But he had always forbidden his wife to disturb Joan in her pious faith in the old religion.

Such hard matters, he said, were not for young wenches; and the peril which menaced those who embraced the reformed doctrines was sufficiently terrible for the mother to be almost glad of the prohibition.

It would be an awful thing for her if her daughter fell under the ban of the law, and was made to answer for her faith as some had been in so cruel a fashion before now.
So that there was no wish on the part of any at the old home to hinder her marriage, and as soon as the young people had come to an understanding with one another, their way was made perfectly plain by those in authority.
Joan looked shyly at Paul as he crossed the kitchen with some pleasant word of congratulation, and said: "In faith, kind sir, I think we owe it all to you.

Will tells me it was you who sent him hither today.

He had got some foolish notion in his head which kept him away; but he said it was you who bid him take heart and try his luck." "And very good luck he has had, it seems," answered Paul, laughing.
"And so the marriage is to be next week ?" "My father and mother wish it so," answered the blushing Joan; "and my mother has long had all my household linen spun against the wedding day.