only his daughter had the power of charming this black brooding from his mind. she was the golden thread that united him to a past beyond his misery, and to a present beyond his misery: and the sound of her voice, the light of her face, the touch of her hand, had a strong beneficial influence with him almost always. not absolutely always, for she could recall some occasions on which her power had failed; but they were few and slight, and she believed them over.