The Turn of the Road Part 9

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 heed till yourself. I know what's going on better nor you. Take an ould man's advice. Settle yourself down and give up that string instrument. Coorse I daresay you may go and become a great man wi' it but you're more like to become a cratur like thon that was in as not.

There's no good runnin' risks. And your father, I heerd him say himself, if you make your bed, you'll lie on it, for he'll nivir help you out, once you take to the fiddlin'.

ELLEN.

Aye Robbie. Its far better not to run the risk of becoming a beggar man.

ROBBIE JOHN.

Well I'll think over it Ellen. I'll think over it.

GRANDFATHER.

Robbie, come out wi' me.

[The two go out by door into yard.

William John and Mrs. Granahan come in arguing excitedly.]

MRS. GRANAHAN.

Well you can ha'e the poun' if you like, but I can tell you its a sore pinch to make things do, what with the price of the sugar riz up and the flour.

[Samuel James comes in. He takes in the situation and seats himself again on the table near Ellen who remains still seated beside it.]

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

There. That's enough to do about it.

[He goes over to armchair but does not sit down and remains facing Mrs. Granahan.]

Twenty nine poun' you'll get and no more.

[Emphatically.]

Min' that.

MRS. GRANAHAN.

I'll min' it right enough William Granahan. And its a sore time I have trying to keep in wi' one hand what you lavish out wi' the other.

SAMUEL JAMES.

[Nudging Ellen slily.]

I was talking by the way to Mrs. McCrum the milliner, mother, to-day, and she said to give you word she'd have your new tay gown ready for you a Tuesday week.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

[Triumphantly.]

There you are ma'am. There you are. Keepin' it in wi' one hand were you? Faith if I know anything you lather it out wi both hands and feet. You want to rob me of me one poun' do ye? And all for an ould tay gown!

[Contemptuously.]

A tay gown!

ELLEN.

[Maliciously.]

A taygown's not expensive.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

Oh indeed now? Hach. You'll be wantin' one next I suppose. A nice house this is, where a man couldn't get keepin' as much as would buy him an ounce o' tobaccy.

[Viciously.]