"I have not been at all pleased with your deportment this evening," the
woman continued, "You have been exceedingly forward for a person in your
position."

Mona's color deepened to a vivid scarlet at this unexpected charge.

"I do not quite understand you--" she began, when her companion turned
angrily 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 refer
to your acceptance of Mr. Palmer's attentions. One would have supposed
that you regarded yourself as his equal by the way you paraded the
drawing-room with him to-night."

Mona could hardly repress a smile at this attack, and she wondered what
Ray would have thought if he could have heard it. Yet a thrill of
indignation shot through her at this unreasonable abuse.

"You witnessed my introduction to Mr. Palmer this evening," she quietly
replied; "you heard him offer to conduct me to Mr. Wellington, and so
know 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 no
young lady would have done so under the circumstances."

"No young _lady_--no, of course not," interposed Mrs. Montague, with
significant emphasis; "but you must not forget that your position will
not admit of your doing what might consistently be done by young ladies