But the animals were not fresh, and they had not been fed or watered since morning. So they did not move with their usual spirit. And Drusilla had not gone far up Seventh street road, on her way home, before she perceived that she was followed by a hack that was gaining upon her every moment.
At first she supposed this following to be accidental; but when the hack driving rapidly, caught up to her and might have passed her, yet did not; but, on the contrary, slackened its pace and kept just behind her; she suspected that there was something more than accident in the matter.
And her suspicions were confirmed when she heard loud laughing and talking in the hack, and recognized the voices of the disreputable party who had insulted her in the tea room.
She quickly let down the little window in front of her own carriage, and spoke to her coachman:
“Leo—drive fast.”
“Yes, ma’am, which it is necessary so to do.”
“Who are those people behind, Leo?” she breathlessly inquired.
“A intoxified set, ma’am, which is unbeknown to me; being always too well conducted to be acquainted with sich; which I think one of um is the person you complained of, ma’am.”
“Yes! go on quickly, for Heaven’s sake, Leo; let us leave them behind as soon as possible,” hastily urged Drusilla.
And the young coachman put his jaded horses to their utmost speed.