This letter Corona stuck on the card rack, where he would be sure to find it.

Then she ordered her own little pony carriage, and went and put on her bonnet and her warm fur-lined cloak and called Mark to bring her shawls and traveling bags down to the hall.

When all this had been done, Corona called all the servants together, made them each a little present, and then bade them good-by.

Then she stepped into the little carriage and bade the groom to drive on to Violet Banks.

“I think I shall go no further than that to-night, my friends, and leave for Washington to-morrow morning,” she said, in a broken voice, as the pony started.

“Then all ob us wot kin get off will come to bid yer annurrer good-by to-morrow mornin’!” came hoarsely from one of the crowd, and was repeated by all in a chorus.

The carriage rolled down the avenue to the ferry—­not that Corona intended to cross the river, for Violet Banks, it will be remembered, was on the same side and a few miles north of Rockhold—­but that she would not leave the place without taking leave of old Moses, the ferryman.  Fortunately the boat lay idle at its wharf, and the old man sat in the ferry house, hugging the stove and smoking his pipe.

He came out at the sound of wheels.  Corona called him to the carriage, told him that she did not want to cross the river, but that she was going away for a while and wished to take leave of him.

Now old Moses had seen too many arrivals and departures to and from Rockhold to feel much emotion at this news; besides he had no idea of the gravity of this departure.  So he only touched his old felt hat and said: 

“Eh, young mist’ess, hopes how yer’ll hab a monsous lubly time!  Country is dull for de young folks in de winter.  Gwine to de city, s’pose, young mist’ess?”

“Yes, Uncle Moses, I am going to Washington first,” replied Corona.

“Lors!  I hear tell how so many folkses do go to Washintub!  Wunner wot dey go for? in de winter, too!  Lors!  Well, honey, I wish yer a mighty fine time and a handsome husban’ afore yer comes home.  Lor’ bress yer, young mist’ess!”

“Thank you, Uncle Moses.  Here is a trifle for you,” said Cora, putting a half eagle in his hand.

“Lor’ bress yer, young mist’ess, how I do tank yer wid all my heart!  I nebber had so much money at one time in all my life!” exclaimed the overjoyed old ferryman.

CHAPTER XXX.

FAREWELL TO VIOLET BANKS.

Along the north road, between the thickly wooded east ridge and the swiftly running river, Corona drove on her last journey through that valley.  Three miles up, the road turned from the river, and, with several windings and doublings, ascended the mountain side to the elevated plateau on which were situated the beautiful house and grounds called Violet Banks.

As the carriage reached the magnificent plateau, Corona stopped the horse for a moment to take in the glory of the view.  In the midst of her admiration of this scenery, two distinct thoughts were strongly borne in on the mind of Corona.  One was that Violet Rockharrt would never be willing to leave this enchanting spot to make her home at Rockhold.  She might consent to do so to please others, but she would suffer through it.