“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 embarrassment, 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?” ejaculated 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.”