Part 16 (1/2)

The last day of the old year after Pete's departure found Philip attending to his duty.

”Are you going to put the new year in anywhere, Philip?” said Kate, from the door of the porch.

”I should be the first-foot here, only I'm no use as a qualtagh,” said Philip.

”Why not?”

”I'm a fair man, and would bring you no luck, you know.”

”Ah!”

There was silence for a moment, and then Kate cried ”_I_ know.”

”Yes?”

”Come for Pete--he's dark enough, anyway.”

Philip was much impressed. ”That's a good idea,” he said gravely. ”Being qualtagh for Pete is a good idea. His first New Year from home, too, poor fellow!”

”Exactly,” said Kate.

”Shall I, then?”

”I'll expect you at the very stroke of twelve.”

Philip was going off. ”And, Philip!”

”Yes?”

Then a low voice, so soft, so sweet, so merry, came from the doorway into the dark, ”I'll be standing at the door of the dairy.”

Philip began to feel alarm, and resolved to take for the future a lighter view of his duties. He would visit ”The Manx Fairy” less frequently. As soon as the Christmas holidays were over he would devote himself to his studies, and come back to Sulby no more for half a year.

But the Manx Christmas is long. It begins on the 24th of December, and only ends for good on the 6th of January. In the country places, which still preserve the old traditions, the culminating day is Twelfth Day.

It is then that they ”cut off the fiddler's head,” and play valentines, which they call the ”Goggans.” The girls set a row of mugs on the hearth in front of the fire, put something into each of them as a symbol of a trade, and troop out to the stairs. Then the boys change the order of the mugs, and the girls come back blindfold, one by one, to select their goggans. According to the goggans they lay hands on, so will be the trades of their husbands.

At this game, played at ”The Manx Fairy” on the last night of Philip's holiday, Csesar being abroad on an evangelising errand, Kate was expected to draw water, but she drew a quill.

”A pen! A pen!” cried the boys. ”Who says the girl is to marry a sailor?

The s.h.i.+p isn't built that's to drown her husband.”

”Good-night all,” said Philip.

”Good-night, Mr. Christian, good-night, sir,” said the boys.

Kate slipped after him to the door. ”Going so early, Philip?”

”I've to be back at Douglas to-morrow morning,” said Philip.