Mona turned and smiled into the bright face of Kitty McKenzie, who was radiant in pink silk and white tulle.
"No, only as a spectator," she replied, with an answering smile. "Mr. Wellington has kindly offered me a seat in the balcony, where I shall enjoy watching the merrymakers."
"But do you not like to dance yourself?" questioned the girl.
"Oh, yes, indeed. I used to enjoy it very much," Mona replied, with a little sigh.
"Then I think it is a great pity that you cannot join us to-night," returned Miss Kitty, regretfully, for she had caught the sigh; "only," she added, with sudden thought, "being in mourning, perhaps you would rather not."
"No, I should not care to dance to-night," Mona returned, and then she became conscious that a familiar form was approaching the spot where they stood.
It was not an easy matter for her to keep back her color as Ray drew near, and try to appear as if she had never seen him before. She knew that he was choosing this opportunity to be formally introduced to her.
But the voluble Miss McKenzie saluted him in her frank outspoken manner.
"Oh, Mr. Palmer," she cried, "are not the rooms lovely?—the flowers, the lights, indeed all the decorations?"
"They are, truly, Miss McKenzie; and," he added, with a merry smile, as he glanced at her bright face and figure, and then turned his gaze upon Mona, "there are some other lovely adornments about the rooms, besides those so skillfully used by the professional decorator."