Having discussed the weather and the potato-disease, he explained that his sister Mary, whom Lizzie would remember, had married a fishmonger in Dundee.

The fishmonger had lately started on himself and was doing well.

They had four children.

The youngest had had a severe attack of measles.

No news had been got of Mary for twelve months; and Annie, his other sister, who lived in Thrums, had been at him of late for not writing.