Marjory herself was no weakling by her looks, with strong, steady eyes and a resolute and quiet bearing.

It might be a question whether she was not Will's match in stedfastness, after all, or which of them would rule the roast in marriage.

But Marjory had never given it a thought, and accompanied her father with the most unshaken innocence and unconcern.
The season was still so early that Will's customers were few and far between; but the lilacs were already flowering, and the weather was so mild that the party took dinner under the trellice, with the noise of the river in their ears and the woods ringing about them with the songs of birds.

Will soon began to take a particular pleasure in these dinners.
The parson was rather a dull companion, with a habit of dozing at table; but nothing rude or cruel ever fell from his lips.

And as for the parson's daughter, she suited her surroundings with the best grace imaginable; and whatever she said seemed so pat and pretty that Will conceived a great idea of her talents.