engaged for their joint occupancy. She detested to
be brought into such close intimacy with Rose Stillwater, and longed for
the hour of her brother's release from the academy, and his appointment
to some post of duty, however distant, where she might join him, and so
escape the humiliation of her present position. However, she tried to
bear the mortification as best she might, thankful that she and her
unwelcome chum, while occupying the same chamber, were not obliged to
sleep in the same bed.

Truly, Rose Stillwater felt how unpleasant her companionship was to her
former pupil, but she showed no consciousness of this. She comported
herself with great discretion--not forcing conversation on her unwilling
room mate, lest she should give offense; and it was the policy of this
woman to "avoid offenses," nor yet did she keep total silence, lest she
should seem to be sulky; for it was also her policy always to seem
amiable and happy. So, though Cora never voluntarily addressed one word
to her, yet Rose occasionally spoke sweetly some commonplace about the
weather, their room, the bill of fare at dinner, and so on; to all of
which observations she received brief replies.

Both were relieved when they were in their separate beds and the gas was
turned off--Rose that she need act a difficult part no more that night,
but could lie down, and, under the cover of the darkness, gather her
features in a cloud of wrath, and silently curse Corona Rothsay; Cora,
that she was freed from the sight of the deceitful face and the sound of
the lying tongue.

Fatigued by their long journey, both soon fell asleep, and slept well,
until the horrible sound of the gong awakened them--the gong in those
days used to summon guests to the public breakfast table.

Cora sprang out of bed with one fear--that her grandfather was up and
waiting for his breakfast, though that gong had really nothing to do
with any of their meals, which were always to be served in their private
parlor.

Cora and her room mate quickly dressed and went to the parlor, where
they were relieved to find no Mr. Rockharrt and no table set.

Presently, however, the Iron King strode into the room, a morning paper
in his hand.

"Breakfast not ready yet?" he sharply demanded, looking at Corona.

Then she suddenly remembered that whenever they had traveled before this
time, her grandmother had ordered the meals, as she had done everything
else that she could do to save her tyra