But having now decided not to go, his sympathy with the girl who was to lose him returned in a rush, and before he went to school he besought her to—­it amounted to this, to be more like himself; that is, he begged her to postpone her departure indefinitely, not to make up her mind until to-morrow—­or the day after—­or the day after that.  He produced reasons, as that she had only four pounds and some shillings now, while by and by she might get the Painted Lady’s money, at present in the bank; also she ought to wait for the money that would come to her from the roup of the furniture.  But Grizel waived all argument aside; secure in her four pounds and shillings she was determined to go to-night, for her father might be here to-morrow; she was going to London because it was so big that no one could ever find her there, and she would never, never write to Tommy to tell him how she fared, lest the letter put her father on her track.  He implored her to write once, so that the money owing her might be forwarded, but even this bribe did not move her, and he set off for school most gloomily.

Cathro was specially aggravating that day, nagged him, said before the whole school that he was a numskull, even fell upon him with the tawse, and for no earthly reason except that Tommy would not bother his head with the oratio obliqua.  If there is any kind of dominie more maddening than another, it is the one who will not leave you alone (ask any thoughtful boy).  How wretched the lot of him whose life is cast among fools not capable of understanding him; what was that saying about entertaining angels unawares?  London!  Grizel had more than sufficient money to take two there, and once in London, a wonder such as himself was bound to do wondrous things.  Now that he thought of it, to become a minister was abhorrent to him; to preach would be rather nice, oh, what things he should say (he began to make them up, and they were so grand that he almost wept), but to be good after the sermon was over, always to be good (even when Elspeth was out of the way), never to think queer unsayable things, never to say Stroke, never, in short, to “find a way”—­he was appalled.  If it had not been for Elspeth—­

So even Elspeth did not need him.  When he went home from school, thinking only of her, he found that she had gone to the Auld Licht manse to play with little Margaret.  Very well, if such was her wish, he would go.  Nobody wanted him except Grizel.  Perhaps when news came from London of his greatness, they would think more of him.  He would send a letter to Thrums, asking Mr. McLean to transfer his kindness to Elspeth.  That would show them what a noble fellow he was.  Elspeth would really benefit by his disappearance; he was running away for Elspeth’s sake.  And when he was great, which would be in a few years, he would come back for her.

But no, he—.  The dash represents Tommy swithering once more, and he was at one or other end of the swither all day.  When he acted sharply it was always on impulse, and as soon as the die was cast he was a philosopher with no regrets.  But when he had time to reflect, he jumped miserably back and forward.  So when Grizel was ready to start, he did not know in the least what he meant to do.