inner in every course. Corona carved or served the dishes, filled
the plate for her grandfather, which was taken to him by the footman.
At the end of the heavy meal the Iron King arose from the table and
said:

"I am going to my own room. Mistress Rothsay, I shall have something to
say to you in the morning;" and he went out.

CHAPTER XXIX.

CORONA'S OPPORTUNITY.

Corona Rothsay stood behind her chair at the head of the breakfast
table, waiting for Mr. Rockharrt. He entered presently, and returned no
answer to her respectful salutation, but moodily took his seat, raised
the cover from the hot dish before him, and helped himself to a broiled
partridge. After the gloomy meal was finished the Iron King arose from
the table and pushed back his chair so suddenly and forcibly as to
nearly upset his servant.

"Come into the library! I wish to have a decisive talk with you!" he
said, in a harsh voice, to his granddaughter, as he strode from the
dining room.

Corona, who had finished her own slight breakfast some minutes before,
immediately arose and followed him. On reaching the bookery, old Aaron
Rockharrt sank heavily into his big leathern armchair, and pointed,
sternly, to an opposite one, on which Corona obediently seated herself.

"Look at me, mistress!" he said, placing his hands upon the arms of his
chair, bending forward and gazing on her with fixed, keen eyes, that
burned like fire beneath the pent roof of his shaggy iron-gray brows.

Corona looked up at him.

"Do you know, madam, that in rejecting the hand of the Duke of
Cumbervale you have offered me an unpardonable affront?"

"No, grandfather, I did not know it; and certainly I never meant--never
could possibly have meant--to affront you," said Corona, deprecatingly.
"If I have been so unhappy as to disappoint your wishes, I am very
sorry, my dear grandfather, but--"

He harshly interrupted her.

"Do not you dare to call me grandfather, either now or ever again! I
disclaim forever that relationship, and all relationship with the false,
flirting, coquettish, unprincipled creature that you are! Your late
suitor may forgive your treachery to him, beguiling him by your once
pretended preference to pass by all eligible matches and cross the ocean
for your sake! Yes; he may forgive you, because he is a fool (being a
duke)! But as for me--I will never pardon the outrageous affront you
have put upon me, in rejecting the man of my choice! Never, as lon