ng into step with
her, began chatting as freely as if they had been old acquaintances.

His manner was very respectful, while there was nothing in what he said
to which she could in the least object--indeed, she found him rather
entertaining at first, and almost forgot, for the time, that she was Ruth
Richards, the seamstress, instead of Mona Montague, the heiress, and
social equal of any high-toned young man whom she might meet.

"Have you lived long in New York, Miss Richards?" Mr. Hamblin inquired,
after he had rattled on about various matters, and Mona had hardly
spoken. He desired to hear her talk, that he might judge of her mental
caliber.

"Yes, thirteen or fourteen years," Mona replied.

Louis Hamblin frowned; he had hoped that she was a stranger there.

"Ah! Then of course New York is very familiar to you," he remarked. "Do
your friends reside here?"

"No--I have no friends;" Mona said, flushing and with starting tears.

"Indeed," returned her companion, in a tone of sympathy, "I noticed that
you were in mourning--I am very sorry."

Mona had heard so few words of sympathy of late that she came near losing
her self-control at this, and she found herself unable to make any reply,
lest her tears should fall.

"You look very delicate, too," her companion continued, bending a curious
glance upon her. "I am sure you have not always lived as you are living
now; it must be very hard to sit and sew all day. I hope you find my aunt
considerate, Miss Richards."

Mona was astonished at this last remark which she thought was in very bad
taste, and she turned a cold, questioning glance upon him.

"If at any time you should not," he went on, flippantly, "just let me
know, Miss Richards, and I will see what I can do for you, for I have
considerable influence with Aunt Marg."

Mona looked amazed, and wondered what he could mean by speaking in such
a way of Mrs. Montague.

He had made a grand mistake in assuming that she should make a confidant
of him--an entire stranger--in the event of her being overworked by his
aunt.

"Mrs. Montague has been very good," she said, icily, and drawing her
slight, graceful figure haughtily erect, "but--if at any time I _should_
find my duties heavier than I could perform faithfully, I should tell
_her_ so and seek some other position."

Mr. Hamblin flushed hotly--not with embarrassment, although he had seldom
had such a rebuff, but with anger and chagrin that a poor sewing-girl