“Oh, I suppose you refer to the person whose picture I found up stairs a while ago,” said Mona.

“Yes,” and Mrs. Montague looked slightly ashamed of her confession; “I imagine you think I am somewhat unjust to allow my prejudice to extend to you on that account, and I know I am; but the power of association is very strong, and I did hate that girl with all my heart.”

Mona was trying to acquire courage to ask what reason she could have for hating any one who looked so gentle and inoffensive, when the woman resumed, with some embarrassment: 

“Louis scolded me for the feeling when I mentioned it to him—­he is not tainted in any such way, I assure you.  Do you know, Ruth,” with a little laugh of assumed amusement, “that he is very fond of you?”

Mona’s face was all ablaze in an instant—­her eyes likewise, although she was greatly surprised to learn that the young man had betrayed his liking for her to his aunt.

“I trust that Mr. Hamblin has not led you to believe that I have ever encouraged any such feeling on his part,” she coldly remarked.

“I know that you have been very modest and judicious, Ruth; but what if I should tell you that the knowledge of his preference does not displease me; that, on the whole, I rather approve of his regard for you?” questioned Mrs. Montague, observing her closely.

“From what you told me a moment ago, I should suppose you would feel anything but approval,” Mona replied, without being able to conceal her scorn of this sanction to Louis Hamblin’s presumption.

“What do you mean?” demanded her companion, with some sharpness.

“I refer to the prejudice which you confessed to entertaining against me.”

“But did I not acknowledge that it was unjust?  And when one confesses wrong and is willing to correct it, credit should not be withheld,” Mrs. Montague retorted, with some warmth.  “But seriously, Ruth,” she continued, with considerable eagerness, “Louis is very much in earnest about this matter.  He has dutifully asked my permission to address you, and I believe it would be for his happiness and interest to have a good wife, such as I am confident you would make.  I know that he has betrayed something of this feeling to you, or I should not presume to speak to you about it; but my reason for so doing is that I thought perhaps you might feel more free to accept his suit if you knew that I approved of the union.”

Mona was trembling now with mingled excitement and indignation.  Excitement over the discovery that Louis Hamblin had really been in earnest when he had made love to her at Hazeldean, and indignation that he should still presume to think that she would marry him after the decided rebuff she had given him at that time.  She was also astonished that Mrs. Montague should propose such a thing after what she had said, on the night of the ball, about her “angling for Ray Palmer, and imagining herself to be his equal in any respect.”