them. + +DANIEL (_to himself_). I wonder would twenty pounds be any use at +all? + +BROWN (_nudging_ KATE _slyly_). I believe that once Sarah puts a price +on a thing, like a pig or a sow, or a hen, the divil himself couldn't +beat her down in the price of it. And Andy, they say, can beat the +best dealer in the county from here to the Mourne. (DANIEL, _who has +been listening uneasily, gets up and turns round to look at them._) +It's the fine cigar that you were smoking, Mr. Daniel, this morning. + +DANIEL. Cigar? Yes. Yes. + +BROWN. Aye. A fine cigar, sir. There was a grand smell off it. I seen +you coming up by the McMinns, sir, this morning on the road from the +station. + +DANIEL. Yes. On the road from the station. + +BROWN. You didn't see them, but I noticed Andy and Sarah coming out to +the gate when you had passed them and looking after you a long time. + +DANIEL. Is that so? + +BROWN. Aye. A long time, sir. I suppose, like myself, they smelled the +cigar. (DANIEL _at once throws down the cigar in disgust._) Mr. Andy, +they say, is guy fond of a good cigar, and I understand that he'll be +for getting a few boxes of them soon, for the sister, they say, is +coming into a lot of money. + +KATE. Ach, you and your cigars! Will you get out of this and quit +tormenting people? Go on. Out you go. + +BROWN (_as if out of curiosity, picks up the cigar and goes out +slowly_). + +DANIEL. He's a very impertinent man that. Very worrisome. + +KATE. Ach, never heed him, Mr. Dan! sure no one in this house does. +You'll be tired after travelling, sir. Will I make you a drop of tea? + +DANIEL. It's hard to eat anything, Kate, when I'm worried. +(_Despairingly._) I don't think there's another man living that has +the same worries as I have. Something awful! Where's the pen and ink, +I wonder? + +KATE. There's some here on the dresser, Miss Mary was using it +to-day. (_She takes it over from the dresser to the table._ DANIEL +_rises and goes over and sits down and begins slowly to write._) Cheer +up, Mr. Daniel. Sure you sold the plans of the bellows anyway. Didn't +you, sir? They had word up at the McAleenans the other night that you +got two thousand for it. + +DANIEL (_astonished_). Eh? They said that. + +KATE. Aye. To be sure. McAndless told McArdle, and he told Smith the +postman, and the postman told the McAleenans, and said he had seen +letters about it. And McAleenan was up in McMinns the other night and +told them, and I believe you never saw such an astonished crowd of +people in all their lives. + +DANIEL. He told the McMinns that? + +KATE. Aye, last night I think it was. + +DANIEL. Last night? (_He looks at the letter._) Yesterday was the +14th, wasn't it? Aye. It was. I wonder did they believe McAleenan? + +KATE. I don't think they know right what to make of it. And yon +Scotchman was there at the time, and mind you, Mr. Dan, they say he +looked quite serious when he heard it, and said such things as that +happened many's a time. + +DANIEL (_incredulously_). Mackenzie said that? + +KATE. Aye. You know, I think it's maybe because he has a wee notion of +Miss Mary, sir. + +DANIEL. It's quite possible. Quite possible. A nice wee girl is Mary. +Fact, too good for the half of the clodhoppers about these parts. (_He +takes up the parcel, pen, and ink, and paper, and goes across into the +workshop._) + +KATE (_looking after him_). Poor creature. I'm feared he's for the +road again if he doesn't worry out some way for himself. And God knows +he's the one best fitted for it. (MARY _enters._) Well, did you see +him off comfortably? + +MARY. Who? + +KATE. Alick McCready. + +MARY. Kate. I with you'd mind your own business. + +KATE. It's a sore time I have in this house minding my own and every +other bodies' business. + +MARY. Kate. He said I couldn't bake a cake to save my life. I'll just +show him that I can, and you're not to help me, mind you. I'm going to +do it all myself. + +MARY. Where's the flour? + +KATE. There's none in the house, Miss Mary. + +MARY. What? + +KATE. You mind it was all used up this morning on account of them +cakes that nearly killed your poor ould da. + +MARY. Go down to McArdles, Kate, and get a quarter stone on account. + +KATE. Your da told me this morning, Miss Mary, that I wasn't to get +any more from McArdles or any other place unless he gives me an order +for it. Do you not mind? + +MARY (_dejectedly_). So he did. I had forgotten. + +KATE. Aye. Quite so, Miss. (_She sits down contentedly._) + +MARY. I wonder is Uncle Dan about? + +KATE. Aye. He's in his workshop, Miss. + +MARY (going over and knocking at door of workshop). Uncle Dan! + +DANIEL (_appearing at door_). Well, Mary? + +MARY. Uncle Dan, could you give me sixpence? + +DANIEL (_jumbling in his pockets_). Sixpence? Sixpence, Mary? Bless +your wee heart. Here. Here's a two shilling bit. But Mary, mum's the +word. Don't tell John I gave it to you. + +MARY. No. Thank you, uncle. (DANIEL _goes in again._) There, Kate, +quick as you can and don't stop to talk to anybody. Sure you won't? +(_She hands_ KATE _the money and takes up the recipe book._) + +KATE. I'm not dirty looking--am I, Miss Mary? + +MARY (_absorbed in the book_). No. You'll do grand. Flour, currants. + +KATE. Ach! You and your currants. Could you not tell a body was her +face clean? + +MARY. It's lovely. Hurry, Kate. (KATE _shrugs her shoulders +disgustedly, and goes out by yard door._) Flour, currants----(_She +goes over to the workshop door and listens_)--raisins--(_A sound as of +a blast blowing can be heard._ MARY _becomes intensely interested, +and, throwing aside the book, kneels down and puts her head to the +keyhole._) He's actually got something to work. (_She peeps in._) He +has, indeed. (_She laughs, knocks loudly at the door, and then runs to +the other side of the kitchen._ DANIEL _opens the door and cautiously +peeps out._) Uncle Danny! Ha! Ha! Uncle Danny! (_Dancing up and down +in front of the fireplace._) Uncle Dan's a wonderful man! Uncle Dan's +a wonderful man! + +DANIEL (_amazed_). What's all this? + +MARY. I'm a cleverer girl than you think, Uncle Dan! I know your great +surprise. I've found it out. And you've actually got it to work! +That's splendid, uncle, isn't it? Father will be awful proud when he +hears about it. And you did it all yourself, uncle? + +DANIEL. Well, I took those plans, Mary, to a handy chap, an +acquaintance of mine, and he made it out according to my design. I'm +not sure--I think it works all right. + +MARY. And did you get it sold, uncle? + +DANIEL. No, Mary, but I have hopes--great hopes. (_He wanders up to +the window apparently searching for the screw driver._) + +MARY. Do you think you'd get more than one thousand pounds for it? + +DANIEL (_looking out of window and seeing someone approaching_). Don't +know, Mary. Don't know. Very hard to know these things. Where could +that screw driver be I wonder? + +MARY. I think I saw father working with it last at something in the +parlour. Will I get it for you, Uncle Dan? (_Knocking at door._) + +DANIEL. No. Never mind, Mary. I'll get it myself. There's someone at +the door. You better open the door, Mary. (_He goes off hurriedly to +parlour._) (_Knocking at yard door._) Come in. (DONAL MACKENZIE _opens +the door and comes in._) + +MACKENZIE. Fine afternoon, Miss Murray. + +MARY (_coldly_). Good day to you. + +MACKENZIE. I'm going off to Scotland verra soon, and I thought I would +call over to see you before I went off. You're no angry, are you? + +MARY. No. (MACKENZIE _seats himself at the table._) + +MACKENZIE. Did you get a post card? + +MARY. I got some silly thing this morning that I tore up. + +MACKENZIE. I'm sorry. I'm verra fond of you, Mary. + +MARY. Miss Murray, please. + +MACKENZIE. A girl like you is lost here, you know. Now, if you were a +Scotch lassie you would have a great time enjoying yourself. In a +place like Greenock we have a theatre, and we have a music hall and a +cinematograph show on Saturdays and trains to Glasgow. You could have +a grand time in Scotland. + +MARY. Do you really like me, Mr. Mackenzie? + +MACKENZIE. Verra much. Indeed I-- + +MARY. Well. Look here. I would like you very, very much too, if +you---- + +MACKENZIE. If I what, bonnie Mary? + +MARY. I'd even let you call me Mary, and write to me if you wanted to, +if you would do me a favour. + +MACKENZIE. What's the favour? + +MARY. Uncle Dan has brought home his fan bellows, and it works. + +MACKENZIE (_laughs_). The fan bellows! I think he'll never make much +of a fortune of his fan bellows. + +MARY. Do you ever examine new inventions? + +MACKENZIE. Aye. I'm a specialist on that, you know. I'm the writer of +the inventions column in the Scottish---- + +MARY. Yes. Yes. That's all right. I know. Are all the inventions you +write about good things? + +MACKENZIE. Eh? Ninety-nine per cent. rotten, lassie. Ninety-nine per +cent. perfectly rotten. People don't invent a reciprocating piston +that works every day in the week, or a fan bellows either. + +MARY. But if you liked the inventor you could do him a good turn all +the same? + +MACKENZIE. Aye. I did that often. + +MARY. Then could you do a good turn for Uncle Dan? + +MACKENZIE. Give the bellows a boost up. No, Mary. I could nae. I don't +like to grieve you, but committing perjury--No. I couldn't do it, +Mary. + +MARY (_coming closer_). Yes. You would. You'd do it for me. Won't you? + +MACKENZIE. Eh? + +MARY. Look. Uncle Dan has his new fan bellows in that workshop. Go in +and look at it, and if you do like me really, you could tell the +McMinns that it was good--even if it wasn't quite perfect. + +MACKENZIE (_hesitatingly_). Um. I'll consider the question. + +(DANIEL _re-enters. He stops short on seeing_ MACKENZIE, _and seems to +become very uncomfortable._) + +MARY. Uncle Dan! Mr. Mackenzie's going to examine your bellows. + +DANIEL. I don't allow everybody to go and look at it. No. I refuse. +It's my property and no one else's. + +MARY. Uncle Dan. (_She looks at him meaningly._) Mr. Mackenzie has +promised to give his opinion on it. + +DANIEL. It's not protected yet by patent. + +MACKENZIE. Andy McMinn is coming over, Mr. Murray. He has got orders +from his sister to settle the case for her. Are you going to pay the +money? + +DANIEL. That is a matter of my own deciding. (MARY _goes over to her +uncle and whispers to him._) + +MACKENZIE. Verra well. I may go. (_To_ MARY.) I would have done you +that good turn, Miss Murray; but there's no enmity between us. And +(_lowering his voice_)--I hope you get the best of the McMinns in the +bargain. Don't give in, Mr. Murray, easy. Take my tip. I'm from the +stables, you know. (_He laughs knowingly._) + +MARY. Here's Andy now (_she looks out through the window_), and +Alick's with him. (_She opens the door,_ ANDY MCMINN _and_ MCCREADY +_enter._ MCCREADY _glances at_ MARY _and_ MACKENZIE, _and goes over +sulkily to the fireplace._ ANDY _advances awkwardly towards_ DANIEL.) + +DANIEL (_genially_). Good afternoon, Andy. + +ANDY. Good afternoon. (_He looks at_ MACKENZIE, _who nods curtly._) I +suppose you know I've power to settle the case. + +DANIEL. Well, you wrote the letter, and so, in point of law, I think +it is you who should look after all this unfortunate business. Believe +me, Andy, I sympathise with you. I do indeed. (MARY _and_ MACKENZIE +_become absorbed in conversation near the table._ ALICK MCCREADY +_stands at the fireplace looking at them and unable to conceal his +jealousy, makes sundry odd noises to distract_ MARY'S _attention. She +pretends not to hear him._) I have your letter here. (_He searches in +his pocket and produces it._) Yes. One thousand pounds. Do you not +think that a trifle high? + +ANDY. Well. You know we could have as easily claimed two thousand, but +we didn't like to break you altogether; so we just said that a +thousand would come pretty near it. + +MACKENZIE. Mr. Daniel, may I look at the bellows? + +MARY. Uncle Dan, I'm sure you won't object. (_She makes a gesture as +if asking him to assent._) + +DANIEL (_looking hard at her, and then seeming to understand what she +is about_). Yes. Yes. I'll thrash out the matter here with Andy. +(MACKENZIE _goes across into the workshop, followed by_ MARY. MCCREADY +_sits down disconsolately at the fireplace and begins to smoke his +pipe moodily._) A thousand pounds is impossible. Absolutely out of +the question. + +MCCREADY (_to himself_). Ach. She only torments me. + +DANIEL (_looking over wonderingly_). Eh? People behave strangely +sometimes, Andy. Very strangely. (MCCREADY _makes no response, but +sits with his back to the two of them._) Just a moment, Andy. What +about a wee drink. Eh, Andy? + +ANDY. Aye. Well, I wouldn't mind at all, Daniel. + +DANIEL. Just to show there's no ill-feeling over this unfortunate +business. (_He goes to the clock, opens the panel door and takes out a +bottle of whiskey, gets glasses from the dresser and pours out a small +portion of whiskey into each._) Good health, Andy. + +ANDY. Good health, Daniel. (_They drink._) + +DANIEL. Now to go on with our business. I don't think, in the first +case, that this was an affaire de coeur, as the Frenchmen say. + +ANDY. Eh? + +DANIEL. You don't understand French? Of course not. No. It wasn't a +love affair, I mean. I don't think Sarah was in love with John, was +she? + +ANDY (_hesitatingly_). Well--indeed, now, I don't know that she was. + +DANIEL. No. We're all aware of that. He was just what we'd call a +likely man. That's all. + +ANDY. Aye. He would have been a good match for her. + +DANIEL. Yes. Quite so, Andy. He would have been a good match for her. +(_He makes notes in a pocket book._) Nothing like notes, Andy. Now, so +much for the love part of the business. They never exchanged letters? + +ANDY. No. No letters. + +DANIEL (_writing_). No letters. Of course in a breach of promise +letters are a great help. A great help. I'm very glad, however, just +for your sister's sake, that she never wrote any to John. Imagine them +reading out the love letters in the open court, and all the servant +boys gaping and laughing. + +ANDY. It's not nice, right enough. It's one thing I wouldn't like. + +DANIEL. No. It's one thing we would not like. Well. No love. No +letters. Next thing. He never courted her? + +ANDY. Well, he came over and sat in the house a few nights. + +DANIEL. Yes. No doubt. But hadn't he always some message on business +to transact with you? Loan of a plough or a horse, or something like +that? + +ANDY (_uneasily_). That's so, of course. + +DANIEL. Ah, yes. That's so, of course. + +ANDY. But I seen him with his arm round her the night of the social at +the school house. + +DANIEL. Andy. That's a wee failing of John's. I often warned him about +doing that sort of thing indiscriminately. A bit of a ladies' man, +John, in his way. I saw him do the same nonsense four or five times +that night with other girls. John likes to think himself a bit of a +gay dog, you know. It's not right--I don't think myself it's a bit +proper to put your arm round a girl's waist on every occasion, but +sometimes it's quite allowable. A night like a social, for instance. + +ANDY. Aye. Of course a social's different. + +DANIEL. Aye, Andy, a social's different. Well, now. No love, no +letters, no courting, no photographs exchanged? (_He looks at_ ANDY +_inquiringly_). No photographs exchanged? (_He notes it down._) No +ring? In fact, Andy, no nothing. + +ANDY. But he proposed to her right enough. + +DANIEL. Who said so? + +ANDY (_astonished_). What? Do you mean to deny he didn't? + +DANIEL. My dear Andy, I don't know. There was no one there but the +two, I suppose, when he asked her--if he did ask her. There's only her +word for it. + +ANDY. He wouldn't deny it himself? + +DANIEL. Well. That depends on whether he really asked her to marry him +of course. And it's likely enough that John would be inclined to deny +it if his memory was at all bad--it is a bad memory he has, you know. +He forgets often to return your ploughs and that sort of thing. + +ANDY (_blankly_). Aye. He has a bad memory. + +DANIEL. Yes. Just so. And the fact that a verdict of one thousand +pounds would hang on it would hardly make it any better. Would it? +You've a bad case against us, Andy. A rotten case! In fact, looking +over the whole thing carefully, do you really believe you'd make even +a ten pound note out of us? + +ANDY (_despairingly_). I wish Sarah had come and settled the case +herself. + +DANIEL. Ah, no. You've a better head, Andy, for seeing the sensible +side of a thing, far better. (MARY _comes out of the workshop smiling +gaily._) Well? + +MARY. Uncle Dan, he's delighted with it. + +ANDY. What with? The bellows? + +MARY. Yes. Go in, Andy, till you see it. + +ANDY. Is it true, Daniel, you were offered two thousand for it? + +DANIEL. We'll just go in and have a look at it. (ANDY _and he go into +workshop._) + +MARY (_looking across at_ ALICK). What's the matter? + +ALICK. Nothing. I'm going home. (_He goes across to the yard door._) + +MARY. Alick! + +MCCREADY. Goodbye. + +MARY. And I was going to go to all the trouble of baking a big plum +cake for you, you big ungrateful thing. + +MCCREADY (_stopping at the door_). I know what your plum cakes would +be like. (_He opens the door and stops again before going out._) + +MARY. Well, get that big, ugly Maggie Murphy to bake them for you +then. + +MCCREADY (_looking out through door and then coming inside again_). I +say, here's Kate and your father coming and a load of flour. + +MARY (_in a frightened voice_). Kate and father? + +MCCREADY. He seems to be in a bit of a temper. + +MARY (_in a frightened voice_). He's caught her with the flour! + +MCCREADY (_laughing_). Flour? Aye--she's carrying about three stone of +it! Boys, but that would make a powerful pudding! + +MARY. It was to have been the nicest one I could have baked. + +MCCREADY (_coming in and going over to her_). Mary. + +MARY. What? + +MCCREADY. You wouldn't come to my house where there would be no stint +of flour or raisins or anything else, and I'd eat all you cooked for +me no matter if I was dying after it. + +MARY. Go to your house! + +ALICK. Aye. Look here, wee girl. I got this----(_He fumbles and +produces a ring._) Let me put that on your wee finger, won't you? + +MARY. Oh, Alick, what a lovely wee ring. (_She allows him to put it on +her finger, and is shyly kissing him when_ JOHN _enters, followed by_ +KATE, _who is trying vainly to stop a leak in the bag of flour which +she is carrying._ KATE _goes to the dresser and places the bag on +it._) + +JOHN (_severely to_ MARY). Mary. Did you send her for more flour? + +MARY (_meekly_). Yes, father. + +JOHN. And didn't I leave word there was no more to be got without my +orders? (MARY _hangs her head._) It's lamentable the waste in this +house! I was just looking at the pass book last night, and you'd think +this house was a bakery to see the amount of flour comes into it. + +MARY (_submissively_). I'm sorry, father. + +JOHN. When I was out on the road, I seen a trail of flour leading up +our loaning, and says I to myself, Jeminy' father, are they getting +some more! So I followed up the mark and just caught up on her coming +through the gate. + +MARY (_a little defiantly_). It's paid for, Kate, anyway. Isn't it? + +KATE. It is, Miss. (_She busies herself putting the flour into a box, +and then slips out during the next speech._) + +JOHN. Eh? Who give you the money? + +MARY (_going over to her father and whispering_). Uncle Dan is in +there, father, with Andy McMinn and Mr. Mackenzie, the Scotch +engineer, looking at his bellows. + +JOHN (_amazed_). Eh? Andy McMinn? Is Dan settling the case? + +MARY. I believe he'll do it yet. + +JOHN (_admiringly_). He has a great head on him, Daniel. + +MACKENZIE (_coming out of workshop and going over to_ MARY). Mary, I'm +sorry. That bellows is such an absolutely rotten thing--so useless and +so absolutely rotten that I can't--(_He sees_ JOHN.) How are you, Mr. +Murray? + +JOHN. Fine day. + +MARY (_appealingly_). Mr. Mackenzie, what did you say to Andy about +it? + +MACKENZIE. What did I say? Oh, ma perjured conscience--I said it was a +grand thing. (DANIEL _and_ ANDY MCMINN _come in from workshop._) + +ANDY (_nervously_). Brave day, John. + +JOHN. Aye. It is. + +ANDY. Sarah gave me power to settle the case. + +JOHN. I'm glad to hear it. + +MACKENZIE. I tell you what it is, Mr. Daniel Murray. It's a good thing +that--a right good thing, and I'll make you an offer for it. + +ANDY (_eagerly_). What's it worth? + +MACKENZIE (_with a look at_ MARY). It's worth--it's worth more than +all the damages your sister will get from Mr. Murray. + +DANIEL (_suddenly_). I tell you what it is, Andy, and believe me when +I tell you, I'm sacrificing a great deal. I'll make a deal with you. +Instead of a lump sum cash down, I'll hand over all the rights and +royalties of that same bellows to you to settle the case. + +ANDY (_dubiously_). I--I don't know. + +DANIEL. You will have all the expense of the law, the bad name that +your sister will be having over the head of being in a breach of +promise, and all the expenses of solicitors and lawyers. Then, after +that, trying to get the money out of us, and, mind you, we will fight +you to the last ditch. Won't we, John? + +JOHN. Aye. + +DANIEL. There now. What do you say, Mr. Mackenzie? + +MACKENZIE. I tell you what it is, Mr. Murray. I'll make you an offer +for---- + +ANDY (_hastily_). I'll take your offer, Daniel. + +DANIEL. One second. I drew up a wee agreement for you to sign, and +I'll fetch the bellows. (_He goes into the workshop._) + +ANDY. I don't like signing my name to agreements or things like that +unless I'm quite certain they're all right, Mr. Mackenzie. + +MACKENZIE (_with a sly look at_ MARY). Well, if you have any +compunction about signing, I'll do it myself. + +MARY. I think Uncle Dan's a fool to throw away the thing that way. I +do indeed. (DANIEL _comes out with the parcel and the pen, ink and +paper._) + +DANIEL. Just sign your name to that, Andy. It's a sort of agreement to +settle the case--you can read it for yourself. (_He hands a sheet of +paper to_ ANDY _with the pen._) It's to show that the whole thing is +fixed up to the satisfaction of everybody. (ANDY _looks at it and then +signs._) Ah. Good! Now, Alick, and you, Mr. Mackenzie, just witness it +and the date. (_They both sign._) And now, Andy, there's your bellows. +(ANDY _looks at it, and then takes it under his arm._) And may you +have the best of luck with it. (ANDY _looks wonderingly at the parcel +in his arms and moves slowly towards the door._) + +MACKENZIE. Noo, my reward, Miss Murray--Mary rather. (_He goes forward +and she stretches out her hand for him to shake, when he notices the +ring, and stops short._) + +JOHN. I hope you're satisfied, Andy. + +ANDY. I'm just wondering, Mr. Mackenzie, do you think---- + +MACKENZIE. I think nothing for a year. I'll--I'll--I'm for Scotland in +the morning. (_He goes out morosely through the door._) + +DANIEL. There, Andy. There's company home for you, and good luck to +you. It's a sad heart I'll have this night. + +ANDY. I'm wondering what Sarah would say--(_He goes to the door._) +Ach! She couldn't do better herself. No courting. + +DANIEL. No. No courting. + +ANDY. And no love and no letters. + +DANIEL. No. No love and no letters. + +ANDY. And no ring nor nothing, and a thousand pound bellows. + +DANIEL. Yes, Andy. And a thousand pound bellows. (_He wanders out +abstractedly._ DANIEL _follows him to the door and shouts after +him_)--Goodbye, Andy. And may you have the best of luck with it. + +ANDY (_without_). Thank ye, Daniel. Goodbye. (DANIEL _closes the door +after him and looks sadly but triumphantly across at_ JOHN. ALICK +_and_ MARY _go to the window together and look out after_ ANDY.) + +DANIEL. Well, John? + +JOHN (_with a sigh of intense relief and gratitude_). Dan, I've said +it before, and I'll say it again, you've a great head on you, Daniel. + +(CURTAIN.) + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DRONE*** + + +******* This file should be named 20176-8.txt or 20176-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/1/7/20176 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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