Indeed, he was very proud of his nephew, and even inclined to give Robert a little cautious kindness.

The winter of 1851 was a very prosperous one, but the spring brought an unlooked-for change.
One evening David came home to dinner in a mood which Jenny characterized as "_thrawart_." He barely answered her greeting, and shut his room-door with a bang.

He did not want any dinner, and he wanted to be let alone.

John looked troubled at this behavior.

Jenny said, "It is some lass in the matter; naething else could mak a sensible lad like Davie act sae child-like and silly." And Jennie was right.