"And you can have a new piano any time you like.

Go and see about it.

This looks pretty good to me, but if you don't want it, all right." Aileen squeezed his arm.

What was the use of arguing with her father?
What good would a lone piano do, when the whole house and the whole family atmosphere were at fault?
But she played Schumann, Schubert, Offenbach, Chopin, and the old gentleman strolled to and fro and mused, smiling.

There was real feeling and a thoughtful interpretation given to some of these things, for Aileen was not without sentiment, though she was so strong, vigorous, and withal so defiant; but it was all lost on him.