"Miss Linden, how fortunate I am in meeting you!"
Florence looked up and saw Mr. de Brabazon sitting nearly opposite her.
Though she felt an esteem for him, she was sorry to see him, for, with Mrs. Leighton"s rebuke fresh in her mind, it could only be a source of embarra.s.sment, and, if discovered, subject her in all probability to a fresh reprimand.
"You are kind to say so, Mr. de Brabazon."
"Not at all. I hoped I might meet you again soon. What a pleasant time we 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 with you twice."
"Was she so absurd?" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Percy.
"It is not necessarily absurd. She said our social positions were so different that it was unbecoming for me to receive attention from you."
"Rubbish!" exclaimed Percy, warmly.
"I am afraid I ought not to listen to such strictures upon the words of 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 am afraid it can never be."
Percy remained silent.
"How far are you going?" asked Florence, uneasily, for she did not care 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 Fifteenth Street."
"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 with sensations far from pleasant to the conversation that had taken place between Florence and Mr. de Brabazon.
It was Emily Carter, whose jealousy had been excited on the evening of the party. She dropped her veil, fearing to be recognized by Mr. de Brabazon, with whom she was well acquainted. She, too, had intended getting off at Fourteenth Street, but decided to remain longer in the car.
"I will find out where that girl lives," she resolved. "Her conduct with Percy de Brabazon is positively disgraceful. She is evidently doing 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 a low 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 possible that Florence might recognize her; and the car moved steadily onward till it turned into the Bowery.
"Where on earth is she leading me?" Miss Carter asked herself. "I have never been in this neighborhood before. However, it won"t do to give up, when I am, perhaps, on the verge of some important discoveries."
Still the car sped on. Not far from Grand Street, Florence left the car, followed, though she was unconscious of it, by her aristocratic fellow-pa.s.senger.
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 lie down for an hour."
They crossed the street, not noticing the veiled young lady, who followed within ear shot, and listened to their conversation. At length they reached the tenement house--Florence"s humble home--and went in.
"I"ve learned more than I bargained for," said Emily Carter, in malicious exultation. "I am well repaid for coming to this horrid part of the city. I wonder if Mr. de Brabazon knows where his charmer lives? I will see that Mrs. Leighton knows, at any rate."
Chapter x.x.xI.
Florence Is Discharged.
Mrs. Leighton sat in her boudoir with a stern face and tightly compressed lips. Miss Carter had called the previous afternoon and informed her of the astounding discoveries she had made respecting the governess.
She rang the bell.
"Janet," she said, "when the governess comes you may bring her up here to me."
"Yes, ma"am."
"She"s going to catch it--I wonder what for?" thought Janet, as she noted the grim visage of her employer.
So when Florence entered the house she was told that Mrs. Leighton wished to see her at once.
"I wonder what"s the matter now?" she asked herself. "Has she heard of my meeting her nephew in the car?"
When she entered the room she saw at once that something was wrong.