The Turn of the Road Part 8

Who was with her? Who left her home?

SAMUEL JAMES.

[Nodding slily to Ellen.]

Young M'Donnell o' the Hill head was looking after her pretty close.

ELLEN.

[Glancing at Robbie and then at Samuel James and smiling.]

He's a very nice young man.

ROBBIE JOHN.

[Savagely.]

I wish her luck wi' yon b.o.o.by.

SAMUEL JAMES.

There's nothin' the matter wi' him. He has a nice place and a fine farm forbye.

ROBBIE JOHN.

Farms and cattle and crops don't make a fine man.

GRANDFATHER.

Deed now Robbie, they goes a long ways.

SAMUEL JAMES.

[To himself.]

Better nor bows and fiddles and such trash.

[To Robbie John.]

I heerd up at Bann to-day, that ye won three poun' at the Feis at Newcastle a Monday.

ELLEN.

I knew that on Tuesday. It was fine of Robbie wasn't it?

SAMUEL JAMES.

It all depends. Da heard it for the first time to-day and I can tell you it didn't seem fine to him. Coorse a poun' or two would ha'e made a differ o' opinion same as it done wi' you I expect.

ELLEN.

You needn't sneer at me. It was me told Robbie to keep it. He was goin' to give it all up. I wouldn't be so mean as to take it off him.

SAMUEL JAMES.

Oh you're an unusual sort of young woman I know but if Robbie John takes my advice, he better choose quick between playin' the fiddle and stayin' on here.

ROBBIE JOHN.

Give up my fiddle. Never.

SAMUEL JAMES.

Well you can plaze yourself. I suppose you could make as much by fiddlin' as if you stayed on here and waited till we had the place divid among the three of us.

ELLEN.

Why I heard from Mr. Taylor that father was worth four or five hundred pounds and then the two farms.

GRANDFATHER.

Aye. You'd be a long time Robbie John earnin' that wi' your fiddle.

Don't heed his fool talk son. Stay at home and nivir mind the musicians.

ELLEN.

Robbie dear, and I'm sure Mr. Graeme would never let his daughter marry a penniless fiddler--even if she would herself. I don't know.

She might and she--mightn't.

SAMUEL JAMES.

[Rising from table and stretching himself.]