pavement, and let him lead her up stairs and into
the house. Cora stood at the door of the drawing room. Mr. Rockharrt led
his visitor up to his granddaughter, and said:
"Mrs. Stillwater is very much fatigued, Cora. Take her at once to her
room and make her comfortable; and have dinner on the table by the time
she is ready to come down."
He uttered these words in a peremptory manner, without waiting for the
usual greeting that should have passed between the hostess and the
visitor.
Cora touched a bell.
"Oh! let me embrace my sweet Cora first of all! Ah! my sweet child! You
and I both widowed since the last time we met!" cooed Rose, in her most
dulcet tones, as she drew Cora to her bosom and kissed her before the
latter could draw back.
"How do you do?" was the formal greeting that fell from the lady's lips.
"As you see, dearest--'Not happy, but resigned,'" plaintively replied
the widow.
"You quote from a king's minion, I think," said Cora, coldly.
Rose took no notice of the criticism, but tenderly inquired.
"And you, dearest one? How is it with you?"
"I am very well, thank you," replied the lady.
"After such a terrible trial! But you always possessed a heroic spirit."
"We will not speak of that, Mrs. Stillwater, if you please," was the
grave reply.
Mr. Rockharrt looked around, as well as he could while old Jason was
drawing off his spring overcoat, and said:
"Take Mrs. Stillwater to her room, Cora. Don't keep her standing here."
"I have rung for a servant, who will attend to Mrs. Stillwater's needs,"
replied the lady, quietly.
The Iron King turned and stared at his granddaughter angrily, but said
nothing.
The housemaid came up at this moment.
"Martha, show Mrs. Stillwater to the chamber prepared for her, and wait
her orders there."
The negro woman wiped her clean hand on her clean apron--as a mere
useless form--and then held it out to the visitor, saying, with the
scorn of conventionality and the freedom of an old family servant:
"How do Miss Rose! 'Deed I's mighty proud to see you ag'in--'deed I is!
How much you has growed! I mean, how han'some you has growed! You allers
was han'some, but now you's han'somer'n ever! 'Deed, honey, you's
mons'ous han'some!"
This hearty welcome and warm admiration, though only from the negro
servant, helped to relieve the embarrassment of the visitor, who felt
the chill of Cora's cold reception.
"Thank you, Aunt Martha," she said, and fol
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