el, would you mind so much after all if I married
her?

DANIEL (_in an agonised voice_). I couldn't stand it. No, John, I
couldn't stay. Any other woman but that McMinn.

MARY (_appearing at the door followed by_ ALICK MCCREADY). Come on in,
Alick.

ALICK. Good morning, Mr. Murray. How are you, Mr. Dan? So you are back
again? We're all glad to have you back.

DANIEL. Thank you, Alick.

MARY. Father. Alick says he heard Andy McMinn talking yesterday to
some one at McArdle's shop, and he was telling them all about the
whole business, and blaming it all on Uncle Dan.

JOHN. And so the people are talking of me already? Now that I come to
think of it, it was your Uncle Dan, and a brave ha'penny it's going to
cost me. One thousand pounds.

ALICK. Never mind, Mr. Murray. Maybe Uncle Dan will do something yet.
What about the bellows? (DAN _makes a horrified movement to stop_
ALICK _talking, but too late._)

JOHN. Aye. Here, Daniel. I'll make a bargain with you. I'll leave you
to the settling of the case, and you can find the money yourself to
pay for it if you want to. And if you can't find the money, I'll marry
her.

MARY. Father, surely----

JOHN. What? That's enough about it. I would as soon do without the
marrying if I could. I don't want the woman at all, but I'll marry her
before she gets a ha'penny off me. So you can settle it among
yourselves. You can take charge of that letter, Dan, and make the best
you can of it. (_He goes angrily out by yard door._)

DANIEL. This is a nice mess you put me in for, Alick. What the divil
made you mention the bellows?

ALICK. I'm sorry, Mr. Dan. I wasn't thinking.

DANIEL. The sooner you start and think a bit the better. If you don't
help to settle the case--(_he looks angrily at_ ALICK)--well--I've a
good deal of influence with somebody. (_He looks significantly at_
MARY, _who is again examining the parcel._)

ALICK. I'll do my best, Mr. Dan, to help you.

MARY. What will we do, Uncle Dan?

DANIEL. I suppose you've no money, Alick?

ALICK. Well, I haven't much ready money, Mr. Dan, but I could lend you
up to twenty pounds at a pinch.

MARY. Twenty pounds would hardly be enough. Would it, uncle?

ALICK. Better get hold of Andy and ask him.

DANIEL. I don't like going near that woman at all.

MARY. Alick! Could you not slip over and ask Andy to come across? You
know what the McMinns are like. He'd come over for a shilling if he
thought he'd get one. Ah, yes.