He knew his father's temper well.

Might it not be that though there should be a quarrel for a time, everything would come right at last?
As for Adrian Urmand, George did not believe,--or told himself that he did not believe,--that such a cur as he would suffer much because his hopes of a bride were not fulfilled.
They stayed for an hour at the saw-mill, and Michel, in spite of all that he had said about tobacco, smoked another pipe.

While they were there, George, though his mind was full of other matter, continued to give his father practical advice about the business--how a new wheel should be supplied here, and a lately invented improvement introduced there.

Each of them at the moment was care-laden with special thoughts of his own, but nevertheless, as men of business, they knew that the hour was precious and used it.

To saunter into the woods and do nothing was not at all in accordance with Michel's usual mode of life; and though he hummed and hawed, and doubted and grumbled, he took a note of all his son said, and was quite of a mind to make use of his son's wit.
'I shall be over at Epinal the day after tomorrow,' he said as they left the mill, 'and I'll see if I can get the new crank there.' 'They'll be sure to have it at Heinman's,' said George, as they began to descend the hill.