"
"That doesn't account for it altogether. He was very nice at St. Barnaby,
and seemed so interested in you--your work."
"Plenty of people were nice at St. Barnaby. That rich Mrs. Horn couldn't
contain her joy when she heard we were coming to New York, but she hasn't
poured in upon us a great deal since we got here."
"But that's different. She's very fashionable, and she's taken up with
her own set. But Mr. Beaton's one of our kind."
"Thank you. Papa wasn't quite a tombstone-cutter, mamma."
"That makes it all the harder to bear. He can't be ashamed of us. Perhaps
he doesn't know where we are."
"Do you wish to send him your card, mamma?" The girl flushed and towered
in scorn of the idea.
"Why, no, Alma," returned her mother.
"Well, then," said Alma.
But Mrs. Leighton was not so easily quelled. She had got her mind on Mr.
Beaton, and she could not detach it at once. Besides, she was one of
those women (they are commoner than the same sort of men) whom it does
not pain to take out their most intimate thoughts and examine them in the
light of other people's opinions. "But I don't see how he can behave so.
He must know that--"
"That what, mamma?" demanded the girl.
"That he influenced us a great deal in coming--"
"He didn't.
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