Richard laughed at this and answered with an air of bravado, "No fear, no fear. The girl is too fond of me."
"But her father is a skittish man to deal with, once his back is up, and you will find it hard managing the lass: let him see you with them terriers at your heels, and he'll soon be off the bargain."
"If you are troubled about that, kick the dogs into the street and sell the game-chickens, if they crowd mother's bantams out. How can a dutiful son do more than that?"
"Ah, now you talk like a sensible lad! Make good time, and when you bring the lass home, mother and I will have a bit of a cottage on the land, and mayhap you will be master here."
"Is he in earnest, mother?"
"I think he is."
"And you, father?"
"For once I mean that your mother shall take her own way: mine has led to this."
The old man looked at the clock, and then on the wet marks of the dogs' feet on the kitchen floor, with grave significance.
Young Storms laughed a low, unpleasant laugh, which had nothing of genuine hilarity in it.