A wee bit. I wish Jennie Graeme seen you with that face. You wouldn't get your arm round her so easy then; would he Grand-da?

GRANDFATHER.

A bonny wee girl she is, and has a fine farm and land comin' till her.

[Aside.]

Boys a dear but these musicians gets the fine weemin.

ROBBIE JOHN.

There, there; and creamery managers sometimes gets them too, Grand-da.

GRANDFATHER.

Indeed, that Taylor man will get a body can cook sowans anyway.

ELLEN.

[Looking through window.]

Here's mother.

MRS. GRANAHAN.

[Enters and sits down exhausted on chair at side of table next door.]

That sows a torment. I just had her out and back she doubles again.

She just has me fair out of wind turnin' her out.

ROBBIE JOHN.

[Rising and making toward door into room.]

I can go and have some practisin' now.

MRS. GRANAHAN.

Robbie John, I seen the carts comin' up the loanin'. Your father will be in, in no time. He'll no be pleased to see you han'lin' that,

[pointing to the fiddle.]

just when he comes back.

[Starts up as if suddenly reminded.]

I must go and get them eggs counted.

[Goes out again through door to yard.]

ELLEN.

Aye, Robbie; don't take it. He'll just think you've been playin' that all the time he was away. And he's always that cross after markets, you couldn't stand him.

ROBBIE JOHN.

[Sitting down again.]

You're right. I don't want another talkin' to like the last one; but its hard.

[He takes up a stick from fuel beside fireplace and starts whittling it. The rattle of carts is heard. Samuel James pa.s.ses the window and walks in. He is partially intoxicated, enough only to make him talkative.]

ELLEN.

Well, how did the fair go off?

[Samuel James takes off his overcoat, flings it on back of chair beside dresser and sits down heavily.]

Ah! you've been takin' a drop, as usual.

SAMUEL JAMES.

[Scowls at this but does not deny.]

The fair. Oh, it was great value. Sure grand-da he sould the foal for thirty poun'.

GRANDFATHER.

[Astonished]

Boys a dear but William John Granahan bates the divil. And who took her?

SAMUEL JAMES.

There was a cavalryman bought her. Boys but Da is the hard man to plaze. We stopped at Muc Alanan's on the way home and met William John McKillop there, and he toul' the oul' man he was a fool to let a good horse go at that price, for he was lookin' all roads to give him thirty poun' for it; only he couldn't get in time for the sale.