He stooped, and lifted the tips of her fingers to his lips.
"I am not worthy of such an honour, madam.

I shall study to deserve it." And he bowed himself out, the same sturdy, self-confident Tom, doing right, he hardly knew why, save that it was all in the way of business.
And now arose the puzzle, what to do with Elsley?
He had set his heart on going down to Whitbury the next day.

He had been in England nearly six months, and had not yet seen his father; his heart yearned, too, after the old place, and Mark Armsworth, and many an old friend, whom he might never see again.

"However, that fellow I must see to, come what will: business first and pleasure afterwards.

If I make him all right-- if I even get him out of the world decently, I get the Scoutbush interest on my side--though I believe I have it already.