“Poor Mona!” he almost sobbed, as he touched them with reverent fingers.  “I shall never be reconciled to your sad fate, and I cannot bring myself to tell your child the whole truth, at least not now.  I will tell her something—­just enough to satisfy her, if she questions me again—­the rest I have written, and I will hide the story with these things in the mirror; then in my will I will reveal its secret, so that Mona can find them.  She will be older, and perhaps happily settled in life by the time I get through, and so better able to bear the truth.”

He replaced the box and letters in the secret drawer of the mirror, also the envelope which contained what he had written, after which he carefully closed it, and returned the royal relic to the box in his desk.

“There! everything is as safe as if it were buried in Mona’s grave—­no one would ever think of looking for that history in such a place, and the secret will never be disclosed until I see fit to reveal it.”

He had scarcely completed these arrangements when Mona re-entered the room, her face bright and smiling, a lovely flush on her cheeks, a brilliant light in her liquid brown eyes.

“Well, my pet, you look pretty enough to kiss,” exclaimed Mr. Dinsmore, assuming a lightness of manner which he was far from feeling.  “Have you had a pleasant call?”

“Indeed I have, Uncle Walter, and I have also had an invitation to attend the opera to-night,” Mona replied, with increasing color.

“Ah! then I imagine that Miss Susie did not come alone, eh?” and Mr. Dinsmore smiled roguishly.

“No; Mr. Palmer was with her; and just as they were at the door, he discovered that he had forgotten his cards, so he just penciled his name on the back of Susie’s; but I did not see it, and of course did not know he was here until I went into the drawing-room,” the young girl explained.

“Palmer!  Ray Palmer, the son of Amos Palmer, the diamond merchant?” questioned Mr. Dinsmore.

“Yes, I have met him a number of times during the past year, and at Susie’s birthday party last week he asked permission to call.  May I go to-night, Uncle Walter?” Mona asked, with downcast eyes.

“Who else is to be in the party?” gravely inquired her uncle.

“Susie, and Louis, her brother.”

“Then I have no objection to your going also,” said Mr. Dinsmore; then he added, as he searched the beautiful face beside him:  “I know that Ray Palmer is an exceptionally fine young man, and any girl might feel honored in receiving his attentions.  Is he agreeable to you, Mona?”

A vivid scarlet suffused the maiden’s face at this pointed question, and the gentleman laughed out softly as he beheld it.

“Never mind, dear,” he continued, lightly.  “I am already answered, and Mr. Ray Palmer has my best wishes for his future success and happiness.  There, run back now, and tell your callers that you will join their party.”