_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.)