[Proudly.]

Lonnon! Well my mother was a daughter o' Samuel James Smith, and a
niece o' Robert John Francis Fargison.

JOHN GRAEME.

[Contemptuously.]

I nivir heerd tell o' them.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

I wonner at your ignorance John Grame. A well educated man like
yourself as sets yourself up to be taching the congregation on
matters o' law and the temperance question, (_raising voice_) and
you that ignorant o' common information.

MRS. GRANAHAN.

[Opening door and coming in a few steps.]

William John Granahan, didn't I tell ye not to be raisin' argyments.
How you manage at the markets I nivir could understand. Get your
business done, and ha' settled wi' it.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

[Soothingly.]

Whist, whist woman, I was only discoorsin'. Mind the tay and I'll mind
the rest. There. There. I agree to your tarms, John Graeme. I'll do
it, though it's lavin' me tarr'ble short.

JOHN GRAEME.

[Impressively.]

But there's one thing I'll no ha'e, William Granahan.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

[Alarmed.]

And what might that be?

JOHN GRAEME.

If your son is to marry my daughter, I'll ha'e none o' his music. Its
all very well for quality and the like to go strummin' on instruments,
but its no' meant for a sensible farmer.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

Aye. I agree wi' that. But look here. Mind ye a song or two and a bit
o' a tune on a long winter's night keeps one from thinkin' long and
between you and me, it keeps you from the bottle.

JOHN GRAEME.

That's where you and I differs. Supposin' he starts playin' a dance
tune or two, and the neighbours gather in. You like to do the thing
dacint, and ye send out for drink, and then it goes from bad to worse.
Na. Na. I'll ha'e none o' that.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

Well. Well. Make your mind aisy. Ye know he has promised me nivir to
play again, and I don't think you'll hear much o' his fiddlin'.

JOHN GRAEME.

I'm right glad to hear it, and I'll tak' your word for it.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

Very good.

[With admiration.]

Man, you'd ha' made a great horsedailer John Graeme.

JOHN GRAEME.

Aye. I had an uncle in the town, a dailer, and he was always sayin'
that.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

And well you could ha' done it, if I knowed anythin