It was obvious, therefore, that the intelligence from which the
writing proceeded (if such existed) could write in English, and was
familiar with the colloquial Gaelic pronunciation of the name, but was
unacquainted with the Gaelic orthography. On this occasion also the
name "Margaret" was given in its Gaelic form of Marghearad (somewhat
similarly misspelt as _Marget_), without any special connection either
with the questions asked, or, so far as could be discovered, with
anything in the mind of any present, none of whom had interested
themselves at that time in the S---- ancestry.

In reply to questions as to what could be done that was of use or
interest, the writers were told to go at dusk, and in silence, to the
glen in the avenue, and this, rightly or wrongly, some of those
present identified with what had been called Scamp's Copse. They were,
however, perplexed by being told to go "up by the burn," for though
Miss Freer and Miss Moore had twice explored the spot, they had not
observed the presence of water. The journal continues--

We decided to walk in the avenue, and to explore "Scamp's Copse"
before dinner, in spite of the fact that we were expecting Mr.
MacP---- [a barrister], Mr. C---- [a solicitor], and Mr. W----
[an accountant] just about the time that we should be absent.
Miss Moore took the dog off in the opposite direction, and we
walked in silence to the plantation, Mr. L. F----, Mr. F----,
and I. It was quite dark, but the snow gleamed so white, that we
could see our way to the plantation. We went up among the trees,
young firs; the snow was deep and untrodden; and when we got
well off the road, we found that a burn comes down the brae
side. It is frozen hard, and we found it out only by the shining
of the ice.