The dreadful silence was broken at last by Rose Stillwater, who burst into the room like a sunbeam into a cloud, and said with her childish eagerness: 

“I have got such a lovely piece of music.  I ran out just now to look for it.  I was not sure I could find it; but here it is.  It may be called sacred music and suitable to the day, I hope.  Here is the title.

    “‘Glad life lives on forever.’

“Shall I play and sing for you, Mr. Rockharrt?  Would you like me to do so, dear Cora?  And you, Mr. Clarence?”

“Certainly, my dear,” promptly responded the Iron King.

“As you please,” coldly replied Cora.

“I—­yes—­thank you; I think it would be very nice,” foolishly observed Mr. Clarence, who was just now reduced to a state of imbecility by the stunning announcement of his father’s intended marriage.

But all three had spoken at the same time, so that Rose Stillwater heard but one voice clearly, and that was the Iron King’s.

Mr. Clarence, however, went and opened the piano for her.  Then old Mr. Rockharrt arose, went to the instrument slowly and deliberately, put his youngest son aside, wheeled up the music stool, seated her and then—­

    “The monarch o’er the siren hung
    And beat the measure as she sung,
    And pressing closer and more near,
    He whispered praises in her ear.”

“It is ‘The Lion in Love,’ of AEsop’s fable.  He will let her draw his teeth yet,” said Mr. Clarence, in a low tone, quite drowned in the joyous swell of the music.

“No, it is not.  A man of his age does not fall in love, I feel sure.  And she will never gain one advantage over him.  He likes her society and her servitude and her flatteries.  He will take them all, and more than all, if he can; but he will give nothing, nothing in return,” murmured Cora.

“But why does he give her this attention to-day?  It is unusual.”

“To show us that he will do her honor; place her above us, as he said; but that will not outlast their wedding day, if indeed they marry.”

“They will marry unless something should happen to prevent them.  I do wish Fabian was at home.”

“So do I, with all my heart.”

The glad bursts of music which had drowned their voices, slowly sank into soft and dreamy tones.

Then Clarence and Corona ceased their whispered conversation.

Soon the dinner bell rang and the family party went into the dining room.

On Monday morning active preparations were commenced for their journey to New York.  Not one more word was spoken about the marriage of June and January, nor could either Clarence or Corona judge by the manner of the ill sorted pair whether the subject had been mentioned between them.

On Wednesday of that week Mr. Rockharrt, accompanied by Mrs. Stillwater and Mrs. Rothsay, left Rockhold for New York, leaving Mr. Clarence in charge of the works at North End.