h would include all
the rest.

She tried to treat the woman with cold civility. But how could she
persevere in such a course of conduct toward a beautiful blue eyed angel
who was always eager to please, anxious to serve?

Cora felt that this woman was a fraud, yet when she met her lovely,
candid, heaven blue eyes she could not believe in her own intuitions.
Cora, like some few unenvious women, was often affected by other women's
beauty. The childlike loveliness of her quondam teacher really touched
her heart. So she could not at all times maintain the dignified reserve
that she wished toward Rose Stillwater.

Meantime the day approached when it was decided that they should all go
to West Point to the commencement, at which Cadet Sylvan Haught was
expected to graduate.

Mr. Rockharrt had invited Mrs. Stillwater to be of their party, and
insisted upon her accompanying them.

Rose demurred. She even ventured to hint that Mrs. Rothsay might not
like her to go with them; whereupon the Iron King gathered his brow so
darkly and fearfully, and said so sternly:

"She had better not dislike it," that Rose hastened to say that it was
only her own secret misgiving, and that no part of Mrs. Rothsay's
demeanor had led her to such a supposition.

And she resolved never again to drop a hint of her hostess' too evident
suspicion of herself to the family autocrat, for it was the last mistake
that Mrs. Stillwater could possibly wish to make--to kindle anger
between grandfather and granddaughter. Her policy was to forbear, to be
patient, to conciliate, and to bide her time.

"Cora," said the Iron King, abruptly, to his granddaughter, at the
breakfast table, on the morning after this conversation, and in the
presence of their guest, "do you object to Mrs. Stillwater joining our
traveling party to West Point?"

"Certainly not, sir. What right have I to object to any one whom you
might please to invite?"

"No right whatever. And I am glad that you understand that," replied Mr.
Rockharrt.

Rose was trembling for fear that her benefactor would betray her as the
suggester of the question, but he did not.

Cora had received no letter from her Uncle Fabian in answer to hers
announcing the fact of Mrs. Stillwater's presence at Rockhold.

Mr. Fabian wrote no letters, except business ones to the firm, and
these were opened at the office of the works, and never brought to
Rockhold.

If Cora should ever inquire of her grandfather whe