From Tom himself she had learned that the Scotch superintendent, Alec Mackenzie, was obliged to rule them with an iron hand.

During his enforced absence from them, discipline was sure to grow lax.

She wondered whether even resolute Tom Gray could ably contend with the difficult situation.
Yet she kept all this to herself.

It was her place to encourage, not discourage.

If unbounded faith in Tom could help work the wonder of carrying him safely through his mission and home again to her, then she would bestow that faith ungrudgingly.