if
that is what you want. No man can bless another--not even the Pope of
Rome or the Archbishop of Canterbury. No one under heaven can bless you.
You can only bless yourself by doing your whole duty under all
circumstances. You will have men in authority over you. Obey them. You
will have authority over other men. Make them obey you. There,
good-by!" said old Aaron Rockharrt, holding out his hand to his
grandson.

Sylvan noticed how that hand shook as its aged owner held it up. He took
it, lifted it to his lips, and pressed it to his heart.

"There, there; don't be foolish, Sylvan! Good-by! Good-by! And you,
Fabian! What are you loitering here for, when you should be looking
after the works?" impatiently demanded the Iron King.

"The carriage stands at the door, sir, waiting to take Sylvan to his
train. I shall go with him as far as North End and try to do your work
there in addition to my own."

"Quite right. Where is Clarence?"

"At North End, sir, where he went directly after he saw you safe in bed
under the doctor's care," said Mr. Fabian, lying as fast as a horse
could trot.

"Very well. Send the two women here."

"There happen to be three women below at present, sir. Violet has come
to see you."

In the morning sitting room below stairs Sylvan and Fabian found the
three ladies with Clarence, all in a state of anxiety to hear from the
injured man.

Sylvan was more agitated in leaving his sister than any young soldier
should have been. At the last, the very last instant of parting, when
Mr. Fabian had left the parlor and was on his way to the carriage,
Sylvan turned back and for the third time clasped Cora in his arms.

"Never mind, Sylvan, as soon as I possibly can, without violating my
duty to the only one on earth to whom I owe any duty, I shall go out to
you. I can see now, now in this hour of parting, how very right I was in
deciding to go with you. My journey is not abandoned, it is only
postponed. God bless you, my dear."

After standing at the front door until they had watched the carriage
out of sight, the three went up stairs and softly entered the room of
the injured man, so softly that he did not hear their entrance. They
stood in a silent group, believing him to be asleep, and afraid to sit
down, lest a chair should creak and wake him up.

In a few seconds, however, they heard him clear his throat, knew that he
was awake, and went up to his bedside.

Rose spoke, gently, for all.

"Y