[Ellen comes in and puts paper, &c on
table.]

TAYLOR.

Here's the stamp ma'am.

MRS. GRANAHAN.

[Not noticing.]

And there's a girl for you Mr. Taylor, that we spent a dale o' time
over, and was brought up most careful. She's none o' your or'nary
girls.

ELLEN.

[Sharply.]

Oh mother!

[She looks at Taylor, smiles, and shrugs
her shoulders.]

MRS. GRANAHAN.

[Motioning silence.]

There's too many girls runnin' about and all they can do is--sing a
song or two, and dress themselves up like play actresses, and run
about at bazaars and the like trying to get ahoult o' young men.

TAYLOR.

You're quite right ma'am.

MRS. GRANAHAN.

Now there's Ellen was four years at a boardin' school that Mr. Graeme
recommended till us, and I can tell you she got the proper schoolin',
and let alone that, she can bake, sew or knit, and knows all about the
managin' of a house.

ELLEN.

Oh quit!

[She looks diffidently across at Taylor,
who grins.]

MRS. GRANAHAN.

[Counting money.]

Here. It's sixpence short o' the count.

TAYLOR.

Let me see.

[He goes to table and counts money.]

Two and two's four, and two's six, and two and six is eight and six,
and one shillin'--nine and six.

MRS. GRANAHAN.

[Thinking.]

Nine and six. I thought it was--oh yes it _was_ nine and six.

TAYLOR.

Yes. Nine and six.

MRS. GRANAHAN.

Very good. I'll write you a receip'.

[Takes pen and paper.]

ELLEN.

[To Taylor who stands looking over at her.]

You haven't been round this way a long time Mr. Taylor. What ailed
you, you didn't call?

TAYLOR.

Oh I was very busy.

[He looks at Mrs. Granahan who is writing
laboriously. Then goes and examines a
fiddle that hangs on the wall.]

Ha! I thought Robbie John had burnt his fiddle and promised to play no
more.

MRS. GRANAHAN.

Aye so he did, but there's a strange story wi' that thing you're
lookin' at. There was a tramp come here one day I was out, and when I
come back, I found him playin' away on that th