a very nice young man.

ROBBIE JOHN.

[Savagely.]

I wish her luck wi' yon booby.

SAMUEL JAMES.

There's nothin' the matter wi' him. He has a nice place and a fine
farm forbye.

ROBBIE JOHN.

Farms and cattle and crops don't make a fine man.

GRANDFATHER.

Deed now Robbie, they goes a long ways.

SAMUEL JAMES.

[To himself.]

Better nor bows and fiddles and such trash.

[To Robbie John.]

I heerd up at Bann to-day, that ye won three poun' at the Feis at
Newcastle a Monday.

ELLEN.

I knew that on Tuesday. It was fine of Robbie wasn't it?

SAMUEL JAMES.

It all depends. Da heard it for the first time to-day and I can tell
you it didn't seem fine to him. Coorse a poun' or two would ha'e made
a differ o' opinion same as it done wi' you I expect.

ELLEN.

You needn't sneer at me. It was me told Robbie to keep it. He was
goin' to give it all up. I wouldn't be so mean as to take it off him.

SAMUEL JAMES.

Oh you're an unusual sort of young woman I know but if Robbie John
takes my advice, he better choose quick between playin' the fiddle
and stayin' on here.

ROBBIE JOHN.

Give up my fiddle. Never.

SAMUEL JAMES.

Well you can plaze yourself. I suppose you could make as much by
fiddlin' as if you stayed on here and waited till we had the place
divid among the three of us.

ELLEN.

Why I heard from Mr. Taylor that father was worth four or five hundred
pounds and then the two farms.

GRANDFATHER.

Aye. You'd be a long time Robbie John earnin' that wi' your fiddle.
Don't heed his fool talk son. Stay at home and nivir mind the
musicians.

ELLEN.

Robbie dear, and I'm sure Mr. Graeme would never let his daughter
marry a penniless fiddler--even if she would herself. I don't know.
She might and she--mightn't.

SAMUEL JAMES.

[Rising from table and stretching himself.]

Coorse if he made a name for himself he could marry the landlord's
daughter. I heerd the quality go mad after the musicianers.

[Makes to door.]

Well I'm going to wash my hands.

[Goes out to yard.]

GRANDFATHER.

Robbie dear. Come here.

ROBBIE JOHN.

Aye. What is it?

GRANDFATHER.

Take he