y, where is she? Why, Cora, where is Mrs.
Stillwater?" demanded the Iron King in amazement.

"I do not know. I have just missed her," said the young lady.

"Well, upon my soul! For the power of vanishing she excels all living
creatures. Pray, Cora, does she carry a fairy cap in her pocket, and put
it on when she wishes to make herself invisible?"

"I think, sir, that she has been pressed away from us in the crowd. We
shall find her when we get through the gate into more space."

"Well, I hope so."

"She is quite able to take care of herself, sir. Pray do not be alarmed.
She will be sure to find us."

"Well, I hope so. Yes; of course she will."

At this moment the gates were opened.

"Take my arm. Don't let me lose you in the crowd. I suppose Mrs.
Stillwater cannot fail to join us. Oh! of course not! She knows the
train, and there is but one."

He drew Cora's hand close under his arm, and holding it tightly,
followed the multitude through the gate, looking all around in search of
Rose Stillwater.

But she was nowhere to be seen.

"She may have gotten ahead of us, and be on the train. Come on!" said
Mr. Rockharrt, as he hurried his granddaughter along and pushed her upon
the platform.

The cars were rapidly filling.

Mr. Rockharrt seized upon four seats, in order to secure three. He put
Cora in one and told her to put her traveling bag on the other, to hold
it for Mrs. Stillwater. Then he took possession of the seat in front of
her.

"As soon as this crowd settles itself down and leaves something like a
free passageway, I will go through the train and find Mrs. Stillwater.
She is bound to be on board. She is no baby to lose herself," said Mr.
Rockharrt, and though his words were confident, his tone seemed anxious.

The people all got seated at last and the long train moved.

Mr. Rockharrt left his seat, and stooping over his granddaughter, he
whispered:

"I am going now to look for Mrs. Stillwater and fetch her here."

He passed slowly down the car, looking from side to side, and then out
through the back door to the rear cars, and so out of Cora's sight.

He was gone about fifteen minutes. At the end of that time he
reappeared, and came up the car and stopped to speak to Cora: "She is
not in any of the rear cars. I am going forward to look for her. This
comes of traveling in a crowd."

He went on as before, looking carefully from side to side, passed out of
the front door and again out of Cora's