ion caused by the announcement of your
betrothal to the duke?" demanded Violet, hurrying question upon
question, and trembling even more than Cora.

"Sit down, Violet. Never mind me. I shall be all right presently. Don't
be frightened, darling," said Cora, as well as she could speak.

"But let me do something for you!"

"You can do nothing."

"But what caused this?"

"My feelings have been outraged!--outraged! That is all!"

"How? How? Surely not by Mr. Rockharrt's announcement of your betrothal
to the duke? It was rather embarrassing to the betrothed pair, I admit;
but surely it was the proper thing to do."

"'The proper thing to do!' Violet, it was false! false! I am not
betrothed to the duke. I never was. I never shall be. I would not marry
an emperor to share a throne. My life is consecrated to good works in
the very field in which my dear husband died. I have said this to my
grandfather and to you all, over and over again. If it had not been for
Mr. Rockharrt's accident that endangered his life, I should have gone
out to the Indian Territory with my brother, and should have been at
work there at this present time. I shall go at the first opportunity."

Cora spoke very excitedly, being almost beside herself with wrath and
shame at the affront which had been put upon her.

"I thought the duke was an old admirer of yours, and had come over on
purpose to marry you," said Violet.

"That is too true. He came against my will. I have never given him the
slightest encouragement. How could I when my life is consecrated to the
memory of my husband and to the work he left unfinished? I fear Mr.
Rockharrt assured the duke of my hand; and when he heard the false
announcement of our betrothal, he took it for granted that it was all
right. He must have done so; though he himself was much taken by
surprise."

"How very strange of Mr. Rockharrt to do such a thing. If I had been
you, Cora, I should have got up and disclaimed it."

"No you would not. You would not have made a scene at the dinner table.
I was in no way responsible for the announcement made by my grandfather,
and in no way bound by it. The silence that seemed to indorse it was
rendered absolutely necessary under the circumstances."

"But what shall you do about it?"

"As soon as I can speak of it without making a scene, I shall tell Mr.
Rockharrt and the Duke of Cumbervale that a most reprehensible liberty
has been taken with my name. I will say that I