The smile and look which concluded these observations brought the quick blood to the cheeks of the fair girl, and made another pair of eyes, which were peering at them through the palms and ferns, flash with malicious anger and jealousy.

“I have so few friends now, Ray, I fear we shall not have many to entertain,” Mona replied, a little sadly.

“I do not believe you know how many you really have, dear.  You disappeared from social life so suddenly, leaving everybody in the dark regarding your whereabouts, that very few had an opportunity to prove their friendship,” Ray said, soothingly.  “However,” he added, his fine lips curling a trifle, “we shall know how to treat those who have met and ignored you.  But have you heard anything from Mr. Corbin since I saw you last?”

“No, and I fear that I shall not,” Mona replied, with a sigh.  “I do not see any possible way by which he can prove my identity.  As you know, I have not a single item of reliable evidence in my possession, although I firmly believe that such evidence exists, and is at this moment in Mrs. Montague’s keeping.”

She then related how her suspicions had been freshly aroused by the conversation of that morning, and Ray was considerably excited over the matter.

“Why did you not tell me before that Louis Hamblin made himself obnoxious to you at Hazeldean?” he questioned, flushing with indignation, for Mona had also told him of her interview with the young man in the library, in connection with the story of Mrs. Montague’s more recent proposal to her.

“Because I believed that I had myself thoroughly extinguished him,” Mona answered, smiling; “and besides,” she continued, with a modest blush, “I believe that no true, considerate woman will ever mention her rejection of a suitor to a third party, if she can avoid doing so.”

Ray gave her an admiring glance.

“I wish there were more women in the world of the same mind,” he said.  “But mind, dear, I will not have you annoyed about the matter further.  If, after what you have told Mrs. Montague to-day, young Hamblin should presume to renew the subject again, you are to tell me and I will deal with him as he deserves.  It certainly is rather suspicious her wanting you to become his wife.  Why, it is in everybody’s mouth that she has been trying for months to make a match between him and Kitty McKenzie,” he concluded, thoughtfully.

“Kitty McKenzie is far too good a girl for such a fate; but I am afraid she is really quite fond of him,” said Mona, with a regretful sigh.  “But shall you come up to Forty-ninth street this afternoon, Ray?”

“I suppose I must, or people will talk,” he replied, dejectedly.  “If my father is determined to marry the woman it will create gossip, I suppose, if I appear to discountenance it; so all that remains for me to do is to put the best possible face upon the matter and treat my future step-mother with becoming deference.”