Och I suppose the wind or somethin' outside. But there's no doubt Robbie you have a genius for the fiddle. There was a German professor of music at Newcastle the day you won the prize and he was--But its not right of me to make you vexed, now you've stopped playin'. SAMUEL JAMES. Ach he doesn't mind you tellin'. Do ye Robbie? Tell and hearten him up a wee bit. TAYLOR. This German was so struck with your playin' that he was lookin' for you all roads, but you were nowhere to be found. ROBBIE JOHN. [Interested.] Aye? I went straight home. I wonner what he wanted? SAMUEL JAMES. Perhaps he could have given him a lift, eh Mr. Taylor? TAYLOR. He was talkin' to me afterwards and by the way, I had clean forgot. [Fumbling in his pocket.] He gave me his card to give you. I have it on me somewhere I think. [Producing it.] Aye, there it is. [Reading.] Professor--somethin' or other Royal College of Music. ROBBIE JOHN. Keep it. If I had it, it would only temp' me. TAYLOR. [Looking significantly at Samuel James who indicates by shaking his head that he considers Robbie John hopeless.] You're a queer character. All right. But you can have it any time. [To Samuel James.] I wish I had said nothin' about it. Where's the old man? SAMUEL JAMES. The two ould men are out in the haggard, but [Slily.] Ellen's in the crame-house. [Taylor goes out through door at back. Samuel James looks over at Robbie John who sits deep in thought near the fire.] You can no' hoodwink me, Robbie. You're no' happy. ROBBIE JOHN. I'm happy enough. [Angrily.] Don't be tormentin' me. SAMUEL JAMES. Faith you look happy. [Drawing closer.] I seen you last night at it. ROBBIE JOHN. [Looks round startled.] I couldn't keep from it. There's a spell or somethin' on it. SAMUEL JAMES. Na. Na. But every fiddle has its spell for you. You broke your promise. ROBBIE JOHN. You followed me then? SAMUEL JAMES. Yes. Ye crept on your stocking soles to the back o' the forth ditch, and played there for two mortal hours, till I was heart feared they'd miss us out o' bed, and raise a cry. ROBBIE JOHN. And you stood two hours in the night listenin' to me. SAMUEL JAMES.