JOHN. It's a serious business, this, about the McMinns.
DANIEL. You're all right, man. Wait a day or two. Take my advice. Do nothing in a hurry. Sit down and think it over the way I do when I'm working out a new idea. Don't rush things. It will all come right in the end. Just you wait and see if it doesn't.
JOHN. Would it not be better to settle before going into the court? You know I couldn't stand being pointed out to of a Sunday morning and one and another talking--"There's the man that Sarah McMinn took the breach of promise case against." No, I couldn't stand that at all. It would be a disgrace to the Murrays for ever. I'm wondering now----(_He pauses lost in thought._)
DANIEL (_alarmed_). John. Surely you wouldn't--you couldn't think of going back on what you said to me. Would you?
JOHN. I wonder, Daniel, would you mind so much after all if I married her?
DANIEL (_in an agonised voice_). I couldn't stand it. No, John, I couldn't stay. Any other woman but that McMinn.
MARY (_appearing at the door followed by_ ALICK MCCREADY). Come on in, Alick.
ALICK. Good morning, Mr. Murray. How are you, Mr. Dan? So you are back again? We're all glad to have you back.
MARY. Father. Alick says he heard Andy McMinn talking yesterday to some one at McArdle's shop, and he was telling them all about the whole business, and blaming it all on Uncle Dan.
JOHN. And so the people are talking of me already? Now that I come to think of it, it was your Uncle Dan, and a brave ha'penny it's going to cost me. One thousand pounds.
ALICK. Never mind, Mr. Murray. Maybe Uncle Dan will do something yet. What about the bellows? (DAN _makes a horrified movement to stop_ ALICK _talking, but too late._)
JOHN. Aye. Here, Daniel. I'll make a bargain with you. I'll leave you to the settling of the case, and you can find the money yourself to pay for it if you want to. And if you can't find the money, I'll marry her.
JOHN. What? That's enough about it. I would as soon do without the marrying if I could. I don't want the woman at all, but I'll marry her before she gets a ha'penny off me. So you can settle it among yourselves. You can take charge of that letter, Dan, and make the best you can of it. (_He goes angrily out by yard door._)