If this was but the story of a brother and sister, there were matter for it that would make the ladies want to kiss Tommy on the brow.
That Dr.Gemmell disliked or at least distrusted him, Tommy knew before their acquaintance was an hour old; yet that same evening he had said cordially to Elspeth: "This young doctor has a strong face." She was evidently glad that Tommy had noticed it.

"Do you think him handsome ?" she inquired.
"Decidedly so," he replied, very handsomely, for it is an indiscreet question to ask of a plain man.
There was nothing small about Tommy, was there?
He spoke thus magnanimously because he had seen that the doctor liked Elspeth, and that she liked him for liking her.

Elspeth never spoke to him of such things, but he was aware that an extra pleasure in life came to her when she was admired; it gave her a little of the self-confidence she so wofully lacked; the woman in her was stirred.

Take such presents as these to Elspeth, and Tommy would let you cast stones at himself for the rest of the day, and shake your hand warmly on parting.

In London Elspeth had always known quickly, almost at the first clash of eyes, whether Tommy's friends were attracted by her, but she had not known sooner than he.