myself and I told them I could drink whisky, but that I had no taste
for porter, and would only take a pint or two at odd times, when I
was thirsty.

'The girls are laughing to hear you say that,' said an old man; 'but
whisky is a lighter drink, and I'd sooner have it myself, and any
old man would say the same.' A little later some young men came in,
in their Sunday clothes, and told us the news of the sports.

This morning it was raining heavily, and the host got out some nets
and set to work with his son and son-in-law, mending many holes that
had been cut by dog-fish, as the mackerel season is soon to begin.
While they were at work the kitchen emptied and filled continually
with islanders passing in and out, and discussing the weather and
the season. Then they started cutting each other's hair, the man who
was being cut sitting with an oilskin round him on a little stool by
the door, and some other men came in to sharpen their razors on the
host's razor-strop, which seems to be the only one on the island. I
had not shaved since I arrived, so the little hostess asked me after
a while if I would like to shave myself before dinner. I told her I
would, so she got me some water in the potato-dish and put it on a
chair; then her sister got me a little piece of broken
looking-glass and put it on a nail near the door, where there was
some light. I set to work, and as I stood with my back to the people
I could catch a score of eyes in the glass, watching me intently.
'That is a great improvement to you now,' said the host, when I had
done; 'and whenever you want a beard, God bless you, you'll have a
thick one surely.'

When I was coming down in the evening from the ridge of the island,