MARY. Yes. I'll just ask uncle. (_She knocks at door of workshop._) Uncle!

DANIEL (_without_). Yes.

MARY. What name will we put to that telegram?

DANIEL (_without_). Oh, it's not particular. Wilson or Smith, or Brown, or Gregg.

ALICK. I'll put Gregg on it.

DANIEL. Do well.

ALICK. Did you see the fl.u.s.ter that your father got into, Mary, when he heard that Sarah McMinn was coming over?

MARY (_alarmed_). What?

ALICK.. Did you not see how he rushed off to tidy himself up when he heard Sarah McMinn was coming over?

MARY (_seating herself on chair to right of table_). Nonsense. Father wouldn't think of that woman.

ALICK. All right. But I think I know something more than you.

MARY (_anxiously_). What? Tell me.

ALICK. Come on and leave me down the loaning a pace, and I'll tell you.

MARY (_glancing at him, and then coquettishly turning her back to him as he leans against the table_). Oh, I can't. Those people are coming over, and that McMinn woman will be looking at everything and telling you how to do things in front of father, and all the rest of it.

ALICK (_entreatingly_). Leave me down the loaning a pace till I tell you the news.

MARY (_teasingly_). No.

ALICK. Come on.

MARY. No. (ALICK _moves sadly towards the door._ MARY _looks round, and then laughingly skips past him out through the yard door, and he follows her._)

JOHN (_coming through door from inner rooms partly dressed, with a towel in his hands, evidently making much preparation to clean himself_). Daniel! (_Loudly and crossly._) Daniel!

DANIEL (_peeping out from workshop door_). Well!

JOHN. Tidy yourself up a wee bit, man, Andy McMinn and Sarah's coming over to see you.

DANIEL (_somewhat taken back_). Me?

JOHN. Aye. They want to see about the new invention. You can have the collar I wore last Sunday, and put on your new coat that you got in Belfast. (DANIEL _goes back into the workshop._) I wonder what tie would be the better one? Yon green or the red one that Mary gave me last Christmas. Aye. (_Seeing no sign of_ DANIEL.) D----n! Is he making no shapes to dress himself. Daniel!

DANIEL (_without_). Aye.

JOHN (_loudly_). Daniel!

DANIEL (_again appearing at door_). Well!

JOHN (_impatiently_). Come on and get on you.

DANIEL. Ach. This is always the way. Just when a man has got the whole thing worked out and the plans of the apparatus just on the point of completion he has to stop.

JOHN. Never mind, Danny. You can do it again the night or the morrow morning. I want you to look decent. Come on and get on you.

DANIEL (_beginning to regard his brother with a sudden interest and suspicion_). Who did you say was coming?

JOHN (_at door to rooms_). Andy and Sarah McMinn. (He goes out.)

DANIEL (_suddenly realising the import of the preparations going on._) McMinn. Mc----. (_He stops short, and then in a horrified voice._) Surely to G.o.d he hasn't a notion of that woman? (_Calling tremulously._) John! John!

JOHN (_at door_). Hurry up, man.

DANIEL (_appealingly_). John. Tell me, John. You haven't----you're not going to----you haven't a notion of that woman?

JOHN (_hesitatingly_). Well, Daniel, you see the house needs some one to look after it proper, and I thought----well--maybe--that Sarah would be just as nice and saving a woman as I could get, but I thought I would keep it a bit secret, don't you know, because I don't know yet if she'd have me or not. And she could talk to you better nor I could about machinery and things that would interest you, for she has an agency for sewing machines, and knows something about that sort of thing, and you'd get on great with each other. Now, hurry and get on you. (_He goes out by door into rooms._)

DANIEL (_looking after him in a helpless manner, and sinking into a chair_). If--if she'd have him! O great G.o.d! If that woman comes to this house, I--I'm a ruined man.

(CURTAIN.)

ACT II.

_The same scene some hours later. The curtain rises to discover_ KATE _seated near table at back enjoying a cup of tea which she has made, and is drinking with relish._

KATE. I suppose they'll be wanting jam and sugar for the tea--aye--and some of them scones Miss Mary cooked yesterday, not but you couldn't eat them, and a pat or two of b.u.t.ter. (_She finishes off the remains of the tea._) Now, that's a nice girl for you! Here's company coming till the house and tea and things a wanting, and she goes and leaves all to go strolling down the loaning with that fool of a McCready.

(BROWN _opens the yard door and comes in. He replaces the spanner on the top shelf and then turns and looks at_ KATE.)

KATE. Well?

BROWN. Well, yourself?

KATE. Do you see any sign of them McMinns yet?

BROWN. Aye. I see the trap coming over the Cattle Hill. There was three in it, as far as I could make out.

KATE. Who be to be the third party I wonder? Is it their servant man?

BROWN. Do you think old Andy McMinn's servant man gets leave to drive them about of an afternoon like the clergy's? Talk sense, woman.

KATE. Maybe it's yon Scotch body I heard was stopping with them.