Ah, if only Tommy could always have remained a boy! Elspeth's marriage day came round, and I should like to linger in it, and show you Elspeth in her wedding-gown, and Tommy standing behind to catch her if she fainted, and Ailie weeping, and Aaron Latta rubbing his gleeful hands, and a smiling bridesmaid who had once thought she might be a bride.

But that was a day in Elspeth's story, not in Tommy's and Grizel's.

Only one incident in their story crept into that happy day.

There were speeches at the feast, and the Rev.Mr.Dishart referred to Tommy in the kindliest way, called him "my young friend," quoted (inaccurately) from his book, and expressed an opinion, formed, he might say, when Mr.Sandys was a lad at school (cheers), that he had a career before him.

Tommy bore it well, all except the quotation, which he was burning to correct, but sighed to find that it had set the dominies on his left talking about precocity.