To find ways of making David propose to Elspeth, of making Elspeth willing to exchange her brother for David—­they were heavy tasks, but Tommy yoked himself to them gallantly and tugged like an Arab steed in the plough.  It should be almost as pleasant to us as to him to think that love was what made him do it, for he was sure he loved Grizel at last, and that the one longing of his heart was to marry her; the one marvel to him was that he had ever longed ardently for anything else.  Well, as you know, she longed for it also, but she was firm in her resolve that until Elspeth was engaged Tommy should be a single man.  She even made him promise not to kiss her again so long as their love had to be kept secret.  “It will be so sweet to wait,” she said bravely.  As we shall see presently, his efforts to put Elspeth into the hands of David were apparently of no avail, but though this would have embittered many men, it drew only to the surface some of Tommy’s noblest attributes; as he suffered in silence he became gentler, more considerate, and acquired a new command over himself.  To conquer self for her sake (this is in the “Letters to a Young Man”) is the highest tribute a man can pay to a woman; it is the only real greatness, and Tommy had done it now.  I could give you a score of proofs.  Let us take his treatment of Aaron Latta.

One day about this time Tommy found himself alone in the house with Aaron, and had he been the old Tommy he would have waited but a moment to let Aaron decide which of them should go elsewhere.  It was thus that these two, ever so uncomfortable in each other’s presence, contrived to keep the peace.  Now note the change.

“Aaron,” said Tommy, in the hush that had fallen on that house since quiet Elspeth left it, “I have never thanked you in words for all that you have done for me and Elspeth.”

“Dinna do it now, then,” replied the warper, fidgeting.

“I must,” Tommy said cheerily, “I must”; and he did, while Aaron scowled.

“It was never done for you,” Aaron informed him, “nor for the father you are the marrows o’.”

“It was done for my mother,” said Tommy, reverently.

“I’m none so sure o’t,” Aaron rapped out.  “I think I brocht you twa here as bairns, that the reminder of my shame should ever stand before me.”

But Tommy shook his head, and sat down sympathetically beside the warper.  “You loved her, Aaron,” he said simply.  “It was an undying love that made you adopt her orphan children.”  A charming thought came to him.  “When you brought us here,” he said, with some elation, “Elspeth used to cry at nights because our mother’s spirit did not come to us to comfort us, and I invented boyish explanations to appease her.  But I have learned since why we did not see that spirit; for though it hovered round this house, its first thought was not for us, but for him who succoured us.”

He could have made it much better had he been able to revise it, but surely it was touching, and Aaron need not have said “Damn,” which was what he did say.