s suit to you, he need not waste time in writing, but
that he might come over and court you in person here at Rockhold, where
he should receive a hearty, old-fashioned welcome."

Cora gazed at the old man aghast.

"Oh, grandfather, you never wrote that!" she exclaimed.

"I never wrote that? What do you mean, mistress? Am I in the habit of
saying what is not true?"

"Oh, no; but I am so grieved that you should have written such a
letter."

"Why, pray?"

"Because I cannot bear that any one should think for a moment that I
could ever marry again."

"Rubbish!"

"Well, it does not matter after all. If the duke should come on this
fool's errand, I shall be far enough out of his reach," thought Cora;
but she said no more.

The breakfast bell rang out with much clamor, and the old man arose
growling.

"And now you have cheated me out of my hour with the newspapers by your
foolish talk. Come, come to breakfast and let us hear no more nonsense
about going on that wild goose chase to the Indian frontier."

At the end of the morning meal he arose from the table, called his young
wife to fetch him his hat, his gloves, his duster, and other belongings,
and he got ready for his daily morning drive to the works.

"I shall remain at North End to bid you good-by, Sylvan. Call at my
office there on your way to the depot," he said, as he left the house to
step into his carriage waiting at the door.

As the sound of the wheels rolled off and died in the distance, Rose
turned to Cora and inquired:

"My dear, does he know that you are going out West with Sylvan?"

"He should know it. I have spoken freely of my plans before you both for
months past," said Cora.

"But, my dear, he never took the slightest notice of anything you said
on that subject. Why, he did not even seem to hear you."

"He heard me perfectly. Nothing passes in my grandfather's presence that
he does not see and hear and understand."

"Well, then, I reckon he thinks you have changed your mind; for he spoke
of meeting Sylvan at North End to bid him good-by, but said not a word
about you."

"He will believe that I am going when he sees me with Sylvan," said
Cora.

And then she touched the bell and ordered her carriage to be brought to
the door.

"We must go and take leave of Mrs. Fabian Rockharrt," she said to Rose.

Twenty minutes later Cora and Sylvan entered the pony carriage. Sylvan
took the reins and started for Violet Banks.

They soon reac