Claudia, standing by her father's side in the library, had also heard the sound of Ishmael's voice, as he spoke to the servant in the hall; and she suddenly ceased talking and looked as if turned to stone. "Why, what is the matter, my dear?" inquired the judge, surprised at the panic into which she had been cast. "Papa, he here!" she said. "Who?" "Ishmael!" "Yes. Why?" "Papa, make some excuse and get rid of him. I must not, cannot, will not, meet him now!" she exclaimed, in a half breathless voice of ill-suppressed excitement. The judge looked at his daughter wistfully, painfully, for a moment, and then, as something like the truth in regard to Claudia's feelings broke upon him, he replied very gravely: "My dear, you need not meet him; and he has saved me the embarrassment of sending him away. He has gone, if I mistake not." "If you 'mistake' not. There must be no question of this, sir! See! and if he has not gone, tell him to go directly!" "Claudia!" "Oh, papa, I am nearly crazy! Go!" The judge stepped out into the hall and made the necessary inquiries. And Jim gave Ishmael's message. With this the judge returned to Claudia. "He is gone. And now, my dear, I wish to know why it is that you are here alone? I never in my life heard of such a thing. Where is Vincent?" "Papa, I am nearly fainting with fatigue. Will you ring for one of the women to show Ruth my room? I suppose I have my old one?" she said, throwing herself back in her chair. "Why--no, my dear; I fancy I saw Katie and the maids decorating the suite of rooms on the opposite side of the hall on this floor for you. I'll see." "Anywhere, anywhere--'out of the world,'" sighed Claudia, as the judge sharply rang the bell. Jim answered it. "Tell Katie to show Lady Vincent's maid to her ladyship's chamber, and do you see the luggage taken there." Jim bowed and turned to go. "Stop," said the judge. "Claudia, my dear, what refreshment will you take before going up? A glass of wine? a cup of tea?" he inquired, looking anxiously upon the harassed countenance and languid figure of his daughter. "A cup of coffee, papa, if they have any ready; if not, anything they can bring quickest." "A cup of coffee for Lady Vincent in one minute, ready or not ready!" was the somewhat unreasonable command of the judge. Jim disappeared to deliver all his master's orders. And it seemed that the coffee was ready, for he almost immediately reappeared bearing a tray with the service arranged upon it. "Is it strong, Jim?" inquired Claudia, as she raised the cup to her lips. "Yes, miss--ma'am--my ladyship, I mean!" said poor Jim, who was excessively bothered by Claudia's new title and the changes that were rung upon it. The coffee must have been strong, to judge by its effects upon Claudia.