Question

Bars 5-8: 

Does the dancing couple turn towards each other as in Miss Milligan's Strathspey (i.e. on the second setting step bar 6) prior to casting, or do they complete the setting steps and attempt to complete the turning inward and casting all on bars 7 & 8?

The instructions specify that couple 2 dance up to 1st place.  I read this to mean they dance straight in.  However I have seen some dancers dance up and then cast into 1st place.

Answer

Both couples completed the setting on bar 6.  1st couple then turned towards each other on the way to casting to where 2nd couple had been standing, but facing down.  The 2nd couple staying close together to aid this, danced up only a small step on bar 7, then danced a big step straight out to top place on bar 8.  Note that the 1st couple do not have to regain the sidelines at any time during these 4 bars, so have less to do than might be expected.

NB The  Devisor who was at Summer School (2010), raised no objections as to how bars 5 - 8 were taught.