For such a visit was an opportunity most precious in the eyes of the laird.

With the sacred instinct of a father he divined what the society of a lady would do for his boy--for the ripening of his bloom, and the strengthening of his volition.

Two days had not passed before he began to be aware of a softening and clearing of his speech; of greater readiness and directness in his replies; of an indescribable sweetening of the address, that had been sweet, with a rose-shadow of gentle apology cast over every approach; of a deepening of the atmosphere of his reverence, which yet as it deepened grew more diaphanous.

And when now the episode of angelic visitation was over, with his usual wisdom he understood the wrench her abrupt departure must have given his whole being, and allowed him plenty of time to recover himself from it.

Once he came upon him weeping: not with faintest overshadowing did he rebuke him, not with farthest hint suggest weakness in his tears.
He went up to him, laid his hand gently on his head, stood thus a moment, then turned without a word, and left him.