"I did not. Oh, no! I could not! I still hoped; but, oh, with what an agony of hope!"
"Such hope, my child, is worse than despair."
"Oh, no! I thought so then. I do not think so now; now that I have you beside me."
"Now that it is ended. But, oh, my dear child, how hard it was for you to have anxiety for my fate added to all your other troubles!"
"Papa, anxiety for your fate was my only trouble," said Claudia gravely.
"How! what! your only trouble, Claudia? I do not understand you in the least."
"All my other troubles had passed away. And now that anxiety is at an end, that trouble is also passed away and I have none."
"None, Claudia? How you perplex me, my dear."
"None, papa! I left them all behind at Castle Cragg."
"I do not—cannot comprehend you, my dear."