“They tell me, Cora, that I could buy all these things as cheap and as good as I can make them.  But I do take such pleasure in making them with my own hands.”

Cora kissed her tenderly for all reply.

Then the little lady began to ask questions about her new step-mother-in-law.

“You know, Cora, that I could not ask you yesterday while Sylvan was with us.  He is in your full confidence, no doubt, and I have perfect faith in him; but for all that we cannot speak freely on all subjects before a third person, however near and dear.  At least I could not ask searching questions about Mr. Rockharrt’s marriage, before Sylvan.  Such a strange marriage, with such a disparity in years between a man of Mr. Rockharrt’s venerable age and Mrs. Stillwater’s blooming youth!  I saw her once by chance.  She looked a perfect Hebe of radiant health and beauty.”

Cora Rothsay smiled.  She might have told this little lady that there was not much more difference between the ages of Rose Stillwater at thirty-seven and Aaron Rockharrt at seventy-seven than there was between Violet Wood at seventeen and Fabian Rockharrt at fifty-two.  But as the young wife did not see this fact, Cora refrained from showing it to her.

Then Violet wanted to know what Cora herself thought of the marriage.

Cora said she thought it concerned only the parties in question, and only time could tell how it would turn out.

In such confidential talk passed the long summer day.

In the cool of the evening Mr. Fabian came home to dinner.

He joined his wife in trying to persuade Cora to remain with them yet another day; but Cora explained that there were many reasons for her return to Rockhold.

Finding her obdurate, Mr. Fabian ordered Mrs. Rothsay’s landau to be at the door at a certain hour.

And as soon as dinner was over and Cora had put on her bonnet and taken leave of Violet, with a promise to return within a few days, Mr. Fabian placed her in the Carriage, took his seat beside her, and drove down the wooded hill to the river road below.

“It is not altogether for pleasure that I pressed you to stay till to-night, Cora, although your presence gave great pleasure to my wife and self.  I wished to have a private talk with you.  Cora, you ought not to stay at Rockhold.  You should come to us,” said Mr. Fabian, as they bowled along the wooded road between the foot of the hills and the banks of the river.

“Why?” inquired the lady.

He did not answer at once, but drove slowly on as if to gain time for thought.  At length, however, he said: 

“I think that a home with Violet and myself at the Banks would be much more congenial to you than one with your grandfather and his new wife at Rockhold.”

“But, my dear Uncle Fabian, under present circumstances my grandfather is my natural protector and Rockhold my proper home until my brother has one to offer me.”