r chair. Cora came in and greeted
Rose with ceremonious politeness, having resolved, at length, to treat
Mrs. Stillwater as an honored guest, not as a cherished friend or member
of the household.

"Good morning, Mrs. Stillwater. I hope you have had a good night's rest
and feel refreshed after your journey," she said.

Rose responded effusively:

"Ah, good morning, dear love! Yes; thank you, darling, a lovely night's
rest, undisturbed by the thoughts of debts and duns and a doubtful
future. I slept so deeply and sweetly through the night that I woke
quite early this morning. The birds were in full song. You must have
millions of birds here! And the subtile, penetrating fragrance of the
hyacinths came into the window as soon as I opened it. How I love the
early spring flowers that come to us almost through the winter snows and
before we have done with fires."

Cora did not reply to this rhapsody. Then Rose inquired:

"Does your grandfather go regularly to look after the works as he used
to do?"

"Mr. Rockharrt drives to North End every day," replied Cora.

"It is amazing, at his age," said Rose.

"Some acute observer has said that 'age is a movable feast.' Age, no
more than death, is a respecter of persons or of periods. Men grow old,
as they die, at any age. Some grow old at fifty, others not before they
are a hundred. I think Mr. Rockharrt belongs to the latter class."

"I am sure he does."

Cora did not confirm this statement.

Rose made another venture in conversation:

"So both the gentlemen go every day to the works?"

"Mr. Rockharrt goes every day. Mr. Clarence usually remains there from
Monday morning until Saturday evening."

"At the works?"

"Yes; or at the hotel, where he has a suite of rooms which he occupies
occasionally."

"Dear me! So you have been alone here all day long, every day but
Sunday! And now I have come to keep you company, darling! You shall not
feel lonely any longer. And--what was that Mary Queen of Scots said to
her lady hostess on the night she passed at the castle in her sad
progress from one prison to another:

"'We two widows, having no husbands to trouble us, may agree very
well,' or words to that effect. So, darling, you and I, having no
husbands to trouble us, may also agree very well. Shall we not?"

"I cannot speak so lightly on so grave a subject, Mrs. Stillwater," said
Cora.

Old Mr. Rockharrt came in.

"Good morning, Cora! Good morning, Mrs. Stillwater!