The judge grinned. “And yesterday was the first Tuesday in November. Drat ’em, I call that hard! I’ll tell you,� he leaned forward, his fingers on Caleb’s knee, “the Republicans carried the State by a plurality of ten thousand; Peter Mahan is elected.�
Caleb’s amazement kept him silent.
“Your fault, sir!� said the judge triumphantly, “you ripped the Democracy in two, showed the machine, convicted the governor. By the Lord Harry, boy, I voted the Republican ticket!�
Caleb wrung the old man’s hand. “Now I know you love me, Judge!� he said.
It was then that the door opened and Diana appeared on the threshold, bearing a little tray, Sammy at her skirts and Shot trailing behind her. “Judge,� she said, “the doctor’s orders—twenty minutes and no politics!�
The judge got up and reached for his hat and cane. “I’m guilty, Diana!� he cried.
“Then you’ll have to go,� she said, and smiled across at the patient.
It was only the third time Caleb had seen her, and he did not know how often she had hung over him in agony when he lay unconscious. Diana, meeting his eyes, turned crimson. She remembered, with a sudden panic, that she had kissed him when she thought that he was dying!
Meanwhile, the judge went out grumbling. He was too full of the election to be silenced, and went to drink a mint julep with Colonel Royall. Diana came back into the library leading Sammy. The dog had bounded to his master and lay now on the hearthrug. Caleb stood by his chair, pale but transformed.
“You must not stand,� ordered Diana, as she set down the little tray on the table and began to arrange his luncheon. “Kingdom is out and I brought you some lunch myself,� she said simply.