even of his regard; for you are much lower in every way than he is, for while he was seeking a fortune and you were seeking a title, you were concealing from him the fact of your engagement to Rule Rothsay.  You were doubly false to Rule and to Cumbervale.  Oh, Cora Haught!  Cora Haught!  Are you not ashamed of yourself!  Ashamed to look any honest man or woman in the face!  Ah! you do well to hide yours!” he concluded, for Cora had lost all self-control, dropped her head upon her hands, and burst into hysterical sobs and tears.

Did you ever see a small bantam hen ruffle up all her feathers in angry defense of her chick?  So did poor little, timid Mrs. Rockharrt in protection of her pet.  She ventured to expostulate with her tyrant for, perhaps, the first time in their married life.

“Oh, Aaron, do not scold the child so severely.  She is but human.  She has only been dazzled and fascinated by the young duke’s rank, and beauty, and elegance.  She could not help it, being thrown in his company so much.  And you know they say that half the girls in London society are in love with the handsome duke.  We will take her home, and she will come all right, and be our own, dear, faithful Cora again, and—­”

Old Aaron Rockharrt, who had gazed at his wife in speechless astonishment at her audacity in reasoning with him, now burst forth with: 

“Hold your jaw, madam,” and strode out of the room.

A minute later a waiter came in and laid a note on the table before Cora and immediately withdrew.

Cora took the missive, recognized the handwriting and seal, tore it open and eagerly ran her eyes along the lines.  This was the note: 

    CUMBERVALE LODGE, LONDON,
    May, 1, 18—­

MISS HAUGHT:  For my indiscretion of last evening I owe you an humble apology, which I beg you to accept with this explanation, that, had I known, or even suspected, that your hand was already promised in another quarter, I should never have presumed to propose for it.  I beg now to withdraw such a false step.

    Accept my best wishes for your happiness in a union with the more
    fortunate man of your choice, and believe me to be now and ever,

    Your obedient servant,

    CUMBERVALE.

Scarcely had Cora’s eyes fallen from the paper when Lady Pendragon’s carriage drove up to the door.

Glad of the interruption that enabled her to escape from the parlor, and give way to the passion and grief and despair that were swelling her heart to breaking, Cora hastened to her bed chamber and threw herself down upon the couch in a paroxysm of sobs and tears.

Mrs. Rockharrt waited in the parlor to receive the visitor, but no visitor came up.  Only two cards were left for the two ladies, and then the Countess of Pendragon rolled away in her carriage.

On Friday morning the Rockharrts left London.  And on Saturday morning they sailed from Liverpool.  After a prosperous voyage of ten days they landed at New York.