‘My brother has taken leave of his senses.’
Betty’s husband, Archibald Peterson, raised his eyes from the letter he was reading aloud. ‘I haven’t finished yet, my dear.’ His wire-rimmed spectacles slipped down over the hook of his nose. ‘There’s more.’
His wife threw down her sewing. ‘I don’t care to hear any more.’ She pulled a lace handkerchief from the neck of her gown and dabbed her forehead. ‘William’s mind has cracked. A black girl, indeed!’
Archibald read the rest of the letter in silence while Betty paced the floor, fanning herself with the little piece of lace.
She paused at the window.
Below a man was whipping his horse, which snickered and stamped on the cobbles. It was a cold, cold day in January but Trongate, the busiest thoroughfare in Glasgow, throbbed with activity. Merchants haggled on the broad pavement, their breath clouding in the freezing air; an incompetent juggler performed with little chance of reward from his jeering audience, and a few ladies of doubtful character shivered on the corner. There was even a recruiting sergeant, lurking against the wall of the church, ready to pounce on any unsuspecting lad who came too close. A couple of dragoons fell out of the inn and staggered towards the women.
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About iScot Magazine
November Edition 2016 issue Number 23
The one with Nicola and Saltire 2020 Vision
A bumper 116 pages choc full of the best of Scottish writers today.
Robbie Dinwoodie - Ben Thomson - The Legacy
Alyn Smith MEP - A conference update - Focused
David Bowman Interview - Les Huckfield - ex Labour MP "It's Labour for me... but not in Scotland"
David James Hood - A perfect storm
Jason Michael Mc Cann - The Alex Salmond Interview
Will McLeod - How disasters look good ...on paper
Wee Ginger Dug - They're all so pretty vacant
Derek Bateman - Doing Middle Class
Tom Morton - Sticky Aberdeen - the New Birmingham?
Dr Steve McCabe - Fit to Lead?
Tom Morton - Scotch and Spirit
Jennifer Harper Feature - Simon Community Scotland
Mary Edward - Short Story - The Gift
Grouse Beater - Investigating Gorbal's boy Alan Pinkerton PI
Rachel Gillon - Food for thought
Zoe Weir - Glasgow Tobacco Barons
Peter A Bell - Forget Darien, this is the bigee - The Madness of Men
David McVey - Short Story - A Nation Decides
Major Bloodnok - Agony Aunt - He knows, you know