She felt that there had been two factors in bringing about the situation:  first, the death of her grandmother; second, the marriage of her Uncle Fabian.  The field was thus left open for the operations of this scheming adventuress and siren.

Cora had been so dismayed at the communication of her grandfather that she had scarcely answered him with a word.  But he had been too deeply absorbed in his own thoughts and plans to notice her silence and reserve.

He had expressed his wishes, given his orders, and gone out.  That was all.

What could Cora do?

Nothing at all.  Too well she knew the unbending nature of the Iron King to delude herself for a moment with the idea that any opposition, argument, or expostulation from her would have so much as a feather’s weight with the despotic old man.

If he had asked Mrs. Stillwater to Rockhold under present circumstances, Mrs. Stillwater would come, and he would have her there just as long as he pleased.

Cora was at her wits’ end.  She resolved to write at once to her Uncle Fabian.  Surely he must know the true character of this woman, and he must have broken off his very questionable acquaintance with her before marrying Violet Wood.  Surely he would not allow his father to be so dangerously deceived in the person he had invited to his house—­to the society of his granddaughter.  He would unmask her, even though in doing so he should expose himself.

She would also write to Sylvan, who from the very first had disliked and distrusted “the rose that all admire.”  And she thanked Heaven that Cadet Haught would graduate at the next exhibition at West Point and come home on leave for the midsummer holidays.

While waiting answers from the two absent men she would consult her Uncle Clarence.  Truth to tell, she had but little hope of help in this affair from her younger uncle.  Mr. Clarence was so far from thinking evil of any one.  He was so loath to give pain or have any disturbance in the domestic circle.  He would be sure to feel compassion for Rose Stillwater.  He would be sure to recall her pretty, helpful, pleasant ways, and the comfort both his father and his mother used to take in her playful manners and affectionate ministration.  Mr. Clarence was much too benevolent to wish to interfere with any arrangement that was likely to make the house pleasant and cheerful to his aged father, and give a comfortable home and support to a desolate young widow.  And that the Iron King should ever be seriously taken in by the beautiful and bewitching creature he would never believe.  Yet Cora knew from all past experience that Rose Stillwater was more esteemed by old Aaron Rockharrt and had more influence over him than any living creature.  Strange that a man so hard headed as the Iron King, and so clear brained on all occasions when not blinded by his egotism, should allow himself to be so deceived in any one as he was in Rose Stillwater.