His heart held nothing but honest joy in this meeting after so many years; he longed to tell her how sincerely he was still her friend.

Well, why don't you tell her, Tommy?
It is a thing you are good at, and you have been polishing up the phrases ever since she passed down the aisle with Master Shiach in her arms; you have even planned out a way of putting Grizel at her ease, and behold, she is the only one of the three who is at ease.

What has come over you?
Does the reader think it was love?
No, it was only that pall of shyness; he tried to fling it off, but could not.

Behold Tommy being buried alive! Elspeth showed less contemptibly than her brother, but it was Grizel who did most of the talking.

She nodded her head and smiled crookedly at Tommy, but she was watching him all the time.