"Why, Fabian! Fabian! Why should you care so much as all this? Speak, Fabian; what is the matter?" inquired the younger brother, rising and bending over the elder.
"What is the matter?" cried Mr. Fabian, excitedly. "Ruin is the matter!
Ruin, disgrace, dishonor, degradation, an abyss of infamy; that is the matter."
"Oh, come now! see here! that is all wild talk. The young woman was only a nursery governess, to be sure, in our house, and then widow of some skipper or other; but she was respectable, though of humble position."
"Clarence, hush! You know nothing about it!" exclaimed Mr. Fabian, wiping his forehead with his handkerchief, and then getting up and walking the floor with rapid strides.
"I don"t understand all this, Fabian. We were all of us a good deal cut up by the event, but nothing like this!" said Mr. Clarence, uneasily.
"No; you don"t understand. But listen to me: I was on my way to Rockhold to join in the family reunion, and to show the old homestead to my wife; but I cannot take her there now. I cannot introduce her to the new Mrs.
Rockharrt--the new Mrs. Rockharrt!" he repeated, in a tone and with a gesture of disgust and abhorrence. "I shall turn back, and take my wife to our new home; and when I go to Rockhold, I shall go alone."
"Fabian, you make me dreadfully uneasy. What do you know of Rose Stillwater that is to her discredit?" demanded Clarence Rockharrt.
His elder brother paused in his excited walk, dropped his head upon his chest and reflected for a few moments. Then he seemed to recover some degree of self-control and self-recollection. He returned to his chair, sat down, and said:
"Of my own personal knowledge I know nothing against the woman but just this--that she is but half educated, deceitful, and unreliable. And that knowledge I gained by experience after she had first left Rockhold, to which I had first introduced her for a governess to our niece. I had nothing to do with her return to the old hall, and would have never countenanced such a proceeding if I had been in the country."
"That is all very deplorable, but yet it hardly warrants your very strong language, Fabian. I am sorry that you have discovered her to be "ignorant, deceitful, and unreliable," but let us hope that now, when she is placed above temptation, she will reform. Don"t take exaggerated views of affairs, Fabian."
The elder man was growing calmer and more thoughtful. Presently he said:
"You are right, Clarence. My indignation, on learning that that woman had succeeded in trapping our Iron King, led me into extravagant language on the subject. Forget it, Clarence. And whatever you do, my brother, drop no hint to any one of what I have said to you to-night, lest our father should hear of it; for if he should--"
Mr. Fabian paused.
"I shall never drop a hint that might possibly give our father one moment of uneasiness. Be sure of that, Fabian."
"That is good, my brother! And we will agree to ignore all faults in our young stepmother, and for our father"s sake treat her with all proper respect."
"Of course. I could not do otherwise. And, Fabian, I hope you will reconsider the matter, and bring Violet to Rockhold to join our family reunion."
"No, Clarence," said the elder brother; "there is just where I must draw the line. I cannot introduce my wife to the new Mrs. Rockharrt."
"But it seems to me that you are very fastidious, Fabian. Do you expect always to be able to keep Violet from meeting with "ignorant, insincere and unreliable" people, in a world like this?" inquired Mr. Clarence, significantly.
"No, not entirely, perhaps; yet, so far as in me lies, I will try to keep my simple wood violet "unspotted from the world,"" replied Mr.
Fabian, who, untruthful and dishonest as he was in heart and life, yet reverenced while he wondered at the purity and simplicity of his young wife"s nature.
"I am afraid the pater will feel the absence of Violet as a slight to his bride," said Mr. Clarence.
"No; I shall take care that he does not. Violet is in very delicate health, and that must be her excuse for staying at home."
The brothers talked on for a little while longer; and then, when they had exhausted the subject for the time being, Mr. Clarence said he would go and look up Sylvan, and he went out for the purpose. Fabian Rockharrt, left alone, resumed his disturbed walk up and down the room, muttering to himself:
"The traitress! the unprincipled traitress! How dared she do such a deed? Didn"t she know that I could expose her, and have her cast forth in ignominy from my father"s house? Or did she venture all in the hope that consideration of my father"s age and position in the world would shut my mouth and stay my hand? She is mistaken, the jade! Unless she falls into my plans, and works for my interest, she shall be exposed and degraded from her present position."
Mr. Fabian was interrupted by the re-entrance of Mrs. Rothsay. He turned to meet her and inquired:
"Where did you leave Violet, my dear?"
"She is in her own room, which is next to mine. I went in with her and saw her to bed, and waited until she went to sleep," replied Cora.
"Poor little one! She is very fragile, and has been very much fatigued.
I do not think, my dear, that I can take her on to Rockhold to-morrow. I think I must let her rest here for a day or two."
"It would be best, not only on account of Violet"s delicacy and weariness, but also on account of the condition of the house at Rockhold, which has not been opened or aired for months."
"That is true; though I had not thought of it before," said Mr. Fabian, who was well pleased that Cora so readily fell in with his plans.
"What do you think of the pater"s marriage, Cora?" he next inquired.
"I would rather not give an opinion, Uncle Fabian," she answered.
"Then I am equally well answered, for that is giving a very strong opinion!" he exclaimed.
"The deed is done and cannot be undone!"
"Can it not? Perhaps it can!"
"What do you mean, Uncle Fabian?"
"Nothing that you need trouble yourself about, my dear. But tell me this--what do you mean to do, Cora? Do you mean to stay on at Rockhold?"
"I suppose I must do so."
"Not at all, if you do not like! You are an independent widow and may go where you please."
"I know that and wish to go; but I do not wish to make a scene or cause a scandal by leaving my grandfather"s protection so suddenly after his marriage, which is open enough to criticism, as it is. So I must stay on at Rockhold so long as Sylvan"s leave shall last, and until he shall receive his commission and orders. Then I will go with him wherever his duty may call him."
"Good girl! You have decided well and wisely. Though the post of duty to which the callow lieutenantling will be ordered must, of course, be Fort Jumping Off Point, at the extreme end of the habitable globe. Well, my dear, I must bid you good night, for, see, it is on the stroke of eleven o"clock, and I am rather tired from my journey, for, you must know, we rushed it through from New York to North End without lying over," said Mr. Fabian, as he shook hands with his niece.
He retired, and his example was soon followed by all his party.
CHAPTER XIX.
A FAMILY REUNION.
The next morning, after an early breakfast, the travelers a.s.sembled in the hall of the hotel to take leave of each other. Clarence, Sylvan, and Cora entered the capacious carriage of the establishment to drive to Rockhold, leaving Mr. and Mrs. Fabian Rockharrt on the porch of the hotel, at which they had decided to rest for a few days.
"We shall go to Rockhold to welcome the king and queen when they return, Cora," said Mr. Fabian, waving his hand to the departed trio, though he had not the least intention of keeping his word. He then led his pretty Violet into the house. The lumbering carriage rolled along the village street, pa.s.sed the huge buildings of the locomotive works, and out into the road that lay between the fool of the range of mountains and the banks of the river.
The ferryboat was at the wharf, and the broad shouldered negro dwarf was standing on it, pole in hand.