She entered softly.

Old Aaron Rockharrt was sound asleep in his big arm chair.

Cora was seated at the table engaged in reading.  She arose to receive the invalid.

“Are you better?  Are you sure you are able to be up?” she kindly inquired.

“Oh, yes, dear!  Very much better!  Well, indeed!  When it goes, it goes, you know!  But had we better not talk and disturb Mr. Rockharrt?” inquired Rose.

“We cannot disturb him.  He sleeps very soundly—­too soundly, I think, and too much.”

“Do you know by what train we go to West Point to-morrow?”

“By the 7:30 a.m.  So that we may arrive in good time for the commencement.  We must retire very early to-night, for we must be up betimes in the morning.  But sit down; you really look very languid,” said Cora, and taking the hand of her companion, she led her to the sofa and made her recline upon it.  Then Cora resumed her own seat.

“Thank you, darling,” cooed Rose.

There was silence in the room for a few moments.  Mr. Rockharrt slept on.  Cora took up her book.  Rose was the first to speak.

“I wonder if the new lion, the Dean of Olivet, will go to West Point to-morrow,” she said in a tone of seeming indifference.

“Oh, yes!  It is in all the papers.  He is to be the guest of the chaplain,” replied Cora.

“I wonder what train he will go by.”

“Oh, I don’t know that.  He may go by the night boat.”

“The Dean of Olivet would never travel on Sunday night.”

“But he might hold service and preach on the boat.”

“Oh, yes; so he might.”

“What on earth are you talking about?  When will dinner be ready?” demanded old Aaron Rockharrt, waking up from his nap.  Straightening himself up and looking around, he saw Rose Stillwater.

“Oh, my dear, are you better of your headache?”

“Yes, thank you, Mr. Rockharrt.”

“You look pale, as if you had gone through a sharp siege, if a short one.  You should have told me in the pew, and allowed me to take you here, not ventured out alone, when you were in such pain.”

“But I did not wish to attract the least attention, so I slipped out unperceived while everybody’s heads were bent in prayer.”

“All very well, my dear; but pray don’t venture on such a step again.  I am always at your service to attend you.  Now, Cora, ring for dinner to be served.  It was ordered for five o’clock, I think, and it is five minutes past,” said Mr. Rockharrt, consulting his watch.

Cora arose, but before she could reach the bell, the door was opened, and the waiter appeared to lay the cloth.

After dinner the Iron King went into a little room attached to the suite, which he used as a smoking den.

The two young women settled themselves to read.

They all retired at nine o’clock that night so as to rise very early next day.