Some echo of it might have yet lingered in the old father's soul, through something finer than his instinct for sweet sounds from human throat and viol--through his ear for love.
"Get the supper now, and we'll see about it," said David Hautville.
He began fumbling with clumsy fingers, all unused to women's gear, at the string of this daughter's cloak; but she pulled herself away from him suddenly, and the old hard lines came into her face.

"We'll say no more about it," said she.

She lit a candle quickly at the hearth fire, and was out of the room to put away her cloak and hood.

Her father lighted his lantern slowly and went back to the barn, plodding meditatively through the snowy track, with the melting mood still strong upon him.

He was disposed to carry matters now with a high and tender hand with the girl to bring her to reason, and he brought all his crude diplomacy to bear upon the matter.
When he reached the barn his son Eugene stood in the doorway.