Mona smiled proudly. She failed to perceive how a courteous recognition could have made her conspicuous or violated in any way the most rigid laws of etiquette.
"In that case we will continue to observe the proprieties of life upon all occasions," she dryly remarked.
He read her thoughts, and was keenly stung by her words.
"Forgive me," he said, with an assumption of regret and humility, thinking thus the better to gain his end; "had I realized that you would have been so wounded I should have acted very differently. I assure you I will never offend you in the same way again."
"Pray do not be troubled," Mona coldly retorted. "I had no thought of resenting anything which you might consider proper to do. If I thought of the matter at all, it was only in connection with the generally accepted principles of courtesy and good-breeding."
Mr. Hamblin flushed hotly at this keen shaft, but he ignored it, and changed the subject.
"I am sorry to have interrupted you in your reading, Miss Richards. What have you that is interesting?"
"Victor Hugo's 'Les Miserables,'" Mona briefly replied.
"Have you?" the young man eagerly demanded, "I was searching for that book only yesterday. May I look at it one moment? McArthur and I had quite a discussion upon a point regarding Father Madelaine, and we were unable to settle it because we could not find the book."
Mona quietly passed the volume to him; but a blank look overspread his face as he took it.