"You wished to see me, Mrs. Leighton?" she said.
"Yes," answered Mrs. Leighton, grimly. "Will you be seated?"
Florence sat down a few feet from her employer and waited for an explanation.
She certainly was not prepared for Mrs. Leighton"s first words:
"Miss Linden, where do you live?"
Florence started, and her face flushed.
"I live in the lower part of the city," she answered, with hesitation.
"That is not sufficiently definite."
"I live at No. 27 -- Street."
"I think that is east of the Bowery."
"You are right, madam."
"You lodge with an apple-woman, do you not?"
"I do," answered Florence, calmly.
"In a tenement house?"
"Yes, madam."
"And you actually come from such a squalid home to instruct my daughter!" exclaimed Mrs. Leighton, indignantly. "It is a wonder you have not brought some terrible disease into the house."
"There has been no case of disease in the humble dwelling in which I make my home. I should be as sorry to expose your daughter to any danger of that kind as you would be to have me."
"It is a merciful dispensation of Providence, for which I ought to be truly thankful. But the idea of receiving in my house an inmate of a tenement house! I am truly shocked. Is this apple-woman your mother?"
"I a.s.sure you that she is not," answered Florence, with a smile which she could not repress.
"Or your aunt?"
"She is in no way related to me. She is an humble friend.
"Miss Linden, your tastes must be low to select such a home and such a friend."
"The state of my purse had something to do with the selection, and the kindness shown me by Mrs. O"Keefe, when I needed a friend, will explain my location further."
"That is not all. You met in the Madison Avenue car yesterday my nephew, Mr. Percy de Brabazon."
"It is coming," thought Florence. "Who could have seen us?" Then aloud:
"Yes, madam."
"Was it by appointment?"
"Do you mean to insult me, Mrs. Leighton?" demanded Florence, rising and looking at the lady with flashing eyes.
"I never insult anybody," replied Mrs. Leighton. "Pray, resume your seat."
Florence did so.
"Then I may a.s.sume that it was accidental. You talked together with the freedom of old friends?"
"You are correctly informed."
"You seem to make acquaintances very readily, Miss Linden. It seems singular, to say the least, that after meeting my nephew for a single evening, you should become such intimate friends."
"You will be surprised, Mrs. Leighton, when I say that Mr. de Brabazon and I are old friends. We have met frequently."
"Where, in Heaven"s name?" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mrs. Leighton.
"At my residence."
"Good Heavens!" exclaimed the scandalized lady. "Does my nephew Percy visit at the house of this apple-woman?"
"No, madam. He does not know where I live."
"Then you will explain your previous statement?" said Mrs. Leighton, haughtily.
"I am at present suffering reversed circ.u.mstances. It is but a short time since I was very differently situated."
"I won"t inquire into your change of circ.u.mstances. I feel compelled to perform an unpleasant duty."
Florence did not feel called upon to make any reply, but waited for Mrs. Leighton to finish speaking.
"I shall be obliged to dispense with your services as my daughter"s governess. It is quite out of the question for me to employ a person who lives in a tenement-house."
Florence bowed acquiescence, but she felt very sad. She had become attached to her young charge, and it cost her a pang to part from her.
Besides, how was she to supply the income of which this would deprive her?
"I bow to your decision, madam," she said, with proud humility.
"You will find here the sum that I owe you, with payment for an extra week in lieu of notice."
"Thank you. May I bid Carrie good-by, Mrs. Leighton?"
"It is better not to do so, I think. The more quietly we dissolve our unfortunate connection the better!"
Florence"s heart swelled, and the tears came to her eyes, but she could not press her request.