on.

Ray was loath to let her go; he longed to keep her there with him until
the last moment, but he felt that she was the best judge of her duty, and
he would not interfere with it, since he had conceded the point of her
remaining with Mrs. Montague for the present.

He arose to accompany her through the pavilion and drawing-room to the
hall.

"Will it not be better for me to go alone?" asked Mona, fearing that she
might be made conspicuous by this attention.

"Through all that crowd!" exclaimed her lover, surprised. "No, indeed;
I would not allow any lady whom I knew to go unattended, and since it is
known that I have been formally presented to Miss Richards, why should I
not treat her with becoming politeness?"

Mona made no further objection, but quietly took his arm and allowed
him to have his way. She was proud and happy to know that Ray was
noble-minded enough to have no fear of being seen publicly showing
courtesy to a simple seamstress.

As they were passing through the drawing-room Mona caught sight of Mrs.
Montague and Mr. Palmer sitting in an alcove by themselves.

Both glanced up, for the young couple were obliged to pass near them, and
Mrs. Montague frowned as she saw her waiting-maid, for the second time
that evening, upon the arm of Ray.

Mr. Palmer flushed and appeared somewhat embarrassed as he met his son's
eye, although he nodded and smiled in his usual genial way.

Reaching the main hall, Ray led Mona to the foot of the stairs, and held
out his hand for a parting clasp.

"Good-night, my darling," he said, bending over her and speaking in a
low tone. "Do you know that you are all the world to me, and I shall
impatiently count the days until I can claim you--three months hence at
the farthest! I must say good-by, too," he added, "as we leave for New
York early in the morning; but I shall try to see you again in a few
days."

Mona smiled, a delicate flush suffusing her face at his fond words; then,
responding to his good-night, she went quickly up stairs and sought her
room, firmly believing that she was the happiest person at Hazeldean,
and that her lover was the noblest man in the world.

Louis Hamblin had seen the young couple leave the pavilion, and following
them at a distance, had watched them with a jealous eye as they took
leave of each other.

Another pair of eyes were also peering at them over the banister in the
upper hall, and a beautiful face clouded over with anger and jea