Part 30 (1/2)
”He may--some of the larger ones, for they had been submitted to an expert; but I doubt if he ever sees many of them again,” her husband replied.
During these last two days Mona had been kept steadily employed in performing various duties for Mrs. Montague.
That lady's costume for the ball was to be of great elegance and beauty.
The material was a rich garnet velvet, brocaded in white and gold, with point-lace garniture.
It had not been quite finished before they left New York, and Mona found no little difficulty in setting the many last st.i.tches, for she had had but small experience in finis.h.i.+ng garments of any kind, and Mrs. Montague was very particular.
It was quite late in the evening when she completed her task, and, with a sigh of relief, laid the beautiful costume upon the bed, ready for Mrs.
Montague's inspection when she should come up stairs for the night.
There was something of regret also mingled with her feeling that she, too, could not join the festivities on Monday evening. She had dearly loved society during the little while she had mingled with it, and the pleasurable excitement of the last few days, which kept all the young ladies in a constant flutter, made her long to be one among them.
It was about half-past two when Mrs. Montague made her appearance, looking flushed and elated, for she had just parted from Mr. Palmer, who had begged her to attend service at the village church with him the next morning. The request was so impressively expressed that she imagined her conquest was nearly complete, and she was therefore in high spirits.
She caught sight of her ball-dress immediately upon entering the room.
”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.
He had known that the girl was unusually lovely, but he was not quite prepared to see such a vision of beauty as now greeted his eyes.
”Jove! Aunt Marg, isn't she a stunner?” he cried, under his breath. ”You won't see one at the ball Monday night that can hold a candle to her!”
Mona had flushed a vivid scarlet when he had so unceremoniously forced his way into the room; but at his bold compliment she turned haughtily away from his gaze with the air of an offended queen.