Other things being equal, Finlay might be doing very well for himself.

As they talked of Scotland--it transpired that Dr Drummond knew all the braes about Bross as a boy--he found himself more than ever annoyed with Finlay about the inequality of other things; and when they passed Knox Church and Miss Cameron told him she hadn't realized it was so imposing an edifice, he felt downright sorry for the woman.
Dr Drummond had persuaded Finlay to go to Winnipeg with a vague hope that something in the fortnight's grace thus provided, might be induced to happen.

The form it oftenest took to his imagination was Miss Christie's announcement, when she set foot upon the station platform, that she had become engaged, on the way over, to somebody else, some fellow-traveller.

Such things, Dr Drummond knew, did come about, usually bringing distress and discomfiture in their train.

Why, then, should they not happen when all the consequences would be rejoiceful?
It was plain enough, however, that nothing of the kind had come to pass.
Miss Christie had arrived in Elgin, bringing her affections intact; they might have been in any one of her portmanteaux.