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At the end of the third day all was ready for the reception of Mr. and Mrs. Rockharrt. The next day was the first of July. As soon as Mr. Clarence reached his private office at the works he found a telegram waiting him. He opened it, and read the following: CAPON SPRINGS, July 1, 18 Shall reach North End by the 6 p.m. train. Send the carriage to meet that train. Shall go directly to Rockhold.
Place yourself in my hands, to be guided by me and to work for my interests, and none of these evils shall happen to you. You shall live and die in wealth and luxury, my father's honored wife, the mistress of Rockhold." He spoke slowly, tenderly, caressingly, and as she listened to him her sobs and tears subsided and she grew calmer. "What is it you want me to do for you?
My readers may remember the marble-like stillness of the bride as she sat in her bridal robes, looking out from the front window of her chamber on the bright and festive scene below, where all the work people from the mines and foundries were assembled; they will remember how she shivered when she was summoned with her bridesmaids to meet her bridegroom and his attendants in the hall below; how when she met him at the foot of the stairs she shrank from his greeting emotion in which he in his simple, loyal soul saw no repugnance, but only maiden reserve to be reverenced, as he drew her arm within his own to lead her before the bishop; how she faltered during the whole of the marriage ceremony; how like a woman in a trance she passed through the scenes of the wedding breakfast and those that immediately followed it; how in her own room, where she went to change her wedding dress for a traveling suit, and whither her gentle old grandmother had followed her for a private parting, she had answered the old lady's anxious question as to whether she was "happy," first by silence and then by muttering that her heart was too full for speech; how when the bridegroom and the bride had taken leave of all their friends at Rockhold, and were seated tete-a-tete in their traveling carriage, bowling along the river road, at the base of the East Ridge toward the North End railway station, when he passed his arm around her and drew her to his heart and murmured of his love and his joy in her ear, and pleaded for some response from her, she had only said that her heart was too full for speech, and he in his confiding spirit had perceived no evasion in her reply, but thought, if her heart was full, it was with responsive love for him.
And as for his quarreling with his wife and ill-using their step-daughter, we have heard but one side of that story." When they entered the Rockhold drawing room they found Mrs. Rockharrt alone. She arose and came forward and received them with a smile. "Your grandfather, my dear," she explained to Cora, "came home later than usual from North End, and very much more than usually fatigued.
He arose and seated himself beside her, put his arm around her, and drew her beautiful black, curled head upon his faithful breast, and bending his face to hers, entreated her to tell him the cause of her grief. "What is it, dear one? Have you had bad news? A telegram from Rockhold? Either of the old people had a stroke? Tell me, dear?"
"Well, then, I shall go down to Rockhold to-morrow, and investigate this matter for myself. In my capacity of justice of the peace I shall issue a warrant to have that woman brought before me on a charge of vagrancy, and then I shall examine her on this point. But, Ryland, you are to be careful not to drop even a hint of my intention."
Too well she knew the unbending nature of the Iron King to delude herself for a moment with the idea that any opposition, argument, or expostulation from her would have so much as a feather's weight with the despotic old man. If he had asked Mrs. Stillwater to Rockhold under present circumstances, Mrs. Stillwater would come, and he would have her there just as long as he pleased.
I do not think, my dear, that I can take her on to Rockhold to-morrow. I think I must let her rest here for a day or two." "It would be best, not only on account of Violet's delicacy and weariness, but also on account of the condition of the house at Rockhold, which has not been opened or aired for months." "That is true; though I had not thought of it before," said Mr.
Rothsay, I have yielded to his pleadings and consented to marry him." "Mr. Rockharrt has already told me so," coldly replied Cora. "And, dear, I wish to add this that the marriage need make no difference in our domestic relations at Rockhold." "I do not understand you." "I mean in the family circle." "Oh! thank you!" said Cora, with the nearest approach to a sneer that ever she made.
Therefore, because he wills it, for his sake, not for yours, I will attend you to the altar. Also, if he should desire me to do so, I shall remain at Rockhold until the return of Mr. Fabian Rockharrt." At the sound of this name Rose Stillwater winced and shivered.