That people could love each other, and there the end, had been his fond philosophy and her torment.

Now, it was she who argued for it and Tommy who shook his head.
"They can be very, very happy." "No," he said.
"But one of them is." "Not the other," he insisted; and of course it was again what she wanted him to say.
And he was not always despairing.

He tried hard to find a way of bringing David to Elspeth's feet, and once, at least, the apparently reluctant suitor almost succumbed.

Tommy had met him near Aaron's house, and invited him to come in and hear Elspeth singing.

"I did not know she sang," David said, hesitating.
"She is so shy about it," Tommy replied lightly, "that we can hear her by stealth only.