“Don’t grieve over it, Ray, for it will not avail,” his father returned, kindly.  “Experience is the best teacher, and no one will ever rob us in the same way again.”

“I do not think that is likely, and yet I cannot get over it; I cannot bear to consider the gems irretrievably lost, even yet.”

“You may as well, for I am sure we shall never see any of them again,” said Mr. Palmer, calmly.

“Who is this lady approaching us?” Ray asked, after a moment.  “You were talking to her when I motioned to you.”

Mr. Palmer glanced up.

“That is a Mrs. Montague—­”

“Montague!” interrupted Ray, in a startled tone.  “Can she be anything to Mona?”

“No, nothing.  I asked the question upon learning her name,” his father answered.

Ray sighed heavily; then, as his glance still lingered upon the beautiful woman, he exclaimed: 

“Isn’t she lovely?  I believe she is the purest blonde I have ever seen.  Her hair is like spun gold, her features are faultless, and her neck and arms are as perfect as if sculptured from marble.”

“Take care, Ray,” said his father, with a sly smile; “people say that she is a perfect siren.  I have myself been warned against her to-night.”

“Pshaw!” retorted the young man.  “Where is her husband?”

“She has none, and therein lies the danger.”

“Ah! a widow!  How old is she?”

“Not more than twenty-eight or thirty, I judge—­at least, she does not look it in full dress, and she is very charming in manner.  Merrill says that all the men, both old and young, are making fools of themselves over her.”

“Well, then, you and I will not help to swell the list,” said Ray, curtly, a trifle irritated that his staid and dignified father should have so much to say about the gay society woman; and turning on his heel, he moved away, with the purpose of approaching the one whose diamonds had attracted so much attention.  He meant to seek an introduction, and get an opportunity to examine the stones more closely.

Fifteen minutes later he stood bowing before her, as a friend presented him, and he was long in recovering from the shock which went through him as he caught the name by which she was introduced: 

“Mrs. Vanderbeck, allow me to present my friend, Mr. Palmer.”

“Pardon me.  Did I understand the name—­Mrs. Vander_beck_?” Ray said, trying to control the rapid throbbing of his pulses, and putting a slight emphasis upon the last syllable of the name.

He was sure that the lady started and changed color as he did so, for he was watching her closely.

“No,” she said; “you haven’t it quite right; we spell it h-e-c-k.”

But she seemed strangely ill at ease during the few moments that Ray stood conversing with her, while from time to time he caught her regarding him curiously.  He did not, however, get any satisfaction from his examination of her ornaments; for among such a blazing array of diamonds it was impossible to tell if he had ever seen any of them before.