g as I
live, so help me--"

"Oh!--oh, grandfather!" cried Corona, arresting his half-sworn oath,
"don't say that! I am sorry to have crossed your will in this matter, or
in any way; but, oh, my dear grandfather--"

"Stop there!" vociferated the Iron King, with a stamp. "I am no
grandfather of yours! How dare you insult me with the name when I have
forbidden you to do so?"

"I beg your pardon, sir. It was a mere slip of the tongue. I spoke
impulsively. I had forgotten your prohibition. I shall not certainly
offend in that way again," said Corona, quietly.

"You had better not!"

"I was about to say, when you interrupted me," resumed Cora, earnestly,
"that I am grieved to have been compelled to disappoint you by
rejecting the Duke of Cumbervale; but, sir, I could not do otherwise. I
could not accept a man whom I could not love. To have done so would have
been a great sin. Surely, sir, you must know it would have been a sin,"
pleaded Corona.

"Stuff and nonsense!" roared the Iron King. "Don't dare to talk such
sentimental rubbish to me! You can't love him, can't you? Tell that to
an idiot, not to me! When we were in London, two or three years ago, you
loved him so well that you were ready to break your engagement with your
betrothed husband, Regulas Rothsay, in order to marry this duke. Yes;
and you would certainly have done so if I had not put a stop to the
affair by having an explanation with the suitor, telling him of your
prior engagement, and also of your want of fortune, and bringing you
back home to your forgotten duties."

"Oh, sir, I deserve all your reproaches for that forgetfulness. I was
very wrong then," said Cora, with a sigh.

"Bosh! You are always wrong!" sneered old Aaron Rockharrt. "And you
always will be wrong! You were wrong when you wished to break your
engagement with Regulas Rothsay to marry the Duke of Cumbervale, and you
are wrong, now that you are free, to reject the man. Why, look at it:
Now that you have been a widow for more than two years, and Cumbervale
has proved his constancy by remaining a bachelor two years for your
sake, and crossing the ocean and coming down here to propose for you
again, and even after I--I myself--have positively promised him your
hand, and have given a family dinner in honor of the occasion, and have
announced the engagement, and after speeches have been made and toasts
have been drank to the happiness and prosperity of your married life,
and all due forma