Those acquaintanceships had seldom ripened; but perhaps this was because, though he and she avoided talking of them, he was all the time taking such terrifying care of her.

She was always little Elspeth to him, for whom he had done everything since the beginning of her, a frail little female counterpart of himself that would never have dared to grow up had he not always been there to show her the way, like a stronger plant in the same pot.

It was even pathetic to him that Elspeth should have to become a woman while he was a man, and he set to, undaunted, to help her in this matter also.
To be admired of men is a woman's right, and he knew it gratified Elspeth; therefore he brought them in to admire her.

But beyond profound respect they could not presume to go, he was watching them so vigilantly.

He had done everything for her so far, and it was evident that he was now ready to do the love-making also, or at least to sift it before it reached her.