Claudia's City Home

How beautiful the mansion's throned
Behind its elm tree's screen,
With simple attic cornice crowned
All graceful and serene.

--Anon.

Just north of the Capitol park, upon a gentle eminence, within its own
well-shaded and well-cultivated grounds, stood a fine, old, family
mansion that had once been the temporary residence of George Washington.

The house was very large, with many spacious rooms and broad passages
within, and many garden walks and trellised arbors around it.

In front were so many evergreen trees and in the rear was so fine a
conservatory of blooming flowers, that even in the depth, of winter it
seemed like summer there.

The house was so secluded within its many thick trees and high garden
walls that the noise of the city never reached its inmates, though they
were within five minutes' walk of the Capitol and ten minutes' drive of
the President's mansion.

Judge Merlin had been very fortunate in securing for the season this
delightful home, where he could be within easy reach of his official
business and at the same time enjoy the quiet so necessary to his
temperament.

That winter he had been appointed one of the judges of the Supreme Court
of the United States, and it was very desirable to have so pleasant a
dwelling place within such easy reach of the Capitol, where the court
was held. At the head of this house his young daughter had been placed
as its mistress. She had not yet appeared anywhere in public. She was
reserving herself for two events: the arrival of her chaperone and the
first evening reception of the President. Her presence in the city was
not even certainly known beyond her own domestic circle; though a vague
rumor, started no one knew by whom, was afloat, to the effect that Miss
Merlin, the young Maryland heiress and beauty, was expected to come out
in Washington during the current season.