Mrs. Cameron had long intended Mark Ray for her daughter, and accustomed
to see everything bend to her wishes, she had come to consider the
matter as almost certain, even though he had never proposed in words. He
had done everything else, she thought, attending Juno constantly and
frequenting their house so much that it was a standing joke for his
friends to seek him there when he was not at home or at his office.
Latterly, however, there had been a change, and the ambitious mother
could not deny that since Helen's arrival in New York Mark had visited
them less frequently and stayed a shorter time, while she had more than
once heard of him at her son's in company with Helen. Very rapidly a
train of thought passed through her mind; but it did not manifest itself
upon her face, which was composed and quiet as she decided with Juno
that Helen should not trouble them. With the utmost care Juno arrayed
herself for the party, thinking with a great deal of complacency how
impossible it was for Helen Lennox to compete with her in point of
dress.

"She is such a prude, I daresay she will go in that blue silk with the
long sleeves and high neck, looking like a Dutch doll," she said to
Bell, as she shook back the folds of her rich crimson, and turned her
head to see the effect of her wide braids of hair.

"I am not certain that a high dress is worse than bones," Bell retorted,
playfully touching Juno's neck, which, though white and gracefully
formed, was shockingly guiltless of flesh.

There was an angry reply, and then wrapping her cloak about her Juno
followed to their carriage, and was ere long one of the gay crowd
thronging Sybil Grandon's parlors. Helen had not yet arrived, and Juno
was hoping she would not come, when there was a stir at the door and
Mrs. Banker, in her velvet and diamonds, appeared, and with her Helen
Lennox, but so transformed that Juno hardly knew her, looking twice ere
she was sure that the beautiful young lady, so wholly self-possessed,
was indeed the country girl she affected to despise.

"Who is she?" was asked by many, who at once acknowledged her claims to
their attention, and as soon as practicable sought her acquaintance, so
that Helen suddenly found herself the center of a little court of which
she was the queen and Mark her sworn knight.

Presuming upon his mother's chaperonage, he claimed the right of
attending her, and Juno's glory waned quite as effectually as it had
done when Katy was th