fortins too; an’ folks did say as she tole true, an’ some did say as she had a tell-us-man ring w’ich, when she wore it, she could see inter de futur; but Lor’, young marse, dey was on’y supercilly young idiwuts as b’leibed dat trash!  But she nebber would take no money for tellin’ fortins—­nebber!—­w’ich was curous.  De berry day as de gubner-leck was missin’ ob, she wanished too.  When de cons’able went to ‘rest her, he foun’ her gone an’ de hut burnt up.  Now, yere we is, young marse, at de lan’in’, an’ you can get right out yere ‘dout wettin’ your feet,” said the old ferryman, as he pushed the boat up to the dry end of the wharf.

The passenger astonished the old ferryman by putting a quarter of an eagle in his hand, and then sprang from the boat and ran up the avenue leading toward the house.  There was no light visible from the windows of the mansion.  The dinner party was a strictly private family affair, and nothing but the solitary lamp at the head of the avenue appeared to guide the pedestrian’s steps through the darkness of the newly fallen night.

He reached the house, and was admitted by the old servant.

When his toilet was complete, the duke went down to the drawing room to join the family circle.

The dinner, quiet as it was, was a success.  To be sure, the diners were all in deep mourning and the conversation was rather subdued; but, then, it was perhaps on that account the more interesting.

The many courses, altogether, occupied more than an hour.

When the cloth was drawn and the dessert placed upon the table, at a signal from the Iron King the butler went around the table and filled every glass with champagne, then returned and stood at his master’s back.  Mr. Rockharrt arose and made a speech, and proposed a toast that greatly astonished his company and compromised two of them.  With his glass in his hand, he said: 

“My sons, daughters, and friend:  You all doubtless understand the object of this family gathering, and also why this celebration of an interesting family event must necessarily be confined to the members of the family.  In a word, it is my duty and pleasure to announce to you all the betrothal in marriage of his grace the Duke of Cumbervale and my granddaughter, Mrs. Corona Rothsay.  I propose the health of the betrothed pair.”

Cora put down her glass and turned livid with dismay and indignation.  All the other diners, the duke among them, arose to the occasion and honored the toast, and then sat down, all except the duke, who remained standing, and though somewhat embarrassed by this unexpected proceeding on the part of the Iron King, yet vaguely supposed it might be a local custom, and at all events was certainly very much pleased with it.  Being in love and being taken by surprise, he could not be expected to speak sensibly, or even coherently.  He said: