The Drone | Page 7

assent.) I believe
there would be indeed.
JOHN. Man, I wish I had the head of some of you young fellows to
understand the working of them machinery and things. (DANIEL goes
back into the workshop.) I've the worst head in the world for
understanding about them sort of things. There's Daniel, a great head
on him, Daniel.
ALICK (slyly). He has, right enough!
JOHN (proudly). One of the best. When he was a wee fellow, dang the
one could beat him at making boats or drawing pictures, or explaining
extraordinary things to you. None. Not one. A great head on him,
Daniel. He'll do something yet.
ALICK. Did you know Andy McMinn's for coming over to see you this
day, Mr. Murray?

JOHN (eagerly). This day? When? Are you sure?
ALICK. Aye, so he said. About two o'clock or so. Someone told him
about Daniel's great new idea, and he's very curious to hear about it.
MARY. He's always poking his nose into people's business.
JOHN. Whist. Andy McMinn's a very decent man. Tell me (rather
bashfully), was Sarah to come with him?
MARY (alarmed). O holy prophets! I hope not.
ALICK. Aye. She's coming too. She wanted to see it as well as Andy.
JOHN. Aye. Certainly, and she's welcome too. Mary, you can get the
house ready, and the table set, and a nice tea for them when they come,
and I can go and get tidied up a wee bit. (He goes off through door into
inner rooms.)
ALICK (leaning against the table and looking across at MARY, who is
sitting at the opposite end.) You're as nice a wee girl as ever I----
MARY. You're an awful fool. Hurry, Alick, like a decent man and get
that telegram sent.
ALICK. That uncle of yours, Mary, heth he's as canny a keoghboy as
I've seen. Its the queer tears he'll be taking to himself in London if I
know anything.
MARY. Hold your tongue. You've no business to talk about Uncle Dan
that way. He could give you tons as far as brains go anyway.
ALICK. I believe that. (He goes to yard door, then turns back.) I say,
Mary. What name will I put on that telegram? "Come to London at
once about patent. Intend purchasing." Hadn't we better have a name?
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 fluster 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