She tried to treat the woman with cold civility.  But how could she persevere in such a course of conduct toward a beautiful blue eyed angel who was always eager to please, anxious to serve?

Cora felt that this woman was a fraud, yet when she met her lovely, candid, heaven blue eyes she could not believe in her own intuitions.  Cora, like some few unenvious women, was often affected by other women’s beauty.  The childlike loveliness of her quondam teacher really touched her heart.  So she could not at all times maintain the dignified reserve that she wished toward Rose Stillwater.

Meantime the day approached when it was decided that they should all go to West Point to the commencement, at which Cadet Sylvan Haught was expected to graduate.

Mr. Rockharrt had invited Mrs. Stillwater to be of their party, and insisted upon her accompanying them.

Rose demurred.  She even ventured to hint that Mrs. Rothsay might not like her to go with them; whereupon the Iron King gathered his brow so darkly and fearfully, and said so sternly: 

“She had better not dislike it,” that Rose hastened to say that it was only her own secret misgiving, and that no part of Mrs. Rothsay’s demeanor had led her to such a supposition.

And she resolved never again to drop a hint of her hostess’ too evident suspicion of herself to the family autocrat, for it was the last mistake that Mrs. Stillwater could possibly wish to make—­to kindle anger between grandfather and granddaughter.  Her policy was to forbear, to be patient, to conciliate, and to bide her time.

“Cora,” said the Iron King, abruptly, to his granddaughter, at the breakfast table, on the morning after this conversation, and in the presence of their guest, “do you object to Mrs. Stillwater joining our traveling party to West Point?”

“Certainly not, sir.  What right have I to object to any one whom you might please to invite?”

“No right whatever.  And I am glad that you understand that,” replied Mr. Rockharrt.

Rose was trembling for fear that her benefactor would betray her as the suggester of the question, but he did not.

Cora had received no letter from her Uncle Fabian in answer to hers announcing the fact of Mrs. Stillwater’s presence at Rockhold.

Mr. Fabian wrote no letters, except business ones to the firm, and these were opened at the office of the works, and never brought to Rockhold.

If Cora should ever inquire of her grandfather whether he had heard from Mr. and Mrs. Fabian Rockharrt, his answer would be brief—­

“Yes; they are both well.  They are at Paris.  They are at Berne.  They are at Aix,” or wherever the tourists might then chance to be.

Sylvan was a better correspondent.  He answered her letters promptly.  His comments on the visit of Rose Stillwater were characteristic of the boy.