Father Francis, M.le Cure, the Reverend Augustus Clare, the Episcopal incumbent of St.Croix, an aristocratic young Englishman, came to see them in the evening to hear Miss Danton sing, and to play backgammon.
The Reverend Augustus, who was slim, and fair, and had face and hands like a pretty girl, was very much impressed with the majestic daughter of Captain Danton, who sang so magnificently, and looked at him with eyes like blue stars.
The day that brought her father home had been long and dull.

There had been no callers, and they had not gone out.

A cold north wind had shrieked around the house all day, rattling the windows, and tearing frantically through the gaunt arms of the stripped trees.

The sky was like lead, the river black and turbid.

As the afternoon wore on, great flakes of snow came fluttering through the opaque air, slowly at first, then faster, till all was blind, fluttering whiteness, and the black earth was hidden.
Kate stood by the dining-room window watching the fast-falling snow.