Sylvan, sitting by Cora at the other end of the apartment, began to tell all about the exercises at West Point which she had missed. His voice, though not loud, was clear and lively, and quite drowned the sound of Mr. Rockharrt and Mrs. Stillwater's words, which Cora could see were earnest and important. At last Rose got up in some agitation and hurried out of the room. Then old Aaron Rockharrt came up to the young people and stood before them. There was something so ominous in his attitude and expression that his two grandchildren looked dismayed even before he spoke. "Sir and madam," he said, addressing the young creatures as if they were dignitaries of the church or state, "I have to inform you that I am about to marry Mrs. Stillwater. The ceremony will be performed at the church to-morrow noon. I shall expect you both to attend us there as witnesses." Saying which the Iron King arose and strode out of the room. The sister and brother lifted their eyes, and might have stared each other out of countenance in their silent, unutterable consternation. Sylvan was the first to find his voice. "Cora! It is an outrage! It is worse! It is an infamy!" he exclaimed, as the blood rushed to his face and crimsoned it. Cora said never a word, but burst into tears and sobbed aloud. "Cora! don't cry! You have me now! Oh! the old man is certainly mad, and ought to be looked after. Cora, darling, don't take it so to heart! At his age, too; seventy-seven! He'll make himself the laughing stock of the world! Oh, Cora, don't grieve so! It does not matter after all! Such a disgrace to the family! Oh, come now, you know, Cora! this is not the way to welcome a fellow home! For any old man to make such a--Oh, I say, Cora! come out of that now! If you don't, I swear I will take my hat and go out to get a drink!" "Oh, don't! don't!" gasped his sister; "don't you lend a hand to breaking my heart." "Well, I won't, darling, if you'll only come out of that! It is not worth so much grief." "I will--stop--as soon as--I can!" sobbed the young woman, "but when I think--of his reverent gray hairs--brought to such dishonor--by a mere adventuress--and we--so powerless--to prevent it, I feel as if--I should die." "Oh, nonsense; you look at it too gravely. Besides, old men have married beautiful young women before now!" said Sylvan, troubled by his sister's grief, and tacking around in his opinions as deftly as ever did any other politician. "Yes, and got themselves laughed at and ridiculed for their folly!" sighed Cora, who had ceased to sob. "Behind their backs, and that did not hurt them one bit." "Oh, if Uncle Fabian were only here!" "Why, what could he do to prevent the marriage?" "I do not know. But I know this, that if any man could prevent this degradation, he would be Uncle Fabian! It would be no use, I fear, to telegraph to Clarence!"