tion, Cora made known her grandfather's accident
and the death of Rose.

"I am truly grieved to have intruded at so inopportune a time," asserted
the visitor, and arose to take leave.

Then Cora's conscience smote her for her inhospitable rudeness. Here was
a man who had crossed the sea at her grandfather's invitation, who had
reached the country in ignorance of the family trouble; who had come
directly from the seaport to North End, and ridden from North End to
Rockhold--a distance of six or seven miles; and she had scarcely given
him a civil reception. And now should she let him go all the way back to
North End without even offering him some refreshment?

Such a course, under such circumstances, even toward an utter stranger,
would have been unprecedented in her neighborhood, which had always been
noted for its hospitality.

Yet still she was afraid to offer him any polite attention, lest she
should in so doing give him encouragement to urge his suit, that she
dreaded to hear, and was determined to reject.

It was not until the visitor had taken his hat in his left hand, and
held out the right to bid her good morning, that she forced herself to
do her hostess' duty, and say:

"This is a very dull house, duke, but if you can endure its dullness, I
beg you will stay to lunch with me."

A smile suddenly lighted up the visitor's cold blue eyes.

"'Dull,' madam? No house can be dull--even though darkened by a recent
bereavement--which is blessed by your presence. I thank you. I shall
stay with much pleasure."

And now I have done it! thought Cora, with vexation.

At length the clock struck two, the luncheon bell rang, and Cora arose
with a smile of invitation. The duke gave her his arm, they went into
the dining room. The gray-haired butler was in waiting. They took their
places at the table. Old John had just set a plate of lobster salad
before the guest when the sound of carriage wheels was heard approaching
the house. In a few minutes more there came heavy steps along the hall,
the door opened, and old Aaron Rockharrt entered the room. Cora and her
visitor both arose.

"Ah, duke! how do you do? I got your telegram on reaching North End;
went to the hotel to meet you, and found that you had started for
Rockhold. Had your dispatch arrived an hour earlier I should have gone
in my carriage to meet you," said the Iron King with pompous politeness.

Now it seemed in order for the visitor to offer some condolence