The boy had shown a knowledge of the human heart, in Miss Ailie's opinion, that was simply wonderful; inspiration she called it, and though Ivie thought it a happy accident, he did not call it so to her.

Tommy's father had been the instrument in bringing these two together originally, and now Tommy had brought them together again; there was fate in it, and if the boy was of the right stuff McLean meant to reward him.
"I see now," he said to Miss Ailie, "a way of getting rid of our fearsome secret and making my peace with Sandys at one fell blow." He declined to tell her more, but presently he sought Gavinia, who dreaded him nowadays because of his disconcerting way of looking at her inquiringly and saying "I do!" "You don't happen to know, Gavinia," he asked, "whether the good ship Ailie weathered the gale of the 15th instant?
If it did," he went on, "Commander Sandys will learn something to his advantage from a bottle that is to be cast into the ocean this evening." Gavinia thought she heard the chink of another five shillings, and her mouth opened so wide that a chaffinch could have built therein.

"Is he to look for a bottle in the pond ?" she asked, eagerly.
"I do," replied McLean with such solemnity that she again retired to the coal-cellar.
That evening Mr.McLean cast a bottle into the Silent Pool, and subsequently called on Mr.Cathro, to whom he introduced himself as one interested in Master Thomas Sandys.

He was heartily received, but at the name of Tommy, Cathro heaved a sigh that could not pass unnoticed.

"I see you don't find him an angel," said Mr.McLean, politely.
"'Deed, sir, there are times when I wish he was an angel," the dominie replied so viciously that McLean laughed.