She was revolving the step she had taken, and thinking how great an issue hung on the event.

Sometimes she mistrusted her judgment, and felt an impulse to run after her father and bring him back.

Then a more potent influence would prompt her to start away and overtake him, yet only in order to bear his message the quicker for her fleeter footsteps.
But no; Fate was in it: a power above herself seemed to dominate her will.

She must yield and obey.

The thing was done.
The girl was turning about towards the house, when she heard footsteps approaching her from the direction which her father had taken.