Mr. Rockharrt had not as yet said one word to his family concerning his intended trip to Europe, although he had been thinking of it, and laying his plans, and making his arrangements, preparatory to the voyage, all the winter.

So it was with amazement that Cora first heard of the matter from Rule Rothsay, who came to her to report the result of his last attempt to gain the consent of the old gentleman to his marriage with the granddaughter.

A few days later the family despot announced to his subjects that he should start for Europe in two weeks, taking his wife and granddaughter with him, and leaving his two sons in charge of the works.

Active preparations went on for the voyage.  Mr. Rockharrt went every day to the works to lay out plans for the summer to be completed during his absence.

Mrs. Rockharrt and Cora had few arrangements to make, for the autocrat had warned them that they were to take only sufficient for the voyage, as they could buy whatever they needed on the other side.

A few days before they left Rockhold, Rule Rothsay came uninvited to visit his beloved Cora.

Mr. Rockharrt happened to be the first to see him, and received him well.

When they were seated, Rule said: 

“You refused to allow me to marry your granddaughter at present, and—­”

“Now begin all that over again, Rothsay.  I said that in two years you can marry her and take her fortune, if you both choose, whether I like it or not.  That is all.”

“Do you, however, sanction our engagement, Mr. Rockharrt?  Shall your granddaughter and myself be betrothed, openly betrothed, so that all may know our mutual relations, before the ocean divides us?  That is what I would know now.  That is what I have come down here to ask.”

The old man ruminated for a few moments, and then answered: 

“Well, yes; you may be, with the understanding that you will wait to marry for two years longer.  These two years will be a probation to both.  If you fulfill the promise of your youth, and rise to the position that you can, if you will, attain, and if you remain faithful to her, and if she remains true to you, you may then marry.  With all my heart I shall wish you well.  But if either of you fail in truth and fidelity, the defaulting one, whether it be you or she, shall never look me in the face again,” concluded the Iron King.

Rule’s eyes lighted up with the fire of love and faith.  He seized the hand of the old man and shook it warmly, saying: 

“You have made me very happy by your words, Mr. Rockharrt, and I assure you, by all my hopes on earth or in heaven, that whatever may change in time or eternity, my heart will never vary a hair’s breadth from its fidelity to its queen.”

“I believe you, or rather I believe you think so.”

A kind impulse, a rare one, moved the old man.  Perhaps he reflected that these two young people might, have defied him and married without his consent had they pleased to do so; but they had submitted themselves to his will, and as his favorite motto told him that “Government is maintained by reward and punishment,” he may have reasoned that this was an occasion for reward.  So he said to the young man, who had risen, and was standing before him: