"Ah, no!" replied Corona. And then she entered upon the family history of the last four years and four months, since Rule had disappeared, and told him of the sudden death of her dear old grandmother on the very day on which the false report of Rothsay's murder reached them. She told him of her Uncle Fabian's marriage to Violet Wood a year later. Of her widowed grandfather's second marriage to Mrs. Stillwater, whom Rothsay had known in his childhood as Miss Rose Flowers. Of the recent death of this second wife, followed very soon after by that of the aged widower. And finally she told him of her own resolution to follow her brother Sylvan to his post of duty at Fort Farthermost, to open a mission home school for Indian children, and to devote her life and fortune to their service; and of the good opportunity offered her by the kindness of Colonel Z. in procuring for her the escort of Captain and Mrs. Neville, who were on their way to Farthermost with a party of recruits. "And Clarence? How came he to be of the company?" inquired Rothsay. "Uncle Clarence could not agree with Uncle Fabian in business policy. So they dissolved partnership very amicably and with mutual satisfaction. This was after I had left Rockhold. Clarence gathered up his wealth, brought three devoted servants with him, and set out to follow me. At St. Louis he purchased wagons, tents, horses, mules, and every convenience for crossing the plains. He overtook and surprised us at Fort Leavenworth on the very day of our intended departure for Farthermost." "Clarence came for your sake." "Yes; and he has enjoyed the journey. On the free prairie he has been like a boy out of school--so buoyant, so joyous--the life of the whole company." "What will he do now?" "I think he will go on to Farthermost for this season. After this I do not know what he will do or where he will go." "He will remain in this quarter, which offers a grand field for a man like Clarence Rockharrt," said Rothsay. "I should think it might--in the future," replied Corona. "In the near future. The tide of emigration is pouring into this section so fast that very soon the ground will be disputed with the Mexican government, and true men and brave men will be much wanted here." "Yes," said Corona, indifferently, for she cared very little at this moment for public interests. "But tell me of yourself, Rule. I long to hear you talk of yourself." Rothsay was no egotist. He never had been addicted to speaking of himself or of his feelings. Now, at her urgent request, he told her in brief how he had renounced all his honors in the country for the sake of the woman for whose sake, also, he had first striven to win them and had won them.