John (unable to contain himself any longer). Sarah, will you marry me?
Sarah (coyly). Oh, John, this is very sudden. (Knocking at yard door.) I will. I will. Will you tell them when they come in?
John (now that the ordeal has been passed, feeling somewhat uncomfortable). Well, I would rather you waited a few days, and then we could let them know, canny, don't you know, Sarah. Break the news soft, so to speak. Eh?
Sarah (disappointedly). Well, if you want it particular that way I—(knocking).
John (going to door). Aye, I'd rather you did. (He goes to the door and opens it and Mary comes in.)
Mary. I peeped through the window and I thought, perhaps, it would be better to knock first. It's a nice evening Miss McMinn. (She takes off her hat and flings it carelessly on a chair.) Where's Uncle Dan? I want to see him.
John. He'll be in soon enough. He's out showing Andy and Mackenzie the thresher.
Mary (laughing). Uncle Dan! What does he know about——(she stops short, remembering that Sarah is present.) Mr. Mackenzie?
Sarah. Yes. He's a gentleman, a friend of ours, engaged in the engineering business, who has a large place of his own in Scotland, and we brought him over here to see your Uncle Dan about the invention he's working at.