CHAPTER XXIX. MRS. LEIGHTON’S PARTY.

 “Miss Linden,” said Mrs. Leighton, one day in the fourth month of Dodger’s absence, “Carrie has perhaps told you that I give a party next Thursday evening.”

 

“She told me,” answered the governess.

 

“I expected Prof. Bouvier to furnish dancing music—in fact, I had engaged him—but I have just received a note stating that he is unwell, and I am left unprovided. It is very inconsiderate on his part,” added the lady, in a tone of annoyance¹.

 

Florence did not reply. She took rather a different view of the professor’s letter, and did not care to offend Mrs. Leighton.

 

“Under the circumstances,” continued the lady, “it has occurred to me that, as you are really quite a nice performer, you might fill his place. I shall be willing to allow you a dollar for the evening. What do you say?”

 

Florence felt embarrassed. She shrank from appearing in society in her present separation from her family, yet could think of no good excuse. Noticing her hesitation², Mrs. Leighton added, patronizingly:

 

“On second thought, I will pay you a dollar and a half”—Prof. Bouvier was to have charged ten dollars—“and you will be kind enough to come in your best attire³. You seem to be well provided with dresses.”

 

“Yes, madam, there will be no difficulty on that score.”

 

“Nor on any other, I hope. As governess in my family, I think I have a right to command your services.”

 

“I will come,” said Florence, meekly⁴. She felt that it would not do to refuse after this.

 

As she entered the handsomely decorated rooms on the night of the party, she looked around her nervously⁵, fearing to see some one whom she had known in earlier days. She noticed one only—Percy de Brabazon, whose face lighted up when he saw her, for he had been expecting to see her.

 

She managed to convey a caution by a quiet movement, as it would not be wise for Mrs. Leighton to know of their previous acquaintance. But Percy was determined⁶ to get an opportunity to speak to her.

 

“Who is that young lady, Aunt Mary?” he asked. “The one standing⁷ near the piano.”

 

“That is Carrie’s governess,” answered Mrs. Leighton, carelessly.

 

“She seems quite a ladylike person.”

 

“Yes. I understand she has seen better days. She is to play for us in the absence of Prof. Bouvier.”

 

“Will you introduce me, aunt?”

 

“Why?” asked Mrs. Leighton, with a searching look.

 

“I should like to inquire about Carrie’s progress in her studies,” said the cunning Percy.

 

“Oh, certainly,” answered the aunt, quite deceived by his words.

 

“Miss Linden,” she said, “let me introduce my nephew, Mr. de Brabazon. He wishes to inquire about Carrie’s progress in her studies.”

 

And the lady sailed off to another part of the room.

 

“I can assure you, Mr. de Brabazon,” said Florence, “that my young charge is making excellent progress.”

 

“I can easily believe it, under your instruction,” said Percy.

 

“I am very glad you take such an interest in your cousin,” added Florence, with a smile. “It does you great credit.”

 

“It’s only an excuse, you know, to get a chance to talk with you, Miss Linden. May I say Miss Florence?”

 

“No,” answered Florence, decidedly. “It won’t do. You must be very formal.”

 

“Then tell me how you like teaching.”

 

“Very well, indeed.”

 

“It must be an awful bore, I think.”

 

“I don’t think so. Carrie is a warm-hearted, affectionate girl. Besides, she is very bright and gives me very little trouble.”

 

“Don’t you think you could take another pupil, Miss Linden?”

 

“A young girl?”

 

“No, a young man. In fact, myself.”

 

“What could I teach you, Mr. de Brabazon?”

 

“Lots of things. I am not very sound in—in spelling and grammar.”

 

“What a pity!” answered Florence, with mock seriousness. “I am afraid your aunt would hardly consent to have a boy of your size in the schoolroom.”

 

“Then perhaps you could give me some private lessons in the afternoon?”

 

“That would not be possible.”

 

Just then Mrs. Leighton came up.

 

“Well,” she said, “what does Miss Linden say of Carrie?”

 

“She has quite satisfied my mind about her,” answered Percy, with excusable duplicity. “I think her methods are excellent. I was telling her that I might be able to procure⁹ her another pupil.”

 

“I have no objection, as long as it does not interfere¹⁰ with Carrie’s hours. Miss Linden, there is a call for music. Will you go to the piano and play a Stauss waltz?”

 

Florence inclined her head obediently.

 

“Let me escort you to the piano, Miss Linden,” said Percy.

 

“Thank you,” answered Florence, in a formal tone.

 

For an hour Florence was engaged in playing waltzes, gallops¹¹ and lanciers music. Then a lady who was proud of her daughter’s proficiency¹² volunteered her services to relieve Florence.

 

“Now you can dance yourself,” said Percy, in a low tone. “Will you give me a waltz?”

 

“Not at once. Wait till the second dance.”

 

Percy de Brabazon was prompt in presenting himself as soon as permitted, and he led Florence out for a dance.

 

Both were excellent dancers, and attracted general attention.

 

Florence really enjoyed dancing, and forgot for a time that she was only a guest on sufferance, as she moved with rhythmic¹³ grace about the handsome rooms.

 

Percy was disposed to prolong the dance, but Florence was cautious.

 

“I think I will rest now, Mr. de Brabazon,” she said.

 

“You will favor me again later in the evening?” he pleaded.

 

“I hardly think it will be wise.”

 

But when, half an hour later, he asked her again, Florence could not find it in her heart to say no. It would have been wise if she had done so. A pair of jealous eyes was fixed¹⁴ upon her. Miss Emily Carter had for a considerable time tried to fascinate Mr. de Brabazon, whose wealth made him a very desirable match, and she viewed his decided⁸ penchant¹⁵ for Florence with alarm and indignation.

 

“To be thrown in the shade by a governess is really too humiliating!” she murmured to herself in vexation. “If it were a girl in my own station I should not care so much,” and she eyed Florence with marked hostility¹⁶.

 

“Mamma,” she said, “do you see how Mr. de Barbazon is carrying on with Mrs. Leighton’s governess? Really, I think it very discreditable.”

 

Mrs. Carter looked through her gold eye-glasses at the couple.

 

“Is the girl really a governess?” she added. “She is very well dressed.”

 

“I don’t know where she got her dress, but she is really a governess.”

 

“She seems very bold.”

 

“So she does.”

 

Poor Florence! She was far from deserving their unkindly remarks.

 

“I suppose she is trying to ensnare young de Brabazon,” said Emily, spitefully. “People of her class are very artful. Don’t you think it would be well to call Mrs. Leighton’s attention? Percy de Brabazon is her nephew, you know.”

 

“True. The suggestion is a good one, Emily.”

 

Mrs. Carter was quite as desirous as her daughter of bringing about an alliance with Percy, and she readily agreed to second her plans.

 

She looked about for Mrs. Leighton, and took a seat at her side.

 

“Your nephew seems quite attentive¹⁷ to your governess,” she commenced.

 

“Indeed! In what way?”

 

“He has danced with her three or four times, I believe. It looks rather marked.”

 

“So it does,” said Mrs. Leighton. “He is quite inconsiderate.”

 

“Oh, well, it is of no great consequence. She is quite stylish¹⁸ for a governess, and doubtless your nephew is taken with her.”

 

“That will not suit my views at all,” said Mrs. Leighton, coldly. “I shall speak to her to-morrow.”

 

“Pray don’t. It really is a matter of small consequence—quite natural, in fact.”

 

“Leave the matter with me. You have done quite right in mentioning it.”

 

At twelve o’clock the next day, when Florence had just completed her lessons with Carrie, Mrs. Leighton entered the room.

 

“Please remain a moment, Miss Linden,” she said. “I have a few words to say to you.”

 

Mrs. Leighton’s tone was cold and unfriendly, and Florence felt that something unpleasant was coming.

1 annoyance   

n.恼怒，生气，烦恼

参考例句：

• Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气？
• I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。

2 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

3 attire   

v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装

参考例句：

• He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他无意改变着装方式。
• Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服装引起了她的注意。

4 meekly   

adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地

参考例句：

• He stood aside meekly when the new policy was proposed. 当有人提出新政策时，他唯唯诺诺地站 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He meekly accepted the rebuke. 他顺从地接受了批评。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 nervously   

adv.神情激动地，不安地

参考例句：

• He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
• He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。

6 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

7 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 procure   

vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条

参考例句：

• Can you procure some specimens for me?你能替我弄到一些标本吗？
• I'll try my best to procure you that original French novel.我将尽全力给你搞到那本原版法国小说。

10 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

11 gallops   

（马等）奔驰，骑马奔驰( gallop的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Let me turn the beautiful steed, gallops with you in the horizon. 让我变成美丽的骏马，和你驰骋在天涯。
• When Tao gallops through and Yang, all things come into and thrive. 当道驰骋在阴阳之中时，则万物生焉，万物兴焉。

12 proficiency   

n.精通，熟练，精练

参考例句：

• He plied his trade and gained proficiency in it.他勤习手艺，技术渐渐达到了十分娴熟的地步。
• How do you think of your proficiency in written and spoken English?你认为你的书面英语和口语熟练程度如何？

13 rhythmic   

adj.有节奏的，有韵律的

参考例句：

• Her breathing became more rhythmic.她的呼吸变得更有规律了。
• Good breathing is slow,rhythmic and deep.健康的呼吸方式缓慢深沉而有节奏。

14 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

15 penchant   

n.爱好，嗜好；（强烈的）倾向

参考例句：

• She has a penchant for Indian food.她爱吃印度食物。
• He had a penchant for playing jokes on people.他喜欢拿人开玩笑。

16 hostility   

n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争

参考例句：

• There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
• His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。

17 attentive   

adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的

参考例句：

• She was very attentive to her guests.她对客人招待得十分周到。
• The speaker likes to have an attentive audience.演讲者喜欢注意力集中的听众。

18 stylish   

adj.流行的，时髦的；漂亮的，气派的

参考例句：

• He's a stylish dresser.他是个穿着很有格调的人。
• What stylish women are wearing in Paris will be worn by women all over the world.巴黎女性时装往往会引导世界时装潮流。