“Bless you, my dear, we don’t vegetate.  If nothing else should rouse our souls the Indians would, and make it lively for us, too!  It is not an unpleasant life, upon the whole, Mrs. Rothsay; but you see we are growing old, and my wife is tired of it, that is all.”

“How soon shall we leave for the West?” inquired Corona.

“How soon can you be ready, my dear young lady?”

“I am quite ready now.”

“Then on Monday, I think.  What do you say, Mrs. Neville?” inquired the captain.

“Monday will do,” replied the wife.

“Now here are some people coming in to interrupt us,” said the captain in a vexed tone.

Corona looked up and said: 

“They are Chief Justice and Mrs. Pendletime, come to call on their late ward, Mrs. Fabian Rockharrt.  You know them?”

“Not a bit of it.  So if you please, my dear, we will retire at once and leave you to receive them, especially as we are both engaged to dine at the arsenal this afternoon,” said the captain; and he arose, and with his wife withdrew from the parlor.

Cora went forward to receive the new visitors.  They both greeted her very warmly, and then expressed the deepest sympathy with her in her sorrow at the loss of her grandfather, and made many inquiries for the particulars of his illness.

When Corona had answered all their questions, and they had again expressed their sympathy, she inquired: 

“Have you sent for Violet?  Does she know you are here?  If not, I will go and call her.”

“Oh, yes; the servant took up our card.  And here she comes!  And the baby in her arms, by all that is beautiful!” said Mrs. Pendletime, as she arose to meet her favorite, and took the infant from the fond mother and covered both with caresses.

“To think of my child coming to a hotel instead of directly to my house!” said the elder lady, reproachfully.

“But I wished to stay a day or two with Corona before she leaves for the West.  And after I meant to go to you and stay as long as you would let me,” Violet replied.

“Mrs. Rothsay going West!” exclaimed the old lady.

“Yes; she is,” said Violet, emphatically and impatiently.  And then there ensued more explanations, and exclamations, and remonstrances.

And finally Mrs. Pendletime inquired: 

“And when do you leave on this fearful expedition, my dear?”

“On Monday next I go, with Captain and Mrs. Neville,” replied Corona.

“Well, I am truly sorry for it; but, of course, I cannot help it.  On Monday, therefore, after your friend has taken leave of you, you will remove to my house, Violet?”

“Oh, yes; the thought of going to you is the only comfort I have in parting from Corona,” replied Mrs. Fabian Rockharrt.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

CORONA’S DEPARTURE.

On the Sunday following her arrival in Washington, the last day of her sojourn in the capital, the day before her departure for the frontier, Corona Rothsay rose early in the morning, and soon as she was dressed went down to the ladies’ parlor.  Neither her uncle nor his young wife had yet left their rooms.  In fact, so early was it that none of the ladies staying in the house had yet come down to the parlor.  The place was vacant.