Perhaps it was this that made Harry more
emulous to get through without making any blunders. At any rate, he
succeeded, and no one in the set suspected that it was his first
appearance in public as a dancer.
Fletcher was puzzled. He had hoped that Harry would make himself
ridiculous, and throw the set into confusion. But the dance passed
off smoothly, and in due time Fletcher led out Maud. If he had known
his own interest, he would have kept silent about Harry, but he had
little 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 a
company. 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 so
in presence of a young lady.
"He will rise higher than that."
"I dare say," said Fletcher, with a sneer, "he will rise in time to
be a journeyman with a salary of fifteen dollars a week."
"If I am not mistaken in Mr. Walton, he will rise much higher than
that. Many of our prominent men have sprung from beginnings like
his."
"It must be rather a trial to him to come here. His father is a
day-laborer, I believe, and of course he has never been accustomed to
any refinement or polish.
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