Jane returned in a brief time with a note in her hand.
"Mr. Curtis asked me if you were still here," she explained, "and when I told him you were he asked me to give you this."
Florence took the note, and, opening it, read these lines:
"Florence: Now that you have had time to think over your plan of leaving your old home, I hope you have come to see how foolish it is. Reflect that, if carried out, a life of poverty and squalid wretchedness amid homely and uncongenial surroundings awaits you; while, as my wife, you will live a life of luxury and high social position. There are many young ladies who would be glad to accept the chance which you so recklessly reject. By accepting my hand you will gratify our excellent uncle, and make me the happiest of mortals. You will acquit me of mercenary motives, since you are now penniless, and your disobedience leaves me sole heir to Uncle John. I love you, and it will be my chief object, if you will permit it, to make you happy.
"Curtis Waring."
Florence ran her eyes rapidly over this note, but her heart did not respond, and her resolution was not shaken.
"Tell Mr. Waring there is no answer, Jane, if he inquires," she said.
"Was he tryin" to wheedle you into marryin" him?" asked Jane.
"He wished me to change my decision."
"I"m glad you"ve given him the bounce," said Jane, whose expressions were not always refined. "I wouldn"t marry him myself."
Florence smiled. Jane was red haired, and her nose was what is euphemistically called _retrousse_. Even in her own circles she was not regarded as beautiful, and was hardly likely to lead a rich man to overlook her humble station, and sue for her hand.
"Then, Jane, you at least will not blame me for refusing my cousin"s hand?"
"That I won"t, miss. Do you know, Miss Florence"--and here Jane lowered her voice--"I"ve a suspicion that Mr. Curtis is married already?"
"What do you mean, Jane?" asked Florence, startled.
"There was a poor young woman called here last month and inquired for Mr. Curtis. She was very sorrowful-like, and poorly dressed. He came up when she was at the door, and he spoke harshlike, and told her to walk away with him. What they said I couldn"t hear, but I"ve a suspicion that she was married to him, secretlike for I saw a wedding ring upon her finger."
"But, Jane, it would be base and infamous for him to ask for my hand when he was already married."
"I can"t help it, miss. That"s just what he wouldn"t mind doin". Oh, he"s a sly deceiver, Mr. Curtis. I"d like to see him foolin" around me."
Jane nodded her head with emphasis, as if to intimate the kind of reception Curtis Waring would get if he attempted to trifle with her virgin affections.
"I hope what you suspect is not true," said Florence, gravely. "I do not like or respect Curtis, but I don"t like to think he would be so base as that. If you ever see this young woman again, try to find out where she lives. I would like to make her acquaintance, and be a friend to her if she needs one."
"Shure, Miss Florence, you will be needin" a friend yourself."
"It is true, Jane. I forgot that I am no longer a young lady of fortune, but a penniless girl, obliged to work for a living."
"What would your uncle say if he knew that Mr. Curtis had a wife?"
"We don"t know that he has one, and till we do, it would not be honorable to intimate such a thing to Uncle John."
"Shure, he wouldn"t be particular. It"s all his fault that you"re obliged to leave home, and go into the streets. Why couldn"t he take no for an answer, and marry somebody else, if he can find anybody to have him?"
"I wish, indeed, that he had fixed his affections elsewhere,"
responded Florence, with a sigh.
"Shure, he"s twice as old as you, Miss Florence, anyway."
"I shouldn"t mind that so much, if that was the only objection."
"It"ll be a great deal better marryin" a young man."
"I don"t care to marry any one, Jane. I don"t think I shall ever marry."
"It"s all very well to say that, Miss Florence. Lots of girls say so, but they change their minds. I don"t mean to live out always myself."
"Is there any young man you are interested in, Jane?"
"Maybe there is, and maybe there isn"t, Miss Florence. If I ever do get married I"ll invite you to the wedding."
"And I"ll promise to come if I can. But I hear the bell. I think my friend Dodger has come."
"Shall I ask him in, miss?"
"No. Tell him I will be ready to accompany him at once."
She went out into the hall, and when the door was opened the visitor proved to be Dodger. He had improved his appearance so far as his limited means would allow. His hands and face were thoroughly clean; he had bought a new collar and necktie; his shoes were polished, and despite his shabby suit, he looked quite respectable. Getting a full view of him, Florence saw that his face was frank and handsome, his eyes bright, and his teeth like pearls.
"Shure, he"s a great deal better lookin" than Mr. Curtis," whispered Jane. "Here, Mr. Dodger, take Miss Florence"s valise, and mind you take good care of her."
"I will," answered Dodger, heartily. "Come, Miss Florence, if you don"t mind walking over to Fourth Avenue, we"ll take the horse cars."
So, under strange guidance, Florence Linden left her luxurious home, knowing not what awaited her. What haven of refuge she might find she knew not. She, like Dodger, was adrift in New York.
Chapter VIII.
A Friendly Compact.
Florence, as she stepped on the sidewalk, turned, and fixed a last sad look on the house that had been her home for so many years. She had never antic.i.p.ated such a sundering of home ties, and even now she found it difficult to realize that the moment had come when her life was to be rent in twain, and the sunlight of prosperity was to be darkened and obscured by a gloomy and uncertain future.
She had hastily packed a few indispensable articles in a valise which she carried in her hand.
"Let me take your bag, Miss Florence," said Dodger, reaching out his hand.
"I don"t want to trouble you, Dodger."
"It ain"t no trouble, Miss Florence. I"m stronger than you, and it looks better for me to carry it."
"You are very kind, Dodger. What would I do without you?"
"There"s plenty that would be glad of the chance of helping you," said Dodger, with a glance of admiration at the fair face of his companion.