Him greet, and when you're
cheerful it makes Him cheerful too." This was meant to dry her eyes, but
it had not that effect, for, said Elspeth, vindictively, "Well, then,
I'll just make Him as miserable as I can."

When Tommy was merely concerned with his own affairs he did not think
much about God, but he knew that no other could console Elspeth, and his
love for her usually told him the right things to say, and while he said
them, he was quite carried away by his sentiments and even wept over
them, but within the hour he might be leering. They were beautiful, and
were repeated of course to Mrs. McLean, who told her husband of them,
declaring that this boy's love for his sister made her a better woman.

"But nevertheless," said Ivie, "Mr. Cathro assures me--"

"He is prejudiced," retorted Mrs. McLean warmly, prejudice being a
failing which all women marvel at. "Just listen to what the boy said to
Elspeth to-day. He said to her, 'When I am away, try for a whole day to
be better than you ever were before, and think of nothing else, and then
when prayer-time comes you will see that you have been happy without
knowing it.' Fancy his finding out that."

"I wonder if he ever tried it himself?" said Mr. McLean.

"Ivie, think shame of yourself!"

"Well, even Cathro admits that he has a kind of cleverness, but--"

"Cleverness!" exclaimed Ailie, indignantly, "that is not cleverness, it
is holiness;" and leaving the cynic she sought Elspeth, and did her good
by pointing out that a girl who had such a brother should try to save
him pain. "He is very miserable, dear," she said, "because you are so
unhappy. If you looked brighter, think how that would help him, and it
would show that you are worthy of him." So Elspeth went home trying hard
to look brighter, but made a sad mess of it.

"Think of getting letters frae me every time the post comes in!" said
Tommy, and then indeed her face shone.

And then Elspeth could write to him--yes, as often as ever she liked!
This pleased her even more. It was such an exquisite thought that she
could not wait, but wrote the first one before he started, and he
answered it across the table. And Mrs. McLean made a letter bag, with
two strings to it, and showed her how to carry it about with her in a
safer place than a pocket.

Then a cheering thing occurred. Came Corp, with the astounding news
that, in the Glenquharity dominie's opinion, Tommy should have got the
Hugh Blackadder.

"He sa