noon
He has some swells up at his house to hear his speech on national affairs , among them old Flint 's daughter , who is a ripper to look at , although I never got nearer to her than across the street . As you may guess , it is something of a card for Crewe to have Flint 's daughter here . '' Austen sat for a long time after reading this letter , idly watching the snow-clouds gathering around Sawanec . Then he tore up the paper , on which he had been scribbling , into very small bits , consulted a time-table , and at noon , in a tumult of feelings , he found himself in a back seat of the express , bound for the capital . Arriving at the station , amidst a hurry and bustle of legislators and politicians coming and going , many of whom nodded to him , he stood for a minute in the whirling snow reflecting . Now that he was here , where was he to stay ? The idea of spending the night at the Pelican was repellent to him , and he was hesitating between two more modest hostelries when he was hailed by a giant with a flowing white beard , a weather-beaten face , and a clear eye that shone with a steady and kindly light .