MARY. That's grand; and uncle, is he well to do?
MARY. Oh you dear old uncle! (_She nestles closer to him._) But maybe he wouldn't look at me when he has a whole lot of town girls to go with.
DANIEL. My dear niece, you don't know what a very good-looking young lady you are, and besides he saw your photograph.
DANIEL (_perplexed_). Which photograph? Your own of course!
MARY. Oh uncle! That horrid thing! Why didn't you show him the one I got taken at Newcastle?
DANIEL. My mistake. Very sorry, indeed, Mary, I assure you. But I tell you what, I'll take the album with me next time. Will that do?
MARY (_laughing_). There. Now you're only joking. (_Suddenly._) What do you do all the time you stay in Belfast, uncle?
DANIEL (_uneasily_). Um--um----Business, my dear girl, business. See engineers and all that sort of thing, and talk things over. It takes time, you know, Mary, time.
MARY. You've been an awful long time inventing, uncle, haven't you?
DANIEL. Well, you know, Mary dear--time--it takes time. You can't rush an inventor.
MARY. Well look, uncle. You know I can just wheedle father round my wee finger, can't I?
MARY. Well, look: if you promise to bring down this boy you are talking about, I'll get father to give you enough to have two weeks in Belfast. There. It's a bargain.
DANIEL. Um--well--he may not be there you know.
DANIEL. You see he travels a lot and he may be away. He may be in London. In fact I think--yes. He said he would be going to London.
DANIEL (_starting up and speaking as if struck with delight at the possibility_). Eh? I never thought of that! (_He collapses again._) But no. Your father, Mary. He would never give me the money. No.
MARY. But you're more likely to meet people there who'd take it up, aren't you, uncle?
DANIEL. It's _the place_ for an inventor to go, Mary. _The place._ (_Pauses._) But I'm afraid when John hears about it----(_he becomes very dubious and shakes his head_).
MARY. Well, look here, uncle. Do you mind the last time when he would not give you money to go up to Belfast about your patent.
MARY. You remember you got a letter a few days after asking you to come up at once and you had to go then. Hadn't you?
MARY. Well, couldn't we do the same this time?