noon
`` But why is it called the ` parliamentary ' ? '' `` Because it was instituted by act of parliament for the accommodation of the people , or perhaps because it is so heavy and slow . '' On they went , hour after hour , stopping every three or four miles , while the fog seemed still to condense and whiten . At noon the train reached York , and stopped twenty minutes for refreshment . Lord Vincent did not leave the carriage , but sent his valet out to the station restaurant to procure what was needful for his party . And while the passengers were all hurrying to and fro , and looking in at the carriage , he drew the curtains of his windows , and sat back far in his seat . Claudia would gladly have left the train and spent the interval in contemplating , even if it were only the outside of the ancient cathedral of which she had read and heard so much .