The young lady and her intended should each place a nut by the fire, so that they are side by side. (The maiden may spare her lover's blushes, or perform this in his absence, by placing both nuts herself, so long as she call one by his name, and the other by her own.) If the nuts burn steadfastly together, then the couple shall indeed be married; but if one burn alone, or if one or both the nuts crack violently so that the nuts are separated, then so shall the couple be.

If she write down her own name, and that of the one she loves, and crosses out the letters they share in common, those that remain may give an indication of the continuing of their affection, in the following wise: with each name separately, the girl should call out the words "Love, Marry, Hate, Adore", with one word to each singular letter. The last word named will predict the future for that person. Thus:

 / / L / M / H A L M H /:Hate L M H / / / / A L M / H: Hate

E T H E L B U R R O W S J A M E S B E C K E T T

 Ethel and James are clearly not destined for each other!