He held her there, soothing her with loving words and tender caresses, as he had been accustomed to do when she was but a child coming to him with her childish troubles. When Claudia had exhausted her passion of tears, she looked up and said:
"But, papa, you have not been in the drawing room yet? You hare not seen Lady Hurstmonceux?"
"No, my dear, I have but just arrived. Claudia, immediately upon my landing I took the first train north, and reached Edinboro' this morning. I sent my party on to Magruder's Hotel and took a fly and drove immediately out here. I have but just been admitted to the house and sent my card in to the hostess. And, ah, I see that my messenger has returned."
A servant in livery came up, bowed, and said:
"My lady directs me to say to you, sir, that she will see you immediately in the drawing room, unless you would prefer to go first to the apartments which are prepared for you, sir."
The judge hesitated, and then turned to his daughter and whispered the inquiry:
"How do I look, Claudia? Presentable?"
Lady Vincent ran her eyes over the traveler and answered:
"Not at all presentable, papa. You look just as one might expect you to do—black with smoke and dust and cinders, as if you had traveled in the train all night."
"Which of course I did."