whom he had seen fit to patronize, should dare to give him such a
set-back.

But he had no intentions of being beaten at his game, and so curbed his
ire for the time.

"Pardon me," he humbly responded, "I did not mean to offend you nor to
interfere, 'pon my word I didn't; only you seem so delicate and unfit for
such a life; and fashionable ladies have such oceans of work to be done
that they sometimes crowd their help--I--"

"Excuse me--I must leave you here; my work is waiting for me," Mona
interposed, coldly, and cutting him short as they reached Mrs. Montague's
residence.

She ran lightly up the steps and rang the bell before he could offer to
admit her with his latch-key as before.

A servant let her in immediately, and she went directly up stairs,
without deigning her would-be escort another word or look, while she
carried herself with so much hauteur that he knew she resented his
presumptuous familiarity.

"Hoity toity!" he muttered, with a crimson face; "our pretty seamstress
hath the manner of a princess! One would almost suppose that she had been
born and bred in a palace and was the mistress of millions, instead of
being only a common working-girl and dependent upon the skill of her own
dainty fingers for her living. But she is wonderfully interesting, aside
from her beauty, and I must change my tactics or I shall never get into
her good graces. Who would have dreamed that she would have the sense to
resent my offer. Most girls would have blushed, simpered, and thanked me,
feeling flattered with my condescending interest."

Mr. Hamblin did change his tactics.

The next morning, when Mona went into the sewing-room, she found a tiny
vase filled with choice flowers upon her table.

She suspected that Mr. Hamblin might have been the donor, and she was
annoyed that he should presume to take such a liberty upon so slight an
acquaintance. Still, she was not sure that he had put them there, and the
pretty things made a bright spot in the room, while their fragrance was
not without its charm for her; so she did enjoy them in a measure.

"Where did you get your flowers, Ruth?" Mrs. Montague inquired, when she
came in later to inquire regarding a wrap that was being mended, and
espied them.

"My flowers!" Mona said, determined that she would not claim them; "they
are not mine, and I do not know who put them here. I found them on the
table when I came down this morning."

Mrs. Montague frowned, but said n