Mary. Father. Tell me. Is it from the McMinns?
John. Aye. (Pacing up and down.) I knowed she'd do it. I knowed she'd do it.
Mary. What?
John. Sarah's taking an action against me.
Mary. An action?
John. Aye. (Consulting the letter.) For a thousand pounds.
Mary (awestruck). A thousand pounds!
John. Aye. Now the fat's in the fire. She says I promised to marry her and broke it off. At least, it's Andy that writes the letter, but it's her that put him up to it. I know that too well. (Reading.) "To Mr. John Murray. Dear Sir,—You have acted to my sister in a most ungentlemanly way, and done her much wrong, and I have put the case intil the hands of Mr. McAllen, the solicitor, who will bring it forward at the coming Assizes. If you wish, however, to avoid a scandal, we are oped to settle the matter by private arrangement for one thousand pounds. Yours truly, Andrew McMinn."
Mary. That's awful, father, isn't it?
John (going over to fireplace and standing there irresolutely). Aye. It's a terrible mess, right enough.