CHAPTER XXIX.
MRS. CLINTON'S PARTY.
When Oscar and Harry reached home they were met by Maud, whoflourished in her hand what appeared to be a note.
"What is it, Maud?" asked Oscar. "A love-letter for me?"
"Don't flatter yourself, Oscar. No girl would be so foolish as towrite you a love-letter. It is an invitation to a party on Saturdayevening."
"Where?"
"At Mrs. Clinton's."
"I think I will decline," said Oscar. "I wouldn't like to leaveHarry alone."
"Oh, he is included too. Mrs. Clinton heard of his being here, andexpressly included him in the invitation."
"That alters the case. You'll go, Harry, won't you?"
"I am afraid I shouldn't know how to behave at a fashionable party,"said Harry.
"Oh, you've only got to make me your model," said Oscar, "and you'llbe all right."
"Did you ever see such conceit, Mr. Walton?" said Maud.
"It reminds me of Fletcher," said Harry.
"Fitz Fletcher? By the way, he will probably be there. His familyare acquainted with the Clintons."
"Yes, he is invited," said Maud.
"Good! Then there's promise of fun," said Oscar. "You'll see Fitzwith his best company manners on."
"I am afraid he won't enjoy meeting me there," said Harry.
"Probably not."
"I don't see why," said Maud.
"Shall I tell, Harry?"
"Certainly."
"To begin with, Fletcher regards himself as infinitely superior toWalton here, because his father is rich, and Walton's poor. Again,Harry is a printer, and works for a living, which Fitz considersdegrading. Besides all this, Harry was elected President of ourDebating Society,--an office which Fitz wanted."
"I hope" said Maud, "that Mr. Fletcher's dislike does not affect yourpeace of mind, Mr. Walton."
"Not materially," said Harry, laughing.
"By the way, Maud," said Oscar, "did I ever tell you how Fletcher'spride was mortified at school by our discovering his relationship toa tin-pedler?"
"No, tell me about it."
The story, already familiar to the reader, was graphically told byOscar, and served to amuse his sister.
"He deserved the mortification," she said. "I shall remember it ifhe shows any of his arrogance at the party."
"Fletcher rather admires Maud," said Oscar, after his sister had goneout of the room; "but the favor isn't reciprocated. If he undertakesto say anything to her against you, she will take him down, dependupon it."
Saturday evening came, and Harry, with Oscar and his sister, startedfor the party. Our hero, having confessed his inability to dance,had been diligently instructed in the Lancers by Oscar, so that hefelt some confidence in being able to get through without any seriousblunder.
"Of course you must dance, Harry," he said. "You don't want to be awall-flower."
"I may have to be," said Harry. "I shall know none of the youngladies except your sister."
"Maud will dance the first Lancers with you, and I will get you apartner for the second."
"You may dispose of me as you like, Oscar."
"Wisely said. Don't forget that I am your Mentor."
When they entered the brilliantly lighted parlors, they were alreadyhalf full. Oscar introduced his friend to Mrs. Clinton.
"I am glad to see you here, Mr. Walton," said the hostess,graciously. "Oscar, I depend upon you to introduce your friend tosome of the young ladies."
"You forget my diffidence, Mrs. Clinton."
"I didn't know you were troubled in that way.'"
"See how I am misjudged. I am painfully bashful."
"You hide it well," said the hostess, with a smile.
"Escort my sister to a seat, Harry," said Oscar. "By the way, youtwo will dance in the first Lancers."
"If Miss Maud will accept so awkward a partner," said Harry.
"Oh, yes, Mr. Walton. I'll give you a hint if you are going wrong."
Five minutes later Fletcher touched Oscar on the shoulder.
"Oscar, where is your sister?" he asked.
"There," said Oscar, pointing her out.
Fletcher, who was rather near-sighted, did not at first notice thatHarry Walton was sitting beside the young lady.
He advanced, and made a magnificent bow, on which he rather pridedhimself.
"Good-evening, Miss Vincent," he said.
"Good-evening, Mr. Fletcher."
"I am very glad you have favored the party with your presence."
"Thank you, Mr. Fletcher. Don't turn my head with your compliments."
"May I hope you will favor me with your hand in the first Lancers?"
"I am sorry, Mr. Fletcher, but I am engaged to Mr. Walton. I believeyou are acquainted with him."
Fletcher for the first time observed our hero, and his face wore alook of mingled annoyance and scorn.
"I have met the gentleman," he said, haughtily.
"Mr. Fletcher and I have met frequently," said Harry, pleasantly.
"I didn't expect to meet you _here_," said Fletcher with markedemphasis.
"Probably not," said Harry. "My invitation is due to my being afriend of Oscar's."
"I was not aware that you danced," said Fletcher who was rathercurious on the subject.
"I don't--much."
"Where did you learn--in the printing office?"
"No, in the city."
"Ah! Indeed!"
Fletcher thought he had wasted time enough on our hero, and turnedagain to Maud.
"May I have the pleasure of your hand in the second dance?" he asked.
"I will put you down for that, if you desire it."
"Thank you."
It so happened that when Harry and Maud took the floor, they foundFletcher their _vis-a-vis_. Perhaps it was this that made Harry moreemulous to get through without making any blunders. At any rate, hesucceeded, and no one in the set suspected that it was his firstappearance in public as a dancer.
Fletcher was puzzled. He had hoped that Harry would make himselfridiculous, and throw the set into confusion. But the dance passedoff smoothly, and in due time Fletcher led out Maud. If he had knownhis own interest, he would have kept silent about Harry, but he hadlittle discretion.
"I was rather surprised to see Walton here," he began.
"Didn't you know he was in the city?
"Yes, I met him with Oscar."
"Then why were you surprised?"
"Because his social position does not entitle him to appear in such acompany. When I first knew him, he was only a printer's apprentice."
Fletcher wanted to say printer's devil, but did not venture to do soin presence of a young lady.
"He will rise higher than that."
"I dare say," said Fletcher, with a sneer, "he will rise in time tobe a journeyman with a salary of fifteen dollars a week."
"If I am not mistaken in Mr. Walton, he will rise much higher thanthat. Many of our prominent men have sprung from beginnings likehis."
"It must be rather a trial to him to come here. His father is aday-laborer, I believe, and of course he has never been accustomed toany refinement or polish."
"I don't detect the absence of either," said Maud, quietly.
"Do you believe in throwing down all social distinctions, and meetingthe sons of laborers on equal terms?"
"As to that," said Maud, meeting her partner's glance, "I am ratherdemocratic. I could even meet the son of a tin-pedler on equalterms, provided he were a gentleman."
The blood rushed to Fletcher's cheeks.
"A tin-pedler!" he ejaculated.
"Yes! Suppose you were the son, or relation, of a tin-pedler, whyshould I consider that? It would make you neither better nor worse."
"I have no connection with tin-pedlers," said Fletcher, hastily."Who told you I had?"
"I only made a supposition, Mr. Fletcher."
But Fletcher thought otherwise. He was sure
that Maud had heard ofhis mortification at school, and it disturbed him not a little, for,in spite of her assurance, he felt that she believed the story, andit annoyed him so much that he did not venture to make any otherreference to Harry.
"Poor Fitz!" said Oscar, when on their way home Maud gave an accountof their conversation, "I am afraid he will murder the tin-pedlersome time, to get rid of such an odious relationship."