“I do so consider myself,” Mona returned, with quiet dignity, but with a dangerous sparkle in her usually mild eyes.  The woman’s arrogance was becoming unbearable, even to her sweet spirit.

“Really!” was the sarcastic rejoinder.  “Your vanity, Ruth, would be odious if it were not so ridiculous.  But you should not allow your complacency, over a merely pretty face, to lead you into such presumption as you have been guilty of to-night.  I blame myself somewhat for what has occurred; if I had not accorded you permission to witness the dancing, you would not have been thrown into such temptation; but I did not dream that you would force yourself upon the notice of any of Mr. Wellington’s guests.”

“You are accusing me very unjustly, Mrs. Montague,” Mona began, with blazing eyes, but the woman cut her short.

“I consider myself a competent judge in such matters,” she insolently asserted.  “At all events, however, you are to receive no more attentions from Mr. Palmer.  He—­is the son of the gentleman whom I expect to marry, and I have no intention of allowing my seamstress to angle for my future step-son.”

“Madame—­” began Mona, indignantly.

“We will not discuss the matter further,” Mrs. Montague interposed, imperiously; “you can go now, but be sure to have my traveling dress ready by nine o’clock in the morning.”

Mona went out, and forced herself to shut the door after her without making the slightest sound, although every nerve in her body was tingling with indignation and resentment, to which she longed to give some outward expression.

But for one thing, she would have faced the coarse, rude woman, and proclaimed that she was already the promised wife of Raymond Palmer, and had a perfect right to receive his attentions whenever and wherever she chose.

That secret of the desertion of her mother haunted her, however, and she was bound to curb herself and bear everything for three months longer, while she would diligently apply herself to the task before her.

She retired immediately, but she could not go to sleep until she had relieved her overcharged heart of its bitterness and passion in a burst of weeping.

The next morning early Ray and his father were on their way to New York, and ten o’clock found them seated in the private court-room, where Mrs. Vanderheck was to answer the charges against her.

Money will accomplish a great deal, and in this case it had secured the privilege of a private examination, before a police justice, who would decide whether the suspected culprit should be held for the grand jury.

Immediately upon the arrival of the Palmers, Detective Rider came to them, accompanied by a gentleman whom he introduced as Justin Cutler, Esq., of Chicago.

They all took seats together, and presently a door opened to admit Mrs. Vanderheck, who was attended by her husband and counsel, and who was richly attired in a close-fitting black velvet robe, and wore magnificent solitaires in her ears, besides a cluster of blazing stones at her throat.