But he thought that his chance of prevailing with the girl might be better than with the father.

In such cases it is so often the daughter who prevails with her own parents after she has surrendered her own heart.

The old man had looked at him sternly, had seemed even in that moment of time to disapprove of him.

But the girl----.

Well; in such an interview as that there had not been much scope for approval.
Nor was he a man likely to flatter himself that any girl could fall in love with him at first sight.