Appeals for quiet hints (6)
I believe the answer is:
pleads
'appeals' is the definition.
(pleading is a kind of appealing)
'quiet hints' is the wordplay.
'quiet' becomes 'p' (music symbol for 'piano', ie soft or quiet).
'hints' becomes 'leads' (as in hints or leads in a police investigation).
'p'+'leads'='PLEADS'
'for' is the link.
(Other definitions for pleads that I've seen before include "Implores" , "Makes appeal or entreaty" , "Appeals or requests earnestly" , "Begs" .)