“Girls chasing after boys is really not that different from guys chasing after girls. Invest in his interest and hang in there. Your efforts will see you through. He’s bound to say yes if you keep asking him out.”

Elisa gave it a thought before replying, “I know I should persevere and stick with it. To be honest, my sister-in-law initiated the first move on my brother. I saw the whole thing. My brother was like Mr. York at the time – lofty, detached, and unconcerned.

“My sister-in-law was all over my brother every day and eventually wore my brother down with her persistence. There was a time my sister-in-law wanted to give up and stopped turning up anywhere near my brother. The surprising thing was that my brother got used to her being around. Her absence and intention to back out of his life turned him to being more forward with his feelings.

“Now my brother’s known in Wiltspoon for worshiping the ground his wife walks on.”

Elisa was most envious of her brother and sister-in-law