Chapter XXX.Florence Is Followed Home.
"I am listening, madam," said Florence, inclining her head.
"I wish to speak to you about last evening, Miss Linden."
"I hope my playing was satisfactory, Mrs. Leighton. I did my best."
"I have no fault to find with your music. It came up to myexpectations."
"I am glad of that, madam."
"I referred, rather, to your behavior, Miss Linden."
"I don't understand you, Mrs. Leighton," Florence responded, inunaffected surprise. "Please explain."
"You danced several times with my nephew, Mr. Percy de Brabazon."
"Twice, madam."
"I understood it was oftener. However, that is immaterial. You hardlyseemed conscious of your position."
"What was my position, Mrs. Leighton?" asked Florence, quietly,looking her employer in the face. "Well--ahem!" answered Mrs.Leighton, a little ill at ease, "you were a hired musician."
"Well?"
"And you acted as if you were an invited guest."
"I am sorry you did not give me instructions as to my conduct," saidthe governess, coldly. "I should not have danced if I had been awarethat it was prohibited."
"I am sorry, Miss Linden, that you persist in misunderstanding me. Mr.de Brabazon, being in a different social position from yourself, itlooked hardly proper that he should have devoted himself to you morethan to any other lady."
"Did he? I was not aware of it. Don't you think, under thecircumstances, that he is the one whom you should take to task? Ididn't invite his attentions."
"You seemed glad to receive them."
"I was. He is undoubtedly a gentleman."
"Certainly he is. He is my nephew."
"It was not my part to instruct him as to what was proper, surely."
"You are very plausible. Miss Linden, I think it right to tell youthat your conduct was commented upon by one of my lady guests asunbecoming. However, I will remember, in extenuation, that you areunaccustomed to society, and doubtless erred ignorantly."
Florence bowed, but forbore to make any remark.
"Do you wish to speak further to me, Mrs. Leighton?"
"No, I think not."
"Then I will bid you good-morning."
When the governess had left the house, Mrs. Leighton asked herselfwhether in her encounter with her governess the victory rested withher, and she was forced to acknowledge that it was at least a matterof doubt.
"Miss Linden is a faithful teacher, but she does not appear toappreciate the difference that exists between her and my guests. Ithink, however, that upon reflection, she will see that I am right inmy stricture upon her conduct."
Florence left the house indignant and mortified. It was something newto her to be regarded as a social inferior, and she felt sure thatthere were many in Mrs. Leighton's position who would have seen noharm in her behavior on the previous evening.
Four days afterward, when Florence entered the Madison Avenue car toride downtown, she had scarcely reached her seat when an eager voiceaddressed her:
"Miss Linden, how fortunate I am in meeting you!"
Florence looked up and saw Mr. de Brabazon sitting nearly oppositeher.
Though she felt an esteem for him, she was sorry to see him, for, withMrs. Leighton's rebuke fresh in her mind, it could only be a source ofembarrassment, and, if discovered, subject her in all probability to afresh reprimand.
"You are kind to say so, Mr. de Brabazon."
"Not at all. I hoped I might meet you again soon. What a pleasant timewe had at the party."
"I thought so at the time, but the next day I changed my mind."
"Why, may I ask?"
"Because your aunt, Mrs. Leighton, took me to task for dancing withyou twice."
"Was she so absurd?" ejaculated Percy.
"It is not necessarily absurd. She said our social positions were sodifferent that it was unbecoming for me to receive attention fromyou."
"Rubbish!" exclaimed Percy, warmly.
"I am afraid I ought not to listen to such strictures upon the wordsof my employer."
"I wish you didn't have to teach."
"I can't join you in that wish. I enjoy my work."
"But you ought to be relieved from the necessity."
"We must accept things as we find them," said Florence, gravely.
"There is a way out of it," said Percy, quickly. "You understand me,do you not?"
"I think I do, Mr. de Brabazon, and I am grateful to you, but I amafraid it can never be."
Percy remained silent.
"How far are you going?" asked Florence, uneasily, for she did notcare to have her companion learn where she lived.
"I intend to get out at Fourteenth Street."
"Then I must bid you good-afternoon, for we are already at FifteenthStreet."
"If I can be of any service to you, I will ride farther."
"Thank you," said Florence, hastily, "but it is quite unnecessary."
"Then, good morning!"
And Percy descended from the car.
In another part of the car sat a young lady, who listened withsensations far from pleasant to the conversation that had taken placebetween Florence and Mr. de Brabazon.
It was Emily Carter, whose jealousy had been excited on the evening ofthe party. She dropped her veil, fearing to be recognized by Mr. deBrabazon, with whom she was well acquainted. She, too, had intendedgetting off at Fourteenth Street, but decided to remain longer in thecar.
"I will find out where that girl lives," she resolved. "Her conductwith Percy de Brabazon is positively disgraceful. She is evidentlydoing her best to captivate him. I feel that it is due to Mrs.Leighton, who would be shocked at the thought of her nephew's making alow alliance, to find out all I can, and put her on her guard."
She kept her seat, still keeping her veil down, for it was possiblethat Florence might recognize her; and the car moved steadily onwardtill it turned into the Bowery.
"Where on earth is she leading me?" Miss Carter asked herself. "I havenever been in this neighborhood before. However, it won't do to giveup, when I am, perhaps, on the verge of some important discoveries."
Still the car sped on. Not far from Grand Street, Florence left thecar, followed, though she was unconscious of it, by her aristocraticfellow-passenger.
Florence stopped a moment to speak to Mrs. O'Keefe at her apple-stand.
"So you're through wid your work, Florence. Are you goin' home?"
"Yes, Mrs. O'Keefe."
"Then I'll go wid you, for I've got a nasty headache, and I'll liedown for an hour."
They crossed the street, not noticing the veiled young lady, whofollowed within ear shot, and listened to their conversation. Atlength they reached the tenement house--Florence's humble home--andwent in.
"I've learned more than I bargained for," said Emily Carter, inmalicious exultation. "I am well repaid for coming to this horrid partof the city. I wonder if Mr. de Brabazon knows where his charmerlives? I will see that Mrs. Leighton knows, at any rate."
Adrift in New York: Tom and Florence Braving the World Page 30
