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The slighted beauty started to her feet, and stood opposite him, as beautiful, but far more terrible than when she slapped Floretta, for then her cheeks were red, but now they were pale, and her eyes full of concentrated fury. "This to my face, unmannered wretch," she cried. "Was I born to be insulted, as well as scorned, by such as thou? Beware! We nobles brook no rivals.
So the committee investigated and when Miss Thompson's year was up and the question arose as to her re-engagement, there was considerable hesitancy. But the situation was relieved in a most unexpected fashion. Thaddeus Winslow, first mate on the clipper ship, "Owner's Favorite," at home from a voyage to the Dutch East Indies, fell in love with Miss Floretta, proposed, was accepted and married her.
Every morning when she entered the school-room she was reflected in a glorious multiple of ideals in no one could tell how many boyish hearts. Floretta Vining began to imitate her, and kept close to Ellen with supremest diplomacy, that she might thereby catch some of the crumbs of attention which fell from Ellen's full table.
Outside the blacksmith's forge there was a great bill pasted, which showed in bright colours the brilliant performance of "Floretta the Flying Fairy" on horseback; there was also a full-length portrait of Mick Murphy the celebrated clown.
That day Floretta Vining had told her that if she would put a sprig of boy's-love in her shoe, the very first boy she met would be the one she was going to marry; and Ellen, who was passing from one grade of school to another, had tried it. The high-school master was a distant relative of the Lloyd's, through whom he had obtained the position.
"Why don't you open it?" came in her ear from Floretta. Maria was leaning forward also, over her lapful of carnations which John Sargent had presented to her. "Why don't she open it?" she whispered to Floretta. They were all quite oblivious of the speaker, who moved nervously back and forth in front of them, so screening them somewhat from the observation of the audience.
"There's a man wishes to see you, outside, Madame," said Floretta, wiping off the soiled finger tips. "Tell him to wait in the little room." Floretta opened the door to go out and through it Constance caught sight of a familiar face. A moment later the man was in the room with them. It was Drummond, the same sneer, the same assurance in his manner. "So," he snarled at Constance. "You here?"
"My, ain't that handsome!" said Floretta, pressing her muslin-clad shoulder against Ellen's. "My, didn't they clap you, Ellen! What's that in that package?" The package contained Ellen's new watch and chain. Floretta had already received hers, and it lay in its case on her lap.
Almost before she knew it, the little actress had placed her dainty white hand on the pad and then on the paper. Constance did the same, to illustrate, then called Floretta. "If Vera will do as I have done," she said, offering her the pad, and taking her hand. Charmant complied, and when Floretta arrived her impressions were added to the others.
"Then do you think he is my beau, too?" asked Ellen, innocently. But Floretta frowned, and tittered, and hesitated. "He said except one," she faltered out, finally. "Well, who was that?" asked Ellen. "How do I know?" pouted Floretta. "Mebbe it was me, though I don't think I'm so very pretty." "Then Ben Simonds is your beau," said Ellen, reflectively. "Yes, I guess he is," admitted Floretta.
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