27
Kirry: Aw, now, don’t be makin’ fun of me. Surely you wouldn’t have me always dandherin’ roun’ with a pothry book.
Watterson: Not much fear–for what with the cows an’ the children, and the goats and the hens and the meg-lambs, I never get the chance for a word. Well, now, that I came to ask was, would you drive home with me this evening?
Kirry [shyly]: Aw, well now, thank you very kindly for askin’ me; it will be a real treat, instead of the long walk with all them weary parcels.
Enter Lizzie. Hoptunaa Boys heard as door opens.
Lizzie: Here’s the Hoptunaa Boys–Bobby an’ all. Oh, is this your friend, Kirry? He’s kindly welcome.
Shakes hands with Watterson. Hoptunaa Boys come in with their cabbage-bons in their Lands, and sing their stave in Manx. Lizzie gives them “pieces,” and they go out, singing.
Lizzie [calling after them]: Good-night, boys. [To Watterson]: I must ask you to excuse me now, as I promised to go to Mrs. Fayle, but sit down an’ make yourselves at home, an’ I’ll be back again presently. [Exit.]
Kirry: Deed it’s time I was takin’ the road home, too.
Rising and beginning to pin on hat.
Watterson: What’s your hurry, Miss Cregeen? I was just thinking how nice it was to be sitting by the fire with a nice girl looking as if she was the mistress of the house.
Kirry [lays her hat down and pokes fire]: Well, you see I promised our wans that we’d bake the soddag valloo to-night.
Watterson: What’s that at all, Miss Cregeen?
Kirry: Are you Manx an’ navver heard of the soddag valloo–the dumb-cake?
Watterson: Manx I am–though my father was a Scotchman. But you see I was rared in the Colonies, and mother is not one to be talking of things much.
