“Very well, then,” said Fabian.  “If you are set upon this expedition, I cannot hinder you, and shall not try to do so.  But I tell you what I will do.  I will take Violet to Washington with you, and get rooms at some pleasant house before the rush of winter visitors.  We shall not be able to go into general society, but there is a great plenty of sightseeing in the national capital with which to divert the mind of my poor little girl.  Her old guardians, the Pendletimes, are there also, and it will comfort her to see them.  With them she will be able to let you depart without breaking her poor little heart.”

“Oh, Uncle Fabian, I am so glad you have thought of this!  It will be so good for Violet.  She has had a sad time since her home-coming.  She needs a change,” said Corona, eagerly.

“I think she will be very much pleased with the plan.  Now, Cora, when do you wish to go?”

“As soon as possible; but since you are so kind as to accompany me, my wish must wait on yours, Uncle Fabian.”

“Let us go and consult Violet,” said Fabian Rockharrt, rising and leading the way to the nursery, which had been hastily fitted up for the accommodation of the Rockharrt baby and her nurse, and where he felt sure of finding the young mother, too.

Violet, when told of the scheme to go immediately to Washington and see her old friends, was more than “pleased;” she was delighted.  To show her baby to her more than mother, as she often called Mrs. Pendletime, would fill her soul with pride and joy.

Very early the next morning Mr. Fabian and his party left the city by the express train en route for the national capital, leaving Mr. Clarence to go to North End and take charge of the works.  They reached Baltimore at 11 p.m., and remained over night.  The next day they went on to Washington, where they arrived about noon, and went directly to the hotel where Captain and Mrs. Neville were staying.

Violet, very much fatigued, lay down to rest and to get her baby to sleep at her bosom.  Mr. Fabian, as we must continue from habit to call him, though his rightful style was now Mr. Rockharrt, went down to the reading room to send his own and his wife’s cards to Chief Justice and Mrs. Pendletime, and to collect Washington gossip.

Corona changed her traveling dress, went down into the ladies’ parlor, and sent her card to the rooms of the Nevilles.  And presently there entered to her a very handsome middle-aged pair.

The captain was a fine, tall, broad-shouldered, soldierly-looking man, with a bald head and a gray mustache.  He was clothed in a citizen’s morning suit.  The captain’s wife was also rather tall, slender, dark complexioned, with a thin face, black eyes, and black hair very slightly touched with gray, which she wore in ringlets over her ears, and in a braid behind her neck.  Her dress was a plain, dark cashmere, with white cuffs and collar.

“It is very kind of you to take charge of me,” said Corona to Mrs. Neville, as the three seated themselves on a group of chairs near together.