KATE. And a good job it is, or half the girls would be at the church waiting, and the groom lying at home rueing his bargain. (_She goes out by yard door._)

MARY (_going up to her father_). Father, has she a good case against you?

JOHN (_after a moment of deep thought_). No. I don't think it.

MARY. Don't worry so much then, father.

JOHN. It's the jury I'm so frightened of. They all come from the mountainy district at this a.s.sizes, and there's not a man of them but wouldn't put a knife in me, the way I get beating them down in price at the fairs.

MARY. I don't think they'd give her fifty pounds when they see her.

It's only good looking girls would get big sums like a thousand pounds.

JOHN. It's all very well, Mary, but she could dress herself to look nice enough, the same Sarah, if she liked.

MARY. She could not, indeed.

JOHN. They say, at least Brown was hinting to me, that its yon Scotch fellow, Mackenzie, has put up the McMinns to this business. He and that connection are as thick as thieves.

MARY. He mightn't be so very fond of them. When a man sends post cards to a girl he doesn't know very well, he's got a wee bit of a liking for her.

JOHN. What are you talking about? I never sent her any post cards.

MARY. Father, what are you going to do?

JOHN (_despairingly_). I'm d----d if I know.

MARY. Will you defend the case?

JOHN. I don't want to go near the court at all.

MARY. Father! (_Alarmed._) Father! Sure you wouldn't--you couldn't think of marrying her after all that row that happened? (JOHN _remains silent._) Wouldn't you rather lose a thousand pounds and keep me, father? (JOHN _breaks a piece of soda bread morosely and eats it._) Wouldn't you, father.

JOHN. Ah! (_He spits out the bread._) Heaven save us, what kind of bread's that?

MARY (_taking away the bread and putting it behind her back._) Father!

Ah please, please, don't marry her anyway. Sure you won't?

BROWN (_coming in hastily_). Here's Mr. Dan coming up the loaning, sir, that grand looking you'd hardly know him, and a big cigar in his mouth.

JOHN. Daniel back?

MARY. Oh, I must go out and meet him. (_She goes out by yard door quickly._)

JOHN. Had he his luggage with him?

BROWN. Aye. He has yon big portmanteau of his, and a parcel of something or other.

JOHN. Away out and help him then, can't you? (BROWN _goes out._) I wonder what kept him in Belfast all this time. I suppose he's spent most of the five pounds I gave him. Like enough. I never mind him coming back yet with a ha'penny on him. (_He sits down at the fireplace and looks again at the letter._) A thousand pounds! And there never was a breach of promise case known where they didn't bring in a verdict for the woman. Never! (_He becomes absorbed in thought, and as he sits ruminating_ MARY _opens the door, carrying a large brown paper parcel, followed by_ DANIEL. DANIEL _is dressed fairly well, and seems to be in high spirits._ BROWN _follows him carrying a portmanteau._)

DANIEL (_brightly_). Home again, John.

JOHN (_morosely_). Aye. It was near time, I think.

DANIEL. Saw quite a number of people this time, John. A great number.

They were all very much interested. Fine town, Belfast. Growing very rapidly. Wonderful place.

MARY. What's in the parcel? (_She looks at it with great curiosity._)

DANIEL. Ah, that--that't the great secret. Mum's the word. All in good time, Mary.

BROWN. Will I leave your bag here, Mr. Dan?

DANIEL. Yes. Here's a sixpence for you. (_He hands it to_ BROWN.)

JOHN. You're brave and free-handed with your money. Giving the like of that bauchle sixpence. (BROWN, _who is going out through yard door, stares back at his master protestingly, and then goes out._) The Lord knows but we will be wanting every ha'penny we can sc.r.a.pe together, and soon enough.

MARY. I didn't tell Uncle Dan yet, father.

DANIEL (_seating himself near the workshop door_). Has anything happened?

MARY. Yes. Sarah McMinn has----

JOHN. Read that letter, Daniel. (_He goes across and hands_ DANIEL _the letter, and goes back to the fireplace to watch him._)

DANIEL (_taking out his gla.s.ses and solemnly perusing the letter_).

Um.

JOHN. Well? What do you think of that?

DANIEL (_endeavouring to appear cheerful._) Keep up a stout heart, John. You're safe enough.

JOHN. Oh, heth, I'm not so sure of that. Sure you never heard tell of a jury yet that didn't give damages against the defendant in a breach of promise case. Did you now?

DANIEL. Tuts, man. She has no case.

JOHN. Case or no case it doesn't seem to matter. What sort of case had Jennie Black against John McArdle, of Slaney Cross? None. What sort of case had Maggie McAndless against old William Boyd? None at all. I was at both of them trials and says to Pat McAleenan--"the girl has no case at all!" But for all that they brought in a verdict for one hundred pounds against McArdle, and they put two hundred against old Boyd, and nearly broke the two of them.

DANIEL. It's very awkward this.

JOHN. Did you do anything, Daniel about the bellows?

DANIEL. The bellows? Aye. (_He points at the parcel._) A good deal, John. It's all there. But it's all not quite settled yet. A day or two more and you'll see. If all goes well I'll have a great surprise for you in a day or two.

JOHN (_disgustedly_). Ach! I suppose you spent every ha'penny of the money, too, that I gave you?

DANIEL. John. Another surprise for you! Those people I met and went to, put me up very cheap for the week. Very cheap. (_He produces some money._) Therees one pound ten and sixpence for you.

JOHN. What?