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