CHAPTER IV.
THE FOURTH LETTER.
Hubert Blake to Sophy Meredith.
The Castle Farm, Muirburn, N.B.
Oct. 5, 187-.
My dear Sophy,
Yesterday there was a ‘feeing fair’ at Muirburn, and under Alec’s guidance I paid a visit to the scene of dissipation.
But, first of all, I wish to tell you of a curious Scotch custom that fell under my notice the evening before. Alec and I were returning from a short ramble in the ‘gloaming,’ i.e., the twilight, when we happened to meet a young couple walking side by side. As soon as they caught sight of us they separated, and walked on opposite sides of the road till we had passed. This, it seems, was according to local ideas of what is proper under such circumstances. As we went by I glanced at the girl, and saw that she was one of Mr. Lindsay’s farm-servants.
‘So Jessie has got a sweetheart,’ I remarked.
‘Very likely,’ said Alec, with a laugh; ‘but I don’t think Tom Archibald is her lad. He is only the “black-fuit.”’
‘The what?’