ir hear tell of a man who was drunk wi'out drinkin'?

JOHN GRAEME.

That's no' in the argyment at all.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

But I tell you it is. A man's bound to be drinkin' if he gets drunk.

JOHN GRAEME.

I'm no contradickin' that at all. I----

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

[Interrupting.]

Now houl' your tongue till I explain till ye. If a man get's drunk
when he's drinkin', he's bound to be drunk o' coorse.

JOHN GRAEME.

[Contemptuously.]

Ye talk like a child.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

Now wait till I get it hammered intill ye. Now when that man's drunk,
he's boun' to ha'e been drinkin'.

[He hesitates and is obviously confused.
Then suddenly seems to grasp the idea he
wants.]

Aye--in a public house o' coorse.

JOHN GRAEME.

O' coorse. What else would he do there but drink.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

Now that man gets drunk.

[He looks inquiringly at Graeme]

JOHN GRAEME.

[Hopelessly.]

Aye.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

Now the public houses are that scarce that he has till walk home maybe
ten mile or more.

JOHN GRAEME.

Well?

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

And ten till wan he gets lost or somethin', and they have the whole
countryside upset lookin' for him. Now if he had a public house
convanient in his own townland, there would be no bother at all, and
he could be at his work the next mornin' wi'out any interruptin' o'
labour. D'ye see what I mane?

MRS. GRANAHAN.

[Suddenly appearing at door evidently
angry.]

The more public houses the less drinkin' did he say? If he had _his_
way o' it, every other house from here to Buckna would be a public
house.

[To husband.]

Quit your wastin' Mr. Graeme's time wi' your argyments, and settle
what he has come here to do wi' ye.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

Well. Well. We'll agree till let the matter drop. You ha'e nobody but
your daughter I suppose?

JOHN GRAEME.

Well I ha'e a sister married up in Dublin.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

But she's in a good way o' doin' I suppose?

JOHN GRAEME.

Oh yes. Purty fair. O' coorse I would like to lave her somethin'.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

Ach, gi'e her a loc