"My dear, does he know that you are going out West with Sylvan?" "He should know it. I have spoken freely of my plans before you both for months past," said Cora. "But, my dear, he never took the slightest notice of anything you said on that subject. Why, he did not even seem to hear you." "He heard me perfectly. Nothing passes in my grandfather's presence that he does not see and hear and understand." "Well, then, I reckon he thinks you have changed your mind; for he spoke of meeting Sylvan at North End to bid him good-by, but said not a word about you." "He will believe that I am going when he sees me with Sylvan," said Cora. And then she touched the bell and ordered her carriage to be brought to the door. "We must go and take leave of Mrs. Fabian Rockharrt," she said to Rose. Twenty minutes later Cora and Sylvan entered the pony carriage. Sylvan took the reins and started for Violet Banks. They soon reached the lovely villa, where they found Violet seated in a Quaker rocking-chair on the front porch, with a basket workstand beside her, busily and happily engaged in her beloved work--embroidering an infant's white cashmere cloak. She jumped up, dropped her work, and ran to meet her visitors as they alighted from the carriage. She kissed Cora rapturously, and Sylvan kissed her. "How lovely of you both to come! Wait a minute till I call a boy to take your chaise around to the stable. And, oh, sit down. You are going to stay all day with me, too, and late into the night--there is a fine moon to-night. Or maybe you will stay a week or a month. Why not? Oh, do stay," she rattled on, a little incoherently on account of her happy excitement. "No, dear," said Cora, "we can only stay a very few minutes. The rising moon will see us far away on our route to New York." "W-h-y! You astonish me! How sudden this is! Where are you going?" asked Violet, pausing in her hurry to call a groom. "Let me explain," said Cora, taking one of the Quaker chairs and seating herself. "Sylvan has just received his commission as second lieutenant in the 3d Regiment of Infantry, now on Governor's Island, New York harbor, but under orders for Fort Farthermost, on the extreme frontier of the Indian Reserve. He leaves by the afternoon express, and I go with him." "Cora!" exclaimed Violet, as she dropped into her chair. "I know you have talked about this, but I never thought you would do such a wild deed! Please don't think of going out among bears and Indians!" "I must, dear, for many reasons. Sylvan and myself are all and all to each other at present, and we should not be parted. More than that, I wish to do something in the world. I can not do anything here. I am not wanted, you see. I must, therefore, go where I may be wanted and may do some good." "But what can you do--out there?" Cora then explained her plan of establishing a missionary home and school for Indian children.