. Sh----he's in there working.

BROWN. Working? Ah, God save us! Him working! The last man that seen
Mr. Dan working is in his grave this twenty years. (_He goes over next
workshop door._) I'll just peep in at him through the keyhole. (_He
goes over and does so, and then beckons_ KATE _over. She peeps in and
grins. As they are thus occupied_ ALICK MCCREADY _opens the door and
stands gazing at them. He is a type of the young well-to-do farmer,
respectably dressed and good-looking._)

ALICK. Well! Well! Some people earn their money easy!

BROWN. Aye. In soul. Just look in there to see it. (MCCREADY _looks in
and bursts into a loud hearty laugh._ BROWN _hurriedly goes out by the
yard door and_ KATE _by door to inner rooms._)

DANIEL (_opening door and standing there, perplexed looking_). What's
the matter?

ALICK. Ah. I was just laughing at a wee joke, Mr. Murray.

DANIEL. It must have been very funny.

ALICK. Aye. It was. (_Coming close to_ DANIEL, _who walks slowly to
the middle of the kitchen._) I say. Were you at McArn's publichouse
last night?

DANIEL (_looking round cautiously to see that no one else can hear
him_). Well, just a minute or two. Why?

ALICK. There was someone there told Andy McMinn this morning, I
believe, that you'd been talking of a great invention altogether, and
he was that much curious to see it that him and his sister Sarah are
coming over this day to have a look at it.

DANIEL. Who? Sarah McMinn?

ALICK. Aye. She's very anxious to see it, I believe.

DANIEL. Um. Rather awkward this. She's not a woman that, plainly
speaking, I care very much to talk about my ideas to.

ALICK. But have you got something struck out?

DANIEL. McCready, come here. (ALICK _goes closer to him._) It is
really a great idea. Splendid. But I've a great deal of trouble over
it. In fact I've been thinking out details of a particular gear all
morning.

ALICK. Aye. (_He looks at_ DANIEL _and then endeavours to restrain
unsuccessfully a burst of laughter._)

DANIEL (_angrily_). You were always an ignorant hound anyway and be
d----d to you. (_He turns to go towards his workshop._)

ALICK. Ah, Mr. Murray, I beg your pardon. It's another thing
altogether I'm thinking about. I just wanted a talk with you this
morning. You have a nice wee girl for a niece, Mr. Murray.

DANIEL (_somewhat mollified_). Well?

ALICK (_bashfully_). And I was wondering if you could put in a good
word for me now and again with her.