E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan, and the Project
Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
A Sequel to Mona
by
Author of Virgie's Inheritance, A True Aristocrat, Trixy, Lost A
Pearle, Helen's Victory, etc.
1891
When Mrs. Montague entered her room, an hour after Mona went up stairs,there was a deep frown upon her brow.
She found Mona arrayed in a pretty white wrapper, and sitting before theglowing grate reading a new book, while she waited for her.
"What are you sitting up for, and arrayed in that style?" sheungraciously demanded.
"I thought you would need help in undressing, and I put on this loosewrapper because it was more comfortable than any other dress," Monaanswered, as she regarded the lady with some surprise, for she had neverbefore quite so curtly addressed her.
Mrs. Montague did not pursue the subject, and Mona patiently assisted herin taking off her finery, hanging the rich dress carefully over a form,folding her dainty laces, and arranging her jewels in their cases.
"Can I do anything more for you?" she asked, when this was done.
"No."
"At what time shall I come to you in the morning?" the fair girlinquired, without appearing to heed the uncivil monosyllable.
"Not before nine o'clock; but you can mend that rip in my traveling suitbefore that, as we shall go back to New York on the eleven o'clockexpress."
"Very well; good-night," Mona said, with gentle politeness, as she turnedto leave the room.
"Stop a moment, Ruth," Mrs. Montague commanded.
Mona turned back, flushing slightly at the woman's imperiousness.
"I have not been at all pleased with your deportment this evening," thewoman continued, "You have been exceedingly forward for a person in yourposition."
Mona's color deepened to a vivid scarlet at this unexpected charge.
"I do not quite understand you—" she began, when her companion turnedangrily upon her, thus arresting her in the midst of her speech.
"I do not see how you can fail to do so," was her icy retort. "I referto your acceptance of Mr. Palmer's attentions. One would have supposedthat you regarded yourself as his equal by the way you paraded thedrawing-room with him to-night."
Mona could hardly repress a smile at this attack, and she wondered whatRay would have thought if he could have heard it. Yet a thrill ofindignation shot through her at this unreasonable abuse.
"You witnessed my introduction to Mr. Palmer this evening," she quietlyreplied; "you heard him offer to conduct me to Mr. Wellington, and soknow how I happened to accept his attentions."
"You should have rejected his offer," was the quick retort.
"I could not do so without appearing rude—you yourself know that noyoung lady would have done so under the circumstances."
"No young lady—no, of course not," interposed Mrs. Montague, withsignificant emphasis; "but you must not forget that your position willnot admit of your doing what might consistently be done by young ladiesin society. You received Mr. Palmer's attentions as a matte