She had merely asked a civil question, and to be sure she knew it would meet with a civil answer.

She was quite satisfied--quite.

She had rather perhaps that he would have said at once that he didn't choose to be communicative, because that would have been plain and intelligible.

However, she had no right to be offended of course.

He was the best judge, and had a perfect right to say what he pleased; nobody could dispute that for a moment.