face lighted with
pleasure the instant she caught sight of Mona, although it was evident
from her greeting that Mrs. Montague had not told her servants the
story of the elopement.

"Is Mrs. Montague in?" Mona asked, after she had returned the girl's
greeting.

"No, miss, she went out as soon as she had her breakfast, and said she
wouldn't be home until after lunch," was the reply.

Mona looked thoughtful. She did not exactly like to enter the house and
remove her things during her absence, and yet it would be a relief not to
be obliged to meet her.

Ray saw her hesitation, and understood it, but he had no scruples
regarding the matter.

"It is perhaps better so," he said, in a low tone; "you will escape an
unpleasant interview, and since she is not here to annoy or ill-use you,
I will take the carriage and go to attend to a little matter, while you
are packing. I will return for you in the course of an hour if that will
give you time."

"Yes, that will be ample time, and I will be ready when you call," Mona
responded.

Ray immediately drove away, while she, after chatting a few moments with
Mary, went up stairs to gather up her clothing and what few treasures she
had that had once helped to make her old home so dear.

She worked rapidly, and soon had everything ready. But suddenly she
remembered that she had left a very nice pair of button-hole scissors
in Mrs. Montague's boudoir on the day they left for the South.

She ran lightly down to get them, and just as she reached the second hall
some one rang the bell a vigorous peal.

"That must be Ray," she said to herself, and stopped to listen for his
voice.

But as Mary opened the door, she heard a gentleman's tones inquiring for
Mrs. Montague.

"No," the girl said, "my mistress is not in."

"Then I will wait, for my errand is urgent," was the reply, and the
person stepped within the hall.

Mona did not see who it was, but she heard Mary usher him into the
parlor, after which she went to obey a summons from the cook, leaving
the caller alone.

Mona went on into Mrs. Montague's room to get her scissors, but she
could not find them readily. She was sure that she had left them on the
center-table, but thought that the woman had probably moved them since
her return.

Just then she thought she heard some one moving about in Mrs. Montague's
chamber adjoining, but the door was closed, and thinking it might be
Mary, she continued her search, but still witho