I dropped in directly after my breakfast, and about an hour after his dinner.

I sat up late last night, occupied till nearly ten in copying my diary for Sheldon--which was just in time for the London post--and lingering over my cigar till past midnight, thinking of Charlotte.

So I was late this morning.
My ancient received me graciously.

I took him half a pound of mild bird's-eye tobacco, on diplomatic grounds.

He is evidently the sort of person who would receive Mephistopheles graciously, if the fiend presented him with tobacco.
I returned to the charge--diplomatically, of course; talked about Ullerton and Ullerton people in general, insinuating occasional questions about the Haygarths.