“How lovely it is, Ruth,” she remarked, “and you have arranged the lace very tastefully upon the corsage.  I believe it will be exceedingly becoming.  I only wish I could see myself as others will see me on Monday night, and know just how I am going to look.  Ruth,” she added, suddenly, as if inspired with a bright idea, “you are about my height; suppose you put on the dress and let me get just the effect; that is, if you are not too tired and do not mind being made a show figure, here all by ourselves.”

Mona smiled slightly over the woman’s vanity, but she was willing to oblige, and so signified her readiness to put the dress on, and in less than ten minutes she had metamorphosed herself from the quiet, retiring sewing-girl into a brilliant society belle.

The dress was a trifle loose for her, yet it was not a bad fit, while her pure neck and arms were as white as the costly lace, which fell in soft folds over them.

Mrs. Montague marveled at the exquisite fairness of her skin, and told herself that she had never realized, until that moment, how very beautiful her young seamstress was.

“You must put everything on, even to the jewels that I shall wear,” she said, bringing a large case from one of her trunks, and exhibiting an almost childish eagerness to get the full effect of her costume.

She opened the case, and taking a diamond necklace of great beauty and value from it, clasped it about the girl’s milk-white neck.  Then she fastened some fine solitaires in her small ears; three or four pins, each having a blazing stone for its head, were tucked amid the glossy braids of her hair, and two glittering snakes were wound about her beautifully rounded arms.

“Now for the fan, and you will be complete,” cried Mrs. Montague, as she brought an exquisite affair composed of white ostrich tips, with a bird of Paradise nestling in its center, and handed it to Mona.

Then she stood off to admire the tout ensemble, and just at that moment there came a tap upon her door.

She went immediately to open it, and found her nephew standing outside.

“I’ve come for the money, Aunt Margie,” he said.  “I thought I’d better have it to-night, since I am going to town on the early train, and did not like to disturb you in the morning.”

“Very well, I will get it for you, and I hope that Madame Millaise will have the mantle ready for you, for I must have it on Monday evening to throw over my shoulders after dancing,” Mrs. Montague responded, as she turned back to get her purse.

She was on the point of closing the door, for she did not care to have her nephew know what was going on within the room.  But Mr. Louis Hamblin was very keen.  He knew from her manner that something unusual was occurring, and so he boldly pushed on after her, and entered the chamber before she was aware of his intention.

He stopped suddenly, however, the moment he had crossed the threshold, stricken with astonishment, as his glance rested upon Mona.