AHAN.

There. There it is an bad scran to ye. To think o' me walkin' ten mile
to the fair and back and arguin' wi' dailers and chates of all kinds
and gettin thirty poun' for a baste I wouldn't buy myself for thirty
shillin' and only gettin' eight shillin' out o' it.

SAMUEL JAMES.

[Whistling and counting money delightedly.]

Aye. Its a hard world and no mistake.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

[Excitedly.]

I'll go down to the shough and drown myself I will.

SAMUEL JAMES.

Na. Go to MucAlanan's and drown yerself.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

I'm danged but you're right. Na. Na. She'll hear me goin' out by the
gate.

SAMUEL JAMES.

Boys but you're the poor hearted man. Well I'm away.

[He makes to door.]

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

Where now?

SAMUEL JAMES.

To Courdy Williamson's for the loan of a monkey wrinch for the new
machine. The hay's for cuttin' the morrow.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

Oh aye. An you'll be for coortin' that young imp of a daughter o' his
I warrant ye. Were you there yisterday forenoon?

SAMUEL JAMES.

[Somewhat taken aback.]

Yis. Why d'ye ask?

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

Oh nothin'. Only I hadn't a sowl to help me wi' them cattle.

SAMUEL JAMES.

Well wasn't Robbie John at home? What ailed him he couldn't help ye?

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

Look you here Samuel James.

[Samuel James comes back nearer.]

I've been worried wi' that boy this long time.

[Samuel James nods approvingly.]

I've made up my mind to-day after seein' yon scarecrow we met at
Buckna cross roads, Robbie John aither mends himself or he goes out
o' this.

SAMUEL JAMES.

You're right Da. You hae stud his goings on a long time. I think ye do
well to stop him. It's only doin' him a kindness.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

I'll just ask him to burn it when he comes in. If he won't, he can
just plaze himself. I'll hae no more to do wi' him.

[Suddenly.]

I wunner what his mother would say to that?

SAMUEL JAMES.

She' just as tired of it as you are. Wait; I'll call her in.

[Goes to door back and shouts.]

Are you there ma'am?

MRS. GRANAH