That same evening, when father and daughter were alone together in the room they habitually occupied in the after part of the day, Sir Hugh began to speak with unwonted decision and authority.

“Joan, child, has Peter Sanghurst been with thee today?”

“He has, my father.”

“And has he told thee that he comes with my sanction as a lover, and that thou and he are to wed ere the month is out?”

“He had not said so much as that,” answered Joan, who spoke quietly and dreamily, and with so little of the old ring of opposition in her voice that her father looked at her in surprise.

She was very pale, and there was a look in her eyes he did not understand; but the flush of anger or defiance he had thought to see did not show itself.  He began to think Sanghurst had spoken no more than the truth in saying that Mistress Joan appeared to have withdrawn her opposition to him as a husband.

“But so it is to be,” answered her father, quickly and imperiously, trying to seize this favourable moment to get the matter settled.  “I have long given way to thy whimsies —­ far too long —­ and here art thou a woman grown, older than half the matrons round, yet never a wife as they have long been.  I will no more of it.  It maketh thee and me alike objects of ridicule.  Peter Sanghurst is my very good friend.  He has helped me in many difficulties, and is ready to help me again.  He has money, and I have none.  Listen, girl:  this accursed plague has carried off all my people, and labourers are asking treble and quadruple for their work that which they have been wont to do.  Sooner would I let the crops rot upon the ground than be so mulcted by them.  The King does what he can, but the idle rogues set him at defiance; and there be many beside me who will feel the grip of poverty for long years to come.  Peter Sanghurst has his wealth laid up in solid gold, not in fields and woods that bring nothing without hands to till or tend them.  Marry but him, and Woodcrych shall be thy dower, and its broad acres and noble manor will make of ye twain, with his gold, as prosperous a knight and dame (for he will soon rise to that rank) as ye can wish to be.  Girl, my word is pledged, and I go not back from it.  I have been patient with thy fancies, but I will no more of them.  Thou art mine own daughter, my own flesh and blood, and thy hand is mine to give to whom I will.  Peter Sanghurst shall be thy lord whether thou wilt or no.  I have said it; let that be enough.  It is thy part to obey.”

Joan sat quite still and answered nothing.  Her eyes were fixed upon the dancing flames rushing up the wide chimney.  She must have heard her father’s words, yet she gave no sign of having done so.  But for that Sir Hugh cared little.  He was only too glad to be spared a weary battle of words, or a long struggle with his high-spirited daughter, whose force of character he had come to know.  That she had yielded her will to his at last seemed only right and natural, and of course she must have been by this time aware that if her father was really resolved upon the match, she was practically helpless to prevent it.