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: