Mona had just given her the parcel and the change, when Rachel came in full of obsequious interest, and inquiries about "your pa" and "your ma"; so Mona withdrew to the other side of the shop. "I see you have got a new assistant, Miss Simpson," said Matilda patronisingly. "I'm happy to say I have,--a relation of my own, too,--Miss Maclean." Rachel meant it for an informal introduction, but Mona did not raise her eyes from the wools she was arranging. "You will be glad to hear that the wound is a very trifling one," said Dr Dudley's pleasant voice a moment later, as he re-entered the shop and walked straight up to Mona. "Good morning." In spite of his previous rebuff, he held out his hand cordially, and, although Mona was somewhat amused, she appreciated the kindness of his motive too warmly to refuse his hand again. And indeed it was a pleasant hand to take--firm, "live," brotherly, non-aggressive. But she responded to his salutation with a very audible, "Good morning, sir." "Damnation!" he said to himself, "the girl is as proud as Lucifer. She might have left the 'sir' alone for once." From which you will perceive that Dr Dudley had heard something of the conversation which had just taken place, had guessed a little more, and had resolved in a very friendly spirit to play the part of a _deus ex machinâ_. He went out of the shop in company with the red-haired girls. "Do you know that young woman is a relation of Miss Simpson's?" asked one of them. "I do." "She might be a duchess from the airs she gives herself," said the other. Dr Dudley was silent. It would be a gratuitous exaggeration to say that Mona would grace that or any other position, although the contrast she presented to these two girls made him feel strongly inclined to do so; and in any case it was always a mistake to show one's hand. "Well, you needn't have said that about shop-girls all the same," said Matilda. "I don't care! It would do her good to be taken down a peg." "Ah, Miss Cookson," said Dr Dudley, thankfully seizing his opportunity, "don't you think it is dangerous work trying to take people down a peg? It requires such a delicate hand, that I never attempt it myself. One is so very apt to take one's self down instead." He lifted his hat with a short "Good morning," and strode away in the opposite direction. "Where were your eyes?" said Rachel, when the customers had left the shop. "Miss Cookson was going to shake hands with you, I believe; and they're the richest people in Borrowness." "Thank you very much, dear," replied Mona quietly, "but one must draw the line somewhere. If our customers have less manners than Mrs Sanderson's pig, I will serve them to the best of my ability, but I must decline the honour of their personal acquaintance."