ll be very much pleased with the plan. Now, Cora, when do
you wish to go?"

"As soon as possible; but since you are so kind as to accompany me, my
wish must wait on yours, Uncle Fabian."

"Let us go and consult Violet," said Fabian Rockharrt, rising and
leading the way to the nursery, which had been hastily fitted up for the
accommodation of the Rockharrt baby and her nurse, and where he felt
sure of finding the young mother, too.

Violet, when told of the scheme to go immediately to Washington and see
her old friends, was more than "pleased;" she was delighted. To show her
baby to her more than mother, as she often called Mrs. Pendletime, would
fill her soul with pride and joy.

Very early the next morning Mr. Fabian and his party left the city by
the express train en route for the national capital, leaving Mr.
Clarence to go to North End and take charge of the works. They reached
Baltimore at 11 p.m., and remained over night. The next day they went
on to Washington, where they arrived about noon, and went directly to
the hotel where Captain and Mrs. Neville were staying.

Violet, very much fatigued, lay down to rest and to get her baby to
sleep at her bosom. Mr. Fabian, as we must continue from habit to call
him, though his rightful style was now Mr. Rockharrt, went down to the
reading room to send his own and his wife's cards to Chief Justice and
Mrs. Pendletime, and to collect Washington gossip.

Corona changed her traveling dress, went down into the ladies' parlor,
and sent her card to the rooms of the Nevilles. And presently there
entered to her a very handsome middle-aged pair.

The captain was a fine, tall, broad-shouldered, soldierly-looking man,
with a bald head and a gray mustache. He was clothed in a citizen's
morning suit. The captain's wife was also rather tall, slender, dark
complexioned, with a thin face, black eyes, and black hair very slightly
touched with gray, which she wore in ringlets over her ears, and in a
braid behind her neck. Her dress was a plain, dark cashmere, with white
cuffs and collar.

"It is very kind of you to take charge of me," said Corona to Mrs.
Neville, as the three seated themselves on a group of chairs near
together.

"My dear, I am very glad to have your company, as well on the long and
dreary journey over the plains as at that distant frontier fort. You
will find life at the fort with your brother a severe test to your
affection for him," said Mrs. Neville, with he