Rutherford Mayne

“ 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. ”

“ And you, William John Granahan, wi' your lust for money. Aye. Lust for money. You couldn't abide him heartenin' up the house wi' a tune or two, but ye'd brak the boy's heart sendin' him out till work again, and him workin' as much as two of Samuel James there. Ye thought he was wastin' time and money. D'ye think there's nothin' in this life beyond making money above the rent. I tell you it's not the money alone that makes life worth livin'. It's the wee things you think nothin' o', but that make your home a joy to come back till, after a hard day's work. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Moves over to dresser and then stands at door into room. She evidently disapproves of the tramp and does not offer to obey. The grandfather rises in disgust and moves his chair nearer the fireplace away from the tramp.
Tramp.
To Ellen.
Your pardon noble lady, I intrude. Your pardon signor I incommode you. Times change and so do men. Ladies and gentlemen behold in me the one time famous leader of the Blue Bohemian Wind and String Band that had the honour of appearing before all the crowned heads of Europe.
William John Granahan.
God bless me, d'you say so mister? D'ye hear that Robbie John. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Ellen.
Oh, let the boy be, mother. Its the first time I've heard him at it this week.
Grandfather.
Och aye. Let the boy enjoy himself. You're only young wanst you know, Mary.
Ellen.
I think it must be a great thing to be a great musician. Sometimes I believe Robbie should try his luck with that fiddle of his. Somehow I know—I feel he is a genius at it.
Mrs. Granahan.
What notions you do have to be sure. To think of a big grown man like Robbie John spending his life-time at an old fiddle.
Sharply.
Blathers and nonsense. Its time that boy was out lookin' at the cattle. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Out you will go. I want no tramps in here upsettin' my house and makin' it the talk of the neighbours. Out you go at once.
Tramp.
With drunken pride.
I thrust my company on no man or woman uninvited.
Mrs. Granahan.
Out you go. I want no excuses. Put him out of this Samuel James.
Samuel James eludes his mother's eye and beckons the tramp to stay on.
The drunken wretch comin' in here. A nice place you'd have it William Granahan with your fine company.
William John Granahan.
I brought him home here as a tarr'ble and awful warnin' to Robbie John what this sort of an occupation brings a man till. ”

“ 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. ”

“ God made you a musician and not a farmer.
Robbie John.
And you? What would you do?
Jane.
I know and trust some day God willing, you'll come back to me, rich and famous enough to have them all at your feet. I know you will.
Robbie John.
God bless you wee girl for you're put a heart into me.
They embrace. Mrs. Granahan comes in.
Mrs. Granahan.
There. There. Bide a wee. Here they're all coming in for their tays.
William John Granahan, Graeme, Taylor, Samuel James and Grandfather come in. Robbie John goes over to fiddle and puts it into a case. ”

“ 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.) ”

“ Aye Robbie. Its far better not to run the risk of becoming a beggar man.
Robbie John.
Well I'll think over it Ellen. I'll think over it.
Grandfather.
Robbie, come out wi' me.
The two go out by door into yard.
William John and Mrs. Granahan come in arguing excitedly.
[Pg 25]
Mrs. Granahan.
Well you can ha'e the poun' if you like, but I can tell you its a sore pinch to make things do, what with the price of the sugar riz up and the flour.
Samuel James comes in. He takes in the situation and seats himself again on the table near Ellen who remains still seated beside it.
William John Granahan. ”