He has never been near since that first day, and you know I can't very well go round to Sidmouth, and say to him, 'Please come up to the Hall.'" "No, my dear, I know you can't, and he is behaving like a young fool." "Why is he ?" Aggie asked, surprised.

"If he likes sailing about better than coming up here, why shouldn't he ?" "I don't think it's for that he stays away, Aggie.

In fact, you see, Jim has only just left school, and he feels he can't laugh, and talk, and tell you stories about foreign countries, as this young fellow can, and having been so long accustomed to have you to himself, he naturally would not like the playing second fiddle to Richard Horton." "But he hasn't been here much," the girl said, "ever since I came here.
He used to be so nice, and so kind, in the old days when I lived down there, that I can't make out why he has changed so." "My dear, I don't think he has changed.

He has been only a boy, and the fact is, he is only a boy still.

He is fond of sailing, and of the amusements boys take to, and he doesn't feel at home, and comfortable here, as he did with you when you were a little girl at his mother's.
But mind, Aggie, James is true as steel.