THE GOLD OF FAIRNILEE. 263

 

CHAPTER VI.
Lhe Wishing Well.

« JEAN,” said Randal one midsummer day,
“T am going to the Wishing Well.”
‘‘Oh, Randal,” said Jean, “it is so far
away!”
“T can walk it,’ said Randal, “‘and
you must come, too; I want you, Jeanie.
It’s not so very far.”

“But mother says it is wrong to go to
Wishing Wells,” Jean answered.

“‘ Why is it wrong?” said Randal, switching
at the tall foxgloves with a stick.

‘Oh, she says it, is a wicked thing, and for-
bidden by the Church. People who go to wish
there, sacrifice to the spirits of the well;
and Father Francis told her that it was very
wrong.”

‘“‘ Father Francis is a shaveling,” said Randal.
“‘T heard Simon Grieve say so.”

“‘ What’s a shaveling, Randal?”

“Tt don’t know: a man that does not fight, I
think. I don’t, care what a shaveling says: so
I mean just to go and wish, and I won’t sacri-,