There were four verses, and she was on the last when the door opened stealthily and her granduncle, old Luke Basset, entered.

Her back was towards him, and she did not see or hear him.
He waited, his old face fixed in a sly grin, standing unsteadily on his shaking old legs, and holding to the back of a chair for support, until Madelon sang at the close of the song, "And honored be the bravest brave, Beloved the fairest fair," and stopped.

Then he spoke.

"'Tain't so, then, I s'pose," said he, and his voice seemed to crack with sly suggestiveness.
Madelon faced around on him.

"What isn't so ?" she asked, coldly.