The party reached Rockhold on the evening of the second day's travel. Old Aaron Rockharrt found himself so weary of traveling that he announced his intention of remaining in Rockhold for the entire winter, nor leaving it even to go to his town house for a few weeks during the session of the legislature. Cora was disappointed. She longed to go to Washington for the season--to go into company, to go to balls and parties, concerts and operas, to see new people and make new friends, perhaps to attract new admirers; and as she was now nineteen years of age, she need not be too severely criticised for so natural an aspiration. Mr. Fabian was the most zealous and active member of the firm. He would go to North End and stay two days at a time to be near his scene of duty. Time passed, but Rose Stillwater did not make her promised visit. Old Aaron often referred to it, and worried his wife to write to her and remind her of her promise. The old lady always complied with her husband's requirements, and wrote pressing letters; but the beauty always wrote back excusing herself on the ground of "the captain's" many engagements, which confined him to the ship and her to his side. So time passed, and nearly another year went by. The Rockharrts were still at Rockhold. A political crisis was at hand--the election for the State legislature. The candidate for representative of the liberal party in that election district was Regulas Rothsay. The election day came at length, as anxious a day for Cora Haught as for any one. It was a grand success, a glorious triumph for the printer boy and for the workingmen's cause as well. Rule Rothsay was elected representative for his district in the State legislature by an overwhelming majority. Cora was destined to a joyful surprise the next morning, when the domestic autocrat suddenly announced: "I shall take the family to my town house on the first of next week. My last bill, which was defeated last year, may be passed this session." Cora now, on the Irishman's principle of pulling the pig backward if you want him to go forward, ventured on the assurance of counseling her grandfather by saying: "I would not approach Mr. Rothsay on the subject of this bill, if I were you, sir." "But you are not I, miss!" exclaimed the old man, opening his eyes wide to stare her down. "And the new man is the very one to whom I shall first speak. He is the most proper person to present the bill. He represents my own district. His election is largely due to the men in my own employ. I am surprised that you should presume to advise upon matters of which you can know nothing whatever." Cora bowed to the rebuke, but did not mind it in the least, since now she felt sure of meeting Rule Rothsay in town. On the following Monday the Rockharrts went to town. Mr. Rockharrt met and compared notes with some of the lobbyists. One veteran lobbyist gave him what he called the key to the riddle of success.