"Dinna take on in that way, dawtie," he would say, "I'll be good to you." "But you're no Tommy," Elspeth answered.
"I'm not, I'm but a stunted tree, blasted in my youth, but for a' that I would like to have somebody to care for me, and there's none to do't, Elspeth, if you winna.

I'll gang walks wi' you, I'll take you to the fishing, I'll come to the garret at night to hap you up, I'll--I'll teach you the games I used to play mysel'.

I'm no sure but what you might make something o' me yet, bairn, if you tried hard." "But you're no Tommy," Elspeth wailed again, and when he advised her to put Tommy out of her mind for a little and speak of other things, she only answered innocently, "What else is there to speak about ?" Mr.McLean had sent Tommy a pound, and so was done with him, but Ailie still thought him a dear, though no longer a wonder, and Elspeth took a strange confession to her, how one night she was so angry with God that she had gone to bed without saying her prayers.

She had just meant to keep Him in suspense for a little, and then say them, but she fell asleep.

And that was not the worst, for when she woke in the morning, and saw that she was still living, she was glad she had not said them.
But next night she said them twice.
And this, too, is another flash into her dark character.