DANIEL. Now, look here, Alick. We can all work nice and comfortably
together, can't we?

ALICK. Aye.

DANIEL. Well, if you behave yourself like a man with some manners, and
not like an ignorant clodhopper, I can do a great deal for you.

ALICK. Thank you, sir. You know, Mr. Murray, I have as nice a wee
farm, and as good stock on it as well, as any man in the county, and
if I'm lucky enough to get that niece of yours, you'll always be
welcome to come and pass a day or two and have a chat.

DANIEL. I think you and I will get along all right, Alick. There's one
or two little things I need badly sometimes in this house. I mean I
want help often, you know, Alick, to carry my points with John; points
about going to see people and that sort of thing, and it's really very
hard to manage John on points like that, unless we resort to certain
means to convince him they are absolutely necessary.

ALICK (_uneasily_). Yes. I sort of follow you.

DANIEL. You know what I mean. John's a little dense, you know. He
can't see the point of an argument very well unless you sort of knock
him down with it. Now, if a thing is fair and reasonable, and a man is
so dense that he can't see it, you are quite justified--at least, I
take it so--to manufacture a way--it doesn't matter how--so long as
you make that dense man accept the thing, whatever it is, as right. Do
you follow me?

ALICK. I'm just beginning to see a kind of way.

MARY (_appearing at door from inner rooms_). I can't see that thing
anywhere. (_She suddenly sees_ ALICK.) Oh Alick! You here!

ALICK. Yes. It's a nice morning, and you're looking beautiful!

MARY. Oh, bother. (_She seems to suddenly recollect something._) Oh, I
say! uncle! You remember? Uncle!

DANIEL (_somewhat perplexed_). Eh?

MARY (_motioning towards_ ALICK). Telegram to come to London.

DANIEL. Ah----Oh, yes, yes.

MARY. Let's go into your workshop and tell Alick what we want. Come
on.

ALICK. I'll do anything in the world you want.

(_They all go into the workshop. As they disappear,_ JOHN MURRAY,
_sweating and angry looking, comes through from the yard followed by_
BROWN. JOHN _is a tall, stout man, with a rather dour countenance and
somewhat stolid expression. He is a year or so the elder of Dan in
age. He goes to the dresser, puts his hand on the top shelf, takes
down a spanner and throws it down angrily on the table._)

JOHN. There. There you are, you stupid-looking, good for nothing,
d