“In the library, ma’am.”
“Show him into the drawing-room,” Mrs. Hale directed, and not giving Richards an opportunity to pull back the portières before the entrance to the large room which adjoined the dining room on the west, she swept majestically away.
“Maud!” The parlor maid halted as Richards’ low voice reached her. “Did my wife eat her breakfast?”
“Yes, sir, a little.” Maud’s sympathetic smile blossomed forth as she caught Richards’ pleased expression. She lingered before speeding on her errand to the waiting detective. “Miss Judith has brightened considerable since I gave her Miss Polly’s answer.”
Richards’ strong hand caressed his clean-shaven chin. “And what was the answer?” he questioned. “Verbal?”
“Oh, yes, sir; James brought back word that Miss Polly would be right over, and so I told Miss Judith.”
“Thank you, Maud,” and the parlor maid felt rewarded by Richards’ charming smile.
Richards had become a favorite with the servants, who idolized “Miss Judith,” as they still persisted in calling her. They had awaited with interest the arrival of the bride and groom two weeks before, an interest intensified by the storm which had arisen on receipt of Judith’s cablegram to her father telling of her marriage in far-away Japan to Joseph Richards.
Robert Hale had made no attempt to conceal or modify his fury while Mrs. Hale, deeply hurt by what she termed her “unfilial conduct,” had promptly made the best of the situation and endeavored to persuade her husband to accept the inevitable and cable Judith their forgiveness. Hale, anxious to return to his scientific experiments, finally succumbed to her arguments, backed up by those of his brother John, and, going a step further than his wife had expected, added an invitation to return to the paternal roof.
Richards had borne himself well under the inspection of his wife’s family, and Hale had grudgingly admitted to his wife that perhaps he wasn’t such a bad lot after all, to which Mrs. Hale, who had been won by Richards’ charm of manner and handsome presence, had indignantly responded that Judith had been most fortunate in her selection of a husband. Hale’s only response had been a sardonic grin.