Then they began to throw nuts in the fire, each with a wish: if the nut burned brightly the wish would-come true. Old Pally threw on a nut, it flickered and then blazed up; Maggie tossed one into the fire, it smouldered and gave no light. Gradually the turn came nearer Catherine; there was but one wish in her heart and she trembled to take the chance.
“Now, Catherine!”
“Aye, Catherine, what’ll she be wishin’ for, a new lover?” they laughed.
With shaking hand she tossed hers into the fire; the nut sputtered and blackened, and with a shriek Catherine bounded from the circle, threw open the door and sped into the dark. In consternation the company scrambled to their feet, gazing at the open door through which volleyed the wind and rain.
Old Pally was the first to speak: “’Tis a bad sign.”
“Aye, poor Catherine’s been called, it may be.”
“It’s the last time, I’m thinkin’, we’ll ever see her.”
“Do ye think she saw somethin’, Pally, do ye?”
“There’s no tellin’; but it’s bad, very bad, though her nut is burnin’ brightly enough now.”
“She seemed downcast the night, not like herself.”