She stood quite still, with a most sorrowful face, and then ran away, ran so swiftly that when Tommy, who had lingered for a moment, came to the door she was already out of sight. Scarcely less excited than she, he set off for Double Dykes, his imagination in such a blaze that he looked fearfully in the pools of the burn for a black frock. But Grizel had not drowned herself; she was standing erect in her home, like one at bay, her arms rigid, her hands clenched, and when he pushed open the door she screamed. "Grizel," said the distressed boy, "did you think I was him come for you?" "Yes!" "Maybe he'll no come. The folk think he winna come." "But if he does, if he does!" "Maybe you needna go wi' him unless you're willing?" "I must, he can compel me, because he is my father. Oh! oh! oh!" She lay down on the bed, and on her eyes there slowly formed the little wells of water Tommy was to know so well in time. He stood by her side in anguish; for though his own tears came at the first call, he could never face them in others. "Grizel," he said impulsively, "there's just one thing for you to do. You have money, and you maun run away afore he comes!" She jumped up at that. "I have thought of it," she answered "I am always thinking about it, but how can I, oh, now can I? It would not be respectable." "To run away?" "To go by myself," said the poor girl, "and I do want to be respectable, it would be sweet." In some ways Tommy was as innocent as she, and her reasoning seemed to him to be sound. She was looking at him woefully, and entreaty was on her face; all at once he felt what a lonely little crittur she was, and, in a burst of manhood,-- "But, dinna prig wi' me to go with you," he said, struggling. "I have not!" she answered, panting, and she had not in words, but the mute appeal was still on her face. "Grizel," he cried, "I'll come!" Then she seized his hand and pressed it to her breast, saying, "Oh, Tommy, I am so fond of you!" It was the first time she had admitted it, and his head wagged well content, as if saying for him, "I knew you would understand me some day." But next moment the haunting shadow that so often overtook him in the act of soaring fell cold upon his mind, and "I maun take Elspeth!" he announced, as if Elspeth had him by the leg. "You sha'n't!" said Grizel's face. "She winna let go," said Tommy's. Grizel quivered from top to toe. "I hate Elspeth!" she cried, with curious passion, and the more moral Tommy was ashamed of her. "You dinna ken how fond o' her I am," he said. "Yes, I do." "Then you shouldna want me to leave her and go wi' you."