ortion of his; that, in point of fact, you were only
moderately provided for. He was startled, I assure you. I also told him
that for years you had been engaged to a young printer in your native
country, who would probably be the next governor of his native State. He
bowed himself out. I engaged our passage to New York by the Saturday's
steamer. You will never see the little dandy again. He was after a
fortune, and finding that you have none, he has forsaken you--and served
you right, for a base, treacherous, and contemptible woman, unworthy
even of his regard; for you are much lower in every way than he is, for
while he was seeking a fortune and you were seeking a title, you were
concealing from him the fact of your engagement to Rule Rothsay. You
were doubly false to Rule and to Cumbervale. Oh, Cora Haught! Cora
Haught! Are you not ashamed of yourself! Ashamed to look any honest man
or woman in the face! Ah! you do well to hide yours!" he concluded, for
Cora had lost all self-control, dropped her head upon her hands, and
burst into hysterical sobs and tears.

Did you ever see a small bantam hen ruffle up all her feathers in angry
defense of her chick? So did poor little, timid Mrs. Rockharrt in
protection of her pet. She ventured to expostulate with her tyrant for,
perhaps, the first time in their married life.

"Oh, Aaron, do not scold the child so severely. She is but human. She
has only been dazzled and fascinated by the young duke's rank, and
beauty, and elegance. She could not help it, being thrown in his company
so much. And you know they say that half the girls in London society are
in love with the handsome duke. We will take her home, and she will come
all right, and be our own, dear, faithful Cora again, and--"

Old Aaron Rockharrt, who had gazed at his wife in speechless
astonishment at her audacity in reasoning with him, now burst forth
with:

"Hold your jaw, madam," and strode out of the room.

A minute later a waiter came in and laid a note on the table before Cora
and immediately withdrew.

Cora took the missive, recognized the handwriting and seal, tore it open
and eagerly ran her eyes along the lines. This was the note:

CUMBERVALE LODGE, LONDON,
May, 1, 18--

MISS HAUGHT: For my indiscretion of last evening I owe
you an humble apology, which I beg you to accept with this
explanation, that, had I known, or even suspected, that your hand
was already promised in another