Aye, to be sure. He"d rather get the better o" Graeme in an argyment as settle wi" him over twenty sons, the ould gomeril.
[John Graeme and William John Granahan enter.]
How dy"e do, Mr. Graeme?
[She shakes hands with him warmly and warns the husband by nods not to resume the argument.]
It"s the brave weather for the crops this.
JOHN GRAEME.
Indeed we should be deeply thankful for the marcies vouchsafed us.
[Solemnly.]
Aye indeed.
WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.
Well indeed I would be that myself, only the half o" them young chickens goin" off with the gapes. It was a tarr"ble to do to save what"s left o" them.
MRS. GRANAHAN.
Oh well. Its all in the way o" Providence, Mr. Graeme.
[She looks disapprovingly across at Granahan.
The two men seat themselves. John Graeme beside table and Wm. Granahan on edge of table next him.]
That was a fine lecture on the Temperance ye gied us Mr. Graeme, at Ballykelly. It done some people a heap o" good.
[She looks across meaningly at William Granahan.]
JOHN GRAEME.
[Apparently much pleased.]
Do you say so, Mrs. Granahan? I"m much pleased indeed to hear o" it.
MRS. GRANAHAN.
I only wished more o" the same kind had heerd you.
[She looks across again at William John Granahan who avoids her eye.]
But you"ll excuse me, I"m sure. I ha"e some things next room to look after for the evenin".
[She curtsies to Graeme and with a warning look at Granahan goes into room.]
JOHN GRAEME.
I am very much pleased indeed to hear your good woman say she liked what I said. How did ye take to it yourself, Mr. Granahan?
WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.
[Suddenly waking up from twisting and untwisting a piece of string which he has found and in which he appears deeply interested while his wife is talking.]
How did we like the speech you gave on temperance, d"ye say?
[Carelessly.]
Och, it was a very good and sensible discoorse, so I heerd Ellen and Mrs. Granahan say.
JOHN GRAEME.
Ye didn"t go yourself then.
[Disappointedly.]
Man, I wanted ye there particuler.
WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.
I ha"e no doot if I had been there, I could ha" got up and contrad.i.c.kted ye, for
[Emphatically.]
I did not agree wi" all I heerd ye said.
JOHN GRAEME.
[Surprised.]
Not agree wi" what I said.
[Scornfully with evident disgust.]
Man, ye couldn"t argy wi" facts. What did ye disagree wi" in the discoorse?