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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/28564-8.txt b/28564-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..673317b --- /dev/null +++ b/28564-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7315 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Bunch of Cherries, by L. T. Meade + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Bunch of Cherries + A Story of Cherry Court School + +Author: L. T. Meade + +Release Date: April 12, 2009 [EBook #28564] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BUNCH OF CHERRIES *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Cover art] + + + + + +A Bunch of Cherries + +A STORY OF CHERRY COURT SCHOOL + + +BY + +Mrs. L. T. MEADE + + + + + +AUTHOR OF + +"A Modern Tomboy," "The School Favorite," "Children's Pilgrimage," +"Little Mother to the Others," Etc. + + + + +CHICAGO: + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. + +1898 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER. + + I. The School + II. The Girls + III. The Telegram + IV. Sir John's Great Scheme + V. Florence + VI. Kitty and Her Father + VII. Cherry-Colored Ribbons + VIII. The Letter + IX. The Little Mummy + X. Aunt Susan + XI. "I Always Admired Frankness" + XII. The Fairy Box + XIII. An Invitation + XIV. At the Park + XV. The Pupil Teacher + XVI. Temptation + XVII. The Fall + XVIII. The Guests Arrive + XIX. Tit for Tat + XX. The Hills for Ever + XXI. The Sting of the Serpent + XXII. The Voice of God + + + + +A BUNCH OF CHERRIES. + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE SCHOOL. + +The house was long and low and rambling. In parts at least it must +have been quite a hundred years old, and even the modern portion was +not built according to the ideas of the present day, for in 1870 people +were not so aesthetic as they are now, and the lines of beauty and +grace were not considered all essential to happiness. + +So even the new part of the house had square rooms destitute of +ornament, and the papers were small in pattern and without any artistic +designs, and the windows were square and straight, and the ceilings +were somewhat low. + +The house opened on to a wide lawn, and at the left of the lawn was a +paddock and at the right a shrubbery, and the shrubbery led away under +its overhanging trees into the most perfect walled-in garden that was +ever seen. The garden was two or three hundred years old. The oldest +inhabitants of the place had never known the time when Cherry Court +garden was not the talk of the country. Visitors came from all parts +round to see it. It was celebrated on account of its very high walls +built of red brick, its size, for it covered at least three acres of +ground, and its magnificent cherries. The cherry trees in the Court +garden bore the most splendid fruit which could be obtained in any part +of the county. They were in great demand, not only for the girls who +lived in the old house and played in the garden, but for the neighbors +all over the country. A big price was always paid for these cherries, +for they made such splendid jam, as well as being so full of juice and +so ripe and good to eat that their like could not be found anywhere +else. + +The cherries were of all sorts and kinds, from the celebrated White +Heart to the black cherry. There were cherries for cooking and +cherries for eating, and in the season the trees, which were laden with +ripe fruit, were a sight to behold. + +In the height of the cherry season Mrs. Clavering always gave a cherry +feast. It was the event of the entire year, and the girls looked +forward to it, making all their arrangements in connection with it, +counting the hours until it arrived, and looking upon it as the great +feature of their school year. Everything turned on whether the +cherries were good and the weather fine. There was no greater stimulus +to hard work than the merest mention of this golden day, which came as +a rule towards the end of June and just before the summer vacation. +For Cherry Court School was old-fashioned according to our modern +ideas, and one of its old-fashioned plans was to give holidays at the +end of June instead of the end of July, so that the girls had the +longest, finest days at home, and came back to work at the end of +August refreshed and strengthened, and prepared for a good long tug at +lessons of all sorts until Christmas. + +The school consisted of twenty girls, never more and never less, for +Mrs. Clavering was too great a favorite and had too wise and excellent +ideas with regard to education ever to be without pupils, and never +more, for she believed twenty to be the perfect number to whom she +could give every attention and offer every advantage. + +The school, small as it was, was divided into two sections, the Upper +and the Lower. In the Upper school were girls from eighteen to +fourteen years of age, and in the Lower some of the small scholars +numbered even as few years as six. There was a resident French +mistress in the school and also a resident German, and there was an +English governess, and, of course, Mrs. Clavering herself; but the +other teachers came from the neighboring town of Hartleway to instruct +the pupils in all those accomplishments which were in the early +seventies considered necessary for a young lady's education. I can +assure those of my readers who are well acquainted with modern schools +that no one could have been more particular than Mrs. Clavering with +regard to her girls. In such things as deportment and nice manners and +all the code which signifies politeness, and in the almost lost art of +brilliant conversation, she could instruct as very few other people +could in her day, and then what accomplishments she did teach were +thorough. The girls were taught French properly, they understood the +grammar of the language, and could also speak it nicely; and their +German was also very fair, if not quite as thorough as their French. +And their music had some backbone in it, for a little of the science +was taught as well as the practice, and their singing was very sweet +and true. They could also recite, those of them who had any gift for +it, quite beautifully, and if they had a turn for acting that also was +brought to the fore and made the most of. As to their knowledge of the +English language, it bade fair to eclipse many of the High School girls +of the present day, for they did understand in the first place its +literature, and in the next its grammar, and were well acquainted with +the works of Shakespeare and those other lions of literature whose +names we are so proud of and whose works we love. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE GIRLS. + +It was a lovely day in the beginning of June, and, being Wednesday, was +a half-holiday. The girls of the Upper school, numbering seven in all, +were assembled in the cherry garden. The cherry garden stood a little +apart, to the left of the great general garden, and was entered by a +low walled-in door. + +Mrs. Clavering was so proud of her cherries and so afraid that the +neighbors might be tempted to help themselves to the luscious fruit, +that she kept the door locked between the cherry garden and the other, +and only those girls who were very privileged were allowed to sit in +it. But the girls in the Upper school were, of course, privileged, and +they were now enjoying a fine time seated on the grass, or on little +camp-stools and chairs, under the trees, which were already laden with +the tempting fruit. + +They were all eagerly discussing the great event of the year, the +Cherry Feast, which was to take place in three weeks from the present +day. Their names were Mabel and Alice Cunningham, two handsome +dark-eyed girls, aged respectively seventeen and fifteen; Florence +Aylmer, who was also fifteen and the romp of the school; Mary Bateman, +a stolid-looking girl of fourteen; Bertha Kennedy, who had only lately +been raised to the rank of the Upper school; Edith King, a handsome, +graceful girl, who competed with Mabel for the honors of the head of +her class; and Kitty Sharston, who had only lately come, and who had +some Irish blood in her, and was very daring and very much inclined to +break the rules. She was a hobbledehoy sort of girl, having +outstripped her years, which were only thirteen, and was considered by +some of her companions very plain and by others very fascinating. + +Mrs. Clavering did not quite know what to make of Kitty, but hoped to +break her in by and by, and meanwhile she was very gentle, and Kitty +loved her, although she never could be got to see that so many +restrictions and so many little petty rules were not good, but +extremely bad, for her character. + +On this particular lovely summer's afternoon Kitty was the last to make +her appearance. She came skimming gracefully through the orchard under +the cherry trees, with her hair down her back, her skirt awry, and a +great stain on the front of her pinafore. In the seventies girls as +old as Kitty wore long white pinafores. The stain was caused by some +cherry juice, for Kitty had stopped many times as she approached the +others to take great handfuls of the ripe fruit, and thrust them into +her mouth. Mabel called to her to sit down. + +"We are all busy discussing the great event," she said, "and I have +kept a seat for you near me, Kitty; wasn't it good of me?" + +"Awfully good," answered Kitty. She flung herself on the ground by her +friend's side and looked up at her with affectionate eyes. + +"I like you all," she said, glancing round at them, "and yet all the +same I hate school. The great thing that I look forward to in the +treat is that immediately afterwards the holidays follow. I shall go +down to join my father in Cornwall. He said he would take me to +Ireland, but I doubt if he will. Now, Tommy, what are you frowning at?" + +This remark was made to Florence Aylmer. Kitty from the first had +insisted upon calling her Tommy. She was the first girl in Cherry +Court School who had dared to adopt a nickname for any of her +companions, and Florence, who had begun by being indignant, could not +help laughing now as the saucy creature fixed her with her bright eyes. + +"What are you frowning at, Tommy? Aren't you glad, too, that the +holidays are so near?" + +"No, I am not--I hate the holidays," replied Florence Aylmer. As she +spoke Mabel took one of Kitty's hands, gave it a slight squeeze, it was +a sort of warning pressure. Kitty looked up at her with a startled +glance, then she glanced again at Florence, who was looking down. +Suddenly Florence raised her face and returned the girl's gaze fully. + +"I have no home like the rest of you," she said; "my mother is very +poor and cannot afford to have me at home." + +"Then where are you going to spend the holidays?" said Kitty; "do say, +dear old Tommy, where--where?" + +"Here probably, or wherever Mrs. Clavering likes to take me," replied +Florence; "but there, don't talk of it any more--I hate to think of it. +We have three weeks still to be happy in, and we'll make the best of +that." + +"Do you know, Mabel," asked Mary Bateman, now bending forward, "if Mrs. +Clavering has yet decided what the programme is to be for the 25th?" + +"I think she will tell us to-night," replied Mabel; "she said something +about it this morning, didn't she, Alice?" + +"Yes, I heard her talking to Mademoiselle Le Brun. I expect we shall +hear at tea-time. If so we will meet in the oak parlor, and Mrs. +Clavering will have her annual talk. She is always very nice on those +occasions." + +"She is nice on every occasion--she is an old dear," said Kitty. + +"Why, Kitty, you don't know her very well yet." + +"She is an old dear," reported Kitty; "I love her with all my heart, +but I should like beyond words to give her a right good shock. I +cannot tell you girls, how I positively tremble to do it. At prayers, +for instance, or still more at meals, when we are all so painfully +demure, I want to jump up and utter a shout, or do something of that +sort. I have suppressed myself hitherto, but I really do not know if I +can go on suppressing myself much longer. Oh, what is the matter, +Edith--what are you frowning at?" + +"Nothing," replied Edith King; "I did not even know that I was +frowning. I was just thinking how nice it was to be trained to be +ladylike and to have good manners and all that. Mrs. Clavering is such +a perfect lady herself that we shall know all the rules of polite +society when we leave the school." + +"And I hate those rules," said Kitty; "but there, somebody is coming to +meet us. Oh, it is little Dolly Fairfax; she is sure to be bringing a +message." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE TELEGRAM. + +Dolly came up in her brisk way. She was holding something concealed in +her little pinafore. She looked very mysterious. She had a round +cherub face and two great big blue eyes, and short hair, which she wore +in a curly mop all over her head. Dolly was the youngest girl in the +school and a great pet with everyone. When Bertha saw her now she +sprang to her feet and went forward in her somewhat clumsy way. + +"Come, little Dolly," she said; "what's the mystery?" + +"It's not for you, Bertha," said Dolly, "and don't you interrupt. It's +for--it's for Kitty Sharston." + +"For me?" cried Kitty. "Oh, what a love you are, Dolly; come and sit +on my lap. Is it a box of bon-bons or is it a letter?" + +"Guess again," said Dolly, clapping her hand to her little mouth, and +looking intensely mysterious. Her blue eyes rolled roguishly round +until they fixed themselves on Edith King's face, then she looked again +at Kitty as solemn as possible. + +"You guess again," she said; "I'll give you five guesses. Now, then, +begin right away." + +"It's the book that Annie Wallace said she would lend me--that's it, +now, isn't it, Dolly? See, I'll feel in your pinafore." + +"No, it's not--wrong again," said Dolly; "that's three guesses--two +more." + +Kitty made another guess--wrong again. Finally Dolly was induced to +unfold her pinafore, and inside lay an unopened telegram. + +Now, in those days telegrams were not quite as common as they are now. +In the first place, they cost a shilling instead of sixpence, which +made a vast difference in their number. Kitty's face turned slightly +pale, she gripped the telegram, shook little Dolly off her lap, stood +up, and, turning her back to the girls, proceeded to open it. Her +slim, long fingers shook a little as she did so. She soon had the +envelope torn asunder and had taken out the pink sheet within. She +unfolded it and read the words. As she did so her face turned very +white. "Is the messenger waiting for an answer?" she said, turning to +Dolly. + +"Yes," replied Dolly; "he is waiting up at the Court." + +"Then I must run away at once and answer this," said Kitty. "Oh, I +wonder if I have got money enough!" + +"I'll lend you a shilling if you like," said Edith King. + +"Thanks, awfully," replied Kitty. "I'll pay you back when I get my +pocket-money on Saturday." + +There was a queer, troubled, dazed sort of look in her eyes. Edith +handed her the shilling and she disappeared under the cherry trees. + +Dolly proceeded to skim after her. + +"No, do stay, Dolly," cried Florence Aylmer; "stay and sit on my lap +and I'll tell you a story." + +Dolly looked undecided for a moment, but presently she elected to go +with Kitty. + +"There is something bothering her," she said; "I wonder what it can be. +I'll run and see; I'll bring word afterwards." + +She disappeared with little shouts under the trees. Nothing could ever +make Dolly sad long. The other girls turned and looked at one another. + +"What in the world can it be?" said Florence. "Poor Kitty! how very +white she turned as she read it." + +Meanwhile Kitty had reached the house; the messenger was waiting in the +hall. Mrs. Clavering came out just as the girl appeared. + +"Well, my dear Kitty," she said, "I hope it is not very bad news?" + +"I will tell you presently; I must answer it now," said Kitty. + +"You can go into the study, dear, and write your telegram there." + +Kitty went in; she spent a little time, about ten minutes or so, +filling in the form; then she folded it up, gave it to the boy with a +shilling, and went and stood in the hall. + +"What is the matter, Kitty?" said her governess, coming out and looking +her in the face. + +"My telegram was from father. He--he is going to India," said Kitty, +"that is all. I won't be with him in the holidays--that's all." + +She tried to keep the tremble out of her voice; her eyes, brave, +bright, and fearless, were fixed on Mrs. Clavering's face. + +"Come in here and let us talk, dear," said Mrs. Clavering. + +"I can't," said Kitty; "it is too bad." + +"What is too bad, dear?" + +"The pain here." She pressed her hand against her heart. + +"Poor child! you love him very much." + +"Very much," answered Kitty, "and the pain is too bad, and--and I can't +talk now. I'll just go back to the other girls in the cherry orchard." + +"But, Kitty, can you bear to be with them just now?" + +"I can't be alone," said Kitty, with a little piteous smile. She ran +out again into the summer sunshine. Mrs. Clavering stood and watched +her. + +"Poor little girl," she said to herself, "and she does not know the +worst, nor half the worst, for I had a long letter from Major Sharston +this morning, and he told me that not only was he obliged to go to +India, but that he had lost so large a sum of money that he could not +afford to keep Kitty here after this term. She is to go to Scotland to +live with an old cousin; she must give up all chance of being properly +educated. Poor little Kitty! I wonder if he mentioned that in the +telegram, and she is so proud, too, and has so much character; it is a +sad, sad pity." + +Meanwhile Kitty once more returned through the orchard. She began to +sing a gay song to herself. She had a very sweet voice, and was +carolling wild notes now high up in the air--"Begone, dull care; you +and I shall never agree." + +The girls sitting under the finest of the cherry trees heard her as she +sang. + +"There can't be much wrong with her," said Mary Bateman, with a sigh of +relief. "Hullo, Kitty, no bad news, I hope?" + +"There is bad news, but I can't talk of it now," said Kitty. "Come, +what shall we do? We need not stay under the trees any longer surely, +need we? Let's have a right good game--blind man's buff, or shall we +play hare and hounds." + +"Oh, it's much too hot for hare and hounds," said Edith King. + +"Well, let's do something," said Kitty; "we all ought to be very happy +on a half-holiday, and I don't mean to be miserable. Now, then, start +something. I'll go and hide. Now, who will begin?" + +Kitty laughed merrily; she glanced from one to the other of the girls, +saw that their eyes were shining with a queer mixture of curiosity and +sympathy, and felt that she would do anything in the world rather than +gratify them. + +"After all," she said to herself, as she ran wildly across the cheery +orchard, "poor old Tommy and I will have our holidays together, for at +the very best, even if father has not lost that money, I will have to +stay here during the holidays. Oh, father! oh, father! how am I to +live without you? Oh, father, dear, this is too cruel! I know, I am +certain you have lost the money, or you would not be going to India +away from your own, own Kitty." + +She crushed down a sob, reached a little summer-house, into which she +turned, pulled down some tarpaulin to cover her, and, crouching in the +corner, lay still, her heart beating wildly. + +"Begone, dull care," she whispered stoutly under her breath; and then +she added, with a sob in her voice, "whatever happens, I won't give in." + +That evening was a time of great excitement in the school, for the +programme for the Cherry Feast was to be publicly announced, and the +girls felt that there was further news in the air. + +Immediately after early tea, between five and six o'clock, Mrs. +Clavering called Kitty into the oak parlor. + +"My dear," she said, "I want to have a talk with you." + +Some of the wild light had gone out of Kitty's eyes by this time, and +the flush had left her cheeks, leaving them somewhat pale. + +"Yes, Mrs. Clavering," she said; "what is it?" + +"I want you, my dear little girl, not to keep all your troubles to +yourself." + +"But what am I to do?" said Kitty, standing first on one leg and then +on the other. + +"Hold yourself upright in the first place, dear. After all, the laws +of deportment ought to be attended to, whatever one's trouble." + +Kitty gave an impatient sigh. + +"There you are," she exclaimed, "that's what makes you so very queer; +that's what makes it almost impossible for me to bear the restraint of +school. When--when your heart is almost breaking, what does it matter +how you stand?" + +"My dear child, you will find in the events of life that it greatly +matters to learn self-control." + +"I have self-control," said Kitty, with a quiver in her lips. + +"Well, dear, I hope you will prove it, for I fear, I greatly fear, that +you are about to have a bad time." + +"Oh, I am having a bad time," said Kitty; "don't you suppose that I am +not suffering. I am suffering horribly, but I won't let anybody +know--that is, if I can help it. I am not going to damp the pleasure +of the others; you know that father is going, and I am his only child. +He is coming just once to say good-bye to me; yes, he promises me that +even in the telegram. He will come in about a fortnight from now, just +a week before the Cherry Feast. Oh, I am miserable, I am miserable!" + +All of a sudden the poor child's composure gave way, she covered her +face with her trembling hands, and burst into a great flood of weeping. + +A look of relief crossed Mrs. Clavering's face. + +"Now she will be better," she said to herself; "she will understand +what I have to say to her better. Shall I say it to her now or shall I +wait until the morning? It is very hard; perhaps she had better know +all at once." + +So Mrs. Clavering led the weeping girl to the nearest sofa, and +presently she stole her arm round her waist, and coaxed her to lay her +head on her shoulder, and by and by she kissed the tired, flushed +little face. + +Kitty, who had the most loving heart in the world, returned her +embrace, and nestled close to her, and felt in spite of herself a +little better than she had done before. + +"I know it is very bad, dear," said Mrs. Clavering, "but we can talk +about it now if you like." + +"I don't know that there is anything to say," said Kitty; "he would not +have gone but for----" + +"But for what, my child!" + +"But for that dreadful money. He was very anxious when he sent me +here. Oh, perhaps, I ought not to say anything about it." + +"I think you may, Kitty, for I know, dear. I had a long letter from +your father this morning. He told me then news which I considered very +sad. You know, my love, that this is an expensive school. All the +girls who come here pay well; most of the girls who are here have rich +fathers and mothers." + +"Oh, I know that," interrupted Kitty; "and how I hate rich fathers and +mothers! Why should only rich people have nice things?" + +"Then you do like this school, don't you, my love?" + +"As much as I could like any place away from father; but what did he +say this morning, Mrs. Clavering?" Kitty started restlessly and faced +her governess as she spoke. + +"He said, dear, that he must go to India because he had lost a very +large sum of money. He said he would send you a telegram as soon as he +had made arrangements, as there was no good troubling you before. He +thought it best you should know by telegram, as the sight of the +telegram itself would slightly prepare you for the bad news. But, my +dear little Kitty, in some ways there is worse to follow, for your +father cannot afford to pay my fees, and you must leave Cherry Court +School at the end of this term." + +Kitty sat silent. This last news, very bad in itself, scarcely +affected her at first. It seemed a mere nothing compared to the +parting from her beloved father. + +"Yes," she said at last, in a listless voice, "I must leave here." + +"I will keep you with me, darling, until the end of the vacation." +Kitty gave a perceptible shudder. "I am going to the seaside with +Florence Aylmer, and you shall come with us. I will try and give you +as good a time, dear little Kitty, as ever I can, but it would not be +fair to the other girls to keep you here for nothing." + +"No, of course it would not be fair," said Kitty. "And where am I to +go," she added, after a very long pause, "when the vacation is over, +when the girls come back here again at the end of August?" + +"Then, my dear child, I greatly fear you will have to go and stay with +your father's cousin, Miss Dartmoor, in Argyleshire." + +"Helen Dartmoor!" said Kitty, suddenly springing to her feet, "father's +cousin, Helen Dartmoor! She came to stay with us for a month after +mother died, and if there is a person in the whole world whom I loathed +it was her. No, I won't go to her; I'll write and tell father I +can't--I won't; it shan't be. Nothing would induce me to live with +her. Oh, Mrs. Clavering, you don't know what she is, and she--why, she +doesn't speak decent English, and she knows scarcely anything. How am +I to be educated, Mrs. Clavering? I could not do it." + +"There is a school not far from Miss Dartmoor's; of course, not a +school like this, but a school where you can be taught some things, my +poor child." + +"I won't go to Helen Dartmoor--I won't!" said Kitty, in a passionate +voice. + +"I fear there is no help for it, my love; but when you see your father +he will tell you all about it. I wish with all my heart, I could keep +you here, but I greatly fear there is no help for it." + +"And is that all you have to say?" said Kitty, rising slowly as she +spoke. + +"Yes, dear, all for the present." + +"Then I am a very miserable girl. I'll go away to my room for a +little. I may, may I not?" + +"On this occasion you may, although you know it is the rule that none +of the girls go to their dormitories during the daytime." + +Kitty left the room, walking very slowly. She had scarcely done so +before a loud ring, followed by a rat-tat on the knocker of the front +door, was heard through the house. + +A moment later the door of Mrs. Clavering's oak parlor was flung open, +and Sir John Wallis entered the room. + +Sir John Wallis was the great man in the neighborhood. + +He was the owner of Cherry Court School, renting the house and +beautiful grounds to Mrs. Clavering year by year. He was an unmarried +man, and took a great interest in the school. He was a very +benevolent, kindly person, and Mrs. Clavering and he were the closest +friends. + +"Ah, my dear madam," he said, bowing now in his somewhat old-fashioned +way, and then extending his hand to the good lady, "I am so glad to see +you at home. How are you and how are the girls?" + +"Oh, very well, Sir John." + +"But you look a little bit worried; what is wrong?" + +"Well, the fact is, one of my girls, Kitty Sharston----" + +"That pretty, queer-looking half-wild girl whom I saw in church on +Sunday?" + +"The same; she is the daughter of Major Sharston, a very estimable man." + +"Sharston, Sharston, I should think he is. Why, he is an old brother +officer of mine; we served together in the time of the Crimea. +Anything wrong with Sharston! What's up, my dear madam, what is up!" + +"Well, it's just this," said Mrs. Clavering. "Major Sharston has lost +a lot of money, and is obliged to take an appointment in India, and he +cannot afford to leave poor Kitty at the school longer than till the +end of term. I intend to have her as my guest during the holidays, but +afterwards she must go to an old cousin in Scotland, and the poor child +has little chance of ever being very well educated. She is very much +shaken by the blow." + +"But this is fearful," said Sir John, "fearful! What can we do?" + +"Nothing, I am afraid," said Mrs. Clavering. "Nothing would offend +Major Sharston more than for his daughter to accept charity in any +form. He is a very proud man, and Kitty, when all is said and done, +although very wild and needing a lot of training, has got a spirit of +her own. She will be a fine girl by and by." + +"And a beautiful one to boot," interrupted Sir John. "Well, this is +terrible; what can we do?" + +"Nothing," repeated Mrs. Clavering again. + +Sir John looked very thoughtful. + +"Is it to-night," he said, "you announce your programme for the Cherry +Feast?" + +"Yes," answered the good lady. + +"Then I have a crow to pluck with you; you never sent me notice to +attend." + +"I did not, for I thought you would be away, but will you come in this +evening, Sir John, we shall all be delighted to see you?" + +Sir John considered for a moment. + +"I will," he said, "and you know I always offer a prize of my own, +which is to be given at the Cherry Feast. Now, why should not we on +this occasion offer a prize which Kitty Sharston runs a chance of +winning, and which would save her from leaving Cherry Court School?" + +Mrs. Clavering shook her head. + +Sir John bent forward and began to speak eagerly. + +"Now, come," he said, "I think I can manage it. Could it not be done +in this way?" He spoke in a low tone, and Mrs. Clavering bent her head +to listen. + +"But, even if you did offer such a prize," she said, "which in itself +would be very valuable, what chance has Kitty of winning it? She is +not particularly forward in any of her studies, and then the girls who +did not want it would get it." + +"I am persuaded that Kitty has plenty of ability," said Sir John. + +"I quite agree with you, and to work for such a prize would be an +immense stimulus; but then, you know, the feast comes on so soon, and +there are only three weeks in which to prepare." + +"We can manage it by means of a sort of preliminary canter," said the +baronet, in a musing tone; "I am sure we can work the thing up. Now, +let us put our heads together and get some idea into shape before +to-night. That child must be saved; her father's feelings must be +respected. She must stay here and be under your wing, and I will go +and have a chat with Sharston and see if I cannot make life endurable +to the poor little girl, even though he is away in India." + +"Well, it is very nice your being a friend of Major Sharston's. If you +will stay here for about half an hour while I am attending to something +else, I will come back and we will see what scheme we can draw up." + +"Good," said Sir John, "and don't hurry back, for I am going to put on +my considering-cap. This thing must be managed by hook or by crook." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +SIR JOHN'S GREAT SCHEME. + +It was in this way that the great prize which caused such excitement in +Cherry Court School was started. + +It was called the Scholarship prize, and was a new and daring idea of +the early seventies. Girls were not accustomed to big prizes in those +days, and scholarships were only in vogue in the few public schools +which were then in existence. + +Sir John and Mrs. Clavering between them drew up a scheme which put +every other idea into the shade, for there was a great honor to be +conferred as well as a very big money prize, and the girls were +stimulated to try their very best. It was arranged that the prize was +to be competed for between this day in early June and the day when the +Cherry Feast was held by the entire Upper school, but that after that +date the competitors were only to number three. The three girls who +came out in the first list at the time of the Cherry Feast were to +compete for the great prize itself in the following October, and Mrs. +Clavering had made private arrangements with Sir John to keep Kitty at +the school, in case she came out one of the first three, until October, +when the prize itself was to be won. + +There were three tests which were to qualify for the prize. First and +above all, good conduct; an unselfish, brave, noble character would +rank very high indeed. Second would come neat appearance and admirable +deportment, which would include graceful conversation, polite manners +and all those things which are more or less neglected in modern +education; and last of all would come the grand educational test. + +Thus every idea of the school would be turned more or less topsy-turvy, +for Sir John's scheme was so peculiar and his prize so munificent that +it was worth giving up everything else to try for. + +The prize itself was to consist of a free education at Cherry Court +School for the space of three years; accompanying it was a certificate +in parchment, which in itself was to be considered a very high honor; +and thirdly, a locket set with a beautiful ruby to represent a cherry, +which was the badge of the school. + +When the great day arrived it was decided that the happy winner of this +great prize would receive the fees for a year's schooling in a purse +presented to her by Sir John himself, also the scroll of merit and the +beautiful ruby locket. + +The news of Sir John's bounty and the marvelous prize which was to be +offered to the fortunate girls was the talk of the entire school. Even +Kitty, who little guessed how deeply she was concerned in the matter, +could scarcely think of anything else. It diverted her mind from her +coming sorrow. On the day that the prize was formally announced she +sat down to write to her father to inform him on the subject. + +"It is too wonderful," she wrote; "I was the most miserable girl in all +the world when I got your telegram. I scarcely knew what I was doing, +and then Mrs. Clavering took me into her oak parlor and told me still +further bad news. That I--oh, father dear, oh, father--that I was to +go and live with Helen Dartmoor. How could you think of it, father? +But there, she said it had to be, and I felt nearly wild. You don't +know what I was suffering, although I tried so very hard to be brave. +I am suffering still, but not quite so badly, for what do you think +happened in the evening. + +"You know, or perhaps you don't know, that at the end of summer there +is always such a glorious day--it is called Cherry Feast Day, and is +given in honor of the school, which is called Cherry Court School. The +whole day is given up to festivities of every sort and description, and +all the neighborhood are invited to a great big Cherry Feast in the +evening. + +"The feast is held in the walled-in garden, which is lit with colored +lanterns. In the very centre of the garden is a grass sward, the +greenest grass you ever saw, father, and, oh, so smooth--as smooth as +velvet, and on this grass, lit with fairy lamps, the girls dance all +kinds of stately, wonderful, old-fashioned dances, and the neighbors +sit round and watch, and then at the end we all go into the house, into +the great oak hall in the middle, and Mrs. Clavering gives the prizes +to the lucky girls. + +"Of course, feasts of cherries are the order of the hour, and we wear +cherry ornaments if possible. You cannot imagine how full of cherries +we are in the school, even to cherry-colored ribbons, you know. + +"Well, yesterday, when your dreadful telegram came, was the day when we +were to draw up a programme for the Cherry Feast, and when all we girls +came into the oak parlor in the evening--I mean all the girls of the +Upper school, for the little ones, although they enjoy the feast +splendidly at the time, are never allowed to know much of the +preparations--well, when we were all in the oak parlor who should come +in but Mrs. Clavering and such a tall, stately, splendid-looking man. +His name is Sir John Wallis, and it seems, father dear, that he knows +all about you, for he called me up afterwards and spoke to me, and he +put his arm round my waist, and when he said good-bye he even kissed +me, and he said that you and he were some of the heroes before +Sebastopol. Oh, father, he did speak so splendidly of you, and he +looked so splendid himself, I quite loved him, I did really. But +there, how I am digressing, father! + +"Mrs. Clavering gave out the programme for the day--the usual sort, you +know, the dancing on the lawn in the evening, and the crowds of +spectators, and the assembling in the big hall for the prizes to be +given out to all the lucky girls who had won them. + +"Of course, I won't get any this year. I have not been at school long +enough, although I am trying and working very hard. Well, Mrs. +Clavering read out the usual programme and we all stood by and +listened, and I could not help glancing at Sir John, although I had not +spoken to him then, and did not know, not a bit of it, that he knew +you, darling, precious father. + +"But all of a sudden Sir John himself came forward and he took Mrs. +Clavering's place on the little rostrum, as they call it, and he spoke +in such a loud, penetrating, and yet beautiful voice, and he said that +he, with Mrs. Clavering's permission, had a scheme to propose. + +"He began by saying how he loved the school, how he had always loved +it, how his own mother had been educated at Cherry Court School, and +how he thought there was no school like it in the world, and then he +said that he was anxious, now that he had returned home to live and was +growing an old man himself, to do something for the school, and he +proposed there and then to offer it a Scholarship. + +"Do you know what a scholarship is, father? I thought only men won +scholarships. Well, anyhow, he did offer a Scholarship, such a +magnificent one. It was to be held by the girl who was best in +conduct, best in deportment, and best in her educational work, in the +following October, and she was to hold it for three years, and what do +you think the scholarship was? + +"Oh, was there anything so splendid! A lovely, lovely gold locket with +a ruby cherry on the right side and a wonderful inscription on the left +side, and a parchment scroll, father, in which the full particulars of +the great Scholarship were written down, and besides that, a purse of +money. Oh, father, a girl would not mind taking money in that way, +would she?--and what was the money for?--it was to pay all her fees for +a year. + +"Every expense connected with the school was to be met by this +wonderful purse of money; she was to be educated and called the Cherry +Court Scholarship girl, and it was to be a wonderfully proud +distinction, I can tell you, and at the end of the year Sir John Wallis +was to give another purse of money, and at the end of that year another +purse of money, so that the lucky girl who won the Scholarship was to +be educated free of expense for three whole years. + +"Oh, father, father! I mean to try for it--I mean to try with all my +might and main. I don't suppose I'll succeed, but I shall have such a +fit of trying--you never knew anything like it in your life. But do +you know, perhaps, that what Kitty tries for with all her might and +soul she generally wins. + +"Oh, dear father, this has made me quite happy and has taken off the +worst of my great pain. I feel now that there is hope, for at the end +of three years I shall be a well-educated girl--that is, if I win the +Scholarship, and then perhaps you will allow me to come out to you to +India. I am not without hope, now, but I should be utterly and +completely devoid of it if I had to go and live with Helen Dartmoor. + +"Your loving and excited daughter, KITTY." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +FLORENCE. + +It began to be whispered in the school--at first, it is true, in very +low tones and scarcely any words, but just a nod and a single +glance--that Mrs. Clavering was very anxious that Kitty should win the +Scholarship. + +There was really no reason for this rumor to get afloat, but beyond +doubt the rumor was afloat, was in the air, and was talked of by the +girls--at first, as I have said, scarcely at all, but by and by more +and more plainly as the hours flew on towards the Cherry Feast. + +Kitty herself knew nothing of these whispers. She was very busy +planning and reconstructing all her previous ideas with regard to +education. Her first object was to come out one of the happy three who +were to compete for the Scholarship in the coming October. If she +succeeded in this she felt sure that all would be well. She began now +eagerly to examine her companion's faces. Sometimes they turned away +from her bright, almost too bright, eyes, but then again they would +look at her with a certain compassion. + +It would be very nice, they all thought, to win the Scholarship--there +was no girl at Cherry Court School who would not feel proud to get so +great a prize--but they also knew that what would be merely nice for +them was life or death for poor Kitty Sharston, and yet nothing had +been told them; they only surmised that there was a wish in Mrs. +Clavering's breast that Kitty should be the lucky girl. + +On a certain afternoon about a week before the Cherry Feast, Mabel and +Alice Cunningham, with Florence Aylmer and Edith King, were once more +assembled under one of the cherry trees in the cherry orchard. + +"I am sure of it," said Alice. "Of course, it is nothing that I have +heard, but it is a sort of look in Mrs. Clavering's face, and she is so +eager to give Kitty all sorts of help. She has her by herself now +every evening to coach her for an hour." + +"Well, for my part, I don't call it a bit fair," said Florence Aylmer. + +"Florry! Oh, surely you are not jealous, and of poor little Kitty?" + +"I am not exactly jealous--oh, no, I am not jealous," said Florence, +"but it rather takes the heart out of one. If after all one's trouble +and toil and exertion one gets the thing and then Mrs. Clavering is +discontented and Kitty Sharston's heart is broken, I don't see the use +of having a big fight--do you, Mabel? do you, Edith?" + +"Oh, I don't know," said Edith; "I only feel puzzled; perhaps it is a +mere suspicion and there is no truth in it." + +"I cannot imagine, if it is really Sir John's wish that Kitty should be +the successful competitor, why he does not give her the money straight +away and end the thing," said Florence again. + +"But, you see, he could not do that," said Mabel, "for Kitty is very +proud and----" + +"Well, I don't like it," said Florence, "and I tell you what it is--now +that the whisper has got into the air, I mean to know. I shall go +straight to Mrs. Clavering and ask her. If it is true I for one will +not enter the lists at all." + +"But would you dare to ask her?" exclaimed Mabel, in a voice almost of +awe. "You know, Mrs. Clavering, although she is the kindest woman in +the world, never allows any liberties to be taken with her. I don't +think you can dare to ask her, Florry--I really don't." + +"Oh, I shall, all the same," replied Florence. "If this thing is fair +and above board, and equal chances are given to us all, why, I shall go +in for it and be delighted to have a chance, but if it is not, Kitty +shall have it without much exertion, as far as I am concerned." + +She got up restlessly as she spoke, and moved towards the house. + +The day was a very hot one, and all the doors and windows stood wide +open. Sir John Wallis was standing inside the porch talking to Mrs. +Clavering. + +Florence came slowly forward. Sir John held out his hand to her. + +"Well, Miss Aylmer," he said, in his pleasant voice, "and how do the +studies get on, and are you all agog to be one of the lucky three?" + +"I am not at all sure about that," said Florence; "I was coming to you, +Mrs. Clavering, to speak about it." + +"Why, what can be wrong?" said the baronet; "I thought that you were +one of the most promising pupils and had a very good chance." + +"But what," said Florence, her face suddenly blazing into color, and +her eyes fixing themselves first on Sir John's face and then on that of +Mrs. Clavering, "what if you don't want me to win the prize!" + +"Don't want you--what nonsense!" said Mrs. Clavering, but she colored +faintly as she spoke. + +Sir John gave Florence a very keen glance. + +"I may as well speak out now that I am about it," continued the girl. +"There is a rumor in the school--I cannot tell you who started it, but +there is a rumor--that you, Sir John, want Kitty to get the prize." + +"It is perfectly true that I should like her to get it," said Sir John, +instantly, "but the prize shall be bestowed upon the girl who comes out +best in deportment, best in conduct, and best in learning, whether she +is Kitty Sharston or another. Now, that is all, Florence Aylmer. I +have spoken. Don't, I beg of you, say a word of what you have just +said to me to Kitty herself. You have all equal chances. If Kitty +fails she fails. I shall be disappointed, but I shall honor the girl +who wins the great prize all the same." + +"Thank you," replied Florence. She entered the hall; a moment later +Mrs. Clavering followed her. + +"My dear," she said, "what is wrong with you? I would not know you +with that expression on your face." + +"Things seem very hard," said Florence. "At first, when the prize was +mentioned, it seemed quite too delicious, for you know, dear Mrs. +Clavering, that I am poor, too, and if I were to win the prize it would +be only too delightful; but if you do not wish me to take it"--tears +filled her eyes; one of them rolled down her cheeks. + +"I do heartily wish you to have it if you really win it, Florence. The +competition is an open one, rest assured of that; and now, my dear, +cease to think unkind thoughts of Kitty, and, above all things, don't +breathe a word of what you have just said to me to her." + +"That I promise," said Florence, but she went upstairs feeling +discontented and depressed. + +She sat down to write a letter to her mother. + +"Dear mother," she wrote, "we are trying for an extraordinary prize +here, quite a valuable Scholarship, such as are given to men at the +Universities, and I am going to have a big try for it, but I should +like to talk things over with you. I wonder if Aunt Susan would rise +to the occasion, and let me have a third-class return ticket to +Dawlish, and if you, Mummy, could secure a tiny room for me next +yourself. I want to spend a week with you during the coming holidays. +I have a good deal to say and am rather anxious and miserable. Try and +arrange it with Aunt Susan. It won't cost very much really, and I +promise to return at the end of a week. + +"Your loving daughter, + "FLORENCE." + +"P. S.--I shall eat very little and be satisfied with the plainest +food. You might mention that to Aunt Susan when you are writing." + +"P. S. 2.--There is a new girl at the school; she came just at the +beginning of term, but I never mentioned her name to you before. She +is called Kitty Sharston, and I think she has a very great chance of +winning the Scholarship. She is rather an awkward kind of girl, but +will be handsome by and by. She is a great friend of Sir John Wallis, +the man who is the patron of the school, and who is giving the +Scholarship. I mean to have a good try for the Scholarship, Mummy, +dear. Be sure you say so to Aunt Susan when you ask her for my +third-class fare to Dawlish. Good-bye again, Mummy dear. +FLORENCE." + + +Having written this letter Florence uttered a sigh of relief, put it +into its envelope, addressed it, stamped it, and ran downstairs to put +it in the school letter-box. Just as she was in the act of doing so +the chaise drew up at the front door, a tall soldierly man got out, he +came into the porch, and just as he was about to ring the bell, his +eyes met those of Florence. + +"This is Cherry Court School, is it not?" he said, taking off his hat +to the girl. + +"Yes," replied Florence; "can I do anything for you, sir?" + +"My name is Major Sharston. I have come to see my daughter; can you +tell me where I shall find her?" + +"Are you indeed Kitty's father?" said Florence, her heart now shining +out of her eyes. She had beautiful eyes, dark grey with very long, +black lashes. Her face, which was somewhat pale, was quite quivering +with emotion. + +"Yes, I am Kitty's father," was the reply. "Shall I go into the house, +and will you be kind enough to tell her that I am here; or perhaps," +added the Major, looking as wistful as Florence herself, "you might +take me to her straight away?" + +"I will take you to her straight away, that's just it," said Florence. +She turned back to drop her letter into the school letter-box, and then +conducted the Major across the lawn and into the outer garden. In this +garden every old-fashioned flower imaginable bloomed and thrived, and +reared its graceful head. The Major walked down through great lines of +tall hollyhocks and peonies of every color and description. Then he +passed under a sweet-briar hedge and then along a further hedge of +Scotch roses, red and white; and the scent from mignonette and sweet +peas and the sweet-briar and the roses came up to his nostrils. Never +to the longest day of his life did the Major forget the sweet scent of +the old-fashioned garden and the pain at his heart all the time, for he +was going to see Kitty, to bid her good-bye for years--perhaps, who +could tell? for ever. + +Florence seemed to guess some of his feelings, though she did not know +the actual story, for Kitty was very reserved and kept her troubles to +herself. The Major made no remark about the garden, which in itself +was somewhat curious, for strangers were always in raptures over this +old-world garden, with its yew-trees cut in quaint shapes, and its high +walls, and its flowers, which seemed, every one of them, to belong to +the past. + +At last the Major and Florence reached the postern-gate which opened +into the cherry orchard, and then Florence stood still and raised her +voice and called, "Kitty! Kitty Sharston!" and there came an answering +call, clear and high as a bird's, and the next instant Kitty, in her +white summer dress, was seen emerging from under the cherry-trees. She +saw her father, uttered a cry half of rapture, half of pain, and the +next instant was clasped in his arms. Florence saw the Major's arms +fold around Kitty, and a queer lump rose in her throat and she went +away all by herself. Somehow, at that moment she felt that she shared +Mrs. Clavering's wish that Kitty Sharston should get the prize. + +"Although it means a great deal to me, a great deal more than anyone +can guess," thought Florry to herself, "for Aunt Susan is never very +kind to the dear little mother, and she makes such a compliment of +giving her that money term after term, and she insists on doing +everything in the very cheapest way. Why will she not," continued +Florence, looking down at her dress as she spoke, "why will she not +give me decent clothes like other girls! I never have anything pretty. +It is brown holland all during the summer, the coarsest brown holland, +and it is the coarsest blue serge during the winter; never, never +anything else--no style, no fashion, no pretty ribbons, not even a +cherry ribbon for my hair, and so little pocket-money, oh! so +little--only a penny a week. What can a girl do with a penny a week? +Of course, she does allow me a few stamps, just a very few, to send +Mummy letters, but she does keep me so terribly close. Sometimes I can +scarcely bear the life. Oh, what a difference the Scholarship would +make, and Sir John Wallis would think a great deal of me, and so would +Mrs. Clavering. Why, I should be the show girl of the school, the +Cherry Court Scholarship girl; it would be splendid, quite splendid! +But then Kitty, poor Kitty, and what a look the Major had on his face! +I wonder what can be wrong? Oh dear! oh, dear! my heart is torn in +two. Why do I long beyond all words to win the prize, and why, why do +I hate taking it from Kitty Sharston?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +KITTY AND HER FATHER. + +Meanwhile the Major and Kitty went away by themselves. As soon as +Kitty had hugged her father, one close, passionate, voiceless hug, she +released him, stepped back a pace, looked him in the face, and then +said eagerly, "Come away quickly, father; there is a meadow at the back +of the cherry orchard which we can have quite to ourselves. Come at +once. Did Mrs. Clavering send you out here? How good of her to let me +see you alone!" + +"She does not even know that I have come, Kitty," replied her father. +"I met a girl--I don't know what her name is--just as I reached the +porch, and she took me to you. I cannot stay very long, my love, as I +must get back to Chatham to-night." + +"All right," said Kitty; "let us make for the meadow; there is a big +oak-tree and we can sit under it and no one need see us. We must be +alone all, all during the time that you are here." + +The Major said nothing. Kitty linked her hand through his arm. She +was feeling wildly excited--her father and she were together. It might +be an hour, or it might be two hours, that they were to spend together, +but the time was only beginning now. They were together, and she felt +all the warm glow of love, all the ecstasy of perfect happiness in +their reunion. + +They reached the oak-tree in the meadow, the Major sat down, and Kitty +threw herself by his side. + +"Well, Kitty," he said, "what is this that I hear? I read your letter; +it is quite a wonderful letter, little girl. It was the sort of letter +a brave girl would write." + +"The sort of letter a girl would write whose father was a hero before +Sebastopol," said Kitty. + +"What has put that in you head, my darling?" + +"Sir John Wallis spoke of it. Oh, father dear, won't you go and see +Sir John Wallis--he is so nice and so kind? You were both heroes +before Sebastopol, were you not, father dearest, you and he?" + +"We were in the trenches and we suffered a good bit," said the Major, a +grim smile on his face, "but those are bygone times, Kitty." + +"All the same they are times that can never be forgotten while English +history lasts," said Kitty with a proud sparkle in her eyes. + +"Well, no, little girl, I don't suppose England will ever forget the +men who fought for her," replied the Major; "but we won't waste time +talking on these matters now, my child; we have much else to say." + +"What, father?" + +"Well, your letter for instance; and you greatly dislike going to stay +with Helen Dartmoor?" + +Kitty's face turned pale; she had been rosy up to now. The roses faded +out of her cheeks, then her lips turned white, and the brightness left +her eyes. + +"I should hate it," she said; "there are no other words." + +"And you think there is just an off chance that you may win this +wonderful Scholarship?" + +"I mean to have the biggest try a girl ever had, and you know your +Kitty," replied the girl. + +"Yes, I know my brave, brave Kitty, the girl who has clung to her +father through thick and thin, who has always tried to please him, who +has a spirit of her own." + +"Which I inherit from you," said Kitty. "Oh, I have lots of faults; I +can be so cheeky when I like, and so naughty about rules, but somehow +nothing, nothing ever frightens me, except the thought of going to +Helen Dartmoor. You see, father, dear, it would be so hopeless. You +cannot take the hope out of anybody's life and expect the person to do +well, can you, father? Do speak, father--can you?" + +"No, my child, I know that, but even if you have to go to her, Kitty, +remember that I am working very hard for you--that as soon as possible +I will make a home for you, and you shall come to me." + +"How long will you be in India, father?" + +"I do not know, my child. The appointment which I have just received +under Government I can, I believe, retain as long as I please. My idea +is, darling, to do very good service for our Government, and to induce +them to send me into a healthy place." + +"But where are you going now?" said Kitty; "Is the place not healthy, +is your life to be endangered?" + +"No, I am too seasoned for that," replied the Major, in a very cheerful +tone which, alas! he was far from feeling. "You need not be a scrap +anxious, my love," he added; "the place would not suit a young thing +like you, but a seasoned old subject like myself is safe enough. Never +you fear, Kitty mine." + +"But go on, father; you have more to say, haven't you?" + +"Yes, Kitty, I have more to say and the time is very brief. If you win +the Scholarship, well and good. You will be well educated, and my mind +will be relieved of an untold load of care. But, of course, darling, +there is a possibility of your failing, for the Scholarship is an open +one, and there are other girls in the school, perhaps as clever, as +determined, as full of zeal as you, my Kitty." + +"I am afraid, father, dear, there are other girls much cleverer than +your Kitty, who know a vast lot more, and who are very full of zeal. +But," added the young girl, and now she clasped her hands and sprang to +her feet, "there is no one who has the motive I have, and this will +carry me through. I mean first of all to come out one of the lucky +three--that's certain." + +"When is the preliminary examination to take place, Kitty?" + +"On the day of the Cherry Feast," replied Kitty. + +"Well, dear, I have been thinking matters over. If you fail you fail, +but I am determined to give you this chance. I shall see Mrs. +Clavering before I leave and arrange that you are to stay with her +until October; then if you win the Scholarship your future is arranged; +you take your three years' education, and then by hook or by crook, my +darling, you come out to me to India, for by then, unless I am vastly +mistaken, I shall have got into a hill station where it will be safe +for you to stay with me." + +"Oh, you darling, how heavenly it will be!" said Kitty. She clung +close to her father, flung her arms round his neck, laid her head on +his breast, and looked at him with eyes swimming in tears. + +"Oh, I am not a bit unhappy, though I cry," she said, "it is only +because I feel your goodness so much, for though I would have tried +away with Helen Dartmoor I should not have had the chance I shall have +here, for Mrs. Clavering is very good, and I know she wants me to get +the prize, only she feels that I must compete fairly with the other +girls." + +"Of course, you must compete fairly with the other girls, Kitty," said +her father; "if I thought there was any special favoritism in this, +well--" His bronzed cheeks flushed, an indignant light fired his eyes. + +"What, father?" + +"I am a proud man, Kitty, and Helen Dartmoor is your cousin, and would +keep you for the very small sum which it is in my power to offer her." + +"Your pride shall not be hurt, father, darling. I will win the +Scholarship honorably and in open fight." + +"That is my own Kitty." + +"I vow I'll win it," said the girl. + +The Major smiled at her. "You must not be too sure," he said, "or you +will be doubly disappointed if you fail. And now there is one thing +more to be said, and then we can talk on other matters. If you do +fail, my Kitty, you will go to Helen Dartmoor with a heart and a half." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean that you will go to her and not allow hope to die out of your +breast; you will go as a brave girl should, making the best of what +seems an adverse circumstance. If you do this, Kitty, it will be +severe discipline, but not too severe discipline for a soldier's +daughter. Never forget that, my dear, and that, one way or other, at +the end of the three years you come out to me." + +"When I come out to you," said Kitty, "I want you to be proud of me. I +want you to say, 'My girl is a lady, my girl knows things, she is not +ignorant, she can deport herself well, and act well and she knows +things.' But in any case, father, whether I am ignorant or whether I +am not, I promise--yes, I promise--to make the best of circumstances." + +"Then God bless you, child, you are your mother's own girl." + +"And yours--yours," said Kitty, in a low tone of mingled pain and love. + +"We will go back to the house, and I will see Mrs. Clavering, and +afterwards I will ask her permission to let me take you up to see Sir +John Wallis, for, strange as it may seem, I have lost sight of Wallis +for quite fifteen years--such are the fortunes of war, my love. We +were brothers, standing shoulder to shoulder during a momentous year of +our lives, and since then Sir John retired from the service, and I have +heard and seen nothing of him. It was almost immediately afterwards, I +believe, that he came in for the great property and the title which he +now possesses. But come, Kitty, we have not much time to lose." + +Kitty never forgot the rest of that afternoon, for she and her father +had so much to do, so many people to see, and so many things to +arrange, that time flew on wings, and it was not until the last moment +when the parting really came that she realized all it meant to her. + +There was a hurried clasp in the strongest, bravest arms in all the +world, a brief kiss on her cheek, a look in her father's eyes which was +enough to stimulate the highest in any girl's heart, and then the +parting was over. + +The Major had left Cherry Court School, having given all possible +directions for his little girl's comfort and well-being, and had gone +away sorely broken down, crushed to the earth himself, but leaving +Kitty with a courage which did not falter during the days which were to +come. For the Major knew that, strong as he was, he was going to a +part of India where brave men as strong as he are stricken down year +after year by the unhealthy climate, and three years even at the best +was a long time to part with a girl like Kitty, particularly when she +was the only child he had, the light of his eyes, the darling of his +heart. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +CHERRY-COLORED RIBBONS. + +The day of the Cherry Feast dawned bright and glorious. The girls +awoke in the early morning of that splendid summer day, feeling that +something very delightful was about to happen. One after another they +peeped out and saw the sun on the grass and heard the birds sing and +felt the soft zephyrs of the summer breeze blowing on their cheeks. +Then they returned back again to their different little beds in their +different dormitories, and remarked with intense satisfaction that the +long wished-for day had come, and that to-morrow they were all going +home--home for the holidays. Could anything be more fascinating, +stimulating, and delightful? And each girl hoped to go back again to +the beloved home with honor, for Mrs. Clavering had a wonderful way +with her pupils, a very stimulating way, and she so arranged her prizes +and her certificates that no girl who had really worked, who had really +taken pains, was excluded from distinction. It was only the hopelessly +idle, the hopelessly disobedient, who could leave Cherry Court School +without some token of its mistress's sympathy, regard, and +encouragement. + +Kitty Sharston was too new a scholar to expect to get any reward in the +ordinary sense of this term, but, all the same, she had worked fairly +well, and during the last three weeks had tackled her studies and +regulated her conduct like a veritable little Trojan. Every moment of +Kitty's day was now marked out. There was never an instant that she +was off guard with regard to herself; there was no time left in her +busy life for reckless speeches and reckless deeds. The goal set +before her was such a high one, the motive to struggle for pre-eminence +was so strong, that Kitty was quite carried along by the current. Her +natural keen intelligence stood her in good stead, her marks for +punctuality, for neatness, for early rising were all good, and she had +little, very little fear of the results of this afternoon's brief +examination. + +The examination was to be very short, and was to be conducted on this +special occasion by no less a person than Sir John Wallis himself. +Mrs. Clavering having reckoned up the marks, Mademoiselle Le Brun +having given her testimony, Fraulein having given hers, and the English +teachers having further testified to the industry of the pupils, the +girls of the Upper school were to pass muster before Sir John, who was +to decide without prejudice in favor of the lucky three who alone were +to compete for the great Scholarship in October. + +Florence and Kitty were in the same class in school, and up to the date +of the offering of the Scholarship had been excellent friends. They +were still friends as far as Kitty was concerned, for she was a +generous-hearted girl, and although the winning of the prize meant +everything almost in her life, did another girl take it from her fairly +and honorably in open fight, she would resign it without a trace of +ill-will or any sore feeling towards the winner. But there were things +in Florence's life which made her now look aloof at Kitty. She had +been receiving letters from her mother, and the mother had been asking +the girl strange questions, and Mrs. Aylmer was not a woman of lofty +principle nor of strong courage, and some of the jealous thoughts in +Florence's heart had been fanned into flame by her mother's injudicious +words. So on the day of the great Cherry Feast she awoke with a +headache, and, turning away from Kitty, who looked at her with anxious, +affectionate eyes, she proceeded to dress quickly and hurried off to +the school-room. + +The dormitory in which Kitty slept was a long, low room with a sloping +roof. It ran the whole width of the house, and was occupied by Kitty +herself, by Mabel and Alice Cunningham, by Edith King, and by Florence +Aylmer. Each girl had her little cubicle or division curtained off +from her fellows, where she could sleep and where she could retire, if +necessary, into a sort of semi-solitude. But one-half of the dormitory +was open to all the girls, and they often drew their curtains aside and +chatted and talked and laughed as they dressed and undressed, for Mrs. +Clavering, contrary to most of the school-mistresses of her day, gave +her girls a certain amount of liberty. They were not, for instance, +required to talk French in the dormitories, and they were always +allowed, provided they got into bed within certain limits and dressed +within certain limits, to have freedom when in their rooms. They never +dreamt of abusing these privileges, and better, healthier, brighter +girls could not be found in the length and breadth of England. + +"Well, I am glad the day has come at last," said Edith, as she rose +that morning with a yawn. "Oh, dear, and it's going to be splendid, +too. Kitty, what dress are you going to wear at the festival to-night?" + +Kitty replied with a smile that she meant to wear her Indian muslin. + +"And have you got your cherry-colored ribbons?" said Edith; "we all +wear bunches of cherry ribbons in the front of our dresses and tying +back our hair. Have you got yours, Kitty?" + +"Yes," replied Kitty; "father sent me a quantity of cherry-colored +ribbons last week." + +She hardly ever mentioned her father's name, and the girls did not like +to question her. Now she turned her head aside, and proceeded hastily +with her dressing. + +"Well, it is going to be a splendid day," said Alice, "and, you know, +there are no lessons of any sort; all the examinations are over and the +results will be known to-night; the day is to be a long and happy +one--no lessons, nothing to do except to wander about and please +ourselves; pack our trunks, of course, which will be truly a delightful +occupation. Think of the joys of the evening and the further delights +of to-morrow. I expect to reach home about six o'clock in the evening. +When will you get to your place, Edith?" + +"A little later than you," replied Edith, "for it is farther away, but +father and mother have promised to come and meet me at Canterbury. I +shall reach Canterbury about six o'clock in the evening. We have ten +miles to drive then, so I don't suppose I shall be home till half-past +seven. The boys are going to make a bonfire; there is to be no end of +fun--there always is when I come home for the summer holidays." + +Kitty gave a faint sigh and there came a cruel pang at her heart. She +and Florence Aylmer were to spend the holidays together. She had tried +to think she would enjoy this solitary time, but in her heart of hearts +she knew that she had to make a great struggle with herself. + +"But, never mind," she muttered now softly under her breath, "I shall +spend most of the hours in studying; there is so much to get through +before the Scholarship exam. comes off in October, and I know Florence +will study, too, and, of course, I shan't be at all jealous of her, and +if she does succeed in winning the prize, why, I will just remember +father's words and make the best of things, whatever happens." But the +next moment she was saying fiercely under her breath, "I shall win, I +will win; whatever happens, I will, I must win." + +The girls went down to breakfast, which was a very sociable meal that +morning, the English tongue being allowed to be spoken, and the usual +restrictions all being utterly withdrawn. + +Florence appeared then and took her place at the table; she looked a +little pale and untidy, and her eyes were red as if she had been +secretly crying. More than one girl glanced at her and wondered what +was the matter. When breakfast was over Kitty went up to Florence, +slipped her hand through her arm, and pulled her out into the sunshine. + +"Is anything wrong, Florry?" she said. + +"Oh, it's only that beastly mean Aunt Susan," retorted Florence, +shrugging her shoulders. + +"Your Aunt Susan?" + +"Yes, of course; you have heard me talk of her. I am dependent on her, +you know; oh, it's the most hateful position for any girl!" + +"I am very sorry, and I quite understand," said Kitty. + +"I don't believe you do; you have never been put in such an odious +plight. For instance, you have cherry-colored ribbons to wear +to-night, have you not?" + +"Such beauties," replied Kitty; "father sent them to me a week ago. A +yard and a half to make the bunch for the front of my dress, and a yard +and a half to tie up my hair--three yards; and such a lovely, lovely +color, and such soft ribbon, corded silk on one side, and satin at the +other. Oh, it is beautiful." + +"Yes, of course, it is beautiful," said Florence; "you have told us +about those ribbons a great many times." Florence could not help her +voice being tart, and Kitty looked at her in some astonishment. + +"But all the same," she said, "you're glad I have got cherry-colored +ribbons, are you not?" + +"I don't know," replied Florence, flushing; "I believe I hate you for +having them. There, I'm nothing if I'm not frank." + +"You hate me for having them? Oh, Florry, but you cannot be so mean." + +"I wrote to Aunt Susan myself--there was no time to tackle her in a +roundabout way through mother. I wrote to her and got her reply this +morning. She sent me--what do you think? Instead of the beautiful +ribbons which I asked for, three yards of which are absolutely +necessary to make even a show of a decent appearance, six stamps! Six +stamps, I assure you, to buy what I could for myself! Did you ever +hear of anything so miserably mean? Oh, I hate her, I do hate her!" + +"Poor Florence!" said Kitty; "but you must have the ribbons somehow, +must you not?" + +"I must; I dare not appear without. Mademoiselle Le Brun is going into +Hilchester immediately after breakfast, and I am going to ask her to +get me the best she can, but, of course, she will get nothing worth +having for sixpence--a yard and a half at the most of some horrid +cottony stuff which will look perfectly dreadful. It is mean of Aunt +Susan, and you know, Kitty," continued Florence, her tone softening at +the evident sympathy with which Kitty regarded her, "I am always so +shabbily dressed; I wouldn't be a bit bad-looking if I had decent +clothes. I saved up all the summer to have my muslin dress nicely +washed for this occasion, but it's so thick and so clumsy and--oh, +dear! oh, dear! sometimes I hate myself, Kitty, and when I look at you +I hate myself more than ever." + +"Why when you look at me? I am very sorry for you, Florence." + +"Because you are so generous and so good, and I am just the other way. +But there, don't talk to me any more. I must rush off; I want to have +another look through those geography questions; there is no saying what +Sir John Wallis may question us about to-night, and if I don't get into +the lucky three who are to compete for the Scholarship, I believe I'll +go off my head." + +Florence dashed away as she spoke and rushed into the school-room, +slamming the door behind her. Kitty stood for a moment looking after +her. As she did so Mary Bateman, the stolid-looking girl in the Upper +school, came slowly up. + +"A penny for your thoughts, Kitty Sharston," she said. + +"They are not worth even that," said Kitty. "Where are you going, +Mary?" + +"Into the cherry orchard; we are all to pick cherries for to-night's +feast. By the way, will you be my partner in the minuet? You dance it +so beautifully." + +Kitty hesitated, and a comical look came into her face. + +"You know we are to open the proceedings by dancing the old-fashioned +minuet," continued Mary Bateman; "on the lawn, of course, with the +colored lamps lighting us up. I believe I can do fairly well if I have +you for my partner, for although you are awkward enough you dance +beautifully." + +"I'll be your partner if you like," said Kitty, with a sigh, "but look +here, Mary, when is Mademoiselle Le Brun going into Hilchester?" + +"I did not know she was going at all," replied Mary; "do you want her +to buy you anything'?" + +"I am not quite sure, but I'd like to see her before she goes." + +"Well, there she is, and there's the pony cart coming round. I expect +she has to buy a lot of things for Mrs. Clavering. Run up to her if +you want to give her a message, Kitty. Hullo, mademoiselle, will you +wait a minute for Kitty Sharston--she wants to say something to you?" + +But Kitty stood still. There was a battle going on in her heart. She +had very little pocket-money, very little indeed, but when her father +was saying good-bye to her he had put two new half-crowns into her hand. + +"Keep them unbroken as long as you can, Kitty," he said. "The money +will be something to fall back upon in a time of need." And five +shillings was a large sum for the Major to give Kitty just then, and +Kitty cherished those two half-crowns very dearly, more dearly than +anything else in the world, for they had been her father's last, very +last present to her. + +But perhaps the hour of need had come. This was the thought that +darted into her heart, for Florence did want those cherry-colored +ribbons, and Florence's heart was sore, and things were nearly as bad +for her as they were for Kitty herself. Kitty had a brief struggle, +and then she made up her mind. + +"One moment, mademoiselle; I won't keep you any time," she called out +to the governess, who nodded back to her with a pleased smile on her +face, for Kitty was a universal favorite. + +Then the young girl rushed upstairs to her dormitory, unlocked her +little private drawer, took out her sealskin purse, extracted one of +the new half-crowns, and was down again by the little governess cart, +whispering eagerly to Mademoiselle Le Brun, within the prescribed time. + +"All right," said mademoiselle; "I'll do the very best I can." + +"And have the parcel directed to Florence," said Kitty, "for I don't +want her to know about my giving it to her; I am sure she would rather +not. If there is any change from the half-crown you can let me have it +back, can you not, mademoiselle?" + +"I'll see to that," said mademoiselle; "there is Florence's own +sixpence towards it, you know. Oh I daresay I can give you a shilling +back and get very good ribbon." + +"Well, be sure it is soft and satiny and with no cotton in it," called +Kitty again, and then the governess cart rolled down the avenue and was +lost to view. + +Notwithstanding that she had only half a crown in that sealskin purse +Kitty felt strangely exultant and happy when she ran back to the cherry +orchard and helped her companions in gathering the ripe fruit. + +She had put on a large blue apron, for cherries stain a good deal when +they are as luscious as those in Cherry Court orchard, and quantities +had to be picked, for it was the custom from time immemorial for each +of the guests to take a basket of cherries away with them, and the +baskets themselves--long, low, broad, and ornamental--were filled now +first with cherry-leaves, and then with fruit, by the excited and happy +girls. + +After Kitty had spent an hour or two in the cherry orchard she ran into +the house, washed her face and hands, smoothed her hair, and ran down +to the school-room, for she too wanted to look through her examination +papers. They were not difficult, and she was very quick and ready at +acquiring knowledge, and she soon felt certain that she could answer +all the questions, and, having folded them up, she replaced them in her +desk. + +It was the custom of the school that each girl should keep her desk +locked, and Kitty now slipped the key of hers into her pocket. As she +did so the door was opened and Florence came in. Florence looked pale +and _distrait_. + +"Do you know," she said, "I have got the most racking headache; I +wonder if you would hear me through my English History questions, +Kitty. It would be awfully kind of you. I am so wretched about every +thing and things seem so hopeless, and it is so perfectly miserable to +think of spending all the holidays here, for I don't believe Mrs. +Clavering is going to take us to the seaside after all. Really, I +think life is not worth living sometimes." + +"Oh, but it is," said Kitty, "and we are only preparing for life +now--don't forget that, Florry." + +"I can't take a high and mighty view of anything just now," said +Florence; "I am cross, and that's a fact. I wish I wasn't going to the +feast to-night. If it were not for the chance of being one of the +lucky three in the Scholarship competition I wouldn't appear on the +scenes at all, I vow I would not, with that horrid bit of cottony +cherry-colored ribbon--yes, I vow I wouldn't. Why, Kitty, how you have +stained your dress; you must have knelt on a cherry when you were +picking them just now in the orchard." + +"So I have; what a pity!" said Kitty. She glanced down at the deep red +stain, and then added, "I'll run upstairs presently and wash it out." + +"Well, don't catch cold, whatever you do. But stay, won't you first +hear me my English History questions?" + +Kitty immediately complied. Yes, Florence was stupid; she did not half +know her questions; her replies were wide of the mark. Kitty felt at +first distressed and then very determined. + +"Look here, Florence," she said, "this will never do; you must work +through that portion of English History all the afternoon, and I will +help you to the very best of my ability. I happen to know the time of +Queen Elizabeth so well, for it was a favorite time with my father. He +always loved those old stories of the great worthies who lived in the +time of Queen Elizabeth. Yes, I'll help you. Shall we read these +chapters of history together this afternoon?" + +"I cannot, I cannot," said Florence. "My head aches and everything +seems hopeless. Why, if that is so, Kitty, I shan't even have a chance +of being one of the lucky three." + +"Oh, yes, you will--you must," said Kitty. "Half of the pleasure of +the competition would be lost if you and I were not to work together +during the holidays." + +"Well, there is something in that," said Florence, brightening as she +spoke. "I forgot when I spoke so dismally that you, too, were to spend +the holidays here. By the way, has your father sailed yet?" + +"On Monday last," said Kitty, in a very low voice. She turned her head +aside as she spoke. + +"I believe you are the bravest girl in the world," said Florence, +stoutly; "but there, you are a great deal too good for me. I wish you +were naughty sometimes, such as you used to be, daring and a little +defiant and a little indifferent to rules, but you are so changed since +the Scholarship has come to the fore. Does it mean a great deal to +you, Kitty?" + +"I can't talk of it," said Kitty, "I'd rather not; we are both to try +for it; I believe it means a great deal to us both." + +"It means an immensity to me," said Florence. + +"Then it is not fair for us to talk it over when we are both going to +try our hardest to win it, are we not?" + +"If that is the case why do you help me with my English History?" + +"Because I should like you to be one of the lucky three." + +"Are you certain? Although I don't know this history very well, I +shall be a dangerous rival, that I promise." + +"I don't care; I mean to win if I can, but I should like to compete +with you," said Kitty, stoutly. + +At that moment the sounds of wheels in the avenue was heard, and a +moment or two afterwards Mademoiselle Le Brun entered the school-room +and put a little parcel into Florence's hand. + +"There, my dear," she said. + +Florence let it lie just where it was. + +"Thank you," she answered; "you did your best?" + +"Yes, dear, I did my best." + +The governess left the room without even glancing at Kitty. Kitty felt +herself coloring; she bent low, allowing her curly hair to fall over +her face and forehead. + +A moment later there came an exclamation from Florence. + +"Oh, I say, Kitty, what does this mean--look, do look!" + +Kitty looked up. The flush had left her face now, and it was cool and +composed as usual. + +"Why, Florry," she exclaimed, "she has got you three yards, and it is +absolutely beautiful, satiny and smooth, and not a scrap of cotton in +the ribbon, and such a sweet color. What does it mean?" + +"Kitty, do you understand?" said Florence. + +"I am so glad you have got it," said Kitty, in a quiet voice; "yes, it +is lovely ribbon; perhaps they had a cheap sale or something." + +"Perhaps," said Florence, "but all the same I don't believe this ribbon +could have been bought for twopence a yard. I must speak to +mademoiselle; she could not--oh, no, no, that is +impossible--mademoiselle is very poor and stingy--but what does it +mean?" + +"It means that you are going to wear cherry-colored ribbons to-night, +doesn't it?" said Kitty, "and now cheer up, do, Florry, and work away +at your history. I must run off now to wash my hands before dinner." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE LETTER. + +After dinner Mrs. Clavering called the girls of the Upper school into +the oak parlor. + +"My dears," she said, "I won't keep you a minute, but I have just had a +letter from Sir John Wallis, and he wishes me to say that he would like +the girls who are to compete for the preliminary examination for the +Scholarship to write their answers to the English History questions. +He has sent over the questions in this envelope, and you can all read +them, and you are to write your answers in advance, and fold them up +and put them into envelopes for him to open and read to-night. I +believe there are ten questions, but his rule is that you are none of +you to be helped by any book in the answers, and that no one girl is to +assist another. That is all, my dears; you can go into the school-room +and get the matter through in less than an hour if you like. And now +hurry away, for there is no time to lose. I will have the question +pinned up in the school-room for you all to see." + +Mrs. Clavering hastened away, and all the girls of the Upper school, +seven in all, presently found themselves seated by their desks, busily +answering Sir John Wallis's questions on the reign of Queen Elizabeth. + +When Mrs. Clavering had made her statement Florence had cast one +anxious, half-despairing glance in Kitty's direction, and Kitty had +slowly raised her arched eyebrows and looked at her friend with +compassion and distress. + +Kitty now walked quickly to her desk, glanced at the questions, and +wrote the answers in a good bold, firm hand. + +Her early training with her father stood her in excellent stead, and +she was able to give a vivid account of the Spanish Armada and of other +great events in the reign of good Queen Bess. She felt quite cheerful +and hopeful as she wrote her answers, expressing them in good English, +and taking great pains to be correct with regard to spelling. At last +they were finished. She slipped them into her envelope, put them back +in her desk, and left the room. As she did so she passed Florence, +whose cheeks were flushed like peonies, and who was bending in some +despair over her paper, for Florence was well known in the school to be +ignorant as regarded all matters connected with history, although she +was smart enough in her own line. + +"Poor Florry, I am sorry for her," thought Kitty. Then she went away +to her room and employed her spare time writing a long letter to her +father, and did not give Florence any more thought. + +Meanwhile Mabel and Alice Cunningham, Mary Bateman, Bertha Kennedy, and +Edith King, one and all answered the English History questions; they +slipped them into envelopes, and put them into their desks. They also +left the room, and Florence was alone in the school-room. + +When she found herself so she threw back her head, uttered a great +yawn, and then glanced in despair at the ten very comprehensive +questions set by Sir John Wallis. + +"I shall never answer them," she said to herself; "it is quite +impossible. I have not the faintest idea what he means by question +five, for instance. She hated Mary Queen of Scots, I know that, and +she got her to be imprisoned, I know that also; but what is the story +in connection with the Earl of Leicester? I cannot, cannot remember +it. Oh, how tiresome, how more than tiresome--this may lose me my +chance with the lucky three, for Alice Cunningham is trying quite hard, +and Edith King is having a regular fight over the matter; and of +course, there is no doubt that Kitty Sharston will be elected to try +for the Scholarship, but I--yes, I must be elected--I will; but what +shall I do?" + +Florence paced restlessly up and down the school-room. As she did so +she suddenly perceived with a quickening of her heart's pulses that +Kitty through an oversight had left the key in her desk; all the other +girls had locked their desks; but Kitty, who was generally careful +enough in this matter, had left the key in hers. + +Nothing in all the world would be easier than for Florence to open +Kitty's desk, to take out the envelope which contained her replies to +the English History questions, and to glance at the momentous question +which related to the Earl of Leicester. Right or wrong, Florence felt +she must stoop to this mean action. + +"After all, being included in the lucky three does not mean winning the +Scholarship," she said to herself, "and I should so like to be one of +the three. I think I will take one look; there is no one in the house +at present. I saw Kitty cross the courtyard and go in the direction of +the garden not half an hour ago. No one will know, and I shall have an +equal chance with the others; if not, I shall fail, and to fail now +would drive me mad." + +Just at that moment Florence, who had approached the window in her +restless pacing up and down, saw the postboy enter the courtyard. She +ran out to meet him. He brought several letters, and amongst others +one for Florence from her mother. She took it back with her to the +schoolroom. Mrs. Aylmer's letters were never particularly cheerful, +but Florence opened it now with a slight degree of eagerness. + +"I have good news for you, Florence," wrote her mother; "if you succeed +in being elected as one of the three who are to compete for Sir John +Wallis's Scholarship, I shall certainly contrive to give you a week at +Dawlish with me. Of course, if you fail it will be utterly useless, +and I should not dream of wasting the money; so try your very best, my +dear child, for there is more in this than meets the eye. It will make +the most immense difference in your life, my dear Florence, if you gain +this Scholarship, and also in the life of your affectionate mother. I +may as well add here that your Aunt Susan becomes more intolerable day +by day, and it is extremely probable that she will soon cease to pay +your school fees at all. If that is the case, my dear, I really do not +know what is to become of you, as I certainly cannot afford to meet +them. Try your best for the Scholarship, dear. If you win it write to +me immediately and I will send you the money to come home." + +"What a chance!" thought Florence, as she finished reading the letter. +She folded it up and slipped it into her pocket; the next instant she +had crossed the room, had opened Kitty's desk, and taken out the +envelope with its folded sheet of paper within. She unfolded the paper +and glanced at its contents. One quick glance was sufficient. She put +back the paper into the envelope, shut Kitty's desk, and returned to +her own. + +Her cheeks were redder than ever and her heart was beating wildly, but +she knew what she wanted to know. Florence folded up her own sheet of +paper, put it into its envelope, and laid it in her desk. She felt +pretty certain now of being elected as one of the lucky three, and no +one need ever know that she had peeped at Kitty's answers. After all, +but for this ridiculous and sudden prohibition on the part of Sir John +Wallis, Kitty would have helped her with her English History all the +afternoon. Now, of course, she could not ask her, but never mind, she +knew what she wanted to know. + +Her heart felt a little uncomfortable, and, notwithstanding the hope +that she might spend a week at Dawlish with her mother, to whom she was +devotedly attached, and the further hope of taking an honorable place +in the coming competition, she felt a queer sense of depression. + +She was just preparing to leave the school-room when the door opened +and Mademoiselle Le Brun looked in. She did not see Florence at first, +then she glanced at her and spoke hurriedly. + +"I thought Kitty Sharston was here; I want her," she said. + +"No," said Florence; "what is it; what do you want?" + +"I have to give her a shilling back out of the change." + +"A shilling out of the change; what do you mean?" + +"Oh, nothing, my dear; I ought not to tell you; I owe her a shilling, +that's all." + +"By the way, mademoiselle," said Florence, "I have not thanked you yet +for getting me that lovely ribbon. How was it you managed to get it so +cheaply?" + +Mademoiselle looked very knowing. + +"I am glad you like it," she said; "it was not particularly cheap." + +She left the room, although Florence called after her to stay. + +Florence walked quickly to the window. She looked out. The sun was +still high in the heavens, for on this midsummer day it would take a +long time before the evening arrived. Florence's heart beat harder +than ever, for suddenly her eyes were opened, and she knew how she had +got the cherry-colored ribbon. Kitty had given it to her, and Florence +had stolen some of Kitty's knowledge and applied it to herself. + +She hated herself for it, but not enough to retract what she had done. +She went up to her room, threw herself on the bed, and burst out crying. + +Yes, she would stick to it now, but, all the same, she hated herself. +It was very unpleasant to be lowered in her own eyes, but she would go +through with the matter now, whatever befell. + +The chance of going to Dawlish, the chance of winning the Scholarship, +meant too much to her; she must secure this good thing which had fallen +in her path at any cost. + +The evening drew on apace, and the whole school was in a perfect fever +of excitement. The girls came up to their different dormitories to +dress for the occasion. + +Kitty, who was not too well provided with clothes, nevertheless did +possess one very smart evening frock. It was made of lovely Indian +muslin, exquisitely embroidered and beautifully made. She took it now +out of her trunk, and looked at it with admiration. Her father had +bought this Indian muslin for her, having sent for it straight away to +India, and he had himself superintended the making of the beautiful +dress. + +Kitty's fingers trembled now as she slipped the soft folds over her +head, and tucked in the spray of cherry-colored ribbons just above her +white satin belt, and then she tied back her hair with the same shiny +soft ribbon, and looked at her little pale face in the glass and +wondered how soon she would see her father again. + +"Oh, father! father!" she thought, "I am going to try my hardest, my +very, very hardest, and all for your sake, and I'll be brave for your +sake, and three years won't be very long passing if I spend every +moment of the time in working my very hardest, and doing my very best +for you." + +When she had finished her dressing she turned to help the other girls. +Mabel and Alice Cunningham were in soft pink dresses, a little paler in +shade than the cherry-colored ribbons which as a matter of course they +would wear, and one and all of the girls of the Upper school were +becomingly and suitably dressed, with the exception of poor Florence; +but Florence's muslin dress was coarse in texture and badly made, and +notwithstanding the soft cherry-colored ribbons, she did not look her +best. Also her head ached, and she was in low spirits. + +Kitty was particularly affectionate to Florence, and she asked her now +in an anxious tone how she had managed with regard to her English +History. + +"I am so dreadfully sorry," she said; "I meant to give you such a +coaching in the reign of Queen Elizabeth all this afternoon, Florry, +but there, it can't be helped. How did you manage, dear? Do you think +you have answered all the questions?" + +"Of course I have," answered Florence, in an almost cross voice, for +she could scarcely bear Kitty's affectionate manners just then. "You +take me for a great dunce, Kitty, but I am not quite so bad as you +imagine." + +"Oh, I know you are anything but a dunce," replied Kitty; "I don't take +you for one, I assure you, Florence, only I did hope that I might help +you in English History, for that is my strong point." + +"You are quite conceited about it, I do believe," said Florence. +"There, don't pull my dress about any more. Thank you, I like my +cherry bow here better than in my belt. Don't touch me, please." + +Florence hated herself beyond words for being so cross, but the fact +was her heart ached so badly she could scarcely be civil to Kitty. + +She ran downstairs, and for the rest of the evening kept out of Kitty +Sharston's way. + +Yes; it was a glorious evening, and everything passed off without a +hitch of any sort. The guests consisted of all the best people in the +neighborhood. They sat round and applauded all the girls, who danced +the minuet with becoming grace and looked very pretty as they glided +about on the lamp-lit lawn. + +And then one or two of them recited, and one or two of them sang songs, +and then there was a great chorus in which all the girls joined, and +then they danced Sir Roger de Coverley to the merry strains of a string +band, and presently the great occasion of all came when the girls, +followed by the guests, entered the great central hall of Cherry Court, +and the prizes were given away. + +Florence obtained two prizes, a beautiful edition of Scott's poems, and +also a little portfolio full of some pretty water-color drawings, for +Florence had a great taste for art, and had managed to come out at the +head of the school with her own water-color sketches. + +The other girls also obtained prizes, all but Kitty Sharston, who was +not long enough in the school to be entitled to one. + +Kitty found herself now close to Sir John Wallis, who motioned to her +to come up to his side, and pointed to a chair near where she could sit. + +"I heard from your father this morning," he said, "and I mean to send +him a cable to Malta if you are elected as one of the fortunate three. +He expects to touch Malta on Saturday, and the cable will be waiting +for him with the good news, I make not the slightest doubt." + +"Oh, will you? How splendid of you!" said Kitty; "but perhaps I shall +not succeed." + +"Oh, yes, I have no doubt you will. Now, pluck up your courage, answer +your best; don't be a scrap afraid." + +"But, Sir John, you must promise me one thing," said Kitty, looking +earnestly into his face. + +"What is that, my dear?" asked Sir John, smiling down into the eager +little face. + +"You won't favor me more than the other girls? You'll be quite, quite +fair, and give the chance to those girls who are really in your opinion +the best?" + +"I will, Kitty, I will," said Sir John; "do you think I could do +anything else as regards your father's daughter? And now, child, the +time is up, and I am going into the oak parlor. You will all follow me +in a moment." + +Kitty never forgot the hour which was spent in the oak parlor with her +companions of the Upper school. She did not know how she answered the +questions put with great animation by Sir John. She only knew that her +heart was beating wildly, and she was thinking all the time of that +cablegram which would comfort her father when he reached Malta, and +resolving as surely girl never resolved before not to disappoint him, +to give him if she could, if it were any way within her power, that +supreme pleasure. And so when the hour was over and the brief +examination was made, and the names of the successful competitors +called out, and Kitty Sharston's name appeared at the head of the list, +she could only look at Sir John, and think of the cablegram, and not +feel at all elated, although her companions clustered around her and +shook her hand and wished her joy. + +The two other successful competitors were Florence Aylmer and Mary +Bateman. + +Mrs. Clavering then read out certain rules which Sir John had made with +regard to the Scholarship, and soon afterwards the proceedings of the +evening broke up; the guests departed to their homes, carrying their +baskets of cherries with them; and Kitty, Florence and Mary were +surrounded by their companions, who wished them joy and cheered them +three times three, and took them up to their dormitory in triumph. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE LITTLE MUMMY. + +It was a week afterwards when Kitty stood at the gate of Cherry Court +School to wish Florence Aylmer good-bye, for Florence had obtained the +darling wish of her heart, and was on her way to Dawlish to spend a +week with her mother. She was to travel third-class, and the journey +was a long one, and the day happened to be specially hot, but nothing +could damp Florence's delight, and Kitty, as she watched her, could not +help for a moment a slight pang of envy coming over her. + +"Have a good time, Florry, and tell me all about it when you return," +said Kitty. + +And Florence promised, thinking Kitty a very good-natured, agreeable +girl as she did so, and then Kitty turned slowly back to the house and +Florence found herself alone. She was driving in a hired chaise to +Hilchester railway-station. She had said good-bye to Kitty and to Mrs. +Clavering, and her earnest wish was that the week might spread itself +into two or three, and that she could banish all thought of Kitty and +Mrs. Clavering and Cherry Court School from her mind. + +"For, although I mean to win the Scholarship--yes, I shall win it; I +have made up my mind on that point--I cannot help more or less hating +Kitty Sharston, and Mrs. Clavering, and the school itself," thought the +girl. "But there, I will forget every unpleasant thing now. I have +not seen the little Mummy for a whole year; it will be heavenly to kiss +her again. If there is anyone in the world whom I truly, truly love it +is the dear little Mummy." + +All during her hot journey across England to the cool and delightful +watering-place of Dawlish, Florence thought more and more of her +mother. She was an only child, her father having died when she was +five years old, and Mrs. Aylmer had always been terribly poor, and +Florence had always known what it was to stint and screw and do without +those things which were as the breath of life to most girls. And +Florence was naturally not at all a contented girl, and she had fought +against her position, and disliked having to stint and screw, and she +had hated her shabby dress and unwieldy boots and ugly hats and coarse +fare. + +But one portion of her lot abundantly contented her--she had no fault +to find with her mother. The little Mummy was all that was perfection. +For her mother she would have done almost as much in her own way as +Kitty would do for her father in hers. + +And now her heart beat high and her spirits rose as she approached +nearer hour by hour the shabby little home where her mother lived. + +It was in the cool of a hot summer's evening that the train at last +drew up at Dawlish, and Mrs. Aylmer stood on the platform waiting to +receive her daughter. + +Mrs. Aylmer was a plain dumpling sort of little body, with a perfectly +round face, and small beady black eyes. She had a high color in each +of her cheeks and fluffy black hair pushed away from her high forehead. +She was dressed in widow's weeds, which were somewhat rusty, and she +now came forward with a beaming face to welcome Florence. + +"Oh, Mummy, it is good to see you," said Florence. She had a brusque +voice and a brusque manner, but nothing could keep the thrill out of +her words as she addressed her mother. + +"I am not going to kiss you till we get into the cottage," she said. +"Here's my luggage--only one box, of course. Oh, it is good to see +you, it is good!" + +"Then come right off home, Florry," said Mrs. Aylmer; "I have got +shrimps for tea and some brown bread and butter, and Sukey made the +bread specially for you this morning; you always liked home-made bread. +Come along; the porter will bring your trunk in presently. You'll see +to it, Peter, won't you?" said Mrs. Aylmer. + +Peter, the rough-headed outside porter, nodded in reply, and Mrs. +Aylmer, leaning upon Florence, who was head and shoulders taller than +her parent, walked down the little shingly beach, and a moment +afterwards entered the cottage door. + +"Dear Mummy," she said, "it is good to see you. Now, turn round, +Mummy, and let us have a right good hearty stare. Oh, you look just as +well as ever, sunburnt--so much the better. Now then, for a hug." + +Florence opened her arms, and the next moment little Mrs. Aylmer was +clasped to her daughter's breast. + +"There, that's nice," said Florence, "that's a right hearty hug. I am +so glad you are well, Mummy. I am so thankful you were able to send me +the money; I hope I didn't screw you up very tight." + +"Well, it did, Florence," replied Mrs. Aylmer; "I shall not be able to +have any meat for a whole month after you leave, dear. That was the +way I managed, just docking the butcher's bill and the greengrocer's +bill. I must have butter to my bread and milk in my tea, but the +greengrocer and the butcher will pay your third-class return fare to +the school. There now, Flo, don't worry. Come upstairs to our room; +you will share my bed, dear; I could not afford to have an extra room; +you will share my bed." + +Florence followed her mother upstairs without a word. The cottage was +a very, very tiny one, and, tiny as it was, Mrs. Aylmer only owned one +half of it. She had a little sitting room downstairs, and a wee, wee +bedroom upstairs, and the use of the kitchen, and the use of Sukey's +time for so many hours every day, and that was about all. But a +delicious sea breeze blew into the tiny sitting-room and filled the +little bed-room; and clematis and honey-suckle and climbing plants of +every description clustered around the windows, and Florence thought it +the dearest, sweetest, most fascinating place in the world. + +"It is rather a small bed for two," she reflected, as she entered the +room, stooping to get beneath the lintel of the door; "but never mind, +it's Mummy's little room and Mummy's bed, and I am happy, happy as the +day is long." + +So she tossed off her hat and washed her face and hands, and tidied her +hair, and went down to enjoy the honey and bread and fruit and shrimps +and tea with cream in it which Mrs. Aylmer had provided in honor of her +daughter's arrival. + +"There," said Florence, "that was a hearty meal. Now let us go out on +the beach, Mummy. You will have a great deal to say to me, and I shall +have a great deal to say to you." + +"It is exciting having you back, Flo," said Mrs. Aylmer, "and we must +make the week go as far as possible." + +"We will sit up very late at night," said Florence, "and we will get up +very early in the morning, for we must talk, talk, talk every moment of +our precious time, except just the few hours necessary for sleep. You +don't want much sleep, do you, Mummy?" + +"Yes, but I do, my dear; I want my seven to eight hours' sleep within +the twenty-four hours, or I am just good for nothing. I get muzzy in +the head unless I sleep enough. Do you ever suffer from muzziness in +the head, dear?" + +"That's just like one of your dear old-fashioned words," said Florence; +"if I did feel it I shouldn't be allowed to express it in that way at +school. By the way, mother, what do you think of me? Haven't I grown +a good lot?" + +"Yes, you're a fine hearty girl, but you are not exactly beautiful, +Florry." + +Florence's eyes fell and a discontented look crossed her face. "How +can I look decent in these clothes?" she said; "but there, never mind, +you can't give me better, can you?" + +"I, darling! How could I? I have not fifty pounds a year when all is +told, and I cannot do more with my money. It's your Aunt Susan who is +to blame, Florence, and she is worse than ever. I'll tell you all +about her to-morrow; we won't worry to-night, will we?" + +"No; let us think of only pleasant things to-night," said Florence. + +"Well, come down on the beach, Flo. I am all agog to hear your news. +What is this about the Scholarship?" + +"Oh, Mummy, need we talk of this either to-night?" said Florence, +frowning. + +"Well, yes, I should like it," said Mrs. Aylmer; "you see, you know all +about it, and I don't. You told me so little in your letter. You +don't write half as long letters as you used to, Flo. I wish you +would, for I have nothing else to divert me. I have turned and +re-turned my best dress--I turned it upside down last year, and +downside up this year, and back to front and front to back, and I am +trimming it now with frills which I have cut another old skirt up to +make, and I really cannot do anything more with it. It won't by +stylish, try as I will, and your Aunt Susan hasn't sent me a cast-off +of hers for the last two years. It's very stingy of her, very stingy +indeed. She sells her clothes now to a dealer in London who buys up +all sorts of wardrobes. Before she found out this wardrobe-dealer I +used to get her cast-offs and managed quite nicely. It's horrid of +her. She is a very unamiable character. Don't you ever take after +her, Florry, be sure you don't." + +"I hate her quite as cordially as you do, mother; but now come along by +the shore and I'll tell you about the Scholarship, if you really wish +to know." + +Which Florence did, with one arm clasped tightly round her mother's +waist, and Mrs. Aylmer almost danced by her daughter's side as she +listened, and tried to fancy herself nearly as young as Florence, and +was certainly quite as eager with regard to the winning of the great +Scholarship. + +"You must get it," she said at last, after a pause; "it would make the +most tremendous, tremendous difference." + +"Well, I mean to try," said Florence. + +"And if you try, dear, you will succeed. You're a very clever girl, +ain't you?" + +"Don't say 'ain't,' mother; it is not quite----" + +"Oh, don't you go to correct me, my love. I can't help having the +rather rough ways of people with small means; but you are clever, +aren't you?" + +"I believe I am in some things. There are some things again which I +never can get into my head, try as I will. I am a queer mixture." + +"You are a darling old thing," said the mother, giving her arm an +affectionate squeeze. + +"And you are the sweetest pet in the world," said Florence, glancing +down at her parent. "Oh, it is good to be with you, Mummy, again." + +"Well, darling, you'll get the prize, there's nothing to prevent it." + +"There are several things to prevent it," said Florence, in a gloomy +voice. + +"What, my dear, darling pet--what?" + +"Well, for instance, there are two other girls." + +"Oh, girls," said Mrs. Aylmer, in a contemptuous voice. "I am not +going to be frightened by girls. My Florence is equal to the best girl +that ever breathed." + +"Yes, but mother, you cannot quite understand. There's Kitty Sharston, +for instance." + +"Kitty Sharston," said Mrs. Aylmer; "what about her?" + +"Well, she is really clever, and everyone seems to wish her to win." + +"I call that shocking unfair," said Mrs. Aylmer. + +"It is, mother, but we cannot get over the fact. She is a favorite +with the school, and I must own she is a jolly girl. Now, what do you +think she did for me?" + +"What, my darling?" + +"You know the Cherry Feast?" + +"Of course I do--have not you described it to me so often? You would +make a wonderful writer, I believe, you would make a lot of money +writing stories, Florence." + +"No, I wouldn't, Mummy, not really. It takes a good deal to be a good +story-writer." + +"Well, go on, pet, I am all agog to hear." + +So Florence related also the story of the cherry ribbons. + +"Wasn't it like Aunt Susan?" she said. + +"Just," exclaimed the mother; "the stingiest old cat in existence." + +"And wasn't it nice of Kitty, and didn't she do it well?" said +Florence. "Oh, she is a splendid girl, and I ought not to hate her." + +"But you do hate her?" + +"I am afraid I do sometimes." + +"And I'm not a bit surprised, dear, coming between you and this great +chance. But, oh, Florry, you must win, it is all-important; I'll tell +you why to-morrow. There is a letter from your Aunt Susan which will +take some of the pleasure out of this little visit, but it makes the +Scholarship absolutely essential. I'll tell you all about it +to-morrow." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AUNT SUSAN. + +Florence slept soundly that night, and awoke the next morning in the +highest of spirits and the best of health. + +"It is wonderful, Mummy," she said, "how you and I can squeeze into +this camp bed, but there, I never moved all night; it was delicious to +have you so close to me. I cannot understand why I love you as I do, +for you are a very plain, ordinary sort of woman." + +"I never was anything else," replied Mrs. Aylmer, by no means offended +by Florence's frank remarks. "Your poor father always said, 'It's your +heart, not your face, that has won me, Mabel.' Your poor father had a +great deal of pretty sentiment about him, but I am matter-of-fact to +the backbone. There, child, jump up now and get dressed, and I'll go +down and prepare the breakfast. Sukey is rather cross this morning, +and I always make the coffee myself." + +Mrs. Aylmer bustled out of the room, and Florence slowly rose and +dressed. + +"I wonder what mother would think of me," she said to herself, "if she +knew how I really secured my present position as one of the lucky +three; I wonder what mother would think about it. Would she be +terribly shocked? I doubt if the little Mummy has the highest +principles in the world; in fact, I don't doubt, for I am quite certain +that the Mummy's principles are a little lax, but there, she is the +Mummy, and I love her. What a queer thing love is, for Mummy is not +the highest-souled woman, nor the most beautiful in the world. Still, +she is the Mummy, and I love her." + +So Florence finished dressing and ran downstairs, and enjoyed a hearty +breakfast of brown bread and butter, honey, and delicious coffee. + +"I can't do much for you in the meat line, my dear," said her parent. +"I don't indulge in meat more than once a week myself, but we'll take +it out in fish. Fish is cheap and plentiful in Dawlish, and we can get +dear little crabs for fourpence apiece." + +"Oh, lovely," said Florence; "I adore crabs." + +"We will go down to the fishwife after breakfast, and get her to boil +some for us in time for supper," said the mother; "and now, Florence, +if you are quite disposed to listen, I may as well get over this bad +business." + +"You allude to Aunt Susan, of course?" said Florence. + +"Yes, my dear child, to her last letter. I could not read it to you, +for really the tone is that aggravating it would make milk turn, and I +know the contents by heart." + +"What are they, mother? You may as well tell me; I am pretty well +accustomed to bad news. Is she going to make your screw still smaller?" + +"No, she says nothing about that. Florence, child, I wish it had been +the will of Providence to have spared my brother, for if your Uncle Tom +had lived I would not be in the sordid state I am now. If one of them +had to go, why wasn't it your Aunt Susan?" + +"She is not my real aunt, you know," said Florence. + +"That's just it, dear, but she owns the money. Now, if she had left it +to Tom he would have had me to live with him. I doubt, after his +experience with your Aunt Susan, if he would ever have taken a second +wife, and you and I would have had plenty." + +"Dear me, mother," said Florence, frowning slightly, "what is the good +of going over that now? Uncle Tom has been in his grave for the last +six years, hasn't he? and Aunt Susan rules the roost. It's Aunt Susan +we have got to think about. What did she say in that unpleasant +letter?" + +"Something about stocks and shares and dividends, dear--that her +dividends are not coming in as well as usual, and that in consequence +her income is not so large, and she finds it a great strain keeping +you, Florry, at that expensive school." + +"Oh, well, that's all arranged," said Florence, in a somewhat nervous +voice. + +"My dear Florry, don't you bear yourself up with false hopes and false +ideas, for it seems, according to your Aunt Susan's letter, that the +thing is not arranged at all. In fact, she declares positively that +she won't keep you at Cherry Court School longer than another term." + +"What, mother?" + +"She says so, my love. I am sorry to have to tell you, but it is a +fact. She says that you are going on sixteen, and that at sixteen you +ought to be a very good pupil teacher at another school, where your +services would be given in lieu of payment. She says she knows a +school in the country where you would be taken, a place called Stoneley +Hall, where there are sixty girls. It is up amongst the Yorkshire +moors, in the dreariest spot, I make no doubt. Well, in her letter she +said that she had arranged that you are to go to Stoneley Hall at +Christmas, and that the next term is your last at Cherry Court School." + +"If I win the Scholarship I need not do that," said Florence. + +"No, no, dear, that's just it; and she says also that when she removes +you from Cherry Court School she will allow me fifteen pounds a year +more than I have at present, which will make my income of sixty-five +pounds instead of fifty. I mean to give you that fifteen pounds a year +to buy your clothes with, Florry. You shall have that, my poor dear +child, whatever happens. I think you can dress yourself quite neatly +on that." + +"I should judge from the sort of clothes I have now," said Florence, +giving her foot a pettish kick against the obnoxious blue serge, "I +should judge they did not cost five pounds a year. Yes, the fifteen +pounds would be delicious; and you would give it to me, Mummy?" + +"Well, of course, darling, because you would have no income of your own +at Stoneley Hall for the first two years, and after that it depends +altogether on what you can do. You are not half educated yet, are you +Florence?" + +"Of course not, mother; a girl of fifteen is not educated, as a rule." + +"That's just it, but your Aunt Susan does not care a bit. She reminds +me in her horrid letter, that you are not her own niece at all, and +that very few women would be as kind to her husband's people as she is +to you and me. She says frankly----" + +"Oh, what an odious frank way she has!" interrupted Florence. + +"She says frankly," pursued Mrs. Aylmer, wiping the moisture from her +brow as she spoke, "that we are the greatest worry to her, both of us, +and that she does not care a pin for either of us, but that she does +not want to have it said that her husband's people are in the +workhouse, and that is why she is doing what she is doing." + +"Oh, Mummy," said Florence, "can you bear her? When you tell me those +sort of things I just long to throw her gifts in her face and to say +boldly, 'We won't take another halfpenny from you, we will go to the +workhouse to spite you, we'll tell every one we can that we are +connected with you. Yes, we'll go to the workhouse to spite you.'" + +"That's all very well, Florence," replied Mrs. Aylmer, rising as she +spoke and shaking the crumbs from her dress outside the window. "I +doubt if it would vex your Aunt Susan very much, and it would vex us a +considerable deal, my love. Your Aunt Susan's relations might not even +hear of it, and we would be miserable and disgraced for ever. No, we +must swallow our pride and take her money; there is no help for it. +But if you get the Scholarship, Flo, she is the kind of woman who would +be proud of you, she is really. If she thought you had any gift she +would turn round in jiffy and begin to spend money properly on you. +She asked me in her last letter what sort of girl you were growing up, +and if you had a chance of being handsome, for, said she, 'if Florence +is really handsome, I might take a house in London and give her a +season. I enjoy taking handsome girls about, and I am a right good +matchmaker.' That is what she said, the horrid old cat. But you are +not handsome, Florry, not a bit." + +"I know," replied Florence, "I know. Well, mother, we must make the +best of things. You may be certain I won't leave a stone unturned to +get the Scholarship." + +"You will get it, dear, and then your education will be secured, and by +and by you will get a post as governess, a good post in some +fashionable family, and perhaps you would meet a nice young man who +would fall in love with you. They do over and over in the +story-books--the nice young man, the heir to big properties, meets the +governess girl and falls in love with her, and then she gets a much +higher position than her employer's daughters. That is what I would +aim for if I were you, Florry." + +"Oh, dear me, mother," said Florence. She stared very hard at the +round face of her parent, and wondered down deep in her heart why she +was so very fond of Mummy. "Let us go out and have a walk," she said, +restlessly; "let us visit the little shrimp-woman; I'd like to see her +and all the old haunts again." + +"But before we go," said Mrs. Aylmer, "tell me, my darling, why are you +nervous, why you fear you may not get the Scholarship." + +"I told you last night, mother--can't you understand? I am your one +pet chicken, but I am not anything at all really in the eyes of the +world. I am not beautiful and I am not specially clever." + +"But you got amongst the lucky three, as you call them; you must be +clever to have done that." + +Florence stared very hard at her mother; her face went a little pale +and then red. + +"What is the matter, Flo? Why do you stare at me like that?" + +"I am going to tell you something if you will never tell back again." + +"What is it, dear? Really, Flo, you make me quite uncomfortable; you +have got a very bold way of staring, love." + +"I am going to tell you something," repeated Florence; "I got into the +lucky three because I was mean. I did a mean, shabby, low thing, +Mummy." + +"Oh, no, no," said Mrs. Aylmer, restlessly, "no, no, darling." + +"I did, mother," said Florence, and now her lips trembled. "I did +something very mean, and I did it to the girl who gave me those lovely +cherry ribbons." + +"That spoilt chit--Kitty Sharston you call her?" + +"Yes, that girl. I opened her desk and looked at an answer which she +put to a certain question in English History which I did not know +myself. If I had not answered that question I make no doubt I should +not have been included in the lucky three." + +"Well, well," said Mrs. Aylmer. She looked restless and disturbed. +She went again to the little window and looked out. "I don't see how +you can help yourself," she said. + +"But it was a mean thing, wasn't it, mother?" + +"Poor people cannot help themselves," said the widow, in a restless +voice, "but I wish you hadn't told me, Florence; it was--it was the +sort of thing that your poor father would not have done; but there, you +couldn't help yourself, of course." + +"Then you don't think, mother, that I ought to tell Mrs. Clavering?" +said Florence. + +"Tell and give up your chance! No, no, no; that is the disadvantage of +being so poor, one has to stoop sometimes. Your father would not have +done it, but you could not help yourself. Come out, child, come out." + +The mother and daughter wandered along the beach. They visited the +shrimp-woman and then sat under the shade of a big rock and looked at +the dancing waves, and talked of Florence's chance of winning the +coming Scholarship. + +By tacit consent they neither of them alluded to that shabby deed which +Florence had done; they were both in their hearts of hearts +uncomfortable about it, but both equally resolved to carry the thing +through now. + +"For it is too important," thought Mrs. Aylmer. + +And Florence also thought, "It is too important, it means too much; I +must take every chance of securing the Scholarship." + +The two ladies returned home rather late, and there, to their +astonishment, they found a telegram waiting them. It was addressed to +Mrs. Aylmer. She tore it open eagerly and uttered an exclamation. + +"There, Florry," she said, "read that." + +Florence took the thin pink sheet and read the following words: + +"Staying at Torquay. Going back to London to-morrow. Will put up at +the hotel at Dawlish for one night on purpose to see Florence.--SUSAN." + +"There," said the mother, "there's a chance for you, Flo; I hope you +have brought a decent dress. Perhaps she will do something now that +she sees you; it is a wonderful chance. Dear, dear, dear! I have not +seen Susan for three or four years. She was a stylish woman in her +day; perhaps she'll give me one or two of her cast-offs." + +"Mother," said Florence, "we must make the best of things. You must +look nice and I must look nice, and we won't plead poverty. I feel +proud in the presence of Aunt Susan. I am sorry she is coming; I may +as well say so frankly." + +"But it's a great chance, child," said the widow; "what do you think +about inviting her here to tea?" + +"Nonsense, mother," replied the daughter; "she ought to invite us to +tea." + +"I wonder if she will. I wonder which hotel she'll go to. There is a +splendid one on the beach, the 'Crown and Garter.' It would be very +stylish to be seen going there, and Sukey would think a great deal more +of me and also my friends, the Pratts, if they knew that we had tea'd +or lunched at the 'Crown and Garter.' I hope she will ask me. But +then, on the other hand, to see Susan in the cottage--she would +probably drive up in a carriage and pair--I really wonder which would +be best. It would have a great effect on the neighbors. I have spoken +to them of my grand relations, but somehow, seeing is believing. It's +wonderfully exciting--her coming, isn't it, Flo?" + +But Florry had walked to the window and was looking out with a shade of +disgust on her brow. The Mummy was the Mummy, but she certainly needed +repression. Even if you had those sort of sentiments, if you were +educated at all you would keep them to yourself. + +The rest of the evening was spent in considerable excitement on the +part of Mrs. Aylmer. Much as she professed to dislike her +sister-in-law, Susan Aylmer, the thought of seeing her caused much more +commotion than she had experienced at the thought of welcoming Florence +home. + +Florence was a dear old thing and her own daughter, but then she +depended on Susan for her bread. Early on the following morning she +was seen to put on her best and much-turned dress. + +She went to the shop and even committed the great extravagance of +getting a new white widow's front for her bonnet, and also a pair of +new black silk gloves, and then she waited restlessly until the arrival +of Mrs. Aylmer. + +Mrs. Aylmer arrived in state by a train which reached Dawlish about +noon, and the other Mrs. Aylmer--the poor one--and her daughter +Florence watched her from afar. + +"There she is," said Mrs. Aylmer the less, as she might truly be +called, "there she is, Flo. She's grown stouter than ever, she +promises to be a very large woman in her old age; and what a pompous +way she does walk! I do declare--well, that beats everything--she is +walking to the hotel, not even taking a carriage. That's just like +Susan. Come, Flo, we'll go toward and speak to her; there's no good in +having relations and keeping one's self in the background. Follow me, +my dear, and pull yourself up and look as nice as you can. Everything +depends on your aunt's first impression of you. Just push your hat +straight--there, that's better; now come along." + +Mrs. Aylmer and Florence pushed their way through a crowd of people who +had just arrived, and a moment later Mrs. Aylmer the less and Mrs. +Aylmer the great were shaking hands in greeting. + +"How do you do, Mabel?" said Mrs. Aylmer the great, "and is this your +daughter?" A pair of light blue eyes traveled all over Florence from +the crown of her head to the sole of her foot. "I'll see you both at +the hotel," said Mrs. Aylmer, in a gracious tone, "after I have had +lunch. I shall want a little rest immediately after, but don't keep me +waiting. I shall expect you at three o'clock." + +"Come home, Flo," said Mrs. Aylmer the less. "We must not disturb you, +of course, Susan, and we'll be punctual to the moment. What do you +think of her, Flo?" said the widow, as soon as she and her daughter +were out of sight. + +"I think she looks horrid, mother, just as she always did. How well I +remember going to see her shortly after poor father died, and how she +used to make you cry, and how cold she always was, and what miserable +tea she gave us! We had better ask her to a meal unless we want to be +starved, Mummy, dear." + +"I can't afford it really, Flo, and she would remark upon every luxury +we had at the table. She would write to me afterwards and say, 'From +the style of your meal,' etc." + +"Oh, don't mother; I wish she hadn't come," said Florence. "You and I +could have been quite happy and cosy alone, but now she will contrive +to make us truly miserable." + +"She has come for a reason," said Mrs. Aylmer, solemnly, "and it +behooves you, Flo, to put your best foot foremost. I have got a nice +little white jacket for you to wear this afternoon, and white becomes +you very much." + +"A white jacket! What sort?" said Florence. + +"One that your aunt sent me two years back, and which I altered by a +pattern of yours. You can wear it with that serge dress, and you will +look quite cool and nice. Now then, darling, let us have our own +dinner, because we must be punctual; it would never do to keep Susan +waiting." + +Neither of the ladies did keep Aunt Susan waiting. They arrived at the +hotel, which turned out to be the "Crown and Garter," just as the great +clock in the hall struck three. + +Mrs. Aylmer had never been inside the "Crown and Garter," and she now +looked around her with intense pleasure, and when one of the waiters +came forward asked him in a pompous voice for "my sister-in-law, Mrs. +Aylmer." + +The man withdrew, to return in a moment or two to say that Mrs. Aylmer +was in her private sitting-room, number 24, and would see the ladies +immediately. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +"I ALWAYS ADMIRED FRANKNESS." + +"Hold your head up, Flo, and don't be nervous," whispered the widow, as +they walked down the long corridor, the waiter going in front. He +paused opposite number 24, flung the door open, and announced in a loud +voice, "Mrs. Aylmer and Miss Florence Aylmer," and then shut the door +behind the two ladies. + +The widow walked nervously up the room and then stood confronting her +sister-in-law. The elder Mrs. Aylmer had just risen from a sofa on +which she had been lying. Mrs. Aylmer the less was quite right in +prophesying her sister-in-law would be a large woman in the future; she +was a large woman now, stoutly built and very fat about the face. Her +face was pasty in complexion without a scrap of color in it, and her +eyes were of too light a blue to redeem the general insipidity of her +appearance; but when she spoke that insipidity vanished, for her lips +were very firm, and were apt to utter incisive words, and at such +moments her pale blue eyes would flash with a light fire which was full +of sarcasm, and might even rise to positive cruelty. + +"Sit down, Mabel," she said to Mrs. Aylmer. "Now Florence, I wish to +say a few words to you. You will have tea with me, of course, Mabel, +you and your daughter." + +"Thank you very much indeed, Susan," said Mrs. Aylmer the less. "It +will be a real treat," she added _sotto voce_, but loud enough for her +sister-in-law to hear. + +"H'm! I have tea at four o'clock," said Mrs. Aylmer the great; "I will +just ring the bell and give orders; then we shall have time for a nice +comfortable conversation. My dear," she added, turning to her niece, +"would you oblige me by ringing that bell?" + +Florence rose and did so. There was an ominous silence between the +three until the waiter appeared to answer the summons. + +"Three cups of tea and some thin bread and butter at four o'clock," +said Mrs. Aylmer the great, in an icy tone of command. + +The waiter said, "Yes, ma'am," bowed, and withdrew. + +Mrs. Aylmer the less thought of the hearty tea she and Florence would +make at home, the shrimps and the brown bread and butter, and the honey +and the strong tea with a little cream to flavor it; nevertheless, her +beady black eyes were fixed on her sister-in-law now with a look which +almost signified adoration. + +"Don't stare so much, Mabel," said Mrs. Aylmer; "you have not lost that +unpleasant habit; you always had it from the time I first knew you, and +I see your daughter has inherited it. Now then, Florence, to business." + +"Yes, aunt, to business," replied Florence, very brusquely. + +Mrs. Aylmer stared at her niece. + +"You speak in a very free-and-easy way," she said, "considering your +circumstances." + +Florence colored angrily. + +"My circumstances," she answered; "I don't quite understand." + +"Has not your mother told you about my, alas! unavoidable change of +plans?" + +"I have, Susan, I have," said the widow, in an eager, deprecating +voice. "I told dear Florry the day after her arrival. By doing +without meat and fruits and vegetables I contrived to pay her +third-class fare from Cherry Court School to Dawlish, and on the night +of her arrival I told her about your sensible letter." + +"H'm, I am glad you think it sensible," said Mrs. Aylmer; "sensible or +not, it is unavoidable. You leave Cherry Court School at the end of +next term, Florence, and I am about to write to your governess, Mrs. +Clavering, to give her due notice of your removal. I hope, my dear, +you have profited much by the excellent education which I have given +you during the last three years." + +"I don't know that," replied Florence, in a sulky tone. "Where is the +good," she said to herself, "of trying to please this horrid Aunt +Susan, and I quite hate Mummy to fawn on her the way she is doing. I +at least cannot stoop to it. No; and I will not." + +"You have not profited by your time at school," replied Mrs. Aylmer the +great; "what do you mean?" + +"I have done my best, of course," replied Florence, "but I am quite a +young girl still, only just fifteen. Girls of fifteen are not +educated, are they, Aunt Susan? Were you educated when you were +fifteen?" + +"Oh, Flo, Flo," said the mother, in a voice of agony; "pray do forgive +her, Susan." + +"I wish you wouldn't interrupt, Mabel," said Mrs. Aylmer, lying back in +her luxurious chair as she spoke, and folding her fat hands across her +lap. "I like Florence to speak out. I hate people to fawn on me." + +"Dear! dear!" said Mrs. Aylmer the less. She rolled her black eyes, +then lowered them and fixed them on the carpet. It was impossible to +understand Susan, she was a most extraordinary woman. If, after all, +Florry was on the right track and won the day! + +"Girls of fifteen are not specially well educated," proceeded Mrs. +Aylmer, fixing her eyes again upon Florence's face, which was now a +little red; "and I don't intend your education to be finished. I have +been fortunate enough to gain you admittance into an excellent school +for the daughters of the poor clergy. You are to go as a pupil +teacher; you will not receive any remuneration for the first two years, +but you can continue to have lessons in music, French, and German." + +"And what about English?" said Florence. + +"You are to impart English. I conclude that at your age you at least +know your mother tongue thoroughly." + +"But that's just it, I do not," said Florence. "I know French fairly +well for a girl of my age, and I have a smattering of German, and am +fairly fond of music. I don't care for English History nor English +Literature, and I have not studied either of them; and my grammar is +very weak, and my spelling--well, Aunt Susan, I can't spell properly. +I am sorry, but I inherit bad spelling from my mother." + +"Oh, Florence!" cried the poor little widow. + +"I do, Mummy; you know perfectly well that you have never yet spelt +'arrange' right, nor 'agreeable.' You always leave out one of the 'e's' +in the middle of agreeable. Oh, I have had such a fight with those two +words, and I do inherit my bad spelling from you. Well, Aunt Susan, +what more do you wish me to say?" + +"I cannot admire your manners, Florence, and as to your appearance, it +leaves very much to be desired." + +Mrs. Aylmer looked very calmly all over Florence. Florence suddenly +sprang to her feet, her temper was getting the better of her. She +inherited her temper, not from her mother, for the little Mummy had the +easiest-going temper in the world, but from her father. John Aylmer +when he was alive had been known to plead his own cause with effect on +more than one occasion, and now some of his spirit animated his young +daughter. She rose to her feet and spoke hastily. + +"I am not good-looking," she said, "and I know it; I cannot help my +features, God gave them to me and I must be content with them. My nose +is snub and my mouth is wide, but I have got some good points, and if I +were your daughter, Aunt Susan--and I am heartily glad I'm not your +daughter; I would much, much rather be Mummy's daughter, poor as she +is--but if I were your daughter you would dress me in such a fashion +that my good points would come out, for I have good points; a nice +complexion, fine hair and plenty of it, and fairly good eyes, and my +figure would not look clumsy if I wore proper stays and properly-made +dresses; and my feet would not be like clodhoppers, if I had fine +well-made boots and silk stockings; and my hands----" + +"You need not proceed, Florence," said Mrs. Aylmer, rising abruptly. +"Mabel, I pity you; I should like to wash my hands of your daughter, +but I cannot forget my promise to my poor dead husband, who begged me +on his deathbed not to allow either of you to starve. 'For the sake of +the family, Susan,' he said, 'don't let my sister-in-law Mabel and her +daughter Florence go to the workhouse.' And I promised him, and I mean +as long as the breath animates this feeble frame to keep my word. + +"As long as I live, Mabel, your fifty pounds a year is secured to you, +and I shall allow you, after Florence leaves that expensive school, +which has cost me from one hundred and twenty to a hundred and forty +pounds a year, to give you an additional fifteen pounds, thus raising +your income to the very creditable one of sixty-five pounds per annum. +As to you, Florence, having gone to the enormous expense of your +education and having placed you at Mrs. Goodwin's excellent school at +Stoneley Hall as pupil teacher, I wash my hands of you." + +"Very well, Aunt Susan, that's all right," replied Florence. "I never +did like you and I like you less every time I see you, but I want to +say something on my own account. It is quite possible that I may not +go to Mrs. Goodwin's school at Stoneley Hall. There is a chance that I +may be able to remain at Cherry Court School quite independent of you, +Aunt Susan." + +"Yes, Flo, that's right," said Mrs. Aylmer the less, rising now to her +feet and giving her daughter an admiring glance. "I always knew you +had spirit, my darling; you inherit it from your poor dear father. If +John were alive he would be proud of you, now, Flo. Tell about the +Scholarship, Florry, my pet; tell about the Scholarship, dear." + +Mrs. Aylmer the great was now so speechless with astonishment that she +did not open her lips. Florence turned and faced her. + +"It is your fault that I am plain," she said, "you have not done what +my uncle asked you to do. You have paid my fees at school, but you +have not made it possible for me to grow up nice in any sense of the +word. You have always thrown your gifts in my face, and you have never +given me decent clothes to wear. It is very hard on a girl to be +dressed as shabbily as I am, and to be twitted by her companions for +what she cannot help; and although you kept me at Cherry Court School, +there have been times over and over when I hated you, Aunt Susan, and +but for my dear little Mummy I would have left the school and earned my +bread as a dressmaker or a servant. But there is a chance that I may +continue to be a lady and hold the position I was born to without any +help from you. A great Scholarship has been offered to the girls of +Cherry Court School. It is offered by Sir John Wallis, the owner of +Cherry Court Park." + +"Sir John Wallis! The owner of Cherry Court Park! Why, I know him," +said Mrs. Aylmer. "I was staying in the same house with him last +year--a most charming man, delightful, good-looking, most agreeable +manners, and such a brave soldier! Do you mean to tell me, Florence, +that you know him?" + +"He is the patron of our school; I thought you were aware of that +fact," said Florence. + +"Your manners, my dear, are simply odious, but I listen to your words +with interest. Ah! here comes the tea. Put it on that table, waiter!" + +The waiter appeared, carrying the tray waiter-fashion on his hand. It +contained three very small cups of weak tea, and about five tiny wafers +of the thinnest bread and butter. There was a little sky-blue milk in +a jug, and a few lumps of sugar in a little silver basin. Mrs. Aylmer +glanced at the meal as if she were about to give her sister-in-law and +her niece a royal feast. "This is most exciting," she said; "we will +enjoy our tea when you, Florence, have explained yourself. So you know +Sir John Wallis. When you see him again pray remember me to him." + +"Oh, I don't know him personally," said Florence; "there is a girl at +the school he is very fond of, but I just go in with the others. He is +giving the Scholarship, however." + +"Go on, my dear; you interest me immensely. With judicious dress and a +little attention to manners, you might be more presentable than I +thought you were at first, Florence. Take this chair near me; now go +on. What has dear Sir John done?" + +"He is offering a Scholarship to the girls of Cherry Court School, and +the girl who wins the Scholarship is to receive a free education for +three years," said Florence. "I am trying for the Scholarship, and if +I win it I shall remain at Cherry Court School for three years at Sir +John's expense. I shall be known as the Cherry Court Scholarship girl, +and be much respected by my companions; so you, Aunt Susan, will have +nothing to say to my subsequent education. I shall be very pleased to +wash my hands of you. I think, Mummy, that is about all, and we had +better go now. There will be a better tea for us at home, and I for +one am rather hungry." + +Mrs. Aylmer the great was quite silent for a moment, then she spoke in +a changed voice. + +"Florence," she said, "you need much correction; you are a very +bombastic, disagreeable, silly, ignorant girl, but I will own it--I do +admire spirit, you have a look of your father, and I was very fond of +poor John; not as fond of him as I was of my own dear Tom, but still I +respected him. Had he lived you would have been a different girl, but +your unfortunate mother--" + +"If you say a word against mother I shall leave the room this instant, +and never speak to you again," said Florence. + +"Really, my dear, you do go a little beyond yourself--I who have done +so much for you; but that Scholarship is interesting. Florence, you +had better go home; I will have a word with your mother by herself. +First of all, however, are you likely to win it?" + +"I vow that I'll get it," said Florence. + +"Florence is really clever, dear Susan," said Mrs. Aylmer the less, now +bursting in in an irrepressible voice; "I believe Sir John is much +struck with her. He did an extraordinary thing, and at the Cherry +Feast, which always ends the summer term at the school, had a +preliminary examination, and dear Flo, with two other girls, is +eligible to compete for the great Scholarship. They call themselves +the lucky three--their names are Kitty Sharston, Mary Bateman, and +Florry. Yes, Florence is very clever." + +"She has a good-shaped forehead," said Mrs. Aylmer; "I greatly admire +genius. You can go, Florence; I'll speak to your mother." + +"I think you had better come too, Mummy," said Florence; "surely it is +not necessary for you to remain." + +But Mrs. Aylmer glanced at her sister-in-law and then at Florence, and +decided to remain. + +"No, no, dear child," she said, "I have a great deal to say to your +Aunt Susan; she has the kindest heart in the world, and the fact is, I +am looking forward to my cup of tea. What delicious tea it looks! It +is so kind of you, Susan, to give it to me." + +Florence stalked to the door without a word, opened it, and shut it +after her. When she had done so the widow glanced at the rich Mrs. +Aylmer. + +"You must forgive the dear child, Susan," she said. + +"Forgive her! there is nothing to forgive," said Mrs. Aylmer. + +"But she was very rude to you." + +"I prefer her rudeness to your fawning, Mabel, and that I will say +frankly." + +"Fawning! Dear Susan, you certainly have a very peculiar way, but +there--" + +"We need not talk about my ways; my ways are my own. I wish to say +something now. If my niece Florence wins the Scholarship, after her +term at Cherry Court has expired I shall send her abroad for two years, +paying all expenses of her education there. On her return, if she +turns out to be a highly-educated, stylish woman, I shall take her to +live with me, taking a house in London and giving her every advantage. +I intended to do this for Florence if she turned out good-looking; she +will never be good-looking, but she may be a genius which is equally +interesting. All depends on her winning the Scholarship. If she loses +it she goes to Mrs. Goodwin's school at Stoneley Hall, having clearly +proved to me that her abilities are not above the average. If she wins +it I do what I say, and in the meantime I wish you, my dear Mabel, to +get her one or two pretty dresses, a nice hat, and a few suitable +clothes. Or, stay, I have not the least doubt that your taste is +atrocious; give me her measurements, and I shall write to my own +dressmaker in London. Florence shall return to Cherry Court School as +my niece, and I will write to Sir John Wallis myself with regard to +her. Now, I think that is all. Oh, you would like your tea. Take it, +pray, and hand me a cup. That silly girl! but I always did admire +frankness." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE FAIRY BOX. + +The rest of the week at Dawlish passed on the wings of speed. + +Mrs. Aylmer took her departure on the following morning, and neither +the little Mummy nor Florence saw her again, but at the end of the week +a box arrived at the widow's cottage. It was a wooden box carefully +nailed down, and labelled: "This side up with care." It was addressed +to Miss Florence Aylmer, and caused intense excitement, not only in the +breast of Florence herself and Mrs. Aylmer, but also in that of Sukey +and the near neighbors, for Mrs. Aylmer's tongue had not been idle +during the few days which had passed since her sister-in-law's visit, +and the intentions of Aunt Susan with regard to Florence had been +freely talked over and commented on. + +Nothing was said about the Scholarship. Mrs. Aylmer thought it just as +well to leave that out. Her remarks were to the following effect: + +"Florence is about to be adopted by her very wealthy aunt; she is +already keeping her at a good school, and is about to send her some +suitable dresses. In the end she will doubtless leave her her fortune." + +After this Sukey and the neighbors looked with great respect at +Florence, who for her part had never felt so cross in her life as when +these hints were made. + +"Mummy," she said once to her parent, "if I want to keep my +self-respect I ought to refuse those clothes and give up Aunt Susan." + +"My dear child, what do you mean? If you wanted to keep your +self-respect! My dear Florence, are you mad?" + +"Alas, mother, I fear I am mad," replied the girl, "for I do intend to +accept Aunt Susan's bounty. I will wear her pretty dresses, and all +the other things she happens to send me, and I will take her money and +do my best, my very best, to get the Scholarship; but all the same, +mother, I shall do it meanly, I know I shall do it meanly. It would be +better for me to give up the Scholarship and go as a poor girl to +Stoneley Hall. Mother, there is such a thing as lowering yourself in +your own eyes, and I feel bad, bad about this." + +Florence made these remarks on the evening the box arrived. The box +was in the tiny sitting-room still unopened. Mrs. Aylmer was regarding +it with flushed cheeks, and now after Florence's words she suddenly +burst into tears. + +"You try me terribly, Flo," she said, "and I have struggled so hard for +your sake. This is such a splendid chance: all your future secured and +I, my darling, relieved of the misery of feeling that you are +unprovided for. Oh, Flo, for my sake be sensible." + +"I will do anything for you, mother," said Florence, whose own eyes had +a suspicion of tears in them. "It was just a passing weakness, and I +am all right now. Yes, I will get the Scholarship, and I will stoop to +Aunt Susan's ways--I will cringe to her if necessary; I will do my best +to propitiate Sir John Wallis, and I will act like a snob in every +sense of the word. There now, Mummy, I see you are dying to have the +box opened. We will open it and see what it contains." + +"First of all, kiss me, Florry," said Mrs. Aylmer. + +Florence rose, went up to her mother, took her in her arms, and kissed +her two or three times, but there was not that passion in the embrace, +that pure _abandon_ of love which Florence's first kiss when she +arrived at Dawlish had been so full of. + +"Now, then," she said, in a hasty voice, "let us get the screwdriver +and open the box. This is exciting; I wonder what sort of taste Aunt +Susan's dressmaker has." + +"Exquisite, you may be sure, dear. There, there, I am all trembling to +see the things, and Sukey must have a peep, mustn't she, Flo?" + +"If I acted as I ought," said Florence, "I would take this box just as +it stands unopened to Cherry Court School to-morrow." + +"Oh, no, my dear; you could not think of doing such a thing; it would +be so unkind to me. I shall dream of you in your pretty dresses, my +love." + +Florence said nothing more; she took the screwdriver from her mother, +and proceeded to open the box. + +Inside lay fold after fold of tissue paper. This was lifted away and +then the first dress appeared to view. It was a soft shimmering silk +of light texture, fashionably made and very girlish and simple. +Florence could not help trembling when she saw it. All her scruples +vanished at the first sight of the lovely clothes, and she took them +out one by one to gaze at them in amazed delight. + +The silk dress was followed by a flowered barege, and this by one or +two cottons, all equally well made, quite suitable for a young girl, +and the sort of dress which would give to Florence's somewhat clumsy +figure a new grace. Under the three lighter dresses was a very plain +but smartly-made thin blue serge, altogether different from the sort of +serge which Florence had worn up to the present. To this serge was +pinned a label, on which the words were written: "Travelling dress, and +to be worn every day at school." + +Under the pretty serge were half a dozen white embroidered aprons, and +below them piles and piles of underlinen, all beautifully embroidered, +silk stockings, little shoes, plenty of gloves, handkerchiefs, also +embroidered with Florence's name. In short, a complete and very +perfect wardrobe. + +"Dear, dear, is it a dream?" said Florence; "am I the same girl? What +magic that Scholarship has worked!" + +"You must try them on, Flo," said the widow; "we shall be up some time. +You must try one and all of them on, and Sukey shall come in and see +you." + +"Oh, mother, is it necessary to show them all to Sukey?" + +"I think so, love, for it will spread the news, and it will greatly +enhance my position in the place. I quite expect the Pratts will ask +me to tea once a week, and they give very good teas--excellent; I never +tasted better hot cakes than Ann Pratt makes. Yes, Flo dear, Sukey +must see you in your smart clothes. Come upstairs to our bedroom and +let us begin the trying-on, dearest." + +Florence was sufficiently impressed with her new position to agree to +this. She went upstairs with her mother, and for the next two hours +the ladies were very busy. + +Sukey was called to view Florence in each of her frocks, and when Sukey +held up her hands and said that Miss Florence looked quite the lady of +quality, and when she blinked her old eyes and fussed round the young +girl, Mrs. Aylmer thought that her cup of bliss was running over. + +At last the trying-on was completed, the old dresses discarded and put +away, and Florence came downstairs in her travelling serge, wondering +if a fairy wand had been passed over her, and if she were indeed the +same girl who had arrived at Dawlish a week ago. + +"And here's a letter from your aunt; it arrived a quarter of an hour +ago," said Mrs. Aylmer. "I have not opened it yet. I wonder what she +says." + +"Read it to me, mother; we may as well go in for the whole thing. Aunt +Susan evidently intends to turn me out properly. Do I look much nicer +in this serge, mother?" + +"You look most elegant, dear, you really do. You will have a very fine +figure some day, and your face now in that very pretty setting-off has +a very distinguished appearance. You have an intellectual forehead, +Flo; be thankful that you inherit it from your poor dear father." + +"Well, read the letter now, mother," said Florence. + +Mrs. Aylmer opened the envelope, and took out the thick sheet of paper +which it contained. + +Mrs. Aylmer the great generally wrote few words. It was only on the +occasion of her last letter that she had indulged in a long +correspondence. Now she said briefly: + + +"MY DEAR MABEL: I believe that Florence's box of clothes will arrive on +Thursday evening, so that she will be able to return to Cherry Court +School dressed as my niece. I wish her in future to speak of herself +as my niece, as I am very well known in many circles as Mrs. Aylmer, of +Aylmer Hall. If Florence plays her cards well and obtains the +Scholarship she will have a good deal to say of Aylmer Hall in the +future. + +"I enclose herewith a five-pound note, and please ask Florence to +exchange her third-class ticket for a first-class one, and telegraph to +the station-master at Hilchester to have a carriage waiting for her, in +order to take her back to the school as my niece ought to arrive. Tell +her from me that during the next term I will allow her as pocket-money +two pounds a month, so that she may show her companions she is really +the niece of a wealthy woman. As to you, Mabel, I hope you will not +interfere in any way with the dear child, but allow her to pursue her +studies as my niece ought. If she fails to get the Scholarship all +these good things will cease, but doubtless she has too much spirit and +too much ability to fail." + + +"There," said Mrs. Aylmer, when she had finished the letter, "can you +take your tea after that? Five pounds, and you are to go back +first-class! That I should live to see the day! This is all Sir John +Wallis's doing. There is not the least doubt that he had a wonderful +effect upon Aunt Susan." + +"Yes, a wonderful effect," said Florence, in a gloomy voice. She was +wearing the neat and beautifully fitting serge, a white linen collar +encircled her throat, and was fastened by the neatest of studs, and +white linen cuffs also encircled her wrists; her figure was shown off +to the best advantage. On her feet were the silk stockings and the +dainty shoes which she had so coveted a week ago, and yet her heart +felt heavy, heavy as lead. Her mother pushed the five-pound note +towards her, but she did not touch it. + +"Look here, Mummy," she said, "we will exchange the third-class fare +for a first-class one, and then you shall have the balance of the five +pounds. It will make up for what you denied yourself to have me here; +it is only fair." + +"Oh, Flo, you dear, sweet, generous child--but dare I take it?" + +"Yes, Mummy, you must take it; it is the only drop of comfort in all +this. I don't like it, Mummy. I have a mind even now to----" + +"To what, my dear child?" + +"To take off this finery and send back the money, and just be myself. +I wish to respect myself, but somehow I don't now. Oh, Mummy, Mummy, I +don't like it." + +"Florence, dear child, you are mad. This sudden happiness, this +unlooked-for delight has slightly turned your brain--you will be all +right in the future. Don't think any more about it, love. We must go +upstairs now to pack your things in order to get you ready for your +journey to-morrow." + +"All right," said Florence. + +"You have not taken your tea, dearest. Is there any little thing you +would fancy--I am sure Sukey would run to the butcher's--a sweetbread +or anything?" + +"No, no, mother--nothing, nothing. I am not hungry--that's all." + +The next morning at an early hour Florence bade her mother good-bye and +started back for Cherry Court School. It was very luxurious to lie +back on the soft padded cushions of the first-class carriage and gaze +around her, and sometimes start up and look at her own image in the +glass opposite. She could not help seeing that she looked much nicer +in her white sailor hat, her pretty white gloves, and well-fitting dark +blue serge than she had looked when she went to Dawlish one week ago. +And that trunk in the luggage-van kept returning to her memory again +and again, and in her purse were ten shillings, and in her mother's +purse were three pounds, for the difference between the third-class and +the first-class fares had been paid, and Florence, after keeping ten +shillings for immediate expenses, could still hand her mother three +pounds. + +"You don't know what it will be to me, Flo," the little Mummy had said. +"I shall be able to buy a new dress for the winter. I didn't dare to +say a word to your Aunt Susan about her cast-offs; I scarcely liked to +do so. But there are your clothes too, dear; I can cut them up and +make use of them. Yes, I am quite a rich woman, and it is all owing to +the Scholarship." + +The thought of that three pounds for her mother did comfort Florry, and +her conscience was not accusing her so loudly that day, so she sat back +on the cushions and reviewed the position. She was going back to +Cherry Court School as a rich girl; what would her companions think of +her? + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +AN INVITATION. + +The holidays had come to an end, and the girls were returning to the +school. The three who were to compete for Sir John's Scholarship had +special desks assigned to them, were instructed by special teachers, +and were looked upon with intense respect by the rest of the school. +The holidays had gone by and had been pleasant, for Mrs. Aylmer had +written to Mrs. Clavering to beg of her to take her niece Florence for +a week's change on the seaside, and Mrs. Clavering had insisted on +Kitty accompanying them, and, as Mrs. Aylmer paid the greater part of +the expenses, the girls had a good time. + +Mrs. Aylmer now wrote twice a week, if not to Florence herself, at +least to Mrs. Clavering; and Mrs. Clavering had to alter her views with +regard to Florence, to give her every advantage possible, and to look +upon her with a certain amount of respect. + +"It certainly is most important that you should get that Scholarship," +she said once to the young girl. "Mrs. Aylmer has explained the whole +position to me, but then you won't get it, Florence, unless you earn +it." + +"I know that," said Florence. + +"And Kitty has an equal chance with you. I think Kitty is a remarkably +intelligent girl. It is just as important for her to get it as it is +for you, you quite understand that?" + +"Oh, I quite understand," said Florence. + +"Then there is also Mary Bateman. Mary has not as brilliant an +intellect as Kitty, and in some ways is not as scholarly as you are, +Florence, but she is very plodding and persevering, and as a rule gets +to the head of her class. Mary is neither rich nor poor, but she would +be very glad of the Scholarship, and says that it would give her father +and mother great happiness if she obtained it; so you see, dear, you +three girls are to work for the same goal--it is almost as important to +one of you as to another. I want you therefore to be perfectly fair in +your dealings each with the other, and to try to keep envy and all +ill-feeling out of your hearts. The one who wins this great generous +offer of Sir John Wallis must not think more highly of herself than she +ought, and those who lose must bear their loss with resignation, +feeling that they have acquired a great deal of knowledge, even if they +have not acquired anything else, and trying to rejoice in the success +of the one who has succeeded. The next few months until October will +be a time of strain, and I hope my dear girls will be equal to the +occasion." + +Florence got very red while Mrs. Clavering was speaking to her. +"Sometimes----" she said, in a low voice, and then she paused and her +tone faltered. + +"What is it, Florence?" + +"Sometimes I heartily wish that Sir John had not put this great thing +in my way. Last term I was poor and had shabby clothes, and no one +thought a great deal of me, but in some ways I feel less happy now than +I did last term. Last term, for instance, I was very fond of Kitty +Sharston and I liked Mary Bateman, but there are moments now when I +almost hate both of them." + +"It is brave of you to confess all this, Florence, and I think none the +worse of you for doing so, and if you pray against this feeling it will +not increase, dear. Now go away and prepare for your French paper. By +the way, a special master is coming twice a week now to coach all three +of you. This has been done by Sir John Wallis's orders. Go away now, +dear, and work." + +The one great subject of conversation in the school was the Cherry +Court Scholarship, and the lucky three were looked upon with wonder and +a little envy by their less fortunate companions, for their privileges +were so great and the goal set before them so high. For instance, Mrs. +Clavering had so contrived matters that the three could work at their +special Scholarship studies in the oak parlor. She had given each girl +a desk with a lock and key, where she could keep her different themes +and exercises. They had a special master to teach them deportment in +all its different branches, and once a week they spent an evening in +Mrs. Clavering's drawing-room, where special guests were invited to see +them. + +On these occasions the young girls had to act turn about as hostess, +pouring out tea, receiving the visitors, seeing them out again, and +entering into what was considered in the early seventies polite +conversation. The almost lost art of conversation was as far as +possible revived during the time of Scholarship competition, and in +order to give Kitty, Florence, and Mary greater opportunities of +talking over the events of the day they were obliged to read the +_Times_ every morning for an hour. + +Their companions, those of the Upper school, were invited to assemble +in the drawing-room on the occasions of the weekly conversazione, as it +was called, and a special subject was then introduced, which the girls +were obliged to handle as deftly and as well as they could. + +As to conduct marks, there was nothing said about conduct, and no one +put down those marks except the head mistress herself. Florence +sometimes trembled when she met her eyes. She wondered if those calm +grey eyes could read through down into her secret soul, could guess +that she herself was unworthy, that she had committed a deed which +ought really to exclude her from all chance of winning the Scholarship. +Then, as the days went on, Florence's conscience became a little +hardened, and she was less and less troubled by what she had done with +regard to Kitty Sharston. + +Florence's change in circumstances were much commented upon by the +other girls, and there is no doubt that in her neatly-fitting dress +with her abundant pocket-money she did appear a more gracious and a +more agreeable girl than she had done in the old days when her frock +was shabby, her pinafore ugly, her pocket-money almost _nil_. + +One of the first things she did on her arrival at the school was to +present Kitty Sharston with a white work-bag embroidered with cherries +in crewel-stitch, and with a cherry-colored ribbon running through it. +She had spent from five to six shillings on the bag, and had denied +herself a little to purchase it. + +Kitty received it with rapture, and used to bring it into Mrs. +Clavering's drawing-room on the company evenings, and to show it with +pride to her companions as Florence's gift. + +"She had never had such a pretty bag in her life," she said, and she +kissed Florence many times when she presented it to her. + +Florence meant it as payment for the cherry-colored ribbons, but she +did not mean it as payment for what she had stolen out of Kitty's desk. +She knew that nothing could ever pay for that deed; but it comforted +her conscience just a little to present the bag to Kitty. + +The Scholarship was to be competed for on the thirtieth of October, and +the girls reassembled at Cherry Court School about the fifteenth of +August. + +Three weeks after the school had recommenced, some time therefore in +the first week in September, Mary Bateman, who had been bending for a +long time over her desk with her hands pressed to her temples and her +cheeks somewhat flushed, suddenly raised her eyes and encountered the +fixed stare of Kitty Sharston. Kitty had done her work and was leaning +back in her chair. Kitty's sweet pale face looked a little paler than +usual. She was expecting a letter from her father, and on the week +when the letter was to arrive she always looked a little paler and a +little more anxious than she did at other times. + +"Have you finished your theme?" said Mary, abruptly. + +"Yes," answered Kitty. + +"You write so easily," pursued Mary, in a somewhat discontented voice; +"you never seem to have to think for words. Now, I am not at all good +at composition." + +"I am not at all good at other things," replied Kitty, in a gentle +voice; "mathematics, for instance; and as to my arithmetic, it is +shameful. Father wants me to be able to keep accounts very well for +him. I shall do that when I go to India, but still I have no ability +for that sort of thing--none whatever." + +"How much you must love your father," said Mary. + +"Love him!" answered Kitty. Her color changed, a flush of red rose +into her cheeks, leaving them the next moment more pallid than ever. + +"You don't look very strong," pursued Mary, who had a blunt downright +sort of manner; "I wonder if India will agree with you; I wonder if you +will really go to India." + +"Why do you say that?" answered Kitty, impatiently, "when it is the one +dream, the one hope of my life. Of course I shall go to India. I +shall do that in any case," she added _sotto voce_. + +"It is so strange all about this Scholarship," continued Mary, in an +uneasy voice, "that we three should long for it so earnestly, and yet +each feel that two others will be more or less injured if we win it." + +"Don't let us talk of it," said Kitty. "I--I must get it." + +"And I must get it," pursued Mary, "and yet perhaps it means a little +less to me than it does to you and Florence. Florence is the one +likely to win it, I am sure." + +Kitty's face turned white again and her little hand trembled. + +"I must get it," she said, in a restless voice. "I don't think I am +selfish--I try not to be, and I would do anything for you, Mary, and +anything for Florence; but--but I can't give up the Scholarship: it +means too much." + +She shivered slightly. + +At that moment Florence entered the room. She sat down at her desk, +unlocked it, and took out her papers. She was just about to commence +her study--for the Scholarship study was all extra, and had to be done +in odd hours and moments--when, glancing up, she met the disturbed and +questioning gaze of Kitty Sharston. + +"Look here," said Kitty, "we three are alone now; let us have a good +talk, just once, if never again. Why do you want to get the +Scholarship, Mary? Why?" + +"Why do I want to get it?" said Mary. + +"Oh, I wish to work now; if you mean to discuss that point I had better +leave the room," said Florence. + +"No, no, do stay, Flo; I won't be more than a moment. I want to +understand things, that's all," said Kitty. "Please, Mary, say why is +the Scholarship of great importance to you." + +"Well, for several reasons," replied Mary. "I am not like you, +Florence, and I am not like you, Kitty. I have got both a father and +mother. My father is a clergyman; there are nine other children +besides me--I am the third. It was extremely difficult for father to +send me to this expensive school, but he felt that education was the +one thing necessary for me. Father is a very advanced, liberal-minded +man; he is before his time, so everyone says; but mother does not think +it necessary that girls should know too much. Mother thinks that a +girl ought to be purely domestic; she is very particular about +needlework, and she would like every girl to be able to make a shirt +well, and to be able to cook and preserve, and know a little about +gardening, and know a great deal about keeping a house in perfect +order. But father says, and very rightly, that every girl cannot +marry, and that the girls who do not marry cannot want to know a great +deal about keeping a house in order, and that such girls, unless they +have fortunes left to them, will have to earn their own living. Of +course, there are very few openings for women, and most women have to +teach, so it is decided that I shall teach by and by. If marriage +comes, all right, but if it does not come I shall earn my living as a +governess. + +"Now, to be a really good governess father wants me to be very well +educated, and he is spending the little money that he might have left +to me when he died in sending me to this good school. Whether I get +the Scholarship or not, I shall remain at the school for three years. +I am fifteen now; I shall remain here until I am eighteen. If I do get +the Scholarship father means to save the money that the three years' +schooling would cost, and he means to send me when I return home at the +age of eighteen to a wonderful new College for Women which has been +established at a place called Girton. He will spend the money which he +would have spent on my education at Cherry Court School in keeping me +at Girton, where I shall attend the University lectures at Cambridge, +and learn as much as a man learns. It is wonderful to think of it. +Mother is rather vexed; she says that I shall be put out of my sphere +and cease to be womanly, but I don't think I could ever be that. You +see that it is very important for me to win the Scholarship, and I mean +to try very, very, very hard." + +When Mary had finished her little speech she drooped her head once +again over her desk. When at last she raised her eyes she encountered +the bold black ones of Florence Aylmer, and the soft, lovely, dilated +eyes of Kitty Sharston. + +"And I want to win the Scholarship," said Kitty, taking up the theme, +"because it means staying on here and being happy and being well +educated for three years. It means getting the best lessons in music, +and the best lessons in singing, and the best lessons in art, and it +means also getting the best instruction in modern languages, and in all +those other things which an accomplished woman ought to know. Then at +the end of three years if all is well and father gets promoted to the +hill station, I shall go out to join him in Northern India, and I want +to be as perfect as possible in order to be father's friend as well as +daughter, his companion as well as child." + +"And if you don't get the Scholarship, what will happen?" said +Florence, in a low, growling sort of voice. + +"Why, then I am going to live with a lady whom I don't love; her name +is Helen Dartmoor; she is a Scotchwoman, and a cousin of my mother's. +She is not the least like my dear mother, and I never loved her, and I +know that the best in me will not be brought to the fore if I am with +her; and I shan't learn those things which would delight dear father; I +shall not know modern languages, nor be a good musical scholar, nor be +able to sing nicely, and I--I shall hate that life, and my nature may +be warped, and I--but, oh! I will win the Scholarship." + +Kitty sprang to her feet and went over to the window. "This makes me +restless," she said; "I didn't mean to express all my feelings; I am +very sorry for you, Mary, and for you, Florence, but, I mean to get the +Scholarship." + +"You have not yet seen the thing from my point of view," said Florence. +"Perhaps in reality this means more to me than even to you, Kitty, for +I--I in reality am horribly poor. I know, Kitty, that you are poor +too--I know perfectly well that your father is poor for his position; +but whatever happens, you are a lady, Kitty, and your father is a +gentleman, and at the end of three years, whether you win the +Scholarship or not, you will go out to him and lead the life of a lady. +I don't suppose, when all is said and done, that it will make any +difference in his affection whether you can speak French and read +German or not, and I am certain he won't kiss you less often because +you do not play charmingly and because you do not sing divinely. But +I--if I lose the Scholarship I lose all--yes, I lose all," said +Florence, rising to her feet and standing before the other two girls +with a solemn and yet frightened look on her face. "For I shall sink +in every sense of the word; I shall no longer be a lady, I shall go as +pupil teacher to a common, rough sort of school, and my mother, my dear +mother, will suffer, and I shall suffer, and all the good things of +life will be taken from me. So it is more to me than it is to you, +Kitty Sharston; and as to you, Mary Bateman, you are out of count +altogether, for why should you go to that new-fangled college and be +turned into a man when you are born a woman? No, no; I mean to get +this Scholarship, for it means not only all my future, but mother's +future too. It is more to me than to either of you." + +Florence swept up her papers, thrust them into her desk, and abruptly +left the room, slamming the door after her. + +Kitty looked at Mary, and Kitty's eyes were full of tears. "It is +quite dreadful," she said; "how she does feel it! I never knew +Florence was that intense sort of girl, and it does seem a great deal +to her. What is to be done, Mary? Are we to give it up?" + +"Give it up?" said Mary, with a laugh; "not quite. Kitty, for +goodness' sake, don't allow Florence's words to trouble you. You have +got to fight with all your might and main. You will fight honorably +and so will I, and if you mean to give it up there will be the greater +chance for me, but of course you won't give it up." + +"No, I shan't give it up," said Kitty, "but all the same, Florence's +words pain me." + +At that moment a clear ringing little voice was heard in the passage +outside, the door of the oak parlor was burst open, and Dolly Fairfax +rushed in. Dolly's eyes were shining and her cheeks were crimson. +"Here are two letters," she said, "both for you, Kitty Sharston; it +isn't fair that you should get all the letters." + +"Come and sit on my knee while I read them," said Kitty, stretching out +her arms to Dolly. + +Dolly sprang into Kitty's lap, twined her soft arms round her neck, and +laughed into her face. + +"I do so love you, Kitty," she said; "I do so hope you will win the +Scholarship. I don't want you to get it, ugly Mary, and I don't want +nasty Florence to get it; but I want you, sweet, dear, darling Kitty, +to get it. You shall--you shall!" + +"You are a very rude little thing, but I don't mind," said Mary, +laughing good-humoredly. "I know I am plain, and I don't care a bit; +I'll win the Scholarship if I never win anything else, so you may as +well make up your mind, Kitty Sharston." + +But Kitty never heard her, she was deep in her father's letter. Yes, +it had come, and it was a long letter closely written on foreign paper, +and Kitty took a very long time reading it, so long that little Dolly +slipped off her lap and wandered restlessly to the window and stood +there gazing out into the court, and then back again into the +softly-shaded room, with the slanting rays of the afternoon sun making +bars of light across the oak. + +At last Kitty finished; she heaved a long sigh and looked up. "I had +forgotten you were here, Mary," she said, "and as to you, Dolly--but +there, it is beautiful, good news. Father has arrived and has begun +his work, and he says he has every chance of going up into the hills +about the time that I shall have finished my education here. Oh, it is +such a relief to read his letter. If you are very good indeed, Mary, +and if you are very good, Dolly, you shall both hear some of my +letter--not the private part, of course--but the public part, which +speaks about father's wonderful interesting travels, and his sort of +public life, the life he gives to his country. Oh, dear! I never saw +anyone grander than dear, dear father!" + +"You have said that very often," said Dolly; "I have got a father too, +but I don't think he is specially grand. I suppose it was because your +father was a hero before Sebastopol. I shall never forget about +Sebastopol now and the trenches since you told me that wonderful story +about your father and Sir John Wallis, and the night they were both +nearly frozen," said Dolly Fairfax. "I suppose that is why you love +your father so much." + +"No, it isn't," answered Kitty stoutly; "I love him just because he is +my father and because, because, oh! I don't know why--I love him +because I do." + +"Well, read your other letter now; two have come--read the other." + +Kitty picked up the other letter and glanced at it. "This is a private +letter; it has come by hand," she said. "Oh, of course, it is from Sir +John Wallis. I wonder what he has got to say to me." + +Kitty opened the letter and read the following words: + + +"MY DEAR KITTY: I want you and Miss Florence Aylmer and Miss Mary +Bateman to spend to-morrow with me at Cherry Court Park. Mrs. +Clavering will accompany you, and I have written to her also on the +subject. My dear child, my reason in having you three girls is simply +that I want to study your characters. I say this quite frankly, and +you may tell both your companions that such is my intention in having +you to spend a long day with me. I will do all I can to make you +happy, and I think it but fair to put all three of you on your guard, +for please understand that the Scholarship is given, not only for +scholarly attainments and correct deportment, but also for those lofty +traits of character which are a greater possession to any woman than +either ladylike manners or great accomplishments. Pray do not be +anything but your natural selves to-morrow, for I shall never allude to +this matter again. From now until the date when the Scholarship is to +be decided, I will expect you three to spend one day a week at Cherry +Court Park. + + "Your affectionate friend, + "JOHN WALLIS." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +AT THE PARK. + +The news that the lucky three were to spend a whole day at Cherry Court +Park caused great excitement amongst the other girls of the school. + +"It's nothing short of delightful," said Alice Cunningham to her +sister; "I only wish I had such a chance." + +"Well, you have not, so there's no use in fretting about it," replied +Mabel. "They certainly are having a good time, but who will win? I +vote for Florence." + +"And I for Kitty," said Alice; "who has a chance beside Kitty? She is +the most brilliant of the three girls, and such a favorite with Sir +John." + +"But for that very reason she may have less chance of winning, because +Sir John is a wonderfully just man. Did you ever see anyone so +terribly in earnest as Florence? Her eyes have quite a strained look +at times, and she does not eat half as much as she did; then she gets +such long, long letters from that wonderful aunt of hers. She did not +get those letters at all last term, and her dress is so smart, and she +has such heaps of pocket-money; there is a great change in Florence. +Sometimes I feel that I want her to win, but at other times all my +sympathies are for Kitty." + +"No one seems to think of poor Mary Bateman," said Edith King, in a +thoughtful voice, "and yet in reality she is one of the nicest girls in +the school, and if she wins the Scholarship, for she has been telling +me all about it, she is to go to Girton." + +"Where in the name of wonder is Girton?" asked Alice Cunningham. + +"Oh, it is a College for Women which has been opened near Cambridge." + +"Then if I thought I had to go to a College for Women I should be +rather sorry to win the Scholarship," said Mabel Cunningham; "but +there, don't let us talk of it any more. We are to have something of a +half-holiday to-day, for Mrs. Clavering is to take the three lucky ones +to Cherry Court Park." + +Florence dressed herself with great care for this expedition. Kitty +had shown her Sir John's letter, and she had felt a queer tingling pain +at her heart as she read it; but then a sort of defiance, which was +growing more and more in her character day by day, arose to her aid, +and she determined that she would not give Sir John one loophole to +find out anything amiss in her conduct. + +"We are going to be spied upon, and it is perfectly horrid," she said, +under her breath, "but never mind, I am determined to stand the test." + +The day happened to be a lovely one, and Florence looked carefully +through her wardrobe. She finally decided to put on the light summer +silk which Mrs. Aylmer had provided for her. She looked very nice in +that silk, almost pretty, and as all its accompaniments were perfect, +the lace ruffles round the neck, the lace hanging over her hands, the +trimmings of every sort just as they ought to be, the hat which she was +to wear with the dress, specially chosen by the London dressmaker for +the purpose, no one could look more elegant than Florence did as she +stood in the hall of Cherry Court School just before she started for +Cherry Court Park. + +Kitty, on the other hand, had thought very little about her dress; she +had no fine clothes to wear, so she just put on a clean white muslin +dress, tied a colored sash round her waist, put her sailor hat on her +head, and ran downstairs, a light in her eyes and a pleased smile round +her lips. + +"I cannot be anything great," she whispered to her heart, as she +glanced for a moment at Florence, who looked something like a fashion +plate as she stood in the hall, "but at least I'll be myself. I'll +try--yes, I'll try very hard to forget all about the Scholarship +to-day. I want to make dear Sir John happy, and I hope, I do hope +he'll tell me something about father and the time they spent together +outside Sebastopol." + +Mary Bateman was the downright sort of girl who never under any +circumstances could trouble herself about dress. She wore her best +Sunday frock, that was all, and her best hat, and her gloves were a +little darned at the tips, but she looked like a lady and was not the +least self-conscious. + +Sir John's own carriage was to arrive to fetch the ladies to the Park. +Cherry Court Park was between two and three miles away from Cherry +Court School, and Mrs. Clavering and her three pupils greatly enjoyed +their drive to the splendid old place. Kitty had been there twice +before, once with her father and once without him, but neither Florence +nor Mary had ever seen the interior of the Park. Mary's exclamations +of rapture as they drove under the overhanging trees and down the long +winding avenue were frequent and enthusiastic. Florence, however, +scarcely spoke; she was not a girl to be much impressed by external +beauty; she was thinking all the time how she could keep the best and +most amiable part of her character to the fore. What did Sir John mean +to do? What sort of test was he going to apply to her? She felt that +she must be armed on every point. + +"My dear girls," said Mrs. Clavering, just as they were approaching the +house, "I see you are all a little nervous, thinking that a somewhat +strange test will be applied to you to-day, but I assure you, my dears, +that nothing of the kind is intended, and I beg of you, as you wish to +impress your kind host favorably, to be at any cost natural and true to +yourselves. Florence dear, I would specially beg of you to remember my +words. Don't set your heart too much on any earthly good thing, my +child, for often those who lose gain more than those who win." + +But Florence shook off the gentle hand; she could scarcely stand Mrs. +Clavering's words just then, and avoided meeting her eyes. + +Sir John stood on the steps of his magnificent old house to welcome his +guests. As the carriage drew up beside the porch he came down and +extended his hand to each. + +"Welcome, welcome," he said, "thrice welcome! What a lovely day we +have! Mrs. Clavering, I hope to have the privilege of taking you round +my gardens, which are just in their autumn prime, and as to you three +girls, will you amuse yourselves exactly as you please until +luncheon-time?" + +"Thank you so much," said Mary, in her blunt voice. She could never +act a part to save her life. "That is just what I should like best to +do," she added, smiling and dimpling. She had a jolly little face, +somewhat tanned with the sun, two round good-humored brown eyes, and a +wide mouth. Her teeth were white, however, and her smile pleasant. + +"Kitty, my dear," said Sir John, turning to Kitty Sharston, "you have +been here before and I depute to you the task of doing the honors. +Take the girls wherever you please. If, for instance," added Sir John, +"you three would like to have a row on the lake there is the boat all +moored and ready. Kitty, you know how to handle an oar?" + +"Rather," said Kitty; "I have rowed more or less since I could walk." + +"Well, then, that is all right; but if you require any assistance you +have but to call one of the gardeners, there are sure to be plenty +about. Now off you go, all three; forget the old man, and enjoy +yourselves as happy girls should." + +As Sir John spoke he gave his arm with old-fashioned courtesy to Mrs. +Clavering, and the two turned away. + +"Now, is not this just like dear Sir John?" said Kitty, beginning to +dance about. "Come, girls, I'll have greatest pleasure in taking you +about." + +"I am surprised to hear that you know all about Cherry Court Park," +said Florence, in a somewhat cross voice, but then she remembered +herself and made an effort to smile. + +"I have been here twice before," said Kitty. "What do you say to +having a row? Mary, what do you wish?" + +"If you will allow me to do exactly what I like," said Mary, "I don't +want anyone to guide me; I want to wander here, there, and everywhere +just at my own sweet will. I have brought my little sketch-book with +me, and mean to sketch some of these splendid old trees. Mother is so +fond of outdoor sketches, and I could seldom indulge her with anything +so fine as I could get in an old place like this. Just go off where +you please, girls, and don't bother about me." + +Off ran Mary on her sturdy legs, and Florence looked after her with a +laugh. + +"Poor Mary," she said, in a contemptuous tone. + +"Why poor?" asked Kitty; "I think Mary is such a downright, jolly, +sensible sort of girl." + +"Oh, very downright and sensible," said Florence. "Kitty, do you +really want to go in the boat?" + +"Not if you don't want to go," said Kitty, looking somewhat anxiously +at her companion. + +"But I see you do; I notice the expression in your eyes." + +"Well, it's very sweet in the boat, it does soothe one so; the last +time I was there it was with father; but never mind, I won't go if you +would rather not. Shall we sit under this tree and talk?" + +"Yes, let us," said Florence. "I feel very cross to-day; I don't +exactly know what is the matter." + +"I wish you would tell me some of your troubles, Flo." + +"How can I; you are my enemy." + +"Nonsense, nonsense! how can you regard me in that light? You make me +quite miserable when you talk as you do." + +"And I meant to be amiable to-day," said poor Florence, "but somehow +everything grates. It is Aunt Susan. Kitty, you cannot understand my +position. I have to be civil and pleasant to one whom I--but there, +don't talk of it." + +"I don't quite understand; I wonder if you feel for your Aunt Susan as +I feel for Helen Dartmoor." + +"The lady you are to live with if you lose the Scholarship?" + +"Yes," replied Kitty, sadly. + +"You had better make up your mind to like her then, Kitty, for you will +have to live with her." + +"Why do you say that?" + +"Only that I mean to get the Scholarship, and I think my will is +stronger than yours." + +"It is not a case of will," said Kitty, trembling a little as she spoke. + +"Isn't it? I rather fancy it is. But there, we are to be amiable +to-day, are we not? Look at Mary sitting under that tree and sketching +as if her life depended on it. I wonder if she is really doing it +hoping to please Sir John." + +"Not a bit of it; that would not be Mary's way. All the same," added +Kitty, in a thoughtful voice, "he will be delighted. Mary's sketches +are very spirited, and Sir John loves people to appreciate his place. +He will ask you what you think about it at lunch, Florry; you had +really better let me show you round a bit." + +"If that is the case, certainly," said Florence. She got up, and she +and Kitty began to wander through the different grounds. They had +nearly completed their peregrinations, having wandered over many acres +of cultivated and lovely land, when the luncheon bell summoned them +back to the house. + +"Oh, I am so hungry," said Kitty, "and Sir John has the most splendid +luncheons. I wonder where Mary is." + +The girls looked to right and left, but could not see a sign of Mary +Bateman anywhere. They approached the house. A great big colley came +up, wagging his tail slowly, and thrust his nose into Kitty's hand. + +"Dear old Watch, how sweet you are!" said the girl. + +She bent down, flinging her arms round the colley's neck, and pressed a +kiss on a white star on his forehead. + +Just then Sir John's voice was heard calling them. "Hey, little +women," he said, "I hope you had a pleasant time and enjoyed yourselves +as much as I meant you to." + +"Yes, I have enjoyed myself immensely," said Kitty. "Haven't you, too, +Florry!" + +"Yes," replied Florence, "I like the place and the gardens." + +In spite of herself she spoke in a stiff, constrained voice; she felt +that Sir John's eye was upon her. She wondered how Kitty could forget +all that hung upon this visit. + +Kitty's face was quite careless and happy, there was a wild-rose bloom +on her cheeks which did not visit them very often, and her large +pathetic grey eyes looked more beautiful than ever. + +Mrs. Clavering now came forward. + +"Come upstairs, dears," she said, "and wash your hands before lunch." + +The girls followed their mistress up the great central hall and +ascended the low oak stairs. They entered a bedroom magnificently +furnished. + +"What a great delightful place this is!" said Florence; "fancy any one +person owning it!" She heaved a quick sigh as she spoke. + +"It is a great responsibility having a place like this and so much +money," answered Mrs. Clavering. "Florence dear, I don't want to +preach--in fact, there is nothing I hate more, but I should like to say +one thing. Happiness in the world is far more evenly divided than +anyone has the least idea of. Riches are eagerly coveted by those who +are poor, but the rich have immense responsibilities. Remember, my +child, that we all have to give an account with regard to our +individual talents some day." + +Florence stirred restlessly and approached the window. + +"I wonder where Mary is," she said, and just as she uttered the words +the silver gong in the hall sounded, and the three ladies hurried down +to luncheon. + +Still no sign of Mary, but just as they were all wondering with regard +to her absence, the door was opened, and a girl, with a smudge on her +face and her hat pushed crooked on her head, entered the room. She +held her little sketch-book and came eagerly forward. + +"Oh, I am sorry I am late," she said; "I hope I kept no one waiting. I +forgot all about it--it was that wonderful old oak-tree." + +"What, the grenadier?" said Sir John, with a smile. "Have you been +sketching it, Miss Bateman?" + +"I have been trying to, but it is awfully difficult." + +"You must let me see your attempt." + +He went up to Mary, took her sketch-book, opened it, and a smile of +pleasure flitted across his face as he saw the very clever and spirited +sketch which the girl had made. + +"Ah!" he said, "I am delighted you like this sort of thing. Would you +like to take many views from my grounds?" + +"Certainly--better than anything in the world almost," said Mary. + +"Well, let me offer you my arm now into lunch. Ladies, will you follow +us, please?" + +Florence's brow contracted with a frown. Mrs. Clavering took Kitty's +hand, motioned to Florence to follow, and they went into the +dining-room. + +During the rest of the meal Sir John devoted himself to Mary; her +frank, commonplace face, her downright manners, her total absence of +all self-consciousness pleased him. He found her a truly intelligent +girl, and discovered in talking over her father that they knew some +mutual friends. + +To Kitty he hardly spoke, although he glanced at her once or twice. +Florence seemed not to receive the most remote share of his attention. + +"And yet," thought Florence to herself, "I am the only girl present +properly dressed for the occasion. Surely Sir John, a thorough +gentleman as he is, must notice that fact. I wonder what it can mean. +Why does he devote himself to Mary? Am I wrong from first to last? Do +girls who are real ladies think little or nothing about their dress? +Would Sir John have been more inclined to be pleasant to me if Aunt +Susan had never interfered?" + +As these thoughts came to the restless and unhappy girl's mind she only +played with her food, became _distrait_ and inattentive, and had to be +spoken to once or twice by Mrs. Clavering in order to recall her +wandering attention. + +Just as the meal came to an end Sir John turned to Kitty, then glanced +at Florence, laid his hand emphatically on the table, touched Mary on +her sleeve in order to ensure her attention, and spoke. + +"Now," he said, "I am just going to say a word before we go for our +afternoon expedition." + +"Afternoon expedition! Are we going to have anything very jolly this +afternoon?" said Kitty, her eyes sparkling. + +"I hope so, my little girl; I have ordered horses for us all. I +understand that you can all ride, and I thought we could ride to +Culner's Heath, where we may enjoy a gipsy tea." + +Even Florence almost forgot herself at this announcement. Could she +ride in her silk dress? Had Sir John thought of habits? It seemed +that Sir John had thought of everything. + +"You will find habits in your bedroom, ladies," he said, "and you can +choose your horses when they come up to the door--but one word first." + +Mrs. Clavering, who had half risen from the table, now paused, arrested +by an expression on her host's face. + +"Yes," she said. + +Sir John glanced at her and then smiled. + +"I am about to speak to the girls," he said, "on the matter which we +discussed this morning, my dear madam." + +Mrs. Clavering smiled, and bowed her head. + +"You know, my dear girls," continued Sir John, turning and addressing +the three, "that the Scholarship competition will take place in a +little over a month from now. Now, I mean that occasion to be a very +grand occasion, I mean it to be strongly impressed upon the mind of +every girl in Cherry Court School, and no pleasure which I can devise +shall be omitted on the auspicious day. The happy winner of the +Scholarship shall be truly crowned with laurels, bonfires are to be +lighted in her honor, and the whole country-side is to be invited to +attend the great function, which I propose to take place, not at the +school, but in this house. I intend to invite the entire school to be +my guests on the great day. They shall all come early in the morning +and stay at this house until the following day. I am already making +preparations for the delightful time. And now, there is one thing I +want to ask. You three girls who are called by your companions the +lucky three have it in your power to invite each one guest to witness +your triumph. You are to name the guest to me, and I myself will send +the invitation in proper style. I know who Kitty would like to have +with her, but, failing that person, Kitty, is there anyone else whom +you may think it perhaps not your pleasure, but your duty, to ask to be +present?" + +"There is only Helen Dartmoor," said Kitty, in a low voice, the crimson +flush rising to her face, "and though it will be very unpleasant to +have Helen here, if you think it right, Sir John, I--don't mind." + +"That is very valiantly answered, Kitty, and I wish I might say at once +that you need not have anyone present whom you do not wish to have +present, but I rather think it would please your father if Miss +Dartmoor received a proper invitation. I will ask her therefore, my +dear child, if there is no one else you would rather have?" + +"There is no one else that I can have, and I don't suppose I need see a +great deal of Helen." + +"Certainly not; she will only arrive at the Park the day before the +Scholarship competition takes place." + +"Then I suppose she must come," said Kitty. + +"It would be a kindness," said Sir John, slowly. "I happen to know +Miss Dartmoor; she has few pleasures." + +Kitty nodded. Sir John turned to Mary. + +"Now, then, Miss Bateman, whom am I to ask on your account?" + +"Oh, father, father! How delightful! how he will enjoy it!" said Mary, +her eyes sparkling, her face beaming. "He will so thoroughly +appreciate it all, and it will be so splendid of you, Sir John." + +"How very free and easy Mary Bateman is," thought Florry to herself. + +Sir John smiled, took down Mr. Bateman's address, and promised that the +invitation should reach him in good time. + +"I wonder if he will come. How he would love it!" thought Mary. + +Sir John glanced at her pleased face with marked approval. + +"And now, Miss Aylmer," he said, turning to Florence, "who will you +have present--the one you love best: your mother, for instance?" + +Now, Florence had sent one wild throbbing thought to the little Mummy +the moment Sir John had spoken of his plan. How the Mummy would enjoy +it, how she would revel in the good food and the lovely house! What a +red-letter day it would be to her all her life, for all the rest of her +years! How Sukey and Ann Pratt and the neighbors down at Dawlish would +respect her for evermore! And doubtless the Mummy's dress might be +managed, and--but what about Aunt Susan? Would Aunt Susan ever forgive +her? She dared not run the risk of her displeasure; too much depended +on keeping her in a good humor. + +"I should like my aunt to come," she said, in a steady voice; "she is +very kind to me and specially interested in the result of the +Scholarship." + +"I know; I have heard from Mrs. Aylmer," said Sir John, in a pleasant +tone; "if you would really prefer her to have the invitation to your +mother, it shall be as you wish, Miss Aylmer." + +"I think it would be right," said Florence. Her heart gave a heavy +throb, then seemed to stand still. + +Sir John gave her one keen glance, and took down Mrs. Aylmer's address +in his pocket-book. + +"I happen to know your aunt, Miss Aylmer, and shall be pleased to +extend hospitality to her on the auspicious event." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE PUPIL TEACHER. + +At the beginning of the autumn term there happened to come to the +school a girl of the name of Bertha Keys. She was between seventeen +and eighteen years of age, and came to Cherry Court School in the +capacity of pupil teacher. She was not a pleasant girl to look at, and +had Mrs. Clavering seen her before she engaged her she might have +hesitated to bring her into the midst of her young scholars. + +But Bertha was clever and outwardly amiable. She performed her duties +with exactitude and despatch. She kept the younger girls in order, and +was apparently very unselfish and willing to oblige, and Mrs. +Clavering, after the first week or fortnight, ceased to feel +apprehensive when she looked at her face. For Bertha's face bore the +impress of a somewhat crooked mind. The small light blue eyes had a +sly gleam in them; they were incapable of looking one straight in the +face. Bertha had the fair complexion which often accompanies a certain +shade of red hair, and but for the expression in her eyes she might +have been a fairly good-looking girl. She had an upright trim figure, +and dressed herself neatly. Those watchful eyes, however, marred the +entire face. They were as clever as they were sharp and knowing. +Nothing escaped her mental vision. She could read character like a +book. + +Now, Bertha Keys was very poor. In her whole future life she had +nothing to look forward to except what she could win by her own +individual exertions. Bertha's apparent lot in life was to be a +teacher--her own wish was to cringe to those in power, to obtain a +footing amongst those who were likely to aid her, and she had not been +a week in the school before she made up her mind that of all the girls +at Cherry Court School no one was so likely to help her in the future +as Florence Aylmer. If Florence won the Scholarship and became the +adopted heiress of a rich aunt, the opportunities in favor of Bertha's +advancement would be enormous. On the other hand, if Mary Bateman won +the Scholarship nothing at all would happen to further Bertha's +interest. The same might be said with regard to Kitty Sharston. +Bertha, therefore, who was extremely sharp herself and thoroughly well +educated, determined that she would not leave a stone unturned to help +Florence with regard to the Scholarship. Nothing was said on the +subject between Florence and Bertha for several weeks. Bertha never +failed, however, to propitiate Florence, helping her when she could +with her work, doing a thousand little nameless kindnesses for her, and +giving her, when the opportunity offered, many sympathetic glances. +She managed to glean from the younger girls something of Florence's +history, noted when those long letters came from Mrs. Aylmer the great, +observed how depressed Florence was when she received letters from +Dawlish, noted her feverish anxiety to deport herself well, to lead a +life of excellent conduct, and, above all things, to struggle through +the weighty themes which had to be mastered in order to win the great +Scholarship. + +One day about three weeks before the Scholarship examination was to +take place, and a week after the events related in the last chapter, +Florence was engaged in reading a long letter from her Aunt Susan. +Mrs. Aylmer had received her invitation to Cherry Court Park, and had +written to her niece on the subject. + +"I shall arrive the day before the Scholarship examination," she wrote, +"and, my dear girl, will bring with me a dress suitable for you to wear +on the great day. I have consulted my dressmaker, Madame le Rouge, and +she suggests white bengaline, simply made and suitable to a young girl. +Yours, my dear Florence, will be the simplest dress in the school, and +yet far and away the most elegant, for what we have to aim at now is +the extreme simplicity of graceful youth. Nothing costs more than +simplicity, my dear girl, as you will discover presently. But more of +that when we meet. One last word, dear Florence; of course, you will +not fail. Were I to see you dishonored, I should never hold up my head +again, and, as far as you are concerned, would wash my hands of you +forever." + +Florence's lips trembled as she read the last words. An unopened +letter from her mother lay on her lap. She flung down Mrs. Aylmer's +letter and took up her mother's. She had just broken the envelope and +was preparing to read it when Dolly Fairfax rushed into the room. + +"Florence, do come out for one moment," she said; "Edith wants to tell +you something." + +"Oh, I can't go; I am busy," said Florence, restlessly. + +"I wish you would come; it is something important; it is something +about to-night. Do come; Edith would come to you, but she is looking +after two or three of the little ones in the cherry orchard. You can +go back in five minutes." + +Uttering a hasty exclamation, and thrusting her mother's letter into +her pocket, Florence started up and followed Dolly. She forgot all +about her aunt's letter, which had fallen to the floor. + +She had scarcely left the room before Bertha Keys stepped forward, +picked up the letter, read it from end to end, and having done so laid +it back on Florence's desk. Florence returned presently, sat down by +her desk, and, taking her mother's letter out of her pocket, read it. + +The little Mummy was in trouble; she had contracted a bad cold, the +cold had resolved into a sharp attack of pleurisy. She was now on the +road to recovery, and Florence need not be the least bit anxious about +her, but she had run up a heavy doctor's bill, and had not the +slightest idea how she was to meet it. + +"I do wish, Florence, my darling," she said, "you could manage to let +me have some of that pocket-money which your Aunt Susan sends you every +week. If I could give the doctor even one pound I know he would wait +for the rest, and then there is the chemist, too, and I have to be a +little careful now that the weather is getting chilly, and must have +fires in the evening, and so on. Oh, I am quite well, my precious pet, +but a little help from you would see me round this tight corner." + +Florence ground her teeth and her eyes flashed. The little Mummy ill, +ill almost to the point of danger. Better now, it is true, but wanting +those comforts which Aunt Susan had in such abundance. + +"I cannot stand it," thought the girl. "What is to be done? By fair +means or foul, I must get that Scholarship. Oh, I fear nothing. I +believe I am sure to win if only I can beat Kitty on her own ground. +Her ground is history and literature. There is to be a horrible theme +written, and a great deal depends on how that theme is handled, and I +am no good at all at composition. I have no power with regard to +picturesque writing. I cannot see pictures like Kitty can. I believe +Sir John has set that theme on purpose, in order to give Kitty an +advantage; if so, it is horribly unfair of him." + +Florence muttered these words to herself; then she glanced again at her +mother's letter. She put her hand into her pocket and pulled out her +purse. That purse, owing to Aunt Susan's bounty, contained over two +pounds. Florence resolved to send that two pounds to her mother +immediately. She began to write, but had scarcely finished her letter +before Bertha Keys, equipped for a walk, briskly entered the room. + +"I am going to Hilchester," she said; "have you any message, Florence?" + +"Oh, I should be so much obliged if you would post a letter for me," +said Florence. + +"I will, with pleasure," replied Bertha. + +"Can you wait five minutes? I shall not be longer than that writing +it." + +"Yes," replied Bertha. She went and stood by the low window-ledge, and +Florence bent over her sheet of paper. She wrote rapidly, a burning +flush coming into each cheek. + +"Oh, darling little Mummy," she wrote, "I am sending you all the money +I have. Yes, you may be quite certain I will win the Scholarship by +fair means or foul. I feel nearly mad when I think of your sufferings; +but never mind, once the Scholarship is won and I am declared to the +world to be the Cherry Court Scholarship girl, once I am crowned queen +on the great day of the Scholarship competition, I shall, I perceive +well, be able to do exactly what I like with Aunt Susan, and then be +sure you shall not want. Please, dear Mummy, pay what is necessary of +this to the doctor, and get yourself what you can in the way of +nourishment. I am most, most anxious about you, my own darling little +Mummy, and I vow at any risk that you shall have my ten shillings a +week for the present. What do the girls at the school matter? What +matters anything if you are ill? Oh, do take care of yourself for my +sake, Mummy." + +Bertha Keys moved restlessly, and Florence, having addressed the +envelope and stamped it, went up to her. + +"Look here," she said, eagerly, "I wish I could come with you, but I +can't, for I have my lessons to prepare, and this is the night of the +conversazione. If you would be truly kind, would you do something for +me!" + +"Of course I'll be truly kind," said Bertha; "I take a great interest +in you, Miss Aylmer, but who would not who knew you well?" + +"What do you mean by that?" said Florence, who was keenly susceptible +to flattery. + +Bertha gave a little contemptuous sniff. + +"You are the only girl in the school whose friendship is worth +cultivating," she said; "you have go and courage, and some day you will +be very handsome; yes, I feel sure of it. I wish you would let me help +you to form your figure; you might draw your stays a little tighter, +and do your hair differently. I wish you would let me be your friend. +You are the only girl in the school whose friendship I care twopence +about." + +"What!" said Florence, trembling slightly and looking full into +Bertha's face, "do you think more about me than you do of Kitty +Sharston?" + +The pupil teacher gave a slight shrug of her shoulders. + +"Miss Sharston," she said; "oh, a nice little girl, very nice and very +amiable, but, my dear Miss Aylmer, you and she are not in the same +running at all. But there, I must be quick; I have to return home in +time to undress the little ones. Oh, what a lot is mine, and I pine +for so much, so much that I can never have." + +"Poor girl, I am sorry for you," said Florence; "but there, I won't +keep you any longer. See, this is what I want you to do. Will you +convert these two sovereigns into a postoffice order, and will you put +it into this letter, and then fasten the envelope and put the whole +into the post?" + +Florence gave some more directions with regard to the postoffice order. +In 1870 postal orders, much simpler things, were unknown. Bertha Keys +promised, took in all the directions quickly, and started off on her +mission. + +She walked down the road as briskly as possible. The distance between +Hilchester and Cherry Court School was between two and three miles. +The road was a lonely one. Bertha presently crossed a stile and found +herself in a shady lane. When she reached this point she looked behind +her and in front of her; there was no one in sight. Then taking +Florence's letter out of her pocket, she slowly and quietly read the +contents. Having read them, a smile flitted across her face. + +"Little Mummy," she said aloud, "you must do without your two pounds. +Bertha Keys wants this money a great deal more urgently than you do. +Florence must suppose that her letter has got lost in the post. Let +her suppose what she will, this money is mine." + +Having made these remarks under her breath, Bertha calmly tore poor +Florence's letter into a thousand tiny fragments. These she scattered +to the four winds, and then, humming a gay air to herself, proceeded on +her way to Hilchester. She transacted her business, went to a shop and +purchased out of one of Florence's sovereigns some gay ribbons and +laces for her own bedizenment, and then returned home. + +"Did you post my letter?" said Florence, who met her in one of the +corridors. + +"Yes, dear, I am glad to say it caught the evening post." + +"Then that's right, and mother will receive it early to-morrow," +thought the girl to herself. + +The feeling that her money would relieve her mother contrived to ease +her overburdened conscience, and she was more cheerful and +happy-looking that evening. + +The next day at an early hour, as Florence was standing in the oak +parlor alone for a wonder, for neither Mary Bateman nor Kitty Sharston +were present, Bertha Keys came into the room. + +"The subject of the composition is to be set this afternoon," she said. +"You are good at composition, are you not, Miss Aylmer?" + +"No, that is it--I am very bad indeed," replied Florence. + +"I am very sorry, for I believe a great deal turns on the way the +themes are done. They must be very good ones." + +"I must do my best," said Florence, in a gloomy voice; "there is not +the least doubt that I shall beat Kitty Sharston in mathematics and +arithmetic, and as to Mary Bateman, she has not a scrap of imagination +in her composition." + +"But the little Kitty has a great deal," said Miss Keys, in a +reflective tone. "I have read some of her themes; she has a poetical +mind. The programme for the great day is to be given out also this +afternoon, and I believe Sir John intends to read the three Scholarship +essays aloud, and the guests present are then to vote with regard to +the fortunate winner. Of course, the theme will not quite decide the +Scholarship, but it will go a very long way in that direction. I have +seen Sir John, and I know that all his tendencies, all his feelings are +in favor of Miss Sharston." + +"There is little doubt on that point," replied Florence; "if it were +not for Kitty Sharston this Scholarship would never have been offered. +I wish it never had been offered," she continued, with a burst of +confidence which she could scarcely repress. "Oh, Miss Keys, I have a +great weight on my mind; I am a miserable girl." + +"I see you are, but why don't you confide in me? I believe I could +sympathize with you; I also believe I could help you." + +"I will, I must win," said poor Florence. "Oh, I could scarcely sleep +last night with thinking of my mother. I am so truly, truly glad that +you were able to post that letter in time; but for your happening to go +to Hilchester she would not have had it this morning. Now she must be +feeling great relief." + +"I can post as many more letters to your mother as you like," said +Bertha Keys. "I will do anything in my power for you; I want you to +believe that. I want you to believe also that I am in a position to +give you serious and substantial help." + +"Thank you," said Florence. She gazed into Bertha's eyes, and felt a +strange thrill. + +Bertha had a rare power of magnetism, and could influence almost any +girl who had not sufficiently high principles to withstand her power. + +She now hastily left the oak parlor to attend to her studies, and +Florence sat down to begin her studies. Her head ached, and she felt +restless and miserable. She envied Kitty's serene face and Mary +Bateman's downright, sensible way of attacking her subjects. + +"I cannot think how you keep so calm about it," she said to Mary, in +the course of that morning; "suppose you lose?" + +"I have thought it all out," answered Mary, "and I cannot do more than +my best. If I succeed I shall be truly, truly glad. If I fail I shall +be no worse off than I was before. I wish you would feel as I do about +it, Florry, and not make yourself quite ill over the subject. The fact +is you are not half as nice as you were last term when everyone called +you Tommy." + +"Oh, I know, I know," answered Florence, "but I cannot go back now. +What do you think the theme for the Scholarship will be?" + +"I have not the slightest idea. That theme will be Kitty's strong +point; there is not the slightest doubt about that." + +Florence bent again over her French exercise. She was fairly good at +French, and her German was also passable, but as she read and worked +and struggled through a difficult piece of translation her thoughts +wandered again and again to the subject of the English theme. What +would it be? History, poetry, or anything literary? + +The more she thought, the less she liked the idea of this supreme test. + +Dinner passed, and the moment for the reassembling of the school for +afternoon work arrived. Just as all the girls were streaming into the +large schoolroom, Mrs. Clavering came hurriedly forward. + +"Before you begin your duties this afternoon, young ladies," she said, +"I have received a communication from Sir John, and as you are all +interested in the Scholarship, which may be offered another year to +some further girls of Cherry Court School, I may as well say that I +have just received a letter from him suggesting the theme for the +essay. I will repeat to you what he has said." + +Mrs. Clavering stood beside her desk and looked down the long +school-room. The room contained at this moment every girl in the +school, also the teachers. Florence glanced in the direction of Bertha +Keys. She was standing just where a ray of light from one of the +windows caught the reflection of her red hair, which surrounded her +pale face like a glory. She wore it, not in the fashion of the day, +but in an untidy and yet effective style. The girls of the day wore +their hair neatly plaited and smooth to their heads. + +One of Mrs. Clavering's special objections to Bertha was her untidy +head. She often longed to ask her to get a brush and smooth out those +rough locks. + +Nevertheless, that very roughness of her hair gave her face a look of +power, and several girls gazed at her now half fascinated. Bertha's +light blue eyes flashed one glance in Florence's direction, and were +then lowered. She liked best to keep her most secret thoughts to +herself. + +Mrs. Clavering glanced round the room, and then, opening Sir John's +letter, spread it out before her. + +"I will read you my friend's letter aloud," she said; "you will all +clearly understand what he says." She then proceeded to read: + + +"MY DEAR MRS. CLAVERING: After a great deal of reflection I have +resolved that the all-important essay which the lucky three are to +write shall be on the following subject--Heroism. This opens up a wide +field, and will test the capacities of each of the young competitors. +The essay is to be written under the following conditions: It is to be +the unaided work of the competitor; it is to contain not less than two +thousand words and not more than two thousand five hundred. It is to +be written without the aid of books of reference, and when finished is +to be unsigned and put into a blank envelope. The three envelopes +containing the essays are to be handed to you, who will not open them, +but will place them before me on the night of the Scholarship +competition. + +"Further particulars with regard to the competition I will let you know +in a few days, but I may as well say now that most of the examination +will be _vivâ voce_, and will consist of eight questions relating to +the study of the French language, eight questions on the study of the +German tongue, eight mathematical questions, eight arithmetical +questions, eight questions on English History, and eight on English +Literature. In addition, a piece of music will be played by each girl +and a song sung by each; but the final and most searching test of all +will be the essay, which in itself will contain, I doubt not, the +innermost heart of the competitor, for she cannot truly write on +Heroism without understanding something of what a hero or heroine +should be. Thus that innermost spirit which must guide her life will +come to the front. Her spelling and English composition will be +subjected to the best tests by means of those written words; her +handwriting will not go without comment; her style will be noted. She +can make her essay rich with reference, and thus prove the varied +quality of her reading. And the grace of her diction will to a certain +extent testify to her ladylike deportment and the entire breadth of her +education. + +"I need add no more. I have thought deeply over this matter, and trust +my subject will meet with universal approval. + + "Yours very truly, + "JOHN WALLIS." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +TEMPTATION + +Amongst the many duties which fell to the care of Bertha Keys was the +one of looking after the postbag. Every afternoon she took the girls' +letters and put them in that receptacle, hanging the key on a little +hook in the hall. Morning after morning it was she who received the +postbag, unlocked it, and brought the contents to Mrs. Clavering, who +always distributed the letters herself. Thus it was easy for Bertha to +abstract the letters which contained the Dawlish postmark. She did +this for a reason. It would never do for Florence to find out that her +mother had not received the letter with the postoffice order. + +Bertha knew well that if enquiries were made it could be quickly proved +that she had never obtained a postoffice order at all, and thus her own +ruin would be the result of her theft. She had taken the two +sovereigns in a momentary and strong impulse, and had since to a +certain extent regretted her foolhardy and wicked deed. Not that she +regretted it because she had stolen the money, but because she feared +the consequences. She now, therefore, had a double object for putting +Florence Aylmer into her power. If she could do that, if by means of +some underhand action on her part she could win the Scholarship for +Florence, Florence would help her in the future, and even if Bertha's +theft was known to her, would never dare to betray her. It is well +known that it is the first step which costs, and Bertha's first theft +was followed by the purloining of several letters from poor Mrs. Aylmer +to her daughter. + +At first Florence, relieved with regard to her mother's financial +condition, did not bother about this silence. She was very much +occupied and intensely anxious on her own account, but when more than a +week went by and she had no letter from Dawlish, she began to get +alarmed. What could be wrong? + +In these days it would be easy for a girl to satisfy her nervous +terrors by means of a telegram, but in 1870 a telegram cost a shilling, +and Florence was now saving every penny of her money to send to her +mother. She hoped soon to have another two pounds to transmit to her +by means of a post-office order. For Mrs. Aylmer the great was +thoroughly generous now to Florence, and never a letter arrived which +did not contain a money remittance. + +"She never guesses that it all goes to the little Mummy, that it helps +to cheer her life and to give her some of the comforts she needs," +thought the anxious girl; "but why, why does not Mummy write?" + +When ten days had gone by, Florence sat down one morning and wrote to +her mother: + + +"DARLING MUMMY: I cannot understand your silence. You have not even +acknowledged the post-office order which I sent to you. I meant to +wait until I could send you another postoffice order for two pounds, +but I won't delay any longer, but will send you a postoffice order for +one pound to-day. Darling, darling Mummy, I do wonder how you are. +Please write by return mail to your loving daughter, FLORENCE +AYLMER." + + +Having written and signed her letter, Florence addressed it, stamped +it, and laid it by her desk. She then took out some sheets of +manuscript paper on which she was vainly endeavoring to sketch out a +scheme for her essay on Heroism. The conditions which attached to this +essay were already neatly written out by Mrs. Clavering's directions, +and were placed opposite to her on her desk: "The essay must contain +not less than two thousand words. It must be the unaided work of the +competitor. It must further be written without reference to books." + +Florence, smart enough about most things, was altogether foiled when a +work which must so largely be a work of imagination was required of her. + +It was a half-holiday in the school, and Mary Bateman and Kitty +Sharston were not sharing the oak parlor with Florence. They were out +in the cherry orchard; their gay voices and merry laughter might have +been heard echoing away through the open window. + +Florence sighed heavily. As she did so she heard the handle of the +door turn and Bertha Keys came softly in. Bertha brought a basket with +her. It contained some stockings belonging to the little ones which +she was expected to darn. She sat down on the low window-ledge and, +threading her needle, proceeded to work busily. She did not glance in +Florence's direction, although Florence knew well that she was aware of +her presence, and in all probability was secretly watching her. + +The silence in the room was not broken for several minutes. Bertha +continued to draw her needle in and out of the little socks she was +darning. Once or twice she glanced out of the open window, and once or +twice she cast a long, sly glance in the direction of Florence's bent +head. The scratch of Florence's pen over the paper now and then +reached her ears. At last Florence stopped her work abruptly, leant +back in her chair, stretched out her arms behind her head, uttered a +profound yawn which ended in a sigh, and then, turning round, she spoke. + +"I wish to goodness, Bertha," she said, "you wouldn't sit there just +like a statue; you fidget me dreadfully." + +"Would you rather I went out of the room, dear?" said Bertha, gently. + +"No, no, of course not; only do you mind sitting so that I can see you? +I hate to have anyone at my back." + +Bertha very quietly moved her seat. The oak parlor had many windows, +and she now took one which exactly faced Florence. As she did so she +said, in a very quiet, insinuating sort of voice, "How does the essay +on Heroism proceed?" + +"Oh, it does not proceed a bit," said Florence; "I cannot master it. I +am not a heroine, and how can I write about one? I think it was a very +shabby trick on the part of Sir John Wallis to set us such a theme." + +"Don't worry about it if your head aches," said Bertha. "You can only +do work of that sort if you feel calm and in a good humor. Above all +things, for work of the imaginative order you must have confidence in +yourself." + +"Then if I wait for the day when I have confidence in my own power and +feel perfectly calm, the essay will never be written at all," said +Florence. + +"That would be bad," remarked Bertha; "you want to get that +Scholarship, don't you?" + +"I must get it; my whole life turns on it." + +Bertha smiled, sighed very gently, lowered her eyes once more, and +proceeded with her darning. + +"I don't believe you have a bit of sympathy for me," said Florence, in +an aggrieved voice. + +"Yes, but I have; I pity you terribly. I see plainly that you are +doomed to the most awful disappointment." + +"What do you mean? I tell you I will get the Scholarship." + +"You won't unless you write a decent essay." + +"Oh, Bertha, you drive me nearly mad; I tell you I will get it." + +"All the willing and the wishing in the world won't make the impossible +come to pass," retorted Bertha, and now she once more threaded her +darning-needle and took out another stocking from the basket. + +"Then what is to be done?" said Florence. "Do you know what will +happen if I fail?" + +"No; tell me," said Bertha, and now she put down her stocking and +looked full into the face of her young companion. + +"Aunt Susan will give me up. I have told you about Aunt Susan." + +"Ah, yes, have you not? I can picture her, the rich aunt with the +generous heart, the aunt who is devoted to the niece, and small wonder, +for you are a most attractive girl, Florence. The aunt who provides +all the pretty dresses, and the pocket-money, and the good things, and +who has promised to take you into society by and by, to make you a +great woman, who will leave you her riches eventually. It is a large +stake, my dear Florence, and worth sacrificing a great deal to win." + +"And you have not touched on the most important point of all," said +Florence. "It is this: I hate that rich aunt who all the time means so +much to me, and I love, I adore, I worship my mother. You would think +nothing of my mother, Bertha, for she is not beautiful, and she is not +great; she is perhaps what you would call commonplace, and she has +very, very little to live on, and that very little she owes to my aunt, +but all the same I would almost give my life for my mother, and if I +fail in the Scholarship my mother will suffer as much as I. Oh, dear! +oh, dear! I am an unhappy girl!" + +Bertha rose abruptly, walked over to Florence, and laid her hand on her +shoulder. + +"Now, look here," she said, "you can win that Scholarship if you like." + +"How so? What do you mean?" + +"Are you willing to make a great sacrifice to win it?" + +"A great sacrifice?" said Florence, wearily; "what can you mean?" + +"I will tell you presently, but first of all amuse yourself by reading +this." + +"Oh, I am in no mood to amuse myself; I must face my terrible position." + +"Ah, I see you have written a letter to your mother; shall I put it in +the postbag for you?" + +"No, thank you; I mean to walk into Hilchester myself presently. I +want to post that letter myself. I am anxious at not hearing from +mother; she has never acknowledged my last postoffice order. I mean to +send her another to-day, and I want to post the letter myself." + +"Then I will walk into Hilchester with you after tea. We shall have +plenty of time to get there and back before dark." + +"Thank you," said Florence; "that will do very well." + +"Now, then, read this. Put your essay away for the present. I can see +by the expression on your face that you have a terrible headache." + +"But why should I read that, Bertha? What is it?" + +Bertha had thrust into Florence's hand a small magazine. It was called +"The Flower of Youth," and had a gay little cover of bright pink. +There were one or two pictures inside, rather badly done, for +black-and-white drawings in cheap magazines were not a special feature +of the early seventies. The letterpress was also printed on poor +paper, and the whole get-up of the little three-penny weekly was +shabby. Nevertheless, Florence glanced over it with a momentary +awakening of interest in her eyes. + +"I never heard of 'The Flower of Youth' before," she said. "Is it a +well-known magazine?" + +"It is one of the first magazines of the day," said Bertha, in a proud +voice; "will you read this little paper?" + +Florence's eyes lighted upon a short essay. It was called "The +Contented Heart," and her first glance at it made her sigh. + +"My heart is so terribly discontented I don't want to read about the +contented heart just now," she said. + +"Oh, but I do wish you would; it is not long, Florence." + +Urged by a peculiar look in Bertha's eyes, Florence did read the short +essay. It was couched in plain language and was forcible and to a +certain extent clever. It occupied but a couple of pages, and having +once begun, Florence read on to the end without a pause. + +"Well," she said at last, "I should judge by that writing that the +author had not a contented mind. It seems to say a great deal about +things the other way round." + +"Ah, but how do you judge the writing? Is that good or bad?" + +"Good, I should say; it interested me immensely. I was full of worries +and it seemed to lift them and smooth them away. I forgot them for the +time being. Yes, I should say that essay was well written, but I +didn't think about the writing at all." + +"Ah, then it was well written," said Bertha. "But it is nearly tea +time; don't let us say anything more about it now. I will tell you +when we are walking to Hilchester." + +She caught up the little magazine, thrust it into her pocket, and left +the room without glancing at Florence again. + +"What a queer girl she is!" thought Florence to herself. She had run +up to her room to wash her hands, for tea, and presently joined her +companions in the tea-room. + +Half an hour later Florence and Bertha were on their way to Hilchester. +Both girls were feeling anxious. Florence had that weight of care ever +at her heart, and Bertha was wondering by what means she could smuggle +the letter to Mrs. Aylmer out of her daughter's hands. Think and think +as she would, however, she could see no way of preventing that +postoffice order being obtained, of its being slipped into the +envelope, and put into the post. She was noted for her ready wit, +however, and ingenuity, and she could only now trust to what she termed +a lucky chance. One thing, however, was more important than ever; she +must as quickly as possible get Florence into her power. + +"Well," she said, as the two girls strolled arm in arm down the shady +lane towards Hilchester, "you wonder, don't you, why I showed you 'The +Flower of Youth' this morning?" + +"I had forgotten all about it," said Florence, frowning. + +"I will tell you now. You admired that little paper on a contented +heart!" + +"It interested me," said Florence, "but why do you harp so about it? I +have so much to think of, it is rather bothering for you to go back +again and again to the same subject. The writer of that paper has not +a contented heart." + +"How clever of you to say that, for it is true." + +"True! Do you know the writer?" + +"I happen to know her." + +"You know a real live author! Are you joking, Bertha? You must be +joking." + +"I know her," said Bertha, casting down her eyes, and a modest +expression creeping over her face, "I know her well, for she--don't +start away from me, Flo--she happens to be your humble servant." + +"Now you must be joking! You are the author of 'The Contented Heart'?" + +"I am, dear. I got five shillings for that little essay; not much, you +will say, but better than nothing. The editor praised me and asked for +more. I write occasionally in 'The Flower of Youth,' and when I am +very hard up I am glad of the few shillings my writings bring me." + +"Then you are a real genius," said Florence "and I respect you." + +"I am glad you respect me; I always had a gift for writing." + +"I should like to read your essay, 'The Contented Heart,' again." + +"You shall, dear, you shall. I have always said that you could +understand me, Florence, but you must not reveal my secret. I would +not have it known in the school for worlds that I am an author. It +would be fatal." + +"But why? Are you not proud of the fact?" + +"Oh, yes, I am proud of it, but perhaps Mrs. Clavering might not +approve. People have strange ideas in these days. They think when a +girl puts herself into print she makes herself too public." + +"But they can't think that. Why, they would make you into a perfect +heroine; you are a great, great genius, Bertha." + +"I am glad you think I have a little talent," said Bertha, in a modest +voice. + +"But it is a great deal more. Have you ever written stories?" + +"A few; but I have never published any." + +"Some day you will write a great book, a book that will live. You will +be a second Currer Bell." + +"Ah, how I adore 'Jane Eyre,'" said Bertha, in a low, intense voice. +"Currer Bell has a great soul; she lifts the curtain, she reveals to +you her heart." + +"I wish I could read 'Jane Eyre' again," said Florence. "I read it +once when I was at home for the holidays, but Mrs. Clavering does not +approve of novels." + +"Mrs. Clavering is a little old-fashioned. Let us walk quickly, +Florence. Do you know that I write poetry, too?" + +"Oh, then you are a tremendous genius." + +"I have a little talent," replied Bertha once more; "but now, Florence, +I have a suggestion to offer." + +There was something in her tone which caused Florence's heart to beat; +she seemed to guess all of a sudden what was coming. + +Bertha turned and gazed at her. "Look here," she said, "I don't do +things without a reason. I am anxious to be your friend because--well, +because I do like you, and also because I think you may be useful to me +by and by." + +"I am sure I cannot imagine what you mean, for it is not in my power to +be useful to anyone. Your friendship for me must be disinterested, +Bertha." + +"That is as it may be," answered Bertha, in a dubious voice; "we will +say nothing on that point at present. You want to get the Scholarship?" + +"I must get it." + +"You shall, with my aid." + +"Now what do you mean?" + +"It all depends on yourself, Florence. How much are you prepared to +sacrifice to win the Scholarship?" + +"To sacrifice? to sacrifice?" Florence felt very uneasy. She tried to +wriggle away from her companion, who held her arm firmly. "To +sacrifice?" she repeated. + +"Yes, that's just about it--how much?" + +"Well, my time--my health even." + +"You must go a little further than that, Florence, if you mean to win." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I will be quite plain with you," said Bertha. "If you are not +prepared to sacrifice more than your time, more than your health, you +will fail, for Kitty Sharston has what you have not. She has the +imaginative mind and the noble heart." + +"Oh," said Florence. She colored, and tried to wriggle once again away +from her companion. + +"I must speak plainly," said Bertha. "At a moment like this there is +no good beating about the bush. Kitty will write an essay on Heroism +which will win her the Scholarship; she will do so because she is +animated by a very great and noble love. She will do so because she +has got poetry in her composition. You must face that fact. As to +Mary Bateman, she is out of the running. She is a good girl and might +even go ahead of you were the theme not the supreme and final test; but +that being the test, Kitty will win. You may as well put down your +oars at once, Florence; you may as well lower your colors, if you +cannot compete with Kitty on her own ground." + +"I know it; it is shockingly unfair." + +"But all the same, you can win if you will make the supreme sacrifice." + +"What is that?" + +"The sacrifice of your honor." + +"Oh, no; oh, no; oh, what do you mean?" + +"That is what I mean. You can think it all over. I will make my +suggestion, for I know you won't betray me. I will write your essay +for you. I can do it. I can write on noble things; I am well +educated; I am to a certain extent a practiced writer. I may not have +Kitty's talent, but I have--what she has not--the practiced pen. She +will struggle, but she cannot succeed against me. I will write the +essay on Heroism, and you shall accept it as your work. Now, think it +over; don't answer me at once." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE FALL. + +The remainder of that walk was taken in complete silence. Florence's +head felt as if it were going round. There was a buzzing noise in her +ears. Higher and yet higher over her moral nature did the waves of +temptation rise. She struggled, but each struggle was feebler than the +last. They reached Hilchester, and Bertha looked at her companion. + +"You are as white as a sheet," she said; "won't you go in and rest at +Mrs. Baker's shop? I shall call there presently for buns and things I +am bringing back for the conversazione to-night; she will gladly let +you rest. The postoffice is quite five minutes' walk from here. Let +me post your letter for you. Have you the money in your pocket for the +order?" + +"I think I will rest at Mrs. Baker's," said Florence. "You will be +sure to get the order all right, Bertha? Here is the letter; put the +order in, won't you, and then put the letter in the post?" + +"Yes, yes," said Bertha; "I'll be as quick as possible." + +She almost snatched the letter from Florence's hand, took the +sovereign, slipped it into her purse, and walked down the street with +rapid strides. In less than a quarter of an hour she had returned to +Florence. + +"It is all right," she said, briskly; "and now for my commissions here. +I hope you are more rested, Flo." + +"Oh, yes, I am quite rested," replied Florence; but there was a dead +sort of look on her face and the color had gone out of her eyes. + +Bertha walked briskly to the counter. She was in excellent spirits, +her carriage was perfectly upright, her well-poised head looked almost +queenly as it rested on her graceful shoulders. Her figure was +Bertha's strong point, and it never looked better than now. Even +Florence as she glanced at her was conscious of a dull admiration. + +How clever Bertha was, and really, when you come to consider her +carefully, how stylish and good-looking! + +"I shall never again as long as I live say that I dislike red hair," +thought Florence to herself. "Yes, Bertha certainly has a remarkable +face; no wonder she is able to write; and as to her eyes, I shall end +by liking her eyes. They do look as if they held a secret power." + +Bertha having given her orders now, waited until Mrs. Baker, the +confectioner's wife, had made up the cakes and biscuits and chocolate +creams which were necessary for the evening conversazione. Each girl +then carried a large parcel, and retraced her steps in the direction of +Cherry Court School. Their walk back was as silent as the latter part +of their walk to Hilchester. + +Just as they were entering the porch of the school Bertha laid her hand +on her companion's arm. + +"Well?" she said. + +"I cannot give you my answer to-night; I will to-morrow," said Florence. + +"All right, Flo; but let me tell you in advance I know what that answer +will be." + +Florence felt a shudder run all through her frame. She ran upstairs to +the dormitory. It was late, and time to dress for the evening +festivities. + +Kitty was in her cubicle. Mary Bateman in hers. Neither girl had +drawn her curtain, and when they saw Florence they each began to talk +to her. + +"Do you know, Florence," said Mary, "that that little genius Kitty has +absolutely written her essay, finished it all between tea and this +hour. She means to polish it to-morrow, but the rough draft is done. +I feel quite in despair when I look at her." + +"Oh, you need not; I don't suppose it is good a bit," said Kitty. + +"I dare not ask you what it is about," said Mary, "or I would love +beyond words to read it. When I look at your face and then think that +you were asked to write on Heroism, I feel that you were given a task +which neither Florence nor I can execute." + +"Speak for yourself, pray," said Florence, in a cross voice. She gave +a vindictive glance at Mary, avoided meeting Kitty's eyes, and vanished +into her own cubicle. Here she drew the turkey-red curtain, glanced +wildly round, and the next moment had dropped on her knees. + +"Oh, please, God, save me from myself," whispered the wretched girl. +"Help me out of this somehow. Give me the strength to write the essay +myself. Oh, please, God, I must--I must have the Scholarship. Please, +please give me the ability, the genius to write the essay myself." + +Her wild, distracted prayer was the reverse of soothing. She sprang +up, poured some water into her basin, and began to wash her face and +hands; then she dressed herself neatly and gracefully. There were no +lack of pretty dresses now for Florence Aylmer to bedeck herself in. +She took great pains with her toilet. There was a certain +satisfaction, as she donned her silken chains, in knowing that at least +she could look as well as Kitty, nicer even than Kitty, as far as dress +was concerned. + +Mrs. Aylmer the great had excellent taste, and every one of Florence's +frocks were suitable for Florence to wear. They were all girlish and +simple. The frock she chose to-night was of a very pale pink. It was +made of the simplest stuff, and was not trimmed at all. It gave grace +to her figure and added to her height. A little ruffle of lace +surrounded her girlish throat, and on her arm she slipped a gold +bangle, Mrs. Aylmer's latest present. She then ran downstairs to the +drawing-room. In her pretty shoes and silk stockings and well-fitting +dress Florence made quite a graceful figure. She dropped a curtsey at +the door as she was required to do, and then, going forward, took her +place beside Kitty Sharston and Mary Bateman. + +These three girls were, according to the rules of the competition, to +entertain their companions. Neither Kitty nor Mary were in the least +self-conscious, and to-night Florence also, in the pressure of a great +misery, contrived to forget herself. + +Mrs. Clavering looked at her with distinct approval. + +"How that girl has improved," she said, bending towards Sir John +Wallis, who invariably appeared on these occasions. "She will end in +being handsome." + +"Yes, she is a distinguished-looking girl," said Sir John, just +glancing at Florence, and then looking away again, "but Kitty is my +choice; give me the little wildflower Kitty. How sweet she is!" + +"Well, of course, she belongs to a totally different order of being," +said Mrs. Clavering, dropping her voice; "but what about the +Scholarship, Sir John?" + +"I dare not think of anyone else winning it," said Sir John; "but, of +course, I have to face the fact that either of the other girls may +succeed. Above all things, one must act fairly." + +"I just doubted whether you gave a fair subject for the essay," said +Mrs. Clavering. + +"What do you mean?" + +"Heroism," repeated the head mistress, speaking slowly and dropping her +voice. "With such a subject you appeal so distinctly to the heart. If +the heart does not respond, the essay on Heroism will never be done +justice to." + +"Ay, it is the supreme test, the supreme test," said Sir John, slowly. +Again his eyes wandered to Kitty. From her charming, bright, anxious +face he looked at Florence. It so happened that at that moment +Florence had raised her own dark eyes and fixed them on him. The +suffering she had lately lived through had added refinement to her +face, and the baronet caught himself looking at her again and again. + +"Yes, she has improved; there is something in her; but what is she so +unhappy about, I wonder?" he thought. + +Just then Mary Bateman skipped up, asked his opinion with regard to a +fresh sketch she was making, and carried him away to chat with her in a +corner. + +Next to Kitty, Sir John certainly liked plain little Mary best. + +Light refreshments were brought in on little trays, and the girls were +invited to partake. The three young hostesses acted with _aplomb_ and +much tact. Dull girls were drawn out of themselves, lively girls were +placed with suitable companions. Games were proposed, which were all +conducted in a spirited and lively manner, and finally the proceedings +ended with a gay dance. It was at this moment, just when the dance was +in full swing, that Sir John Wallis came up and offered his arm to +Florence. + +"Will you waltz with me?" he said. + +She looked up at him, colored with delight, and laid her hand on his +arm. The two led the dance, and right merry was the music which was +played to it. + +The dance had just come to an end when Sir John looked full at Florence +and spoke. + +"I heard from your aunt, Mrs. Aylmer, and she is much pleased to accept +my invitation. She will be my guest on the evening of the 29th, and I +hope I may persuade her to stay a few days longer. You must see a +great deal of her while she is at Cherry Court Park. You are a great +favorite with her, are you not?" + +"Of late I have been a favorite," said Florence, and now she looked +full at Sir John and her lip trembled. + +"There is something the matter with you, my dear," said Sir John. + +"Oh, I don't know--nothing." Then she added, as if the words were +wrung from her lips, "I hate Aunt Susan." + +"Oh, come, come," said Sir John, truly shocked; "let me tell you that +is a very unladylike way of speaking and scarcely fair to your aunt, +who is doing so much for you." + +"That is all you know, Sir John, but I dare not say any more." + +"But having said so much, I am afraid you must. I asked you three +girls what special friend or relation you would like to be present in +the hour of your triumph, and you selected Mrs. Aylmer. If you did not +like Mrs. Aylmer, why did you ask her to come? I would gladly have +received your own mother." + +"I will tell you," said Florence, in a hurried voice. "Mrs. Aylmer is +much interested in your Scholarship, Sir John, and she says if I win it +that she will adopt me. I shall be her--her heiress then. You +understand that it means a great deal to me, the Scholarship?" + +"Yes, I understand," said Sir John, gravely. His face looked troubled. +"Sit down here, my dear," he said. Florence seated herself on a chair +by his side. "I can understand, and I am sorry; it is scarcely fair +that your young mind should be strained to this extent. And if you +don't win the Scholarship?" + +"Ah, if I don't, Aunt Susan will not need you to ask me much to Cherry +Court Park. She will wash her hands of me." + +"Indeed, this is disturbing." + +"I ought not to have told you, and you must pretend that you do not +know." + +"I shall say nothing, of course; all the same, I am sorry." + +Sir John sat very thoughtful for a moment. After a long pause he spoke. + +"I ought not to give you any special advantage over the other girls," +he said, "but suppose I do this?" + +"What?" asked Florence, looking into his face. + +"Suppose I have Mrs. Aylmer as my guest and allow you to choose +another? What about your mother, Miss Aylmer?" + +"Oh, do you mean it?" said Florence; her face flushed, and then turned +pale. She had a wild, wild thought that even if she failed her mother +would not turn from her. She had a choking sensation in her throat, +which made her feel that even in the moment of absolute defeat the +little Mummy's kisses would be supporting, cheering, encouraging. +Tears brimmed into her eyes. "You are very good," she said. + +"Then I'll do it; give me your mother's address. She shall be your +guest; the other Mrs. Aylmer shall be mine. And now cheer up, my dear; +we can never do more than our best." + +Sir John turned aside, and soon afterwards the little party broke up. + +That night Florence hardly slept. At a very early hour she awoke. She +had prayed her prayer of the night before; she had asked God to help +her. As to not winning the Scholarship, that was absolutely and +completely out of the question. She must win it. The thought of +disgrace was too intolerable; she must, she would win it. She +determined to rise now and test her powers of composition. It was +between five and six in the morning. She rose very softly, got into +her clothes, and stole out of the dormitory. + +The light was just beginning to dawn, but there was not light enough to +work. Florence slipped softly down to the oak parlor; having secured a +candle and a box of matches, she lit the candle and placed it on her +desk, and, taking out a sheet of manuscript paper, she pressed her face +on her hands, once again uttered a wild, passionate prayer, and then, +dipping the pen in the ink, waited for inspiration. + +"Heroism," she said, under her breath. "What did it mean?" All that +it really meant rushed over her--self-denial, self-abnegation, the +noble courage which comes to those who think of others, not themselves. +"I cannot write," she said, passionately. She said the words aloud, +dashing down her pen and making a blot on the fair sheet of manuscript +paper. At that moment the door was opened and Bertha came in. + +"I thought I heard a noise," she said; "so it is you? What are you +doing there, Florence?" + +"Oh, nothing, nothing; but why have you come to tempt me?" said +Florence. She raised two haggard eyes to the pupil teacher's face. + +"Not to tempt you, but to help you, poor child. Of course, you will do +what I wish. There, Florence, I wrote your essay for you last night. +It came over me and I wrote it without much trouble. Here it is, dear; +you have only to copy it; put it in your desk for the present, there is +plenty of time, and go back to bed, dear, for you look worn out." + +Florence burst into tears. The next moment she had flung her arms +around Bertha's neck and laid her head on her shoulder. + +"There, there," said Bertha, "there, there, you are overcome, but it +will be all right now." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE GUESTS ARRIVE. + +It wanted three days to the Scholarship competition. The girls who +were called in the school the lucky three now scarcely spoke on the +subject--the other girls watched them anxiously. All lessons, except +those in connection with the Scholarship, were suspended so far as Mary +Bateman, Kitty Sharston, and Florence Aylmer were concerned. + +The trial essays, the essays which were to be the supreme test of +merit, were all written, and in sealed envelopes were handed in to Mrs. +Clavering. Meanwhile exercises on history, French, German, arithmetic, +were the order of the hour. The girls were busy all day long. The +three faces were somewhat pale, and lines which ought not to have +appeared round the young eyes and lips were beginning to make +themselves manifest. + +"I shall be truly thankful when the thing is over," said Mrs. Clavering +to Sir John; "this is bad for them, very bad. In particular I do not +like Florence Aylmer's expression. The girl thinks too much about this +matter. If she fails she will have an illness." + +"And if she succeeds Kitty will fail or have an illness," said Sir +John, restlessly. + +"Kitty will feel it, but she will not have an illness," said Mrs. +Clavering; "you have but to see the expression on the two faces to know +that. Kitty is anxious also and resolved, but there is a firm, steady, +fine sort of expression about her, quite the reverse of poor +Florence's." + +"Yes, I confess I do not understand that girl," said Sir John; "and +yet," he added, "I cannot help liking her; she has a good deal in her." + +"I pity her, poor child," said Mrs. Clavering; "she is placed in a very +false position. I once met her aunt, Mrs. Aylmer, of Aylmer's Court; +that was on the occasion when Florence was brought to my school, and I +confess I did not take to her." + +Sir John shrugged his shoulders. + +"It is invidious to speak of a lady who is soon to be one's guest," he +said, "but I also have met Mrs. Aylmer." + +On the morning of the same day Florence had received a letter from her +mother. Bertha Keys had gone away on the previous evening to visit a +sick cousin, and in consequence had not the charge of the postbag. She +was very unwilling to leave at this critical moment, but the cousin was +ill, required her services. Mrs. Clavering was willing to spare her +for one night, there was no help for it; she must go. "I must only +trust that no letter will come from Dawlish," she said to herself; "but +after all, even if it does, it cannot really matter. Florence must +sooner or later feel that she is in my power; perhaps the sooner the +better." + +Florence found the letter from her mother on the breakfast-table. She +stretched out her hand, caught it with a firm grip, thrust it into her +pocket, and then applied herself to her breakfast. + +"Why don't you read your letter? You know you are allowed to do so," +said Edith King, who was seated next to her. + +"Oh, it will do after breakfast," said Florence. + +"You don't look well, Flo; what is the matter with you?" + +"I am a little anxious, if you must know," said Florence, turning round +and glancing at her companion; "I have not heard from my mother for two +or three weeks; but there, of course, it is all right. She has not +even told me whether she has accepted Sir John Wallis's invitation. +Sir John told me he had written, but I cannot tell whether she is +coming or not." + +"It will be delightful for you if she does come, will it not?" said +Edith King. + +"Oh, yes, delightful," answered Florence. She did not speak any more, +but finished her breakfast somewhat hastily. At the first moment she +could find herself alone Florence rushed into the cherry orchard and +tore open her letter. It contained the following words: + + +"MY DARLING CHILD: + +"Such a wonderful, extraordinary, delightful thing has happened. It is +so unexpected that it quite puts out of my head a great deal which has +made me anxious up to the present. I have received a letter from no +less a person than Sir John Wallis, the distinguished owner of that +magnificent place, Cherry Court Park, and he has invited me, my +darling, to be present at the moment of your great triumph. He says, +which I regret very much, that your Aunt Susan will also be there, but +I am asked as your guest, my child. It is all most wonderful, +unexpected, and truly fascinating. The effect on the neighbors is +already so surprising that I have literally not been obliged to provide +myself with a single meal since the news came. The Pratts have invited +me each morning to breakfast, and Ann Pratt has assiduously catechized +me, so much so that I have found an ancient book on the 'baronial halls +of England, and have worked up some information for her benefit from +this volume. I never saw anyone so eager as the creature is to find +out Sir John's income and all about him. It is extraordinary, but +still quite human nature. + +"Sukey is wonderfully affected since the news came, and in fact right +and left your poor Mummy is quite an honored individual. + +"I feel like a heroine, my darling, and walk about Dawlish with my head +well up. I am also quite extravagant, and am wearing that dress which +I described to you as being turned for the fifth time. It is reckless +of me, but I cannot help it. For what do you think, dear?--Sir John +has sent me a check for my expenses. He says that he could not +possibly ask me to be present if I were put to any expense in the +matter, and he has absolutely sent me twenty pounds; so I shall be able +to buy a suitable costume to be present in when I see my darling +crowned with glory. + +"Oh, what a supreme moment it will be! I have already got the black +silk, and Miss Macgregor, in the Parade--you know what a fashionable +dressmaker she is--is making it up. I shall, of course, wear my +widow's bonnet, as it looks so _distingué_, and Mrs. Sweat, the +milliner in the High Street, is making up a new one, most stylish. + +"I can add no more now. My heart goes pit-a-pat. When you receive +this I shall be packing for my journey. It will be splendid to see +Susan in the moment of your triumph. Altogether, dear, I never felt +more elated in my life. This great and unexpected excitement has +perfectly restored my health. I say to myself--you know, Flo, I always +was a reckless little woman--I say to myself, 'Never mind, enjoy the +present, Mabel Aylmer, even if afterwards comes the deluge.' Good-bye, +my dearest; we shall soon meet and embrace. + + "Your most affectionate + "MOTHER." + + +Florence read the letter over once or twice. She then put it in her +pocket and paced thoughtfully up and down the cherry orchard. The +cherry trees were rapidly dropping their leaves now, and some of them +fell over Florence. She shook them off impatiently. + +"It was queer of mother never to mention those postoffice orders which +I sent her," thought the girl; "she has not even thanked me for them; +but there, I suppose it is all right, and she is very happy. It was +good of Sir John to send her that twenty pounds, and yet--and yet it +chokes me to think of it. He would not dare to send the money to +Kitty's cousin, Helen Dartmoor, nor would he dare to send it to Mary +Bateman's father. Oh, if I can only win this Scholarship I shall hold +my head high and exercise that pride, which, after all, no woman ought +to be without." + +Florence went back to the house, and soon afterwards Bertha Keys +entered the oak parlor. In the course of the morning she sat next to +Florence, who bent towards her and said, "I have had a long letter from +my mother." + +"Oh, indeed," said Bertha, changing color in spite of herself; "and +what did she say?" + +"She is coming to Cherry Court Park. Bertha, it is rather queer she +has said nothing at all about the postoffice orders. I wonder if she +got them safely." + +"Is it likely she didn't?" replied Bertha, in a calm voice; "of course +she did. She was too excited to think of them; to have an invitation +of that sort would absorb her very much." + +"It does absorb her very much indeed," replied Florence. "Doubtless +she forgot. Well, I shall soon see her and be able to ask her all +about the matter." + +Sir John Wallis had arranged that the three girls who were to compete +for the Scholarship were to arrive at Cherry Court Park early on the +morning of the great day. They were to sleep there that night, and +return to the school the following day. The rest of the school were to +arrive in the evening, but the Scholarship girls were to have the run +of the Hall, and were to be entertained as the honored guests during +the whole of the important day. + +No girls could possibly be more excited than these three when at last +the morning broke. Florence, who had scarcely slept at all the +previous night, felt that she would be almost glad, even if the worst +befell her, to have the terrible ordeal over. + +"By this time to-morrow I shall be the happiest girl in the world or +the most truly miserable," she thought to herself. But the greatness +of the ordeal now had a certain composing effect, and Kitty, Mary and +Florence started off in Sir John's carriage in apparently high spirits. + +"What do you think?" said Kitty, bending forward and touching Mary on +the sleeve; "Sir John has promised if I succeed to send a cable to +father. Isn't it perfectly splendid of him? He has not said anything +to father about the cable. What a surprise and delight it will be if +he gets it." + +"I wish you would not tell me," said Mary; "when I look into your eyes +and see all that this means to you I feel a perfect brute, and yet +nevertheless I mean to play my very best to-night, and to sing with all +my heart in my voice, and to answer each question as carefully as I +can, for my dear, dear old father will be present. Oh, how happy, how +delighted I shall be to meet him again!" + +"Yes, it will be splendid for you; and you, Florence, how glad you will +be to see your mother," said Kitty. "But, oh, dear! oh, dear! I wish +it hadn't been necessary to ask Helen Dartmoor to be present on the +great occasion." + +The girls went to the Hall in neat morning dresses, but the white +dresses they were to wear in the evening, which were by Sir John's +orders to be pure white, had already been sent on to the Hall. + +The day was a glorious one, and as they drove through the beautiful +scenery in Sir John's immense park a golden mist lay over everything. +At last they drew up before the great front entrance. A group of +ladies were standing in the hall. Sir John came down the steps. The +next moment a little figure was seen running briskly forward, and +Florence was clasped in the arms of the little Mummy. + +"My darling! my darling!" said little Mrs. Aylmer. Florence kissed her +with a quick passion, held her then at arm's length, looked into her +face, and crushed some moisture out of her own eyes. + +Meanwhile a very trim, staid-looking woman, with faded hair, pale blue +eyes, and a correct, old-maid sort of demeanor, had given Kitty a light +kiss on her forehead. "How do you do?" she said, in an accent which +was truly Scotch. "It was very kind of Sir John to invite me to the +Hall. I hope, for your own sake, you will win the Scholarship." + +Kitty answered as brightly as she could. + +"If not, of course, you are fully aware that you will be my guest for +the next two or three years. It is scarcely likely you will win the +Scholarship, and I have already been making all the arrangements I +could with regard to your instruction," said Miss Dartmoor. "Will you +come round the place now with me; I should like to have some +conversation with you. I have not seen you for some little time." + +Kitty gave a wild glance round. Would not Sir John help her? Helen +Dartmoor was the only person in the world that she truly disliked. She +felt a restless sensation rising up in her heart, but there was no +escape. Sir John had gone off with Mary Bateman and Mary's father. +Florence and her mother had already vanished inside the house. Kitty +had to submit to her fate. + +Helen Dartmoor walked with prim, small steps. She had a little +three-cornered shawl on her shoulders, and an old-fashioned bonnet was +tied under her chin. Her perfectly cold, serene face glanced now and +then at Kitty. + +"You are not improved, Catherine," she said. + +"Why do you say that?" replied Kitty. + +"You look anxious and excitable. I dislike a woman showing any +emotion. Of course, you are only a child yet, but I trust if I have +the care of you, which I fully expect to have--for it is scarcely +likely you will for a single moment win this ridiculous Scholarship--I +trust that I shall send you out to your father a well-mannered and +decorous woman. I have the greatest dislike to the manners of the +present day, and the new sort of girl who is growing up so rapidly in +our midst is thoroughly abhorrent to me." + +"Well, Helen," said Kitty, glancing full at her, "I know you won't mind +if I am frank. I certainly wish to win the Scholarship; I am +struggling with all my might and main to win it. It is of the utmost +importance to me, for I want to be as well educated as possible when I +go to dear father in India; but if I fail--yes, Helen, I will try my +very best to please you while I am under your roof." + +"Hoots, lass, you cannot do more, but do not speak in such exaggerated +phrases. Now let us walk down this avenue. What a beautiful view! +How soothing is nature in all her aspects!" + +Kitty could not help shuddering. "Oh, dear! oh, dear!" she whispered, +under her breath, "how am I to live if I lose the Scholarship!" + +Meanwhile little Mrs. Aylmer, clasping a firm hold of Florence's arm, +had carried her off right through the house and into one of the gardens +at the back. "Your Aunt Susan is not down yet," she said; "it is the +most merciful Providence, for I judge from her manner of last night +that she means to absorb you. Now, then, darling, tell me what are +your chances?" + +"Oh, I don't know, mother; I suppose they are pretty good, and I have +tried my best--I can't do any more." + +"Really, Florence, you look quite splendid; I would not know you for +the same girl. How your figure has changed; you have attained quite an +elegant shape, my love--small waist, rounded form, a little pale, paler +than I should wish, but your eyes have greatly improved; they have got +a sort of pathetic expression in them which is very becoming, very +becoming indeed." Mrs. Aylmer danced in front of Florence, examining +each feature critically, her own small eyes twinkling, and her round +face flushing in her excitement. + +"Oh, isn't it a magnificent place?" she said, "and such a dinner as +they had last night--course after course, if you'll believe me. I +should think there must have been fifteen courses if there was one. I +kept counting them, and then my poor head got so confused, for I was +seated not far from Sir John, and he talked to me in such a kind, +marked sort of way, and your Aunt Susan kept glittering her pale blue +eyes at me as if she was eaten up with jealousy. I tell you, my +darling, I did enjoy myself; I gave myself away, and talked in a frank, +pleasant, easy sort of style. I made several of the guests laugh, I +did really. Florence, my dear, my dress is beautiful; it quite stands +out with richness. I assure you, my love, you will have no cause to be +ashamed of your little Mummy to-night. I got Miss Macgregor to put a +yard and a half of train into the back--a yard and a half, Flo, and it +quite adds to my height. I have not had such a lovely dress since your +poor dear father's time--that I haven't. I thought I would like to +thank Sir John in private, and to tell him that I have made the money +for my expenses go so far that I was able to purchase the dress." + +"Oh, mother, please, please, mother, don't!" said Florence, in a tone +of agony. + +"Why not, my sweet child? If Sir John knows that I am thoroughly poor +he may give me another little _douceur_--there's no saying." + +"Oh, mother, mother, you don't know what agony this gives me!" + +"My poor child, but are not you glad that your little Mummy has got +some money? Dear me, Flo, I have been ill since you saw me last. I +was almost at death's door, and Dr. Hunt was so kind, coming in two or +three times a day. But there, I have not paid his bill yet; it is +fearful to think of it! Now, I should really like to take Sir John +into my confidence. I would not ask him for the money, but I should +just tell him exactly how I am placed, with so much a year--very, very +little; a scrimped, tightened widow: that's the only way in which I can +express my condition, scrimped and tightened, nothing else. A generous +cheque from him would set all right." + +"Mother, you must promise me here and now that you will say nothing on +the subject to Sir John. And, Mummy dear, that reminds me, you never +acknowledged my postoffice orders. I know I hadn't much to send you, +but what I did have I sent, and I promised that you should have ten +shillings a week, my pocket-money, until you had paid the doctor's +bill. I could do no more. Mummy dear, what is the matter? Why do you +look at me like that, Mummy?" + +"I may well ask you what is the matter?" said Mrs. Aylmer, now standing +stock still in front of her daughter and raising a round, agitated face +to Florence. "Postoffice orders, and from you, Flo! Oh, my dear, +darling, precious child, I have been wondering at never hearing from +you. I wrote to tell you all about my illness--not until it was over, +Flo; as I said to myself, 'No, the child shall not be disturbed; that +Scholarship she must win. I will not tell her that her mother is ill +until her mother is out of danger.' But when the danger was past I +told you--oh, my darling, I have not had any postoffice orders from you +nor any letters whatsoever--none whatsoever, Flo, and I have been so +astonished. I have tried not to feel hurt. I am very sensible about +most things. I was sure that you did not write because you were too +busy to write, but still, in the dead of night, I did shed one or two +tears--I did really, my own pet." + +"But, mother, this is too extraordinary for anything. I sent you two +postoffice orders, the first was for two pounds, the second for one. +Do you mean to say that you never got them?" + +"Never, my darling; I have been robbed. Who could have done it? Oh, +Flo, this is fearful; three pounds sent to me by my own darling, and I +never to receive the money! What can it mean, Florence--what can it +mean?" + +"Say no more, mother; I will see about this." + + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +TIT FOR TAT. + +The long, bewildering, beautiful day was over and the three candidates +for the coming competition were being dressed for the occasion. + +The dressing took place in one immense room where the girls were +afterwards to sleep, and the assistants at the dressing were no less +people than Miss Helen Dartmoor, Mrs. Aylmer the great, and Mrs. Aylmer +the less. + +Mrs. Aylmer the great and Mrs. Aylmer the less fussed round Florence, +fussed round her to such an extraordinary degree that she felt a mad +desire to thrust them both out of the room. + +The very beautiful dress which Aunt Susan had purchased for Florence in +London was, after all, not to be used on this occasion, for Sir John +had given forth his mandate that each of the three candidates was to be +dressed exactly alike, and as this was his supreme wish he further said +that he himself would purchase the dresses for the occasion. + +These were made in Greek style, and were long, flowing, and simple. +The material was the finest white cashmere edged with swansdown, and +each girl had clasped round her waist a belt of massive silver, also +Sir John's present. Their hair was unbound and hung down their backs, +being kept in its place on the head by a narrow fillet of silver. + +Nothing could be simpler and yet more graceful than the dress, the long +flowing sleeves falling away from the elbow and showing the young +molded arms distinctly. + +It so happened that no dress could suit Kitty better, and doubtless Sir +John had an eye to the appearance of his favorite in such a robe when +he ordered it. + +Florence also looked very well in her Greek costume; and even Mary +Bateman seemed to acquire added grace and dignity when she put on the +pretty classical robe. The girls wore sandals on their feet, and +altogether nothing could be choicer and prettier than the dresses which +Sir John had devised for them. + +Little Mrs. Aylmer almost hopped round Florence as she was being +attired in her festive robe. + +"I am sure," she said, "I can guess the reason why; I have been +wondering over it all day, and at last the solution has come to me. +Listen, my dear Miss Bateman; listen, Miss Sharston; Susan, you cannot +prevent my speaking. I see, Miss Dartmoor, you are thinking me a +little fool, but I have guessed at the solution. It is because in the +moment of triumph the brow of the young victor--victress, don't you +say? no, of course, victor--will be crowned with a laurel wreath. Ah, +how sweet! Florence dear, nothing could be more becoming to you." + +Miss Dartmoor was heard to give an indignant snort. She went up to +Kitty and looked at her with marked attention. + +"I hate the heathenish sort of dress," she exclaimed, "but if it comes +to that, I believe that Catherine Sharston will look just as well with +a chaplet of leaves round her head as anyone else in the room." + +"Oh, we are not disputing that point," said Mrs. Aylmer the less, +chirruping away as she spoke, and dancing up to a neighboring +looking-glass to take a side view of her own dress; "we are not +disputing that point. The one who wins the Scholarship will look +beautiful in her wreath of glory. Time will prove who that lucky +person will be." + +Here she winked at Florence, who turned away. + +Her head ached; there was a heavy, heavy feeling at her heart. She had +one great desire, which for the time being swallowed up all others, and +that was to see Bertha Keys for a moment alone. Bertha was to arrive +with the rest of the school in time for the great ceremony, which was +to take place in the great central hall of the old house. + +The hall had been decorated for the occasion, and in its dark recesses +gleamed now many fairy lamps. In the middle of the hall was a dais, on +which the judges were to sit, and before whom the young competitors +were to appear when the crucial moment came. + +A flood of light from many incandescent burners poured down upon this +dais, making it one of dazzling light. + +The rest of the girls of the school were to sit in a darker part of the +hall; they were to be dressed in their best. The guests were to occupy +a gallery to the left, except those guests who, by Sir John's special +invitation, were to sit upon the dais and give their votes in favor of +the essays. Desks were provided also in the middle of the hall for the +three young competitors, at which they were to sit to answer the +questions which were to be asked them by three professors specially +sent for from London by Sir John. + +There was not to be the slightest indication of who the successful +winner was to be until the crucial moment, and the examination from +first to last was expected to occupy about an hour and a half. + +While it was going on very soft music was to be played on a distant +organ; the competitors were then to go forward and to stand in front of +the judges while the three essays were read aloud by no less a person +than Sir John himself. + +The judges would retire, something like a jury at a court of justice, +on hearing the essays, to give their votes for the lucky winner of the +Scholarship, and then Sir John was to crown the successful girl with +glory. A chaplet of silver bay-leaves was to encircle her brow, and +the locket and chain were to be put round her neck. She was to receive +the purse which would contain the expenses for one year at Cherry Court +School, and the parchment scroll, which through all time would testify +to her ability and her triumph, was to be put into her hand. + +"Yes, nothing could be more perfect than the arrangements," said Miss +Dartmoor, who had heard all about the programme during the course of +the day; "but," she added, fixing her eyes now upon the elder Mrs. +Aylmer's face, "I disapprove of this sort of thing immensely. I don't +suppose for a single moment my cousin, Catherine Sharston, will get the +Scholarship; but seeds of envy and discontent will be sown in her +heart, and I shall have some trouble in bringing her into a proper +frame of mind when she joins me in Scotland." + +"I pity you," said Mrs. Aylmer, in reply to this speech, "but the girl +looks well-meaning and easily influenced." + +"Oh, am I?" thought Kitty, who overheard these words and who could not +help giving her little head a toss; "I doubt it. Oh, if it were not +for father I don't think I could go through with this evening." + +Meanwhile Florence had slipped out of the room. In her pretty Greek +dress she glided down the corridor, met a servant, and asked her if the +young ladies from school had yet come. + +"Yes, miss," was the reply, "and they are all unrobing in the green +bedroom at the end of this corridor." + +"I should be so much obliged if you would do something for me," said +Florence. + +"Of course I will, miss," was the reply. The girl gave Florence a +long, admiring look. She could not help being struck with the elegant +dress and the eager, passionate, quivering face. "What is it you want, +miss?--I'll do anything you wish." + +"I want you to go into the green bedroom and ask if Miss Keys is there. +If she is, say that I, Florence Aylmer, would like to see her for a few +moments." + +The servant tripped off at once, and a moment later Bertha joined +Florence in the corridor. + +"Is there anywhere where we can be alone?" said Florence, clasping +Bertha's hand. + +"Oh, my dear Flo, how lovely you look! What a charming, charming robe!" + +"Don't talk about my dress now, and don't say anything about my looks; +I want to speak to you," said Florence. + +For a wild moment Bertha Keys felt inclined to say, "It is impossible; +I am engaged with my pupils, and cannot give you any of my time," but a +glance into Florence's face showed her, as she vulgarly expressed it, +"the fat was in the fire," and she had better face the position at +once. Accordingly she said coolly, "I can give you two or three +minutes, although I cannot imagine what you want to say now. I shall +come to see you when it is all over. There is not the slightest doubt +that you will win the Scholarship, so rest assured on that head." + +"If I thought for a moment there was a doubt do you think I would have +acted as I did?" said Florence; "but now that things have come to a +crisis I wonder if I greatly care. I----" + +"Oh, nonsense, Florence, how would you stand the disgrace? and the +clergy school, you know--don't forget, Florence, what it means. Hold +up your head, pluck up your courage. What is it you want to say to me?" + +"Something--but I must see you alone." + +"Let us come along this corridor; there are a great many bedrooms: we +will open one on the chance of its being empty." + +Bertha seized Florence's hand and began to fly down the corridor with +her. She knocked at a door, there was no reply, she opened it. + +"There, it is unoccupied," she said; "we will stay here for a minute or +two. Come now, what is it?" + +"It is this," said Florence; she turned and faced Bertha. + +"Bertha Keys," she said, "my mother has told me, and I heard that of +you this morning which----" + +"That of me, indeed," said Bertha, turning very pale; "what can you +have heard of me?" + +"I have heard that which shows me your true character. My mother never +received those post-office orders. I gave you three sovereigns to +change into postoffice orders for my mother, and she--she never had +them; she never got any of my letters, she thought me cold, heartless, +unfeeling--she, my mother, the one I love best in the world. You, you +held back the letters, you kept the money--dare you deny it?" + +"Oh, dear, what a fuss!" said Bertha. "But you can act just as you +please, Florence; you can go down and tell all about me. Of course, +having done so, my career will be ruined." + +"What do you mean? What did you do?--speak, speak! Oh, this is +driving me mad!" + +"Calm yourself, my dear, and stay quiet; I won't attempt to conceal the +truth from you. I took the money; I wanted it very badly. Whether I +wanted it more badly than your mother is a matter of not the smallest +importance to me. I wanted it, and I took it. Let that suffice." + +"And what do you think I shall do; do you think I will submit to this +sort of thing?" + +"You can please yourself. Of course, if you tell about me, I can tell +about you. Tit for tat--you quite understand." + +"Oh, I quite understand," said Florence. + +She sank down on the nearest chair, her face had turned quite grey. + +Miss Keys regarded her for a moment silently, then she went up and laid +her hand on her shoulder. + +"Come, Flo," she said, suddenly dropping on her knees by the unhappy +girl's side, "come, cheer up; don't look so miserable. You and I are +in the same boat and we must sink or swim together. If you support me +I'll support you. I can help you again and again, and think what I am +doing for you to-night." + +"Oh, I hate myself, I hate myself! I don't think I can go through with +it," said Florence. + +"Then what do you mean to do?" + +"Tell Sir John all before he begins. It is Kitty's Scholarship--not +mine; and how--how am I to take it?" + +"Now this is utter folly," said Bertha, seriously alarmed at last, for +if Florence were to develop a conscience, and a conscience of such a +sensitive order, at this hour, all would indeed be lost as far as she +was concerned. + +"Come," she said, "think what it means. You love your mother; think of +her position if you lose; and it was only three pounds, and I +promise--there, I promise I'll save it out of my salary; you shall have +it back. Oh, don't tell on me; I shall be ruined for ever; +don't--don't--don't!" + +Bertha clasped her hands, the tears rose to her eyes--a bell was heard +in the distance. It was the bell which was to summon the guests, the +girls of the school, and the three competitors to the great hall. + +"There, I must be going," said Florence, "but I am miserable. My head +aches, I doubt if I can go through with this." + +"You will feel quite different when you get downstairs," said Bertha, +"and now cheer up; only just remember one thing. If you fail me I will +fail you, and _vice versa_." + +Florence did not dare to look back at Bertha; she left the room. There +was a noise in her ears and a swimming before her eyes. + +Bertha stood for a moment, looking after her retreating form. + +"I am almost sorry I did not tell her at the time," she said to +herself; "when she has accepted the Scholarship I shall be safe; but +she has had a shock. There is no saying what a girl of that +temperament may do under pressure; but there, I believe the excitement +will carry her through, and I don't believe for a moment she has the +moral courage to stand the public disgrace which would be hers if she +told now. Yes, she is in for it; she must go through with it." + +Bertha patted her red hair and drew herself up to her full height, and +presently accompanied the pupils down to the great hall, where they +took their seats in the places allotted to them; excellent seats from +the point of view, for they could see every single thing and were +themselves to a certain extent in shadow. + +The different guests had assembled, all beautifully dressed. Mrs. +Aylmer the great and Mrs. Aylmer the less found themselves side by +side. Mrs. Aylmer the great was in a magnificent robe of violet +brocade, open at the throat, displaying a quantity of rich lace. On +her head glittered diamonds, and her light eyes flashed as she glanced +from time to time at Mrs. Aylmer the less. + +"Really," she said to herself, "the one drawback in adopting Florence +is that most unpleasant little woman. Where did she get that splendid +silk from? But what airs she does put on; how vulgar she is!" + +Mrs. Aylmer the great did not look particularly happy. She was most +anxious to force herself into what she termed county society, and she +found up to the present that, although she was the owner of a +magnificent place like Aylmer Court, she was not taken much notice of +by those people who were, as she expressed it, really in the swim. It +was a great feather in her cap to be invited to Cherry Court Park, and +if Sir John would only favor her with a little attention she might get +more invitations in consequence. + +If her niece was the lucky winner of the Scholarship all would +undoubtedly go well with Mrs. Aylmer. She would be the aunt, +practically the adopted mother, of the heroine, the girl on whom all +eyes were fixed, Sir John's special _protégée_, the Cherry Court School +Scholarship girl. She could talk about Florence and her great +abilities from time to time, and gently insinuate little hints with +regard to the girl's unfortunate position and her great kindness in +adopting her. Thus people would think her a most good-natured woman as +well as a very rich one, the aunt of a girl of undoubted genius--yes, a +great deal might follow in the train of such consequences. + +Mrs. Aylmer the less on this occasion had many wild and exciting +thoughts with regard to Miss Pratt and the other neighbors at Dawlish, +also with regard to Sukey; but still, her thought above all other +thoughts was the consciousness that soon her beloved child would be +done honor to, and her eyes, silly enough in expression, were now so +full of love that many people thought her a good-natured and +pleasant-looking woman, and in reality gave her far kinder thoughts +than they did to Mrs. Aylmer the great, whose cold face would never +shine with any human feeling, and whose motives could be easily read by +the proud county folk. + +As Florence slowly entered the room, accompanied by Kitty and Mary, a +little buzz of applause greeted the three graceful girls as, in their +Greek costumes, they glided slowly forward and took their places at the +little desks placed for them. Florence for one wild moment glanced at +her mother, and the love and longing and delight in the little Mummy's +face did more to reconcile her present evil plight than anything else. + +"There," she whispered under her breath, "in for a penny, in for a +pound. I cannot break the heart of the little Mummy--I can't--I won't." + +A peculiar expression stole round her lips, her eyes grew feverishly +bright, she looked handsome, and Mrs. Aylmer the great felt justly very +proud of her. + +"She is tall, her figure is improving every day; she will be a very +good-looking girl by and by--what is more, a stylish one," thought Aunt +Susan. + +But most of the guests scarcely looked at Florence, for their eyes were +attracted by the sweet expression, the inimitable grace of Kitty +Sharston. + +Florence's cheeks were deeply flushed, her eyes so bright that they +looked dark as night; but Kitty, equally excited, her heart beating, +every nerve highly strung, only showed her excitement by a dewy look in +the great big grey eyes, and a wild-rose bloom on the delicate cheeks. + +Mary's downright appearance did not attract comment one way or the +other. All three were pronounced nice-looking, ladylike girls, and now +the guests bent forward to listen to the _viva voce_ examination, which +immediately began. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +"THE HILLS FOR EVER." + +The examination began and was continued amidst a profound silence on +the part of all the spectators. Necks were craned forward and ears +were at attention point. When Florence answered a question correctly +Mrs. Aylmer the less nodded her little head until the plumes which she +wore in her hair quivered all over. Mrs. Aylmer the great bridled and +glanced with her cold eyes at the proudest of the county folk, as much +as to say, "There's genius for you." + +Mary Bateman's father, who sat very near Mrs. Aylmer the less, smiled +also when Florence made a correct answer, and looked with sympathy at +little Mrs. Aylmer; and when his own child Mary scored a point, as he +expressed it, a gratified flush rose to his old cheeks, and he dropped +his eyes, not caring to look at the girl whom he loved best in the +world. + +But when to question after question Kitty Sharston gave a correct +reply, the _furore_ and excitement in the breasts of several of the +spectators rose to the highest pitch, for Kitty's soft voice, her +gentle answers, her correct and lady-like utterances impressed everyone +favorably. Then, too, it was an open secret that she was Sir John's +favorite; it had been whispered by more than one visitor to another +that it was on account of Kitty Sharston that this great fuss had been +made, that the Scholarship had been opened to the competition of the +school, that the girls were here, that they themselves were here--it +was all on account of this slim little girl with the big eyes and the +sweet pathetic face; and reminiscences of Sir John and Kitty's father +together side by side, shoulder to shoulder, in the trenches before +Sebastopol arose in the memory of one or two visitors present. + +It was undoubtedly the wish of the guests who were assembled at Cherry +Court Park that night that Kitty should be the successful winner. And +now there were strong, more than strong hopes that such would be the +case, for although Florence's answers were full of spirit and +invariably correct, there seemed to those who listened to be a +background of substantial knowledge behind Kitty's grave remarks. + +Miss Helen Dartmoor sat bolt upright, her lips firmly compressed, and a +disapproving expression in her eyes; but Miss Helen Dartmoor did not +count. It was Sir John, whose eyes followed his favorite with keener +and keener appreciation and admiration; it was Mrs. Clavering; it was +also most of the girls themselves, for beyond doubt Kitty was the +favorite. If she won the Scholarship it would give universal +satisfaction. + +And now most of the examination had come to an end. The questions on +history had all been answered and duly marked by the patient professors +who had come to Cherry Court Park for the great occasion. The girls +one by one had approached the piano and played each her trial piece and +had sung her trial song, and still it seemed to everyone that Kitty led +the van; for her music, although not quite so showy and brilliant as +Florence's, was marked with true musical expression, and her song, a +sweet old English ballad, came purely and freely from her young lips. + +Mary also acquitted herself extremely well in the musical examination, +and old Mr. Bateman raised his head and listened with real pleasure as +the wild warbling notes of "Annie Laurie" sounded through the old hall. + +But at last the supreme test of all arrived. The three girls, Sir John +leading the way, approached the central dais. There they stood side by +side, their soft Greek draperies falling round their slim young +figures. Sir John then stepped to the front and addressed the crowd of +eager spectators. + +"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "I need not tell you with what intense +pleasure I have listened to the spirited answers our three young +friends have made to the different questions put to them. The +Scholarship, however, has yet to be won--the supreme test is now to be +given--the trial essays are now to be read. In order that fair play +should above all things be exercised on this important occasion, I have +asked my three young friends not to sign their names to the essays they +have written. The essays are in three blank envelopes, which now lie +before me on the table." Here Sir John touched three envelopes with +his hand. "I will proceed to read them aloud, taking them up +haphazard, and having no idea myself who the writer of each essay is. +I have selected as the subject of the test essay the great and +wonderful subject of Heroism, for I feel that such a theme will give +scope for the real mind, the real heart, the real soul of the young +writer. I will say no more now. After I have read the essays we will +retire into the outer hall for two or three minutes, and on our return +I shall have the pleasure of declaring on whose head I am to place the +crown of bay-leaves." + +Sir John paused for a moment, the girls stood close together, they +faced the crowd standing at one side of the dais. Florence glanced +across the hall. Once again she met her mother's eyes--she saw no one +in that intense moment of her young life except the little Mummy, and +the love in her mother's eyes once again made her say to herself, +"Nothing, nothing, nothing will make me break her heart; I will go +through with it--yes, I will go through with it." + +Kitty Sharston's clear eyes also gazed across the hall, but she saw no +one present--only, far, far away, a lonely man with an iron-grey head, +and a face which was the dearest face in all the world to her. She saw +this man, and felt that for his sake no effort could be too great. If +she won the Scholarship all would indeed be well; but if she failed she +could at least be good, she could at least submit. Oh, yes; oh, yes; +it would be fearfully hard, but God could give her strength. + +As to Mary Bateman, she looked at her father and her father looked at +her, and then she held herself erect and said to herself, "I can but +fail, and in any case I have done my best." + +Just then, the murmurs of applause having died away, Sir John took up +the first of the envelopes, opened it, unfolded the sheet of paper +which lay within, and commenced to read. + +The essay on Heroism which he first read happened to be written by Mary +Bateman. It was practical, written in good English, the spelling all +correct, and also contained some fairly well-chosen allusions to great +heroes of history. The essay was thoughtful, and, although there was +little originality in it, the guests listened with marked attention. +The reading of the essay occupied exactly ten minutes, for Sir John +read it slowly, pausing often to give full weight to the words which he +read. He had a beautiful, mellow, perfectly-trained voice, and Mary's +somewhat lame utterances could not have sounded to better advantage. + +When he had finished the guests applauded, but without any intense +enthusiasm. He laid the paper down before him on the table, and then +proceeded to read the second essay. This had altogether a different +note. The allusions to history were far less numerous, but the heart +of the young writer made itself felt. It was the work of an immature +mind, but here and there was a delicate touch which pointed to the +possibility of future genius. Here and there was a graceful allusion +which caused Sir John's own voice to falter, and above all things, +through each word there breathed a lofty and noble spirit. + +"Only the daughter of a soldier could have written those words," +thought Sir John; "surely this must be Kitty's work, and surely no +other essay could approach hers." + +So he thought, and as he came to the last words his voice rang out +clear and full, and when he ceased the applause was great, and Kitty's +eyes shone, although she dared not meet anyone, for it was part of the +code of honor amongst the three girls that the judges should not guess +who had written each individual essay. + +Then at last it came to be Florence's turn. Florence had copied Bertha +Keys' paper, scarcely taking in its meaning. She had copied it in hot +haste, with hot rage, defiance, determination in her heart. She +scarcely knew herself what the words meant, she had not taken in their +true significance. The essay was a little longer than the others, and +began in quite a different way. + +Sir John paused for a moment, glanced down the page, then adjusted his +glasses, drew himself up very erect and began to read. He had not read +one sentence before he perceived that he had now quite different metal +to deal with. Although disappointment stormed at his heart, he was too +true a gentleman and too brave a soldier to allow such a feeling to +influence him even for a moment. Yes, he would do the spirited words +with which he had now to deal every justice. So he read on, the fire +in the paper communicating itself to him, and the guests who listened +soon forgot all about the Scholarship and all about the three young +candidates. They were interested in the words themselves; the words +rang out; they were not remarkable so much for the heart element as for +the strong, proud, intellectual touch. + +The essay was rich in metaphor and still richer in quotation. From the +Greeks, from the Romans, from the English, from America, from +Australia, from all parts of the globe did the young writer cull +incident and quotation. She used a brief and telling argument, and she +brought it to a successful and logical conclusion. Finally she quoted +some words from Tennyson, aptly and splendidly chosen, and when Sir +John's voice ceased the entire hall rose up in a body and cheers and +acclamations ascended to the roof. + +Florence's face was white as death. + +Sir John laid down the paper. + +"We will now," he said, turning to his fellow-judges, "retire for a few +moments to decide on the winner of the Scholarship." + +Sir John and the other judges immediately left the hall, and the girls, +still standing in that strained and painful position, waited with +lowered eyes for the result. Amongst the three, however, all doubt was +over. Mary Bateman knew that her poor and lame words had not the +slightest chance. Kitty would not have taken the Scholarship even if +it had been offered to her. Could Mary have written that brilliant +essay? Could it by any possibility be the work of Florence? But +whoever had written it deserved the Scholarship, deserved it by every +rule which had been laid upon the young competitors. + +So she thought, and Florence, who did not dare to meet Bertha's eyes, +who did not dare at this moment even to look at her mother, wished with +all her heart that the ground might open and swallow her up. + +Could she take this undeserved honor? The words were crowding to her +lips, "Oh, don't, for heaven's sake, give it to me; I could never have +written it," but she did not speak the words. + +Just then there was a pause amongst the crowd of spectators, and Sir +John and the other judges returned. The judges sat down in their seats +and Sir John came slowly forward. His face was very white. + +"The examination for the Cherry Court School Scholarship is over," he +began. "With one accord we have adjudged the prize. The three young +competitors have all done admirably. The questions have been so +universally well answered that there would have been a difficulty in +giving the prize to any one when all three so very nearly had earned +it, were it not for the trial essay; but the trial essay has removed +all doubt. The Scholarship, by every test of learning, of high +endeavor, of noble thought, belongs to the girl whose motto on her +paper has been 'The Hills for Ever.' She has indeed gone to the hills +for her breezy thoughts, for her noble and winged words. May she to +the longest day she lives retain all that she now feels, and go on +truly from strength to strength. The names of the competitors are not +attached to the essays, therefore I must request the girl who has +adopted the motto, 'The Hills for Ever,' to come forward, for she is +the winner of the Scholarship." + +Sir John paused and looked down the room. He did not dare to glance at +Kitty, for he knew only too well that, clever and sweet as she was, she +had not written those words. + +There was a dead silence. Mary Bateman looked at Florence--Kitty also +looked at her. They felt sure she had written the splendid essay, and +they wondered at her silence. She remained quite still for a moment. + +"Miss Bateman, is this your essay?" said Sir John, holding up the paper +to Mary. + +Mary shook her head and fell back. + +"Catherine Sharston, is this yours?" again said Sir John. + +Kitty bent her head low in denial. + +"Then Miss Aylmer--what is the matter, Miss Aylmer?" + +"Oh, nothing, nothing," said Florence. She gave one wild glance in the +direction of Bertha Keys, but Bertha was too wise to meet Florence's +eyes just then. + +"She feels it, but she must go through with it," thought the pupil +teacher. "I did not know that I had such genius, but I shall never +doubt my own power in the future. Is she indeed mean enough to take my +work and claim it as her own? Of course she is; it would be fatal to +me if she did otherwise." + +As Florence slowly, very slowly, as if each step was weighted with +lead, crept forward to the front of the dais without any of that look +of triumph and pleasure which ought to have marked her face at such a +moment, Bertha Keys threw back her own head and allowed her watchful +light blue eyes to follow the girl, while a smile of sardonic import +curled her lips. + +When Florence got opposite Sir John she suddenly, as if overpowered by +intense emotion, fell on her knees. She could not have done anything +which would more completely bring down the house. Cheers, +acclamations, hurrahs, every sort of congratulation filled the air. +When they had subsided for a moment and Mrs. Aylmer the less had +released the hand of Mrs. Aylmer the great, which she had clutched +frantically in her intense agitation, Sir John took Florence's hand and +with a slight motion raised her to her feet. + +"Stand up, Florence Aylmer," he said; "you have done splendidly; I +congratulate you. The Scholarship is yours, nobly won, splendidly won. +Take your honors, my dear." + +As he spoke he stepped to the table and brought back a small crown of +filigree silver. It was a simple wreath in the form of bay-leaves. He +laid it on Florence's dark head. + +"This is yours," he said; "wear it with dignity; keep the great, the +good, the true always before you. And this also is yours," he said. +He slipped a thin gold chain with the ruby locket attached round +Florence's neck. He then placed the purse which contained the +Scholarship money for the ensuing year, and the parchment scroll, in +her hand. "And now, young people," he said, "let us all cheer three +times the winner of the Scholarship." + +The girls cheered as lustily as schoolboys, the band in the corner +burst forth with the gay strains of "See the Conquering Hero Comes," +and after a brief signal from Sir John there was suddenly heard outside +the report of a small cannon, which was the intimation that the +bonfires were to be lit. + +"Florence, Florence, come here!" said her mother, and Florence ran +across the hall and buried her face in her mother's lap. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE STING OF THE SERPENT. + +The day was over, the long, exciting, exhausting evening had come to an +end. The girls had danced to their hearts' content, had played and +romped, and congratulated Florence with all the heartiness of which +their frank natures were capable. They had wandered through the +grounds in groups to watch the bonfires, they had partaken of the most +delicious supper the heart of girl could conceive, and at last, worn +out and intensely happy, they had retired to rest. + +Three long dormitories had been fitted up for their occupation, but the +lucky three had each a very small room to herself. Florence was glad +of that. Yes, if she could be glad of anything on that awful, terrible +evening, it was the knowledge that she might be alone, all alone for +some hours. During those hours she could think, could collect her +thoughts, could face the position which she had in future to occupy. + +In the pleasure and delight of the evening no one had specially noticed +how little Florence spoke. Mrs. Aylmer the less, as the mother of the +heroine, minced about with her head in the air, so elated, so excited, +so carried out of herself, that not the grandest county lady present +had power to awe her. + +"Yes, I am the mother of the dear child. Oh, I always knew that she +was specially gifted," Mrs. Aylmer was heard to say. "She could learn +from the time she was a baby in the most marvellous way, but even I was +astonished at her essay; it wrung tears from my eyes." + +"It was a very noble work," said the Countess of Archester, slightly +bowing her own queenly head, and giving Mrs. Aylmer a half-quizzical, +half-pitying glance. "How the girl wrote it, how that woman's daughter +could have written such an essay, is a puzzle to me," said the Countess +afterwards to her husband. + +But Mrs. Aylmer was unconscious that any such remarks were uttered. +She was thinking of her own dazzling future, of what Dawlish would mean +to her in the time to come, of what Sukey would say, what Ann Pratt +would say, what other neighbors would say. All was indeed well; she +was the mother of a genius, a girl who had achieved such high honor +that her name in future would always be remembered in the neighborhood +of Cherry Court School. Yes, it was a proud moment for Mrs. Aylmer, +quite the proudest in her life. It is true that Florence had said very +little to her mother, that Florence had scarcely responded to Mrs. +Aylmer when she had flung her arms round her neck, and pressed up close +to her, and looked into her eyes, and said, "My darling! oh, my +darling, my sweet, precious daughter, how proud your Mummy is of you!" + +Florence had turned away just then, and Mrs. Aylmer had felt that her +daughter's hand trembled as it lay for a moment in hers. + +But Mrs. Aylmer the great was even more remarkable in her conduct than +Mrs. Aylmer the less. She had called Florence to her, and before all +the assembled guests had kissed her solemnly. + +"You are my daughter henceforth," she said, "my adopted daughter. Not +a word, Mabel; this girl belongs to me in the future." + +And just then the queerest pang of jealousy had rushed through the +heart of Mrs. Aylmer the less, for was it possible that Susan really +meant to take her child from her altogether? Was Florence henceforward +to be considered by the world as the daughter of Mrs. Aylmer the great? +Was she, her real mother, the mother who had nursed her as a baby, who +had put up with her childish troubles, to have nothing whatever to do +with her in the future? Notwithstanding that crown of glory which +seemed to quiver over the forehead of the little widow, she did not +like this aspect of the question. She felt she could scarcely stand +it. If Susan meant to have the child, then indeed the Scholarship +would present a very serious drawback to the mind of Mrs. Aylmer. + +Mrs. Aylmer the great, however, now pushed herself quite into the +forefront of the county society. It was impossible to suppress her; +she was past suppressing. Sir John himself took her into the great +hall where supper was laid. She sat by his side during that auspicious +meal, and when he talked of Florence she boldly told him that a golden +future lay before the girl. + +"It is a pity," was his reply, "that being the case, that Miss Aylmer +should have got the Scholarship, for whether she got it or not, being +your niece, she would of course have been well educated. The +Scholarship money would have done more good to a poorer girl"--and here +Sir John had quickly to suppress a sigh, for was he not thinking of +Kitty--Kitty, who had never looked sweeter than during this evening of +defeat, who had never, never been nearer to his heart? + +Mrs. Aylmer the great looked at him in some astonishment. + +"I am surprised," she said; "it almost sounds as if you----" + +"As if I grudged the Scholarship to your niece; far from that," he +answered; "she is a remarkable girl; any girl who could write that +essay possesses genius. She will be heard of in the future." + +Then the heart of Mrs. Aylmer the great swelled within her, and she +absolutely loved her niece Florence. + +But now the day was over and Florence was alone in her room. The door +was closed; her mother's last kiss and blessing had been given. Mrs. +Aylmer the great had solemnly embraced Florence also, had given her to +understand that there was no request which she would not grant, and +then the tired girl had been left alone. + +She went to the door of her room and locked it, then she stood for a +moment in the centre of the floor. There was a large mirror fastened +to one of the walls, and Florence could see her own reflection in it. +She glanced at it for a moment in a puzzled way, a solitary young +figure, tall and well proportioned, a head of dark hair, eyes very +bright, a face somewhat pale now from excessive emotion, pathetic lines +round the mouth. On the head shone the silver crown of bay-leaves, the +Greek dress fell away from the graceful figure, on the neck gleamed the +wonderful locket with its dazzling ruby. The light from a large lamp +fell upon this ruby and caused it to gleam brightly. Florence went +nearer to the mirror and looked into it. The fire from the heart of +the ruby seemed to leap out. She hastily unfastened the gold chain +from her neck and held the locket in her hand. The ruby with its heart +of fire seemed now to the excited girl to possess an evil eye which +could see through her. She felt that she hated it, she trembled a +little, she hastily unlocked a drawer and thrust in the ruby locket and +chain. She then removed the silver wreath of bay-leaves and put it +also in the drawer with the ruby. Then she clasped her hands above her +head and looked earnestly into her own face. Well she knew in that +moment of bitter triumph what had happened to her. + +"I am made for life," she said at last slowly, aloud; "all the good +things of life can in the future be mine--all the wealth, all the +glory, to a great extent also the love." + +But when Florence thought of the love she paused; for she remembered +her mother. Did anyone in all the world love her as the little Mummy +loved her? In the future she knew well that she should see very little +of her mother. Aunt Susan would not permit it for a moment; she might +see her occasionally, but never again would they meet as child and +mother. There would be a gulf between them, the gulf which ever and +always separates the rich from the poor. For Florence henceforth would +belong to the rich ones of the earth. Mrs. Aylmer the great was so +pleased, so elated, so triumphant at her marked and brilliant success +that there was nothing she would not do for her. Yes, Florence's +future life was secure, she was fortunate, the world lay at her feet, +her fortune was made. + +She sat down on a low chair. + +"It is all before me," she muttered, "the riches, the honor, the glory. +I shall also, if I am dressed well, be beautiful. Mine is the sort of +face that requires good decoration; mine is the figure which needs the +best clothes. I shall have everything, everything. I ought to be +happy; I wonder I am not. I ought to be very happy. Oh, I wish this +fire did not burn in my heart, and that horrid, scorching, intolerable +feeling, I wish it did not consume me. Oh, I suppose I shall get over +it in time; and if life lasted forever I should be the happiest girl in +the world; but of course it won't--nothing lasts forever, for age comes +even to the youngest, and then--then there is illness and--and perhaps +death. And I may not even live to be old. Rich and lucky and +fortunate as I am, I may die. I should not like to die a bit--not a +bit; I should not be prepared for the other world. Oh, I must shut +away the thought, for there is no going back now." + +Just at this point in her meditations there came a knock at her door. +Florence started when she heard the sound. She wished that she had +thought of putting out the candle. She could not bear to feel that +anyone was coming to see her to-night. Her mother?--she dared not meet +her mother alone; she would be prepared in the morning, but she could +not meet her mother's searching glance just now. + +She did not reply at all to the first knock, but the light from the +candle streamed out under the door, and the knock was repeated, and now +it was more insistent, and a voice said: + +"It is only me, Florence; it is only me; let me come in." + +Florence shuddered and turned very pale. She knew the voice: it was +the voice of Bertha Keys. If there was anyone in all the wide world +whom she would most dread to meet on that unhappy night it was Bertha +Keys, the girl who knew her secret. There was no help for it, however. + +With a shudder Florence arose, crossed the room, unlocked the door, and +flung it open. + +"I am so tired, Bertha," she said; "must you see me to-night?" + +"I am sorry you are tired," replied Bertha, "but I must see you +to-night." + +Bertha slowly entered the room. When Florence shut the door Bertha +turned the key in the lock. + +"What are you doing that for?" said Florence. + +"Because I do not wish to be interrupted; I want to see you alone." + +"But I wish you would not lock the door; it is quite unnecessary--no +one will come here at present." + +"I make certainty sure--that is all," said Bertha. "Don't fuss about +the lock. Now, then, Florence, I want to have a straight talk with +you; you understand?" + +"I suppose I do; but I don't think I can comprehend anything to-night." + +"Oh, yes, you can, you certainly can; you must pull yourself together. +You went through that ordeal very well, let me tell you. How do you +feel now?" + +"Miserable," said Florence. + +Bertha went up close to her, sat down by her, and, suddenly putting her +hand under Florence's chin, raised her face, and looked into her eyes. + +"Bah!" she said, "it was a pity I did it for you; you are not worth it." + +"What do you mean?" said Florence, turning pale. + +"Because you are not; I don't believe you'll go through with it even +now. Bah! such glory, such honor, such a proud moment, and to say you +are miserable! May I ask what you are miserable about?" + +"Because I have sacrificed my honor; because I am the meanest, most +horrid girl on God's earth," said Florence, with passion. "Because the +Scholarship so won turns to dust and ashes in my mouth. +Because--because of Kitty, little Kitty, who wanted really what I have +so basely taken from her. Oh, I hate myself and I hate you, Bertha. +Why did I ever meet you?" + +Florence was past tears, a dry sob rose in her throat, it half choked +her for a moment, then she stood up and wrung her hands. + +"Go away, please, Bertha; leave me now; I cannot have you." + +"You can put things right, of course, according to your idea of right," +said Bertha, in a sulky voice; "you can go to Sir John and tell him +what has happened; you can do that if you please." + +"I cannot--you know I cannot." + +"I certainly do know you cannot," said Bertha. "Well, now, my dear, we +will leave off heroics; it is all very fine for you to talk of your +conscience, but I don't think that little monitor within is of a very +active turn of mind. If he were he would have absolutely at the first +idea shunted off the evil proposal which I happened to make to you. +You would never have yielded to the temptation. Think just for a +moment: would Kitty Sharston have done this thing?" + +"Of course not; why do you ask?" + +"Think again, would Mary Bateman have done this thing?" + +"Again, why do you ask?" + +"My dear Florence, I ask in order to reassure you that, sensitive and +keen as you think your little inward monitor, it is at best but a poor +weakling. Now, the conscience of Kitty and the conscience of Mary +would have risen up in hot protest, and the temptation would not have +been a temptation to them, but it was to you because of the poor health +of your little monitor. Believe me, the monitor is in a bad way, and +if you will struggle through the remorse of the next couple of days it +will simply die." + +"And then I shall be lost," said Florence, with a frightened look in +her face. + +"Oh, you will live a very comfortable life if you take care of your +health; you have a good sixty years before you. You can do a good deal +in sixty years, and now for goodness' sake stop talking about the +matter. It is done and cannot be undone. I want to say something to +you myself." + +"But at the end of sixty years I shall die all the same," said +Florence. "Oh, Bertha, I go mad when I think of dying. Oh, Bertha! +Bertha!" + +Even Bertha felt a momentary sense of terror when she looked into +Florence's eyes. She backed away from her and stood by the table. + +"Come, come, my dear," she said, "you'll get over all this," but still +she avoided looking at Florence's eyes. + +"What do you want with me?" said Florence at last, restlessly; "I must +sleep. I wish you would go away." + +"I will when I have made my request." + +"What is that?" + +"I want you to give me twenty pounds." + +"Twenty pounds! Why, you know I have not got it." + +"Practically you have, and I want it. I want it early to-morrow +morning." + +"Now, Bertha, you must be mad." + +"Not at all; I am abundantly sane. That essay which so excited the +spectators to-night was worth twenty pounds. I mean you to buy it from +me, and those are my terms." + +"You know I cannot. I cannot imagine what you mean by coming to me in +this fashion." + +"Without twenty pounds I shall be undone," said Bertha; "I need it to +pay some debts. If the debts are not paid I shall be exposed, and if I +go under, you, my pretty Florence, go under, too--understand that, +please. Twenty pounds is cheap at the price, is it not?" + +"But I have not got it, Bertha; I would give it you, but I cannot. You +might as well ask me for my right hand." + +"I tell you the great Mrs. Aylmer will do anything for her pretty and +gifted niece. Ask her for the money to-morrow." + +"For you?" + +"By no means--for yourself." + +"Bertha, I simply cannot." + +"All right," said Bertha. "I give you until to-morrow at noon to +decide. If by that time I have twenty pounds in my hand all right, +your secret is respected and no catastrophe will happen, and your +frightful deceit will never be found out. Only one person will know +it, and that is I. But if you do not give me the twenty pounds I shall +myself go to Mrs. Clavering and tell her everything. I shall be sorry; +the consequences will be very disagreeable for me; I cannot even say if +I shall quite escape the punishment of the law, but I expect I shall. +In any case, you will be done for, my pretty Florence; your career will +be over. Think of that; think of the little Mummy, as you call her, +without the great Scholarship to back you up--think what it means." + +"I do, I do; the only one I do think of at the present moment is my +mother," said Florence. "When I think of her it gives me agony. But, +Bertha, I cannot get that twenty pounds." + +"You can; make an excuse to your Aunt Susan to obtain it. Now, my +dear, you know why I have come to you; I will not trouble you any +further. The twenty pounds at noon to-morrow, or you know the +consequences." Bertha waved her hand with a light air, kissed the slim +little figure in its Greek dress, then she opened the door and went out. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE VOICE OF GOD. + +After Bertha had left her, Florence sat in a stunned attitude. She was +just rising slowly from her chair when there came a knock a second time +at the door. This time Florence had not even a moment to say "Come +in." The door was softly opened, and the fair, sweet face of Kitty +peeped round it. + +"Ah! I thought you were not in bed," she said; "I came to see you just +for a minute to wish you good-night." + +"I wish you had not come," said Florence. She looked so pale and +frightened that Kitty glanced at her aghast. + +"I came," said Kitty Sharston, "because I thought you ought to know +that Mary and I"--she paused to swallow something in her throat. Kitty +had suffered that night and had hidden her suffering; she did not want +Florence to think that she had gone through any great time of sorrow. +She looked at Florence attentively. "Mary Bateman and I agreed that I +could come and tell you, Flo, how pleased--yes, how pleased we are that +you have got the Scholarship, for you won it so nobly, Florence--no one +could grudge it to you for a minute." + +"Do you really mean that?" said Florence, eagerly. She went up to +Kitty and seized both her hands. + +"Why, how hot your hands feel, and, oh, please do not squeeze me quite +so tightly," said Kitty, starting back a step. + +Florence snatched away her hand. "If you knew me," said Florence; "if +you knew me!" + +"I do know you," said Kitty. "Oh, Flo--Tommy, dear--let me call you by +the old name just for once--we are all so proud of you, we are really. +I thought perhaps you would be a little uncomfortable thinking of me +and of Mary, but we don't mind--we don't really. You see, we hadn't a +chance, not a chance against genius like yours. We never guessed that +you had such great genius, and it took us slightly by surprise; but of +course we are glad, awfully glad, and perhaps Sir John will offer the +Scholarship another year, and perhaps I will try then and--and succeed. +But no one else had a chance with you, Florence, and we are glad for +you, very glad." + +"But you--what will you do? I know this means a great deal to you." + +"I shall go away with Helen Dartmoor; I don't feel unhappy, not at all. +I am sure Sir John will be my friend, and perhaps I may try for the +Scholarship even though I am staying with Helen Dartmoor; I just came +to tell you. Good-night, Florence, good-night. Mary and I love you; +we'll always love you; we'll always be proud of you. Good-night, +Florence." + +Kitty ran up to her companion, kissed her hastily, and ran to the door. +She had reached it, had opened the door and gone out, when Florence +called her. Florence spoke her name faintly. + +"Kitty, Kitty, come back." + +But Kitty did not hear. She shut the door and ran down the passage, +her steps sounding fainter, until Florence could hear them no longer. +Then Florence Aylmer fell on her knees, and the tears which all this +time had lain like a dead weight against her eyeballs, were loosened, +and she sobbed as she had never sobbed before in all her life. +Exhausted by her tears, she threw herself on her bed and, dressed as +she was, sank into heavy slumber. + +It was very early in the morning when she awoke. It was not yet five +o'clock. Florence struck a light and saw by the little clock on the +mantelpiece that the hands pointed to a quarter to five. + +"There is time," she thought, eagerly. She sat up on her elbow and +reflected. Her eyes were bright, her face paler than ever. Presently +she got out of bed and fell on her knees; she pressed her face against +the side of the bed, and it is doubtful whether many words came to her, +but when she rose at last she seemed to hear an inward voice, and the +voice was saying, "Refuse the Evil and choose the Good." + +The voice kept on saying, "Refuse the Evil and choose the Good," and +Florence felt more and more frightened, and more and more intensely +anxious to do something in great haste before she had time for +reflection. + +She lit the candles and put them on the writing-table at the foot of +the bed, and then she sat by the writing-table and pulled out a sheet +of paper and began to write. She wrote rapidly, with scarcely a pause. +Whenever she stopped the voice kept saying louder and clearer, louder +and clearer, "Refuse the Evil and choose the Good." + +Florence went on writing. At last she had finished. She folded up the +sheet of paper and put it into an envelope. Then she hastily opened +the drawer which contained the silver wreath and the ruby locket and +the purse of gold and the parchment scroll. She collected them +hastily, scarcely glancing at them, wrapped up in tissue-paper, then in +brown, tied the little parcel with string, slipped the note inside the +string and laid it on the table. + +The voice which kept speaking to her was now quieter; it ceased to say, +"Refuse the Evil," but once again through the silent room she seemed to +hear the echo of the words, calm, great, all knowing, "_Choose the +Good, choose the Good_," and then she hastily, very hastily got into +her clothes, for it seemed to her that there was nothing else worth +while in all the world but the following, the obeying of this voice. +To choose the Good was greater than to choose Happiness, greater than +to choose Ambition, greater than to choose Wealth. It was the only +thing. + +So she dressed herself in her everyday clothes, and, taking the little +parcel, she softly unfastened the door, and then she slipped down +through the silent house and entered Sir John Wallis's study, and laid +the packet which contained all the symbols of her success and her +letter of confession on his desk. Having done this, she turned away, +came upstairs softly, and, going down another corridor, opened the door +of her mother's room and went in. + +Mrs. Aylmer was lying sound asleep; it was not yet six o'clock. She +was very tired and she was sleeping heavily; she was enjoying pleasant +dreams in her sleep, dreams of Florence, her dear, her darling, the +success Florence had won, the happy future which lay before her. + +Mrs. Aylmer's dreams were all one glow of great bliss, and in the midst +of them she felt a cold, small hand laid upon her own, and, opening her +eyes, she saw Florence bending over her. + +"Mummy," said Florence, "I want you to get up at once." + +"My dear, dear child, what can be the matter?" said Mrs. Aylmer the +less. She started up in bed, rubbed her sleepy eyes and stared at her +daughter. "What is it, Flo?" + +"I cannot tell you just yet, mother, but I want you, if ever, ever in +the whole course of your life you really loved me, to stand by me now. +Something fearful has happened, mother dear, and I cannot tell you at +present, but I want you to help me. I want to go back to Dawlish with +you; I want to go back by the very first train this morning with you +alone, Mummy; I will tell you on the way home what has happened, and +then--but I cannot say any more; only come, mother, come. No one else +would stand by me--but you will, won't you?" + +"You frighten me dreadfully, Florence," said Mrs. Aylmer; "I cannot +imagine what you are talking about. Have you lost your reason, my poor +darling? Has this great, great triumph turned your brain? Oh, my +child, my child!" + +"No, mother," said poor Florence, "I am quite sane; I have not lost my +reason. On the contrary, I think I have got it back again; I never +felt saner than I do now, but--but you must help me, and there is no +time to lose. I have done what I could; you must come away with me, +mother, and we must go at once. I have looked up the trains. I'll go +myself and wake up one of the servants and get a trap ordered, and we +will go. Have you got a little money--that's the main thing?" + +"I have got five pounds left out of Sir John's cheque." + +"Then that will be splendid. I only want just enough to get back to +Dawlish, to the little old house and to you. Oh, come, Mummy! oh, +come!" + +Florence's words were very brave and very insistent, and Mrs. Aylmer +roused herself. She got out of bed, feeling a dull wonder stealing +over her. Florence now took the command, and hastened her mother into +her clothes, and herself packed her mother's things. + +"Oh, my dear child, my best dress! don't let it get crushed," said the +little widow. + +Florence's trembling hands smoothed out the rich folds, she placed the +dress in the top of the trunk, and before half-past six that morning +Mrs. Aylmer was dressed and her things packed. + +Then Florence went down again through the house and awoke one of the +servants, and got her to wake a groom, who put a horse to a trap and +brought it round to a side door, and so it came to pass that before +seven o'clock that morning Mrs. Aylmer and Florence had left Cherry +Court Park forever. + +When they got into the train poor Mrs. Aylmer turned to Florence and +begged for an explanation. + +"I guess something dreadful has happened, but I can't imagine what it +is," she said. "What does this mean, Florence?" + +"It means, Mummy," said Florence, "that I have done that which no one +but a mother would forgive. Listen, and I will tell you." + +And then she told the whole story, from the very beginning, and Mrs. +Aylmer listened with a cold feeling at her heart, and at first a great +anger there; but when the story was finished, and Florence timidly took +her mother's hands and looked into her eyes and said, "Are you a true +enough mother to love me through it all?" then little Mrs. Aylmer's +heart melted, and she flung her arms round Florence's neck and +whispered through her sobs, "Oh, my child! oh, my child! I had a +dreadful feeling last night when your Aunt Susan said that you were my +daughter no longer; but this--this gives you to me forever." + +"Of course it does, Mummy; Aunt Susan will never speak to me again. +Oh, Mummy, what it is to have you! What should I do without you now?" + + * * * * * + +The rest of this story can be told in a few words. It would be +impossible to depict the astonishment, the consternation, the amazement +which Sir John felt when he read poor Florence's confession. After +thinking matters over a short time, he sent for Mrs. Clavering, and he +and that good woman had a long conference together. The upshot of it +was that the guests were allowed to depart without knowing what had +really happened, Sir John saying that he would write to them afterwards. + +Bertha Keys was sent for, severely reprimanded, and dismissed from her +post with ignominy. She never returned to Cherry Court School, leaving +Cherry Court Park for a distant part of the country that very day. +This history has nothing further to do with her. Whether she succeeded +in the future or whether she failed, whether she turned from the evil +of her ways or not, must all be matters of conjecture. + +The main fact which concerns us is the following: Kitty won the +Scholarship, after all, for the very next day Sir John visited Cherry +Court School and told the bare outline of poor Florence's sin and +confession. To Kitty was given the purse of gold, and the ruby locket, +the crown of bay-leaves and the parchment scroll. They were given to a +very sad Kitty, for the thought of Florence's sin completely +overpowered both her and Mary Bateman, and indeed every girl in the +school. + +Sir John returned to his own house a sadder and a wiser man. + +"After all, did I do right to offer this great temptation?" he said to +himself, and this thought so affected him, and occurred to him so +often, that a week later he went down to Dawlish and had an interview +with Mrs. Aylmer and Florence, and the result was that Florence was +sent to a good school and had a chance of educating herself. She was +not too proud to take this help from Sir John, for it relieved her from +all claims on her Aunt Susan in the future. + +As to Mrs. Aylmer the great, never from the day when Sir John, in a few +words, told her what her niece had done, has that worthy woman +mentioned the name, Florence Aylmer. She still gives Mrs. Aylmer her +fifty pounds a year, but, as she herself declared it, "I have washed my +hands of that wicked girl once and forever." + + + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Bunch of Cherries, by L. T. Meade + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BUNCH OF CHERRIES *** + +***** This file should be named 28564-8.txt or 28564-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/5/6/28564/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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T. Meade + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Bunch of Cherries + A Story of Cherry Court School + +Author: L. T. Meade + +Release Date: April 12, 2009 [EBook #28564] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BUNCH OF CHERRIES *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<A NAME="img-cover"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-cover.jpg" ALT="Cover art" BORDER="2" WIDTH="423" HEIGHT="680"> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +A Bunch of Cherries +</H1> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +A STORY OF CHERRY COURT SCHOOL +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BY +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Mrs. L. T. MEADE +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +AUTHOR OF +<BR> +"A Modern Tomboy," "The School Favorite," "Children's Pilgrimage,"<BR> +"Little Mother to the Others," Etc. +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +CHICAGO: +<BR> +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. +<BR> +1898 +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">CHAPTER</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">The School</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">The Girls</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">The Telegram</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">Sir John's Great Scheme</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">Florence</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">Kitty and Her Father</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">Cherry-Colored Ribbons</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">The Letter</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">The Little Mummy</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">Aunt Susan</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">"I Always Admired Frankness"</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">The Fairy Box</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">An Invitation</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">At the Park</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">The Pupil Teacher</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">Temptation</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">The Fall</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">The Guests Arrive</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">Tit for Tat</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">The Hills for Ever</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">The Sting of the Serpent</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">The Voice of God</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +A BUNCH OF CHERRIES. +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE SCHOOL. +</H4> + +<P> +The house was long and low and rambling. In parts at least it must +have been quite a hundred years old, and even the modern portion was +not built according to the ideas of the present day, for in 1870 people +were not so aesthetic as they are now, and the lines of beauty and +grace were not considered all essential to happiness. +</P> + +<P> +So even the new part of the house had square rooms destitute of +ornament, and the papers were small in pattern and without any artistic +designs, and the windows were square and straight, and the ceilings +were somewhat low. +</P> + +<P> +The house opened on to a wide lawn, and at the left of the lawn was a +paddock and at the right a shrubbery, and the shrubbery led away under +its overhanging trees into the most perfect walled-in garden that was +ever seen. The garden was two or three hundred years old. The oldest +inhabitants of the place had never known the time when Cherry Court +garden was not the talk of the country. Visitors came from all parts +round to see it. It was celebrated on account of its very high walls +built of red brick, its size, for it covered at least three acres of +ground, and its magnificent cherries. The cherry trees in the Court +garden bore the most splendid fruit which could be obtained in any part +of the county. They were in great demand, not only for the girls who +lived in the old house and played in the garden, but for the neighbors +all over the country. A big price was always paid for these cherries, +for they made such splendid jam, as well as being so full of juice and +so ripe and good to eat that their like could not be found anywhere +else. +</P> + +<P> +The cherries were of all sorts and kinds, from the celebrated White +Heart to the black cherry. There were cherries for cooking and +cherries for eating, and in the season the trees, which were laden with +ripe fruit, were a sight to behold. +</P> + +<P> +In the height of the cherry season Mrs. Clavering always gave a cherry +feast. It was the event of the entire year, and the girls looked +forward to it, making all their arrangements in connection with it, +counting the hours until it arrived, and looking upon it as the great +feature of their school year. Everything turned on whether the +cherries were good and the weather fine. There was no greater stimulus +to hard work than the merest mention of this golden day, which came as +a rule towards the end of June and just before the summer vacation. +For Cherry Court School was old-fashioned according to our modern +ideas, and one of its old-fashioned plans was to give holidays at the +end of June instead of the end of July, so that the girls had the +longest, finest days at home, and came back to work at the end of +August refreshed and strengthened, and prepared for a good long tug at +lessons of all sorts until Christmas. +</P> + +<P> +The school consisted of twenty girls, never more and never less, for +Mrs. Clavering was too great a favorite and had too wise and excellent +ideas with regard to education ever to be without pupils, and never +more, for she believed twenty to be the perfect number to whom she +could give every attention and offer every advantage. +</P> + +<P> +The school, small as it was, was divided into two sections, the Upper +and the Lower. In the Upper school were girls from eighteen to +fourteen years of age, and in the Lower some of the small scholars +numbered even as few years as six. There was a resident French +mistress in the school and also a resident German, and there was an +English governess, and, of course, Mrs. Clavering herself; but the +other teachers came from the neighboring town of Hartleway to instruct +the pupils in all those accomplishments which were in the early +seventies considered necessary for a young lady's education. I can +assure those of my readers who are well acquainted with modern schools +that no one could have been more particular than Mrs. Clavering with +regard to her girls. In such things as deportment and nice manners and +all the code which signifies politeness, and in the almost lost art of +brilliant conversation, she could instruct as very few other people +could in her day, and then what accomplishments she did teach were +thorough. The girls were taught French properly, they understood the +grammar of the language, and could also speak it nicely; and their +German was also very fair, if not quite as thorough as their French. +And their music had some backbone in it, for a little of the science +was taught as well as the practice, and their singing was very sweet +and true. They could also recite, those of them who had any gift for +it, quite beautifully, and if they had a turn for acting that also was +brought to the fore and made the most of. As to their knowledge of the +English language, it bade fair to eclipse many of the High School girls +of the present day, for they did understand in the first place its +literature, and in the next its grammar, and were well acquainted with +the works of Shakespeare and those other lions of literature whose +names we are so proud of and whose works we love. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE GIRLS. +</H4> + +<P> +It was a lovely day in the beginning of June, and, being Wednesday, was +a half-holiday. The girls of the Upper school, numbering seven in all, +were assembled in the cherry garden. The cherry garden stood a little +apart, to the left of the great general garden, and was entered by a +low walled-in door. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Clavering was so proud of her cherries and so afraid that the +neighbors might be tempted to help themselves to the luscious fruit, +that she kept the door locked between the cherry garden and the other, +and only those girls who were very privileged were allowed to sit in +it. But the girls in the Upper school were, of course, privileged, and +they were now enjoying a fine time seated on the grass, or on little +camp-stools and chairs, under the trees, which were already laden with +the tempting fruit. +</P> + +<P> +They were all eagerly discussing the great event of the year, the +Cherry Feast, which was to take place in three weeks from the present +day. Their names were Mabel and Alice Cunningham, two handsome +dark-eyed girls, aged respectively seventeen and fifteen; Florence +Aylmer, who was also fifteen and the romp of the school; Mary Bateman, +a stolid-looking girl of fourteen; Bertha Kennedy, who had only lately +been raised to the rank of the Upper school; Edith King, a handsome, +graceful girl, who competed with Mabel for the honors of the head of +her class; and Kitty Sharston, who had only lately come, and who had +some Irish blood in her, and was very daring and very much inclined to +break the rules. She was a hobbledehoy sort of girl, having +outstripped her years, which were only thirteen, and was considered by +some of her companions very plain and by others very fascinating. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Clavering did not quite know what to make of Kitty, but hoped to +break her in by and by, and meanwhile she was very gentle, and Kitty +loved her, although she never could be got to see that so many +restrictions and so many little petty rules were not good, but +extremely bad, for her character. +</P> + +<P> +On this particular lovely summer's afternoon Kitty was the last to make +her appearance. She came skimming gracefully through the orchard under +the cherry trees, with her hair down her back, her skirt awry, and a +great stain on the front of her pinafore. In the seventies girls as +old as Kitty wore long white pinafores. The stain was caused by some +cherry juice, for Kitty had stopped many times as she approached the +others to take great handfuls of the ripe fruit, and thrust them into +her mouth. Mabel called to her to sit down. +</P> + +<P> +"We are all busy discussing the great event," she said, "and I have +kept a seat for you near me, Kitty; wasn't it good of me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Awfully good," answered Kitty. She flung herself on the ground by her +friend's side and looked up at her with affectionate eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"I like you all," she said, glancing round at them, "and yet all the +same I hate school. The great thing that I look forward to in the +treat is that immediately afterwards the holidays follow. I shall go +down to join my father in Cornwall. He said he would take me to +Ireland, but I doubt if he will. Now, Tommy, what are you frowning at?" +</P> + +<P> +This remark was made to Florence Aylmer. Kitty from the first had +insisted upon calling her Tommy. She was the first girl in Cherry +Court School who had dared to adopt a nickname for any of her +companions, and Florence, who had begun by being indignant, could not +help laughing now as the saucy creature fixed her with her bright eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you frowning at, Tommy? Aren't you glad, too, that the +holidays are so near?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I am not—I hate the holidays," replied Florence Aylmer. As she +spoke Mabel took one of Kitty's hands, gave it a slight squeeze, it was +a sort of warning pressure. Kitty looked up at her with a startled +glance, then she glanced again at Florence, who was looking down. +Suddenly Florence raised her face and returned the girl's gaze fully. +</P> + +<P> +"I have no home like the rest of you," she said; "my mother is very +poor and cannot afford to have me at home." +</P> + +<P> +"Then where are you going to spend the holidays?" said Kitty; "do say, +dear old Tommy, where—where?" +</P> + +<P> +"Here probably, or wherever Mrs. Clavering likes to take me," replied +Florence; "but there, don't talk of it any more—I hate to think of it. +We have three weeks still to be happy in, and we'll make the best of +that." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know, Mabel," asked Mary Bateman, now bending forward, "if Mrs. +Clavering has yet decided what the programme is to be for the 25th?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think she will tell us to-night," replied Mabel; "she said something +about it this morning, didn't she, Alice?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I heard her talking to Mademoiselle Le Brun. I expect we shall +hear at tea-time. If so we will meet in the oak parlor, and Mrs. +Clavering will have her annual talk. She is always very nice on those +occasions." +</P> + +<P> +"She is nice on every occasion—she is an old dear," said Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Kitty, you don't know her very well yet." +</P> + +<P> +"She is an old dear," reported Kitty; "I love her with all my heart, +but I should like beyond words to give her a right good shock. I +cannot tell you girls, how I positively tremble to do it. At prayers, +for instance, or still more at meals, when we are all so painfully +demure, I want to jump up and utter a shout, or do something of that +sort. I have suppressed myself hitherto, but I really do not know if I +can go on suppressing myself much longer. Oh, what is the matter, +Edith—what are you frowning at?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing," replied Edith King; "I did not even know that I was +frowning. I was just thinking how nice it was to be trained to be +ladylike and to have good manners and all that. Mrs. Clavering is such +a perfect lady herself that we shall know all the rules of polite +society when we leave the school." +</P> + +<P> +"And I hate those rules," said Kitty; "but there, somebody is coming to +meet us. Oh, it is little Dolly Fairfax; she is sure to be bringing a +message." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE TELEGRAM. +</H4> + +<P> +Dolly came up in her brisk way. She was holding something concealed in +her little pinafore. She looked very mysterious. She had a round +cherub face and two great big blue eyes, and short hair, which she wore +in a curly mop all over her head. Dolly was the youngest girl in the +school and a great pet with everyone. When Bertha saw her now she +sprang to her feet and went forward in her somewhat clumsy way. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, little Dolly," she said; "what's the mystery?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's not for you, Bertha," said Dolly, "and don't you interrupt. It's +for—it's for Kitty Sharston." +</P> + +<P> +"For me?" cried Kitty. "Oh, what a love you are, Dolly; come and sit +on my lap. Is it a box of bon-bons or is it a letter?" +</P> + +<P> +"Guess again," said Dolly, clapping her hand to her little mouth, and +looking intensely mysterious. Her blue eyes rolled roguishly round +until they fixed themselves on Edith King's face, then she looked again +at Kitty as solemn as possible. +</P> + +<P> +"You guess again," she said; "I'll give you five guesses. Now, then, +begin right away." +</P> + +<P> +"It's the book that Annie Wallace said she would lend me—that's it, +now, isn't it, Dolly? See, I'll feel in your pinafore." +</P> + +<P> +"No, it's not—wrong again," said Dolly; "that's three guesses—two +more." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty made another guess—wrong again. Finally Dolly was induced to +unfold her pinafore, and inside lay an unopened telegram. +</P> + +<P> +Now, in those days telegrams were not quite as common as they are now. +In the first place, they cost a shilling instead of sixpence, which +made a vast difference in their number. Kitty's face turned slightly +pale, she gripped the telegram, shook little Dolly off her lap, stood +up, and, turning her back to the girls, proceeded to open it. Her +slim, long fingers shook a little as she did so. She soon had the +envelope torn asunder and had taken out the pink sheet within. She +unfolded it and read the words. As she did so her face turned very +white. "Is the messenger waiting for an answer?" she said, turning to +Dolly. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Dolly; "he is waiting up at the Court." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I must run away at once and answer this," said Kitty. "Oh, I +wonder if I have got money enough!" +</P> + +<P> +"I'll lend you a shilling if you like," said Edith King. +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks, awfully," replied Kitty. "I'll pay you back when I get my +pocket-money on Saturday." +</P> + +<P> +There was a queer, troubled, dazed sort of look in her eyes. Edith +handed her the shilling and she disappeared under the cherry trees. +</P> + +<P> +Dolly proceeded to skim after her. +</P> + +<P> +"No, do stay, Dolly," cried Florence Aylmer; "stay and sit on my lap +and I'll tell you a story." +</P> + +<P> +Dolly looked undecided for a moment, but presently she elected to go +with Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +"There is something bothering her," she said; "I wonder what it can be. +I'll run and see; I'll bring word afterwards." +</P> + +<P> +She disappeared with little shouts under the trees. Nothing could ever +make Dolly sad long. The other girls turned and looked at one another. +</P> + +<P> +"What in the world can it be?" said Florence. "Poor Kitty! how very +white she turned as she read it." +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile Kitty had reached the house; the messenger was waiting in the +hall. Mrs. Clavering came out just as the girl appeared. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, my dear Kitty," she said, "I hope it is not very bad news?" +</P> + +<P> +"I will tell you presently; I must answer it now," said Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +"You can go into the study, dear, and write your telegram there." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty went in; she spent a little time, about ten minutes or so, +filling in the form; then she folded it up, gave it to the boy with a +shilling, and went and stood in the hall. +</P> + +<P> +"What is the matter, Kitty?" said her governess, coming out and looking +her in the face. +</P> + +<P> +"My telegram was from father. He—he is going to India," said Kitty, +"that is all. I won't be with him in the holidays—that's all." +</P> + +<P> +She tried to keep the tremble out of her voice; her eyes, brave, +bright, and fearless, were fixed on Mrs. Clavering's face. +</P> + +<P> +"Come in here and let us talk, dear," said Mrs. Clavering. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't," said Kitty; "it is too bad." +</P> + +<P> +"What is too bad, dear?" +</P> + +<P> +"The pain here." She pressed her hand against her heart. +</P> + +<P> +"Poor child! you love him very much." +</P> + +<P> +"Very much," answered Kitty, "and the pain is too bad, and—and I can't +talk now. I'll just go back to the other girls in the cherry orchard." +</P> + +<P> +"But, Kitty, can you bear to be with them just now?" +</P> + +<P> +"I can't be alone," said Kitty, with a little piteous smile. She ran +out again into the summer sunshine. Mrs. Clavering stood and watched +her. +</P> + +<P> +"Poor little girl," she said to herself, "and she does not know the +worst, nor half the worst, for I had a long letter from Major Sharston +this morning, and he told me that not only was he obliged to go to +India, but that he had lost so large a sum of money that he could not +afford to keep Kitty here after this term. She is to go to Scotland to +live with an old cousin; she must give up all chance of being properly +educated. Poor little Kitty! I wonder if he mentioned that in the +telegram, and she is so proud, too, and has so much character; it is a +sad, sad pity." +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile Kitty once more returned through the orchard. She began to +sing a gay song to herself. She had a very sweet voice, and was +carolling wild notes now high up in the air—"Begone, dull care; you +and I shall never agree." +</P> + +<P> +The girls sitting under the finest of the cherry trees heard her as she +sang. +</P> + +<P> +"There can't be much wrong with her," said Mary Bateman, with a sigh of +relief. "Hullo, Kitty, no bad news, I hope?" +</P> + +<P> +"There is bad news, but I can't talk of it now," said Kitty. "Come, +what shall we do? We need not stay under the trees any longer surely, +need we? Let's have a right good game—blind man's buff, or shall we +play hare and hounds." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it's much too hot for hare and hounds," said Edith King. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, let's do something," said Kitty; "we all ought to be very happy +on a half-holiday, and I don't mean to be miserable. Now, then, start +something. I'll go and hide. Now, who will begin?" +</P> + +<P> +Kitty laughed merrily; she glanced from one to the other of the girls, +saw that their eyes were shining with a queer mixture of curiosity and +sympathy, and felt that she would do anything in the world rather than +gratify them. +</P> + +<P> +"After all," she said to herself, as she ran wildly across the cheery +orchard, "poor old Tommy and I will have our holidays together, for at +the very best, even if father has not lost that money, I will have to +stay here during the holidays. Oh, father! oh, father! how am I to +live without you? Oh, father, dear, this is too cruel! I know, I am +certain you have lost the money, or you would not be going to India +away from your own, own Kitty." +</P> + +<P> +She crushed down a sob, reached a little summer-house, into which she +turned, pulled down some tarpaulin to cover her, and, crouching in the +corner, lay still, her heart beating wildly. +</P> + +<P> +"Begone, dull care," she whispered stoutly under her breath; and then +she added, with a sob in her voice, "whatever happens, I won't give in." +</P> + +<P> +That evening was a time of great excitement in the school, for the +programme for the Cherry Feast was to be publicly announced, and the +girls felt that there was further news in the air. +</P> + +<P> +Immediately after early tea, between five and six o'clock, Mrs. +Clavering called Kitty into the oak parlor. +</P> + +<P> +"My dear," she said, "I want to have a talk with you." +</P> + +<P> +Some of the wild light had gone out of Kitty's eyes by this time, and +the flush had left her cheeks, leaving them somewhat pale. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Mrs. Clavering," she said; "what is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I want you, my dear little girl, not to keep all your troubles to +yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"But what am I to do?" said Kitty, standing first on one leg and then +on the other. +</P> + +<P> +"Hold yourself upright in the first place, dear. After all, the laws +of deportment ought to be attended to, whatever one's trouble." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty gave an impatient sigh. +</P> + +<P> +"There you are," she exclaimed, "that's what makes you so very queer; +that's what makes it almost impossible for me to bear the restraint of +school. When—when your heart is almost breaking, what does it matter +how you stand?" +</P> + +<P> +"My dear child, you will find in the events of life that it greatly +matters to learn self-control." +</P> + +<P> +"I have self-control," said Kitty, with a quiver in her lips. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, dear, I hope you will prove it, for I fear, I greatly fear, that +you are about to have a bad time." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I am having a bad time," said Kitty; "don't you suppose that I am +not suffering. I am suffering horribly, but I won't let anybody +know—that is, if I can help it. I am not going to damp the pleasure +of the others; you know that father is going, and I am his only child. +He is coming just once to say good-bye to me; yes, he promises me that +even in the telegram. He will come in about a fortnight from now, just +a week before the Cherry Feast. Oh, I am miserable, I am miserable!" +</P> + +<P> +All of a sudden the poor child's composure gave way, she covered her +face with her trembling hands, and burst into a great flood of weeping. +</P> + +<P> +A look of relief crossed Mrs. Clavering's face. +</P> + +<P> +"Now she will be better," she said to herself; "she will understand +what I have to say to her better. Shall I say it to her now or shall I +wait until the morning? It is very hard; perhaps she had better know +all at once." +</P> + +<P> +So Mrs. Clavering led the weeping girl to the nearest sofa, and +presently she stole her arm round her waist, and coaxed her to lay her +head on her shoulder, and by and by she kissed the tired, flushed +little face. +</P> + +<P> +Kitty, who had the most loving heart in the world, returned her +embrace, and nestled close to her, and felt in spite of herself a +little better than she had done before. +</P> + +<P> +"I know it is very bad, dear," said Mrs. Clavering, "but we can talk +about it now if you like." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know that there is anything to say," said Kitty; "he would not +have gone but for——" +</P> + +<P> +"But for what, my child!" +</P> + +<P> +"But for that dreadful money. He was very anxious when he sent me +here. Oh, perhaps, I ought not to say anything about it." +</P> + +<P> +"I think you may, Kitty, for I know, dear. I had a long letter from +your father this morning. He told me then news which I considered very +sad. You know, my love, that this is an expensive school. All the +girls who come here pay well; most of the girls who are here have rich +fathers and mothers." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I know that," interrupted Kitty; "and how I hate rich fathers and +mothers! Why should only rich people have nice things?" +</P> + +<P> +"Then you do like this school, don't you, my love?" +</P> + +<P> +"As much as I could like any place away from father; but what did he +say this morning, Mrs. Clavering?" Kitty started restlessly and faced +her governess as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"He said, dear, that he must go to India because he had lost a very +large sum of money. He said he would send you a telegram as soon as he +had made arrangements, as there was no good troubling you before. He +thought it best you should know by telegram, as the sight of the +telegram itself would slightly prepare you for the bad news. But, my +dear little Kitty, in some ways there is worse to follow, for your +father cannot afford to pay my fees, and you must leave Cherry Court +School at the end of this term." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty sat silent. This last news, very bad in itself, scarcely +affected her at first. It seemed a mere nothing compared to the +parting from her beloved father. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," she said at last, in a listless voice, "I must leave here." +</P> + +<P> +"I will keep you with me, darling, until the end of the vacation." +Kitty gave a perceptible shudder. "I am going to the seaside with +Florence Aylmer, and you shall come with us. I will try and give you +as good a time, dear little Kitty, as ever I can, but it would not be +fair to the other girls to keep you here for nothing." +</P> + +<P> +"No, of course it would not be fair," said Kitty. "And where am I to +go," she added, after a very long pause, "when the vacation is over, +when the girls come back here again at the end of August?" +</P> + +<P> +"Then, my dear child, I greatly fear you will have to go and stay with +your father's cousin, Miss Dartmoor, in Argyleshire." +</P> + +<P> +"Helen Dartmoor!" said Kitty, suddenly springing to her feet, "father's +cousin, Helen Dartmoor! She came to stay with us for a month after +mother died, and if there is a person in the whole world whom I loathed +it was her. No, I won't go to her; I'll write and tell father I +can't—I won't; it shan't be. Nothing would induce me to live with +her. Oh, Mrs. Clavering, you don't know what she is, and she—why, she +doesn't speak decent English, and she knows scarcely anything. How am +I to be educated, Mrs. Clavering? I could not do it." +</P> + +<P> +"There is a school not far from Miss Dartmoor's; of course, not a +school like this, but a school where you can be taught some things, my +poor child." +</P> + +<P> +"I won't go to Helen Dartmoor—I won't!" said Kitty, in a passionate +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"I fear there is no help for it, my love; but when you see your father +he will tell you all about it. I wish with all my heart, I could keep +you here, but I greatly fear there is no help for it." +</P> + +<P> +"And is that all you have to say?" said Kitty, rising slowly as she +spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, dear, all for the present." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I am a very miserable girl. I'll go away to my room for a +little. I may, may I not?" +</P> + +<P> +"On this occasion you may, although you know it is the rule that none +of the girls go to their dormitories during the daytime." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty left the room, walking very slowly. She had scarcely done so +before a loud ring, followed by a rat-tat on the knocker of the front +door, was heard through the house. +</P> + +<P> +A moment later the door of Mrs. Clavering's oak parlor was flung open, +and Sir John Wallis entered the room. +</P> + +<P> +Sir John Wallis was the great man in the neighborhood. +</P> + +<P> +He was the owner of Cherry Court School, renting the house and +beautiful grounds to Mrs. Clavering year by year. He was an unmarried +man, and took a great interest in the school. He was a very +benevolent, kindly person, and Mrs. Clavering and he were the closest +friends. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, my dear madam," he said, bowing now in his somewhat old-fashioned +way, and then extending his hand to the good lady, "I am so glad to see +you at home. How are you and how are the girls?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, very well, Sir John." +</P> + +<P> +"But you look a little bit worried; what is wrong?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, the fact is, one of my girls, Kitty Sharston——" +</P> + +<P> +"That pretty, queer-looking half-wild girl whom I saw in church on +Sunday?" +</P> + +<P> +"The same; she is the daughter of Major Sharston, a very estimable man." +</P> + +<P> +"Sharston, Sharston, I should think he is. Why, he is an old brother +officer of mine; we served together in the time of the Crimea. +Anything wrong with Sharston! What's up, my dear madam, what is up!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's just this," said Mrs. Clavering. "Major Sharston has lost +a lot of money, and is obliged to take an appointment in India, and he +cannot afford to leave poor Kitty at the school longer than till the +end of term. I intend to have her as my guest during the holidays, but +afterwards she must go to an old cousin in Scotland, and the poor child +has little chance of ever being very well educated. She is very much +shaken by the blow." +</P> + +<P> +"But this is fearful," said Sir John, "fearful! What can we do?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing, I am afraid," said Mrs. Clavering. "Nothing would offend +Major Sharston more than for his daughter to accept charity in any +form. He is a very proud man, and Kitty, when all is said and done, +although very wild and needing a lot of training, has got a spirit of +her own. She will be a fine girl by and by." +</P> + +<P> +"And a beautiful one to boot," interrupted Sir John. "Well, this is +terrible; what can we do?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing," repeated Mrs. Clavering again. +</P> + +<P> +Sir John looked very thoughtful. +</P> + +<P> +"Is it to-night," he said, "you announce your programme for the Cherry +Feast?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered the good lady. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I have a crow to pluck with you; you never sent me notice to +attend." +</P> + +<P> +"I did not, for I thought you would be away, but will you come in this +evening, Sir John, we shall all be delighted to see you?" +</P> + +<P> +Sir John considered for a moment. +</P> + +<P> +"I will," he said, "and you know I always offer a prize of my own, +which is to be given at the Cherry Feast. Now, why should not we on +this occasion offer a prize which Kitty Sharston runs a chance of +winning, and which would save her from leaving Cherry Court School?" +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Clavering shook her head. +</P> + +<P> +Sir John bent forward and began to speak eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, come," he said, "I think I can manage it. Could it not be done +in this way?" He spoke in a low tone, and Mrs. Clavering bent her head +to listen. +</P> + +<P> +"But, even if you did offer such a prize," she said, "which in itself +would be very valuable, what chance has Kitty of winning it? She is +not particularly forward in any of her studies, and then the girls who +did not want it would get it." +</P> + +<P> +"I am persuaded that Kitty has plenty of ability," said Sir John. +</P> + +<P> +"I quite agree with you, and to work for such a prize would be an +immense stimulus; but then, you know, the feast comes on so soon, and +there are only three weeks in which to prepare." +</P> + +<P> +"We can manage it by means of a sort of preliminary canter," said the +baronet, in a musing tone; "I am sure we can work the thing up. Now, +let us put our heads together and get some idea into shape before +to-night. That child must be saved; her father's feelings must be +respected. She must stay here and be under your wing, and I will go +and have a chat with Sharston and see if I cannot make life endurable +to the poor little girl, even though he is away in India." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it is very nice your being a friend of Major Sharston's. If you +will stay here for about half an hour while I am attending to something +else, I will come back and we will see what scheme we can draw up." +</P> + +<P> +"Good," said Sir John, "and don't hurry back, for I am going to put on +my considering-cap. This thing must be managed by hook or by crook." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +SIR JOHN'S GREAT SCHEME. +</H4> + +<P> +It was in this way that the great prize which caused such excitement in +Cherry Court School was started. +</P> + +<P> +It was called the Scholarship prize, and was a new and daring idea of +the early seventies. Girls were not accustomed to big prizes in those +days, and scholarships were only in vogue in the few public schools +which were then in existence. +</P> + +<P> +Sir John and Mrs. Clavering between them drew up a scheme which put +every other idea into the shade, for there was a great honor to be +conferred as well as a very big money prize, and the girls were +stimulated to try their very best. It was arranged that the prize was +to be competed for between this day in early June and the day when the +Cherry Feast was held by the entire Upper school, but that after that +date the competitors were only to number three. The three girls who +came out in the first list at the time of the Cherry Feast were to +compete for the great prize itself in the following October, and Mrs. +Clavering had made private arrangements with Sir John to keep Kitty at +the school, in case she came out one of the first three, until October, +when the prize itself was to be won. +</P> + +<P> +There were three tests which were to qualify for the prize. First and +above all, good conduct; an unselfish, brave, noble character would +rank very high indeed. Second would come neat appearance and admirable +deportment, which would include graceful conversation, polite manners +and all those things which are more or less neglected in modern +education; and last of all would come the grand educational test. +</P> + +<P> +Thus every idea of the school would be turned more or less topsy-turvy, +for Sir John's scheme was so peculiar and his prize so munificent that +it was worth giving up everything else to try for. +</P> + +<P> +The prize itself was to consist of a free education at Cherry Court +School for the space of three years; accompanying it was a certificate +in parchment, which in itself was to be considered a very high honor; +and thirdly, a locket set with a beautiful ruby to represent a cherry, +which was the badge of the school. +</P> + +<P> +When the great day arrived it was decided that the happy winner of this +great prize would receive the fees for a year's schooling in a purse +presented to her by Sir John himself, also the scroll of merit and the +beautiful ruby locket. +</P> + +<P> +The news of Sir John's bounty and the marvelous prize which was to be +offered to the fortunate girls was the talk of the entire school. Even +Kitty, who little guessed how deeply she was concerned in the matter, +could scarcely think of anything else. It diverted her mind from her +coming sorrow. On the day that the prize was formally announced she +sat down to write to her father to inform him on the subject. +</P> + +<P> +"It is too wonderful," she wrote; "I was the most miserable girl in all +the world when I got your telegram. I scarcely knew what I was doing, +and then Mrs. Clavering took me into her oak parlor and told me still +further bad news. That I—oh, father dear, oh, father—that I was to +go and live with Helen Dartmoor. How could you think of it, father? +But there, she said it had to be, and I felt nearly wild. You don't +know what I was suffering, although I tried so very hard to be brave. +I am suffering still, but not quite so badly, for what do you think +happened in the evening. +</P> + +<P> +"You know, or perhaps you don't know, that at the end of summer there +is always such a glorious day—it is called Cherry Feast Day, and is +given in honor of the school, which is called Cherry Court School. The +whole day is given up to festivities of every sort and description, and +all the neighborhood are invited to a great big Cherry Feast in the +evening. +</P> + +<P> +"The feast is held in the walled-in garden, which is lit with colored +lanterns. In the very centre of the garden is a grass sward, the +greenest grass you ever saw, father, and, oh, so smooth—as smooth as +velvet, and on this grass, lit with fairy lamps, the girls dance all +kinds of stately, wonderful, old-fashioned dances, and the neighbors +sit round and watch, and then at the end we all go into the house, into +the great oak hall in the middle, and Mrs. Clavering gives the prizes +to the lucky girls. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, feasts of cherries are the order of the hour, and we wear +cherry ornaments if possible. You cannot imagine how full of cherries +we are in the school, even to cherry-colored ribbons, you know. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yesterday, when your dreadful telegram came, was the day when we +were to draw up a programme for the Cherry Feast, and when all we girls +came into the oak parlor in the evening—I mean all the girls of the +Upper school, for the little ones, although they enjoy the feast +splendidly at the time, are never allowed to know much of the +preparations—well, when we were all in the oak parlor who should come +in but Mrs. Clavering and such a tall, stately, splendid-looking man. +His name is Sir John Wallis, and it seems, father dear, that he knows +all about you, for he called me up afterwards and spoke to me, and he +put his arm round my waist, and when he said good-bye he even kissed +me, and he said that you and he were some of the heroes before +Sebastopol. Oh, father, he did speak so splendidly of you, and he +looked so splendid himself, I quite loved him, I did really. But +there, how I am digressing, father! +</P> + +<P> +"Mrs. Clavering gave out the programme for the day—the usual sort, you +know, the dancing on the lawn in the evening, and the crowds of +spectators, and the assembling in the big hall for the prizes to be +given out to all the lucky girls who had won them. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, I won't get any this year. I have not been at school long +enough, although I am trying and working very hard. Well, Mrs. +Clavering read out the usual programme and we all stood by and +listened, and I could not help glancing at Sir John, although I had not +spoken to him then, and did not know, not a bit of it, that he knew +you, darling, precious father. +</P> + +<P> +"But all of a sudden Sir John himself came forward and he took Mrs. +Clavering's place on the little rostrum, as they call it, and he spoke +in such a loud, penetrating, and yet beautiful voice, and he said that +he, with Mrs. Clavering's permission, had a scheme to propose. +</P> + +<P> +"He began by saying how he loved the school, how he had always loved +it, how his own mother had been educated at Cherry Court School, and +how he thought there was no school like it in the world, and then he +said that he was anxious, now that he had returned home to live and was +growing an old man himself, to do something for the school, and he +proposed there and then to offer it a Scholarship. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know what a scholarship is, father? I thought only men won +scholarships. Well, anyhow, he did offer a Scholarship, such a +magnificent one. It was to be held by the girl who was best in +conduct, best in deportment, and best in her educational work, in the +following October, and she was to hold it for three years, and what do +you think the scholarship was? +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, was there anything so splendid! A lovely, lovely gold locket with +a ruby cherry on the right side and a wonderful inscription on the left +side, and a parchment scroll, father, in which the full particulars of +the great Scholarship were written down, and besides that, a purse of +money. Oh, father, a girl would not mind taking money in that way, +would she?—and what was the money for?—it was to pay all her fees for +a year. +</P> + +<P> +"Every expense connected with the school was to be met by this +wonderful purse of money; she was to be educated and called the Cherry +Court Scholarship girl, and it was to be a wonderfully proud +distinction, I can tell you, and at the end of the year Sir John Wallis +was to give another purse of money, and at the end of that year another +purse of money, so that the lucky girl who won the Scholarship was to +be educated free of expense for three whole years. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, father, father! I mean to try for it—I mean to try with all my +might and main. I don't suppose I'll succeed, but I shall have such a +fit of trying—you never knew anything like it in your life. But do +you know, perhaps, that what Kitty tries for with all her might and +soul she generally wins. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, dear father, this has made me quite happy and has taken off the +worst of my great pain. I feel now that there is hope, for at the end +of three years I shall be a well-educated girl—that is, if I win the +Scholarship, and then perhaps you will allow me to come out to you to +India. I am not without hope, now, but I should be utterly and +completely devoid of it if I had to go and live with Helen Dartmoor. +</P> + +<P> +"Your loving and excited daughter, KITTY." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +FLORENCE. +</H4> + +<P> +It began to be whispered in the school—at first, it is true, in very +low tones and scarcely any words, but just a nod and a single +glance—that Mrs. Clavering was very anxious that Kitty should win the +Scholarship. +</P> + +<P> +There was really no reason for this rumor to get afloat, but beyond +doubt the rumor was afloat, was in the air, and was talked of by the +girls—at first, as I have said, scarcely at all, but by and by more +and more plainly as the hours flew on towards the Cherry Feast. +</P> + +<P> +Kitty herself knew nothing of these whispers. She was very busy +planning and reconstructing all her previous ideas with regard to +education. Her first object was to come out one of the happy three who +were to compete for the Scholarship in the coming October. If she +succeeded in this she felt sure that all would be well. She began now +eagerly to examine her companion's faces. Sometimes they turned away +from her bright, almost too bright, eyes, but then again they would +look at her with a certain compassion. +</P> + +<P> +It would be very nice, they all thought, to win the Scholarship—there +was no girl at Cherry Court School who would not feel proud to get so +great a prize—but they also knew that what would be merely nice for +them was life or death for poor Kitty Sharston, and yet nothing had +been told them; they only surmised that there was a wish in Mrs. +Clavering's breast that Kitty should be the lucky girl. +</P> + +<P> +On a certain afternoon about a week before the Cherry Feast, Mabel and +Alice Cunningham, with Florence Aylmer and Edith King, were once more +assembled under one of the cherry trees in the cherry orchard. +</P> + +<P> +"I am sure of it," said Alice. "Of course, it is nothing that I have +heard, but it is a sort of look in Mrs. Clavering's face, and she is so +eager to give Kitty all sorts of help. She has her by herself now +every evening to coach her for an hour." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, for my part, I don't call it a bit fair," said Florence Aylmer. +</P> + +<P> +"Florry! Oh, surely you are not jealous, and of poor little Kitty?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am not exactly jealous—oh, no, I am not jealous," said Florence, +"but it rather takes the heart out of one. If after all one's trouble +and toil and exertion one gets the thing and then Mrs. Clavering is +discontented and Kitty Sharston's heart is broken, I don't see the use +of having a big fight—do you, Mabel? do you, Edith?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know," said Edith; "I only feel puzzled; perhaps it is a +mere suspicion and there is no truth in it." +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot imagine, if it is really Sir John's wish that Kitty should be +the successful competitor, why he does not give her the money straight +away and end the thing," said Florence again. +</P> + +<P> +"But, you see, he could not do that," said Mabel, "for Kitty is very +proud and——" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't like it," said Florence, "and I tell you what it is—now +that the whisper has got into the air, I mean to know. I shall go +straight to Mrs. Clavering and ask her. If it is true I for one will +not enter the lists at all." +</P> + +<P> +"But would you dare to ask her?" exclaimed Mabel, in a voice almost of +awe. "You know, Mrs. Clavering, although she is the kindest woman in +the world, never allows any liberties to be taken with her. I don't +think you can dare to ask her, Florry—I really don't." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I shall, all the same," replied Florence. "If this thing is fair +and above board, and equal chances are given to us all, why, I shall go +in for it and be delighted to have a chance, but if it is not, Kitty +shall have it without much exertion, as far as I am concerned." +</P> + +<P> +She got up restlessly as she spoke, and moved towards the house. +</P> + +<P> +The day was a very hot one, and all the doors and windows stood wide +open. Sir John Wallis was standing inside the porch talking to Mrs. +Clavering. +</P> + +<P> +Florence came slowly forward. Sir John held out his hand to her. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Miss Aylmer," he said, in his pleasant voice, "and how do the +studies get on, and are you all agog to be one of the lucky three?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am not at all sure about that," said Florence; "I was coming to you, +Mrs. Clavering, to speak about it." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, what can be wrong?" said the baronet; "I thought that you were +one of the most promising pupils and had a very good chance." +</P> + +<P> +"But what," said Florence, her face suddenly blazing into color, and +her eyes fixing themselves first on Sir John's face and then on that of +Mrs. Clavering, "what if you don't want me to win the prize!" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't want you—what nonsense!" said Mrs. Clavering, but she colored +faintly as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +Sir John gave Florence a very keen glance. +</P> + +<P> +"I may as well speak out now that I am about it," continued the girl. +"There is a rumor in the school—I cannot tell you who started it, but +there is a rumor—that you, Sir John, want Kitty to get the prize." +</P> + +<P> +"It is perfectly true that I should like her to get it," said Sir John, +instantly, "but the prize shall be bestowed upon the girl who comes out +best in deportment, best in conduct, and best in learning, whether she +is Kitty Sharston or another. Now, that is all, Florence Aylmer. I +have spoken. Don't, I beg of you, say a word of what you have just +said to me to Kitty herself. You have all equal chances. If Kitty +fails she fails. I shall be disappointed, but I shall honor the girl +who wins the great prize all the same." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," replied Florence. She entered the hall; a moment later +Mrs. Clavering followed her. +</P> + +<P> +"My dear," she said, "what is wrong with you? I would not know you +with that expression on your face." +</P> + +<P> +"Things seem very hard," said Florence. "At first, when the prize was +mentioned, it seemed quite too delicious, for you know, dear Mrs. +Clavering, that I am poor, too, and if I were to win the prize it would +be only too delightful; but if you do not wish me to take it"—tears +filled her eyes; one of them rolled down her cheeks. +</P> + +<P> +"I do heartily wish you to have it if you really win it, Florence. The +competition is an open one, rest assured of that; and now, my dear, +cease to think unkind thoughts of Kitty, and, above all things, don't +breathe a word of what you have just said to me to her." +</P> + +<P> +"That I promise," said Florence, but she went upstairs feeling +discontented and depressed. +</P> + +<P> +She sat down to write a letter to her mother. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear mother," she wrote, "we are trying for an extraordinary prize +here, quite a valuable Scholarship, such as are given to men at the +Universities, and I am going to have a big try for it, but I should +like to talk things over with you. I wonder if Aunt Susan would rise +to the occasion, and let me have a third-class return ticket to +Dawlish, and if you, Mummy, could secure a tiny room for me next +yourself. I want to spend a week with you during the coming holidays. +I have a good deal to say and am rather anxious and miserable. Try and +arrange it with Aunt Susan. It won't cost very much really, and I +promise to return at the end of a week. +</P> + +<P> +"Your loving daughter, +"FLORENCE."<BR> +</P> + +<P> +"P. S.—I shall eat very little and be satisfied with the plainest +food. You might mention that to Aunt Susan when you are writing." +</P> + +<P> +"P. S. 2.—There is a new girl at the school; she came just at the +beginning of term, but I never mentioned her name to you before. She +is called Kitty Sharston, and I think she has a very great chance of +winning the Scholarship. She is rather an awkward kind of girl, but +will be handsome by and by. She is a great friend of Sir John Wallis, +the man who is the patron of the school, and who is giving the +Scholarship. I mean to have a good try for the Scholarship, Mummy, +dear. Be sure you say so to Aunt Susan when you ask her for my +third-class fare to Dawlish. Good-bye again, Mummy dear. +FLORENCE." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Having written this letter Florence uttered a sigh of relief, put it +into its envelope, addressed it, stamped it, and ran downstairs to put +it in the school letter-box. Just as she was in the act of doing so +the chaise drew up at the front door, a tall soldierly man got out, he +came into the porch, and just as he was about to ring the bell, his +eyes met those of Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"This is Cherry Court School, is it not?" he said, taking off his hat +to the girl. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Florence; "can I do anything for you, sir?" +</P> + +<P> +"My name is Major Sharston. I have come to see my daughter; can you +tell me where I shall find her?" +</P> + +<P> +"Are you indeed Kitty's father?" said Florence, her heart now shining +out of her eyes. She had beautiful eyes, dark grey with very long, +black lashes. Her face, which was somewhat pale, was quite quivering +with emotion. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I am Kitty's father," was the reply. "Shall I go into the house, +and will you be kind enough to tell her that I am here; or perhaps," +added the Major, looking as wistful as Florence herself, "you might +take me to her straight away?" +</P> + +<P> +"I will take you to her straight away, that's just it," said Florence. +She turned back to drop her letter into the school letter-box, and then +conducted the Major across the lawn and into the outer garden. In this +garden every old-fashioned flower imaginable bloomed and thrived, and +reared its graceful head. The Major walked down through great lines of +tall hollyhocks and peonies of every color and description. Then he +passed under a sweet-briar hedge and then along a further hedge of +Scotch roses, red and white; and the scent from mignonette and sweet +peas and the sweet-briar and the roses came up to his nostrils. Never +to the longest day of his life did the Major forget the sweet scent of +the old-fashioned garden and the pain at his heart all the time, for he +was going to see Kitty, to bid her good-bye for years—perhaps, who +could tell? for ever. +</P> + +<P> +Florence seemed to guess some of his feelings, though she did not know +the actual story, for Kitty was very reserved and kept her troubles to +herself. The Major made no remark about the garden, which in itself +was somewhat curious, for strangers were always in raptures over this +old-world garden, with its yew-trees cut in quaint shapes, and its high +walls, and its flowers, which seemed, every one of them, to belong to +the past. +</P> + +<P> +At last the Major and Florence reached the postern-gate which opened +into the cherry orchard, and then Florence stood still and raised her +voice and called, "Kitty! Kitty Sharston!" and there came an answering +call, clear and high as a bird's, and the next instant Kitty, in her +white summer dress, was seen emerging from under the cherry-trees. She +saw her father, uttered a cry half of rapture, half of pain, and the +next instant was clasped in his arms. Florence saw the Major's arms +fold around Kitty, and a queer lump rose in her throat and she went +away all by herself. Somehow, at that moment she felt that she shared +Mrs. Clavering's wish that Kitty Sharston should get the prize. +</P> + +<P> +"Although it means a great deal to me, a great deal more than anyone +can guess," thought Florry to herself, "for Aunt Susan is never very +kind to the dear little mother, and she makes such a compliment of +giving her that money term after term, and she insists on doing +everything in the very cheapest way. Why will she not," continued +Florence, looking down at her dress as she spoke, "why will she not +give me decent clothes like other girls! I never have anything pretty. +It is brown holland all during the summer, the coarsest brown holland, +and it is the coarsest blue serge during the winter; never, never +anything else—no style, no fashion, no pretty ribbons, not even a +cherry ribbon for my hair, and so little pocket-money, oh! so +little—only a penny a week. What can a girl do with a penny a week? +Of course, she does allow me a few stamps, just a very few, to send +Mummy letters, but she does keep me so terribly close. Sometimes I can +scarcely bear the life. Oh, what a difference the Scholarship would +make, and Sir John Wallis would think a great deal of me, and so would +Mrs. Clavering. Why, I should be the show girl of the school, the +Cherry Court Scholarship girl; it would be splendid, quite splendid! +But then Kitty, poor Kitty, and what a look the Major had on his face! +I wonder what can be wrong? Oh dear! oh, dear! my heart is torn in +two. Why do I long beyond all words to win the prize, and why, why do +I hate taking it from Kitty Sharston?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +KITTY AND HER FATHER. +</H4> + +<P> +Meanwhile the Major and Kitty went away by themselves. As soon as +Kitty had hugged her father, one close, passionate, voiceless hug, she +released him, stepped back a pace, looked him in the face, and then +said eagerly, "Come away quickly, father; there is a meadow at the back +of the cherry orchard which we can have quite to ourselves. Come at +once. Did Mrs. Clavering send you out here? How good of her to let me +see you alone!" +</P> + +<P> +"She does not even know that I have come, Kitty," replied her father. +"I met a girl—I don't know what her name is—just as I reached the +porch, and she took me to you. I cannot stay very long, my love, as I +must get back to Chatham to-night." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," said Kitty; "let us make for the meadow; there is a big +oak-tree and we can sit under it and no one need see us. We must be +alone all, all during the time that you are here." +</P> + +<P> +The Major said nothing. Kitty linked her hand through his arm. She +was feeling wildly excited—her father and she were together. It might +be an hour, or it might be two hours, that they were to spend together, +but the time was only beginning now. They were together, and she felt +all the warm glow of love, all the ecstasy of perfect happiness in +their reunion. +</P> + +<P> +They reached the oak-tree in the meadow, the Major sat down, and Kitty +threw herself by his side. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Kitty," he said, "what is this that I hear? I read your letter; +it is quite a wonderful letter, little girl. It was the sort of letter +a brave girl would write." +</P> + +<P> +"The sort of letter a girl would write whose father was a hero before +Sebastopol," said Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +"What has put that in you head, my darling?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sir John Wallis spoke of it. Oh, father dear, won't you go and see +Sir John Wallis—he is so nice and so kind? You were both heroes +before Sebastopol, were you not, father dearest, you and he?" +</P> + +<P> +"We were in the trenches and we suffered a good bit," said the Major, a +grim smile on his face, "but those are bygone times, Kitty." +</P> + +<P> +"All the same they are times that can never be forgotten while English +history lasts," said Kitty with a proud sparkle in her eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, no, little girl, I don't suppose England will ever forget the +men who fought for her," replied the Major; "but we won't waste time +talking on these matters now, my child; we have much else to say." +</P> + +<P> +"What, father?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, your letter for instance; and you greatly dislike going to stay +with Helen Dartmoor?" +</P> + +<P> +Kitty's face turned pale; she had been rosy up to now. The roses faded +out of her cheeks, then her lips turned white, and the brightness left +her eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"I should hate it," she said; "there are no other words." +</P> + +<P> +"And you think there is just an off chance that you may win this +wonderful Scholarship?" +</P> + +<P> +"I mean to have the biggest try a girl ever had, and you know your +Kitty," replied the girl. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know my brave, brave Kitty, the girl who has clung to her +father through thick and thin, who has always tried to please him, who +has a spirit of her own." +</P> + +<P> +"Which I inherit from you," said Kitty. "Oh, I have lots of faults; I +can be so cheeky when I like, and so naughty about rules, but somehow +nothing, nothing ever frightens me, except the thought of going to +Helen Dartmoor. You see, father, dear, it would be so hopeless. You +cannot take the hope out of anybody's life and expect the person to do +well, can you, father? Do speak, father—can you?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, my child, I know that, but even if you have to go to her, Kitty, +remember that I am working very hard for you—that as soon as possible +I will make a home for you, and you shall come to me." +</P> + +<P> +"How long will you be in India, father?" +</P> + +<P> +"I do not know, my child. The appointment which I have just received +under Government I can, I believe, retain as long as I please. My idea +is, darling, to do very good service for our Government, and to induce +them to send me into a healthy place." +</P> + +<P> +"But where are you going now?" said Kitty; "Is the place not healthy, +is your life to be endangered?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I am too seasoned for that," replied the Major, in a very cheerful +tone which, alas! he was far from feeling. "You need not be a scrap +anxious, my love," he added; "the place would not suit a young thing +like you, but a seasoned old subject like myself is safe enough. Never +you fear, Kitty mine." +</P> + +<P> +"But go on, father; you have more to say, haven't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Kitty, I have more to say and the time is very brief. If you win +the Scholarship, well and good. You will be well educated, and my mind +will be relieved of an untold load of care. But, of course, darling, +there is a possibility of your failing, for the Scholarship is an open +one, and there are other girls in the school, perhaps as clever, as +determined, as full of zeal as you, my Kitty." +</P> + +<P> +"I am afraid, father, dear, there are other girls much cleverer than +your Kitty, who know a vast lot more, and who are very full of zeal. +But," added the young girl, and now she clasped her hands and sprang to +her feet, "there is no one who has the motive I have, and this will +carry me through. I mean first of all to come out one of the lucky +three—that's certain." +</P> + +<P> +"When is the preliminary examination to take place, Kitty?" +</P> + +<P> +"On the day of the Cherry Feast," replied Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, dear, I have been thinking matters over. If you fail you fail, +but I am determined to give you this chance. I shall see Mrs. +Clavering before I leave and arrange that you are to stay with her +until October; then if you win the Scholarship your future is arranged; +you take your three years' education, and then by hook or by crook, my +darling, you come out to me to India, for by then, unless I am vastly +mistaken, I shall have got into a hill station where it will be safe +for you to stay with me." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you darling, how heavenly it will be!" said Kitty. She clung +close to her father, flung her arms round his neck, laid her head on +his breast, and looked at him with eyes swimming in tears. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I am not a bit unhappy, though I cry," she said, "it is only +because I feel your goodness so much, for though I would have tried +away with Helen Dartmoor I should not have had the chance I shall have +here, for Mrs. Clavering is very good, and I know she wants me to get +the prize, only she feels that I must compete fairly with the other +girls." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, you must compete fairly with the other girls, Kitty," said +her father; "if I thought there was any special favoritism in this, +well—" His bronzed cheeks flushed, an indignant light fired his eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"What, father?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am a proud man, Kitty, and Helen Dartmoor is your cousin, and would +keep you for the very small sum which it is in my power to offer her." +</P> + +<P> +"Your pride shall not be hurt, father, darling. I will win the +Scholarship honorably and in open fight." +</P> + +<P> +"That is my own Kitty." +</P> + +<P> +"I vow I'll win it," said the girl. +</P> + +<P> +The Major smiled at her. "You must not be too sure," he said, "or you +will be doubly disappointed if you fail. And now there is one thing +more to be said, and then we can talk on other matters. If you do +fail, my Kitty, you will go to Helen Dartmoor with a heart and a half." +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"I mean that you will go to her and not allow hope to die out of your +breast; you will go as a brave girl should, making the best of what +seems an adverse circumstance. If you do this, Kitty, it will be +severe discipline, but not too severe discipline for a soldier's +daughter. Never forget that, my dear, and that, one way or other, at +the end of the three years you come out to me." +</P> + +<P> +"When I come out to you," said Kitty, "I want you to be proud of me. I +want you to say, 'My girl is a lady, my girl knows things, she is not +ignorant, she can deport herself well, and act well and she knows +things.' But in any case, father, whether I am ignorant or whether I +am not, I promise—yes, I promise—to make the best of circumstances." +</P> + +<P> +"Then God bless you, child, you are your mother's own girl." +</P> + +<P> +"And yours—yours," said Kitty, in a low tone of mingled pain and love. +</P> + +<P> +"We will go back to the house, and I will see Mrs. Clavering, and +afterwards I will ask her permission to let me take you up to see Sir +John Wallis, for, strange as it may seem, I have lost sight of Wallis +for quite fifteen years—such are the fortunes of war, my love. We +were brothers, standing shoulder to shoulder during a momentous year of +our lives, and since then Sir John retired from the service, and I have +heard and seen nothing of him. It was almost immediately afterwards, I +believe, that he came in for the great property and the title which he +now possesses. But come, Kitty, we have not much time to lose." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty never forgot the rest of that afternoon, for she and her father +had so much to do, so many people to see, and so many things to +arrange, that time flew on wings, and it was not until the last moment +when the parting really came that she realized all it meant to her. +</P> + +<P> +There was a hurried clasp in the strongest, bravest arms in all the +world, a brief kiss on her cheek, a look in her father's eyes which was +enough to stimulate the highest in any girl's heart, and then the +parting was over. +</P> + +<P> +The Major had left Cherry Court School, having given all possible +directions for his little girl's comfort and well-being, and had gone +away sorely broken down, crushed to the earth himself, but leaving +Kitty with a courage which did not falter during the days which were to +come. For the Major knew that, strong as he was, he was going to a +part of India where brave men as strong as he are stricken down year +after year by the unhealthy climate, and three years even at the best +was a long time to part with a girl like Kitty, particularly when she +was the only child he had, the light of his eyes, the darling of his +heart. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +CHERRY-COLORED RIBBONS. +</H4> + +<P> +The day of the Cherry Feast dawned bright and glorious. The girls +awoke in the early morning of that splendid summer day, feeling that +something very delightful was about to happen. One after another they +peeped out and saw the sun on the grass and heard the birds sing and +felt the soft zephyrs of the summer breeze blowing on their cheeks. +Then they returned back again to their different little beds in their +different dormitories, and remarked with intense satisfaction that the +long wished-for day had come, and that to-morrow they were all going +home—home for the holidays. Could anything be more fascinating, +stimulating, and delightful? And each girl hoped to go back again to +the beloved home with honor, for Mrs. Clavering had a wonderful way +with her pupils, a very stimulating way, and she so arranged her prizes +and her certificates that no girl who had really worked, who had really +taken pains, was excluded from distinction. It was only the hopelessly +idle, the hopelessly disobedient, who could leave Cherry Court School +without some token of its mistress's sympathy, regard, and +encouragement. +</P> + +<P> +Kitty Sharston was too new a scholar to expect to get any reward in the +ordinary sense of this term, but, all the same, she had worked fairly +well, and during the last three weeks had tackled her studies and +regulated her conduct like a veritable little Trojan. Every moment of +Kitty's day was now marked out. There was never an instant that she +was off guard with regard to herself; there was no time left in her +busy life for reckless speeches and reckless deeds. The goal set +before her was such a high one, the motive to struggle for pre-eminence +was so strong, that Kitty was quite carried along by the current. Her +natural keen intelligence stood her in good stead, her marks for +punctuality, for neatness, for early rising were all good, and she had +little, very little fear of the results of this afternoon's brief +examination. +</P> + +<P> +The examination was to be very short, and was to be conducted on this +special occasion by no less a person than Sir John Wallis himself. +Mrs. Clavering having reckoned up the marks, Mademoiselle Le Brun +having given her testimony, Fraulein having given hers, and the English +teachers having further testified to the industry of the pupils, the +girls of the Upper school were to pass muster before Sir John, who was +to decide without prejudice in favor of the lucky three who alone were +to compete for the great Scholarship in October. +</P> + +<P> +Florence and Kitty were in the same class in school, and up to the date +of the offering of the Scholarship had been excellent friends. They +were still friends as far as Kitty was concerned, for she was a +generous-hearted girl, and although the winning of the prize meant +everything almost in her life, did another girl take it from her fairly +and honorably in open fight, she would resign it without a trace of +ill-will or any sore feeling towards the winner. But there were things +in Florence's life which made her now look aloof at Kitty. She had +been receiving letters from her mother, and the mother had been asking +the girl strange questions, and Mrs. Aylmer was not a woman of lofty +principle nor of strong courage, and some of the jealous thoughts in +Florence's heart had been fanned into flame by her mother's injudicious +words. So on the day of the great Cherry Feast she awoke with a +headache, and, turning away from Kitty, who looked at her with anxious, +affectionate eyes, she proceeded to dress quickly and hurried off to +the school-room. +</P> + +<P> +The dormitory in which Kitty slept was a long, low room with a sloping +roof. It ran the whole width of the house, and was occupied by Kitty +herself, by Mabel and Alice Cunningham, by Edith King, and by Florence +Aylmer. Each girl had her little cubicle or division curtained off +from her fellows, where she could sleep and where she could retire, if +necessary, into a sort of semi-solitude. But one-half of the dormitory +was open to all the girls, and they often drew their curtains aside and +chatted and talked and laughed as they dressed and undressed, for Mrs. +Clavering, contrary to most of the school-mistresses of her day, gave +her girls a certain amount of liberty. They were not, for instance, +required to talk French in the dormitories, and they were always +allowed, provided they got into bed within certain limits and dressed +within certain limits, to have freedom when in their rooms. They never +dreamt of abusing these privileges, and better, healthier, brighter +girls could not be found in the length and breadth of England. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I am glad the day has come at last," said Edith, as she rose +that morning with a yawn. "Oh, dear, and it's going to be splendid, +too. Kitty, what dress are you going to wear at the festival to-night?" +</P> + +<P> +Kitty replied with a smile that she meant to wear her Indian muslin. +</P> + +<P> +"And have you got your cherry-colored ribbons?" said Edith; "we all +wear bunches of cherry ribbons in the front of our dresses and tying +back our hair. Have you got yours, Kitty?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Kitty; "father sent me a quantity of cherry-colored +ribbons last week." +</P> + +<P> +She hardly ever mentioned her father's name, and the girls did not like +to question her. Now she turned her head aside, and proceeded hastily +with her dressing. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it is going to be a splendid day," said Alice, "and, you know, +there are no lessons of any sort; all the examinations are over and the +results will be known to-night; the day is to be a long and happy +one—no lessons, nothing to do except to wander about and please +ourselves; pack our trunks, of course, which will be truly a delightful +occupation. Think of the joys of the evening and the further delights +of to-morrow. I expect to reach home about six o'clock in the evening. +When will you get to your place, Edith?" +</P> + +<P> +"A little later than you," replied Edith, "for it is farther away, but +father and mother have promised to come and meet me at Canterbury. I +shall reach Canterbury about six o'clock in the evening. We have ten +miles to drive then, so I don't suppose I shall be home till half-past +seven. The boys are going to make a bonfire; there is to be no end of +fun—there always is when I come home for the summer holidays." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty gave a faint sigh and there came a cruel pang at her heart. She +and Florence Aylmer were to spend the holidays together. She had tried +to think she would enjoy this solitary time, but in her heart of hearts +she knew that she had to make a great struggle with herself. +</P> + +<P> +"But, never mind," she muttered now softly under her breath, "I shall +spend most of the hours in studying; there is so much to get through +before the Scholarship exam. comes off in October, and I know Florence +will study, too, and, of course, I shan't be at all jealous of her, and +if she does succeed in winning the prize, why, I will just remember +father's words and make the best of things, whatever happens." But the +next moment she was saying fiercely under her breath, "I shall win, I +will win; whatever happens, I will, I must win." +</P> + +<P> +The girls went down to breakfast, which was a very sociable meal that +morning, the English tongue being allowed to be spoken, and the usual +restrictions all being utterly withdrawn. +</P> + +<P> +Florence appeared then and took her place at the table; she looked a +little pale and untidy, and her eyes were red as if she had been +secretly crying. More than one girl glanced at her and wondered what +was the matter. When breakfast was over Kitty went up to Florence, +slipped her hand through her arm, and pulled her out into the sunshine. +</P> + +<P> +"Is anything wrong, Florry?" she said. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it's only that beastly mean Aunt Susan," retorted Florence, +shrugging her shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +"Your Aunt Susan?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, of course; you have heard me talk of her. I am dependent on her, +you know; oh, it's the most hateful position for any girl!" +</P> + +<P> +"I am very sorry, and I quite understand," said Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe you do; you have never been put in such an odious +plight. For instance, you have cherry-colored ribbons to wear +to-night, have you not?" +</P> + +<P> +"Such beauties," replied Kitty; "father sent them to me a week ago. A +yard and a half to make the bunch for the front of my dress, and a yard +and a half to tie up my hair—three yards; and such a lovely, lovely +color, and such soft ribbon, corded silk on one side, and satin at the +other. Oh, it is beautiful." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, of course, it is beautiful," said Florence; "you have told us +about those ribbons a great many times." Florence could not help her +voice being tart, and Kitty looked at her in some astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"But all the same," she said, "you're glad I have got cherry-colored +ribbons, are you not?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," replied Florence, flushing; "I believe I hate you for +having them. There, I'm nothing if I'm not frank." +</P> + +<P> +"You hate me for having them? Oh, Florry, but you cannot be so mean." +</P> + +<P> +"I wrote to Aunt Susan myself—there was no time to tackle her in a +roundabout way through mother. I wrote to her and got her reply this +morning. She sent me—what do you think? Instead of the beautiful +ribbons which I asked for, three yards of which are absolutely +necessary to make even a show of a decent appearance, six stamps! Six +stamps, I assure you, to buy what I could for myself! Did you ever +hear of anything so miserably mean? Oh, I hate her, I do hate her!" +</P> + +<P> +"Poor Florence!" said Kitty; "but you must have the ribbons somehow, +must you not?" +</P> + +<P> +"I must; I dare not appear without. Mademoiselle Le Brun is going into +Hilchester immediately after breakfast, and I am going to ask her to +get me the best she can, but, of course, she will get nothing worth +having for sixpence—a yard and a half at the most of some horrid +cottony stuff which will look perfectly dreadful. It is mean of Aunt +Susan, and you know, Kitty," continued Florence, her tone softening at +the evident sympathy with which Kitty regarded her, "I am always so +shabbily dressed; I wouldn't be a bit bad-looking if I had decent +clothes. I saved up all the summer to have my muslin dress nicely +washed for this occasion, but it's so thick and so clumsy and—oh, +dear! oh, dear! sometimes I hate myself, Kitty, and when I look at you +I hate myself more than ever." +</P> + +<P> +"Why when you look at me? I am very sorry for you, Florence." +</P> + +<P> +"Because you are so generous and so good, and I am just the other way. +But there, don't talk to me any more. I must rush off; I want to have +another look through those geography questions; there is no saying what +Sir John Wallis may question us about to-night, and if I don't get into +the lucky three who are to compete for the Scholarship, I believe I'll +go off my head." +</P> + +<P> +Florence dashed away as she spoke and rushed into the school-room, +slamming the door behind her. Kitty stood for a moment looking after +her. As she did so Mary Bateman, the stolid-looking girl in the Upper +school, came slowly up. +</P> + +<P> +"A penny for your thoughts, Kitty Sharston," she said. +</P> + +<P> +"They are not worth even that," said Kitty. "Where are you going, +Mary?" +</P> + +<P> +"Into the cherry orchard; we are all to pick cherries for to-night's +feast. By the way, will you be my partner in the minuet? You dance it +so beautifully." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty hesitated, and a comical look came into her face. +</P> + +<P> +"You know we are to open the proceedings by dancing the old-fashioned +minuet," continued Mary Bateman; "on the lawn, of course, with the +colored lamps lighting us up. I believe I can do fairly well if I have +you for my partner, for although you are awkward enough you dance +beautifully." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll be your partner if you like," said Kitty, with a sigh, "but look +here, Mary, when is Mademoiselle Le Brun going into Hilchester?" +</P> + +<P> +"I did not know she was going at all," replied Mary; "do you want her +to buy you anything'?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am not quite sure, but I'd like to see her before she goes." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, there she is, and there's the pony cart coming round. I expect +she has to buy a lot of things for Mrs. Clavering. Run up to her if +you want to give her a message, Kitty. Hullo, mademoiselle, will you +wait a minute for Kitty Sharston—she wants to say something to you?" +</P> + +<P> +But Kitty stood still. There was a battle going on in her heart. She +had very little pocket-money, very little indeed, but when her father +was saying good-bye to her he had put two new half-crowns into her hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Keep them unbroken as long as you can, Kitty," he said. "The money +will be something to fall back upon in a time of need." And five +shillings was a large sum for the Major to give Kitty just then, and +Kitty cherished those two half-crowns very dearly, more dearly than +anything else in the world, for they had been her father's last, very +last present to her. +</P> + +<P> +But perhaps the hour of need had come. This was the thought that +darted into her heart, for Florence did want those cherry-colored +ribbons, and Florence's heart was sore, and things were nearly as bad +for her as they were for Kitty herself. Kitty had a brief struggle, +and then she made up her mind. +</P> + +<P> +"One moment, mademoiselle; I won't keep you any time," she called out +to the governess, who nodded back to her with a pleased smile on her +face, for Kitty was a universal favorite. +</P> + +<P> +Then the young girl rushed upstairs to her dormitory, unlocked her +little private drawer, took out her sealskin purse, extracted one of +the new half-crowns, and was down again by the little governess cart, +whispering eagerly to Mademoiselle Le Brun, within the prescribed time. +</P> + +<P> +"All right," said mademoiselle; "I'll do the very best I can." +</P> + +<P> +"And have the parcel directed to Florence," said Kitty, "for I don't +want her to know about my giving it to her; I am sure she would rather +not. If there is any change from the half-crown you can let me have it +back, can you not, mademoiselle?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'll see to that," said mademoiselle; "there is Florence's own +sixpence towards it, you know. Oh I daresay I can give you a shilling +back and get very good ribbon." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, be sure it is soft and satiny and with no cotton in it," called +Kitty again, and then the governess cart rolled down the avenue and was +lost to view. +</P> + +<P> +Notwithstanding that she had only half a crown in that sealskin purse +Kitty felt strangely exultant and happy when she ran back to the cherry +orchard and helped her companions in gathering the ripe fruit. +</P> + +<P> +She had put on a large blue apron, for cherries stain a good deal when +they are as luscious as those in Cherry Court orchard, and quantities +had to be picked, for it was the custom from time immemorial for each +of the guests to take a basket of cherries away with them, and the +baskets themselves—long, low, broad, and ornamental—were filled now +first with cherry-leaves, and then with fruit, by the excited and happy +girls. +</P> + +<P> +After Kitty had spent an hour or two in the cherry orchard she ran into +the house, washed her face and hands, smoothed her hair, and ran down +to the school-room, for she too wanted to look through her examination +papers. They were not difficult, and she was very quick and ready at +acquiring knowledge, and she soon felt certain that she could answer +all the questions, and, having folded them up, she replaced them in her +desk. +</P> + +<P> +It was the custom of the school that each girl should keep her desk +locked, and Kitty now slipped the key of hers into her pocket. As she +did so the door was opened and Florence came in. Florence looked pale +and <I>distrait</I>. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know," she said, "I have got the most racking headache; I +wonder if you would hear me through my English History questions, +Kitty. It would be awfully kind of you. I am so wretched about every +thing and things seem so hopeless, and it is so perfectly miserable to +think of spending all the holidays here, for I don't believe Mrs. +Clavering is going to take us to the seaside after all. Really, I +think life is not worth living sometimes." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, but it is," said Kitty, "and we are only preparing for life +now—don't forget that, Florry." +</P> + +<P> +"I can't take a high and mighty view of anything just now," said +Florence; "I am cross, and that's a fact. I wish I wasn't going to the +feast to-night. If it were not for the chance of being one of the +lucky three in the Scholarship competition I wouldn't appear on the +scenes at all, I vow I would not, with that horrid bit of cottony +cherry-colored ribbon—yes, I vow I wouldn't. Why, Kitty, how you have +stained your dress; you must have knelt on a cherry when you were +picking them just now in the orchard." +</P> + +<P> +"So I have; what a pity!" said Kitty. She glanced down at the deep red +stain, and then added, "I'll run upstairs presently and wash it out." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, don't catch cold, whatever you do. But stay, won't you first +hear me my English History questions?" +</P> + +<P> +Kitty immediately complied. Yes, Florence was stupid; she did not half +know her questions; her replies were wide of the mark. Kitty felt at +first distressed and then very determined. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here, Florence," she said, "this will never do; you must work +through that portion of English History all the afternoon, and I will +help you to the very best of my ability. I happen to know the time of +Queen Elizabeth so well, for it was a favorite time with my father. He +always loved those old stories of the great worthies who lived in the +time of Queen Elizabeth. Yes, I'll help you. Shall we read these +chapters of history together this afternoon?" +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot, I cannot," said Florence. "My head aches and everything +seems hopeless. Why, if that is so, Kitty, I shan't even have a chance +of being one of the lucky three." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, you will—you must," said Kitty. "Half of the pleasure of +the competition would be lost if you and I were not to work together +during the holidays." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, there is something in that," said Florence, brightening as she +spoke. "I forgot when I spoke so dismally that you, too, were to spend +the holidays here. By the way, has your father sailed yet?" +</P> + +<P> +"On Monday last," said Kitty, in a very low voice. She turned her head +aside as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"I believe you are the bravest girl in the world," said Florence, +stoutly; "but there, you are a great deal too good for me. I wish you +were naughty sometimes, such as you used to be, daring and a little +defiant and a little indifferent to rules, but you are so changed since +the Scholarship has come to the fore. Does it mean a great deal to +you, Kitty?" +</P> + +<P> +"I can't talk of it," said Kitty, "I'd rather not; we are both to try +for it; I believe it means a great deal to us both." +</P> + +<P> +"It means an immensity to me," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"Then it is not fair for us to talk it over when we are both going to +try our hardest to win it, are we not?" +</P> + +<P> +"If that is the case why do you help me with my English History?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because I should like you to be one of the lucky three." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you certain? Although I don't know this history very well, I +shall be a dangerous rival, that I promise." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care; I mean to win if I can, but I should like to compete +with you," said Kitty, stoutly. +</P> + +<P> +At that moment the sounds of wheels in the avenue was heard, and a +moment or two afterwards Mademoiselle Le Brun entered the school-room +and put a little parcel into Florence's hand. +</P> + +<P> +"There, my dear," she said. +</P> + +<P> +Florence let it lie just where it was. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," she answered; "you did your best?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, dear, I did my best." +</P> + +<P> +The governess left the room without even glancing at Kitty. Kitty felt +herself coloring; she bent low, allowing her curly hair to fall over +her face and forehead. +</P> + +<P> +A moment later there came an exclamation from Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I say, Kitty, what does this mean—look, do look!" +</P> + +<P> +Kitty looked up. The flush had left her face now, and it was cool and +composed as usual. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Florry," she exclaimed, "she has got you three yards, and it is +absolutely beautiful, satiny and smooth, and not a scrap of cotton in +the ribbon, and such a sweet color. What does it mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"Kitty, do you understand?" said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"I am so glad you have got it," said Kitty, in a quiet voice; "yes, it +is lovely ribbon; perhaps they had a cheap sale or something." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps," said Florence, "but all the same I don't believe this ribbon +could have been bought for twopence a yard. I must speak to +mademoiselle; she could not—oh, no, no, that is +impossible—mademoiselle is very poor and stingy—but what does it +mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"It means that you are going to wear cherry-colored ribbons to-night, +doesn't it?" said Kitty, "and now cheer up, do, Florry, and work away +at your history. I must run off now to wash my hands before dinner." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE LETTER. +</H4> + +<P> +After dinner Mrs. Clavering called the girls of the Upper school into +the oak parlor. +</P> + +<P> +"My dears," she said, "I won't keep you a minute, but I have just had a +letter from Sir John Wallis, and he wishes me to say that he would like +the girls who are to compete for the preliminary examination for the +Scholarship to write their answers to the English History questions. +He has sent over the questions in this envelope, and you can all read +them, and you are to write your answers in advance, and fold them up +and put them into envelopes for him to open and read to-night. I +believe there are ten questions, but his rule is that you are none of +you to be helped by any book in the answers, and that no one girl is to +assist another. That is all, my dears; you can go into the school-room +and get the matter through in less than an hour if you like. And now +hurry away, for there is no time to lose. I will have the question +pinned up in the school-room for you all to see." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Clavering hastened away, and all the girls of the Upper school, +seven in all, presently found themselves seated by their desks, busily +answering Sir John Wallis's questions on the reign of Queen Elizabeth. +</P> + +<P> +When Mrs. Clavering had made her statement Florence had cast one +anxious, half-despairing glance in Kitty's direction, and Kitty had +slowly raised her arched eyebrows and looked at her friend with +compassion and distress. +</P> + +<P> +Kitty now walked quickly to her desk, glanced at the questions, and +wrote the answers in a good bold, firm hand. +</P> + +<P> +Her early training with her father stood her in excellent stead, and +she was able to give a vivid account of the Spanish Armada and of other +great events in the reign of good Queen Bess. She felt quite cheerful +and hopeful as she wrote her answers, expressing them in good English, +and taking great pains to be correct with regard to spelling. At last +they were finished. She slipped them into her envelope, put them back +in her desk, and left the room. As she did so she passed Florence, +whose cheeks were flushed like peonies, and who was bending in some +despair over her paper, for Florence was well known in the school to be +ignorant as regarded all matters connected with history, although she +was smart enough in her own line. +</P> + +<P> +"Poor Florry, I am sorry for her," thought Kitty. Then she went away +to her room and employed her spare time writing a long letter to her +father, and did not give Florence any more thought. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile Mabel and Alice Cunningham, Mary Bateman, Bertha Kennedy, and +Edith King, one and all answered the English History questions; they +slipped them into envelopes, and put them into their desks. They also +left the room, and Florence was alone in the school-room. +</P> + +<P> +When she found herself so she threw back her head, uttered a great +yawn, and then glanced in despair at the ten very comprehensive +questions set by Sir John Wallis. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall never answer them," she said to herself; "it is quite +impossible. I have not the faintest idea what he means by question +five, for instance. She hated Mary Queen of Scots, I know that, and +she got her to be imprisoned, I know that also; but what is the story +in connection with the Earl of Leicester? I cannot, cannot remember +it. Oh, how tiresome, how more than tiresome—this may lose me my +chance with the lucky three, for Alice Cunningham is trying quite hard, +and Edith King is having a regular fight over the matter; and of +course, there is no doubt that Kitty Sharston will be elected to try +for the Scholarship, but I—yes, I must be elected—I will; but what +shall I do?" +</P> + +<P> +Florence paced restlessly up and down the school-room. As she did so +she suddenly perceived with a quickening of her heart's pulses that +Kitty through an oversight had left the key in her desk; all the other +girls had locked their desks; but Kitty, who was generally careful +enough in this matter, had left the key in hers. +</P> + +<P> +Nothing in all the world would be easier than for Florence to open +Kitty's desk, to take out the envelope which contained her replies to +the English History questions, and to glance at the momentous question +which related to the Earl of Leicester. Right or wrong, Florence felt +she must stoop to this mean action. +</P> + +<P> +"After all, being included in the lucky three does not mean winning the +Scholarship," she said to herself, "and I should so like to be one of +the three. I think I will take one look; there is no one in the house +at present. I saw Kitty cross the courtyard and go in the direction of +the garden not half an hour ago. No one will know, and I shall have an +equal chance with the others; if not, I shall fail, and to fail now +would drive me mad." +</P> + +<P> +Just at that moment Florence, who had approached the window in her +restless pacing up and down, saw the postboy enter the courtyard. She +ran out to meet him. He brought several letters, and amongst others +one for Florence from her mother. She took it back with her to the +schoolroom. Mrs. Aylmer's letters were never particularly cheerful, +but Florence opened it now with a slight degree of eagerness. +</P> + +<P> +"I have good news for you, Florence," wrote her mother; "if you succeed +in being elected as one of the three who are to compete for Sir John +Wallis's Scholarship, I shall certainly contrive to give you a week at +Dawlish with me. Of course, if you fail it will be utterly useless, +and I should not dream of wasting the money; so try your very best, my +dear child, for there is more in this than meets the eye. It will make +the most immense difference in your life, my dear Florence, if you gain +this Scholarship, and also in the life of your affectionate mother. I +may as well add here that your Aunt Susan becomes more intolerable day +by day, and it is extremely probable that she will soon cease to pay +your school fees at all. If that is the case, my dear, I really do not +know what is to become of you, as I certainly cannot afford to meet +them. Try your best for the Scholarship, dear. If you win it write to +me immediately and I will send you the money to come home." +</P> + +<P> +"What a chance!" thought Florence, as she finished reading the letter. +She folded it up and slipped it into her pocket; the next instant she +had crossed the room, had opened Kitty's desk, and taken out the +envelope with its folded sheet of paper within. She unfolded the paper +and glanced at its contents. One quick glance was sufficient. She put +back the paper into the envelope, shut Kitty's desk, and returned to +her own. +</P> + +<P> +Her cheeks were redder than ever and her heart was beating wildly, but +she knew what she wanted to know. Florence folded up her own sheet of +paper, put it into its envelope, and laid it in her desk. She felt +pretty certain now of being elected as one of the lucky three, and no +one need ever know that she had peeped at Kitty's answers. After all, +but for this ridiculous and sudden prohibition on the part of Sir John +Wallis, Kitty would have helped her with her English History all the +afternoon. Now, of course, she could not ask her, but never mind, she +knew what she wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +Her heart felt a little uncomfortable, and, notwithstanding the hope +that she might spend a week at Dawlish with her mother, to whom she was +devotedly attached, and the further hope of taking an honorable place +in the coming competition, she felt a queer sense of depression. +</P> + +<P> +She was just preparing to leave the school-room when the door opened +and Mademoiselle Le Brun looked in. She did not see Florence at first, +then she glanced at her and spoke hurriedly. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought Kitty Sharston was here; I want her," she said. +</P> + +<P> +"No," said Florence; "what is it; what do you want?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have to give her a shilling back out of the change." +</P> + +<P> +"A shilling out of the change; what do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, nothing, my dear; I ought not to tell you; I owe her a shilling, +that's all." +</P> + +<P> +"By the way, mademoiselle," said Florence, "I have not thanked you yet +for getting me that lovely ribbon. How was it you managed to get it so +cheaply?" +</P> + +<P> +Mademoiselle looked very knowing. +</P> + +<P> +"I am glad you like it," she said; "it was not particularly cheap." +</P> + +<P> +She left the room, although Florence called after her to stay. +</P> + +<P> +Florence walked quickly to the window. She looked out. The sun was +still high in the heavens, for on this midsummer day it would take a +long time before the evening arrived. Florence's heart beat harder +than ever, for suddenly her eyes were opened, and she knew how she had +got the cherry-colored ribbon. Kitty had given it to her, and Florence +had stolen some of Kitty's knowledge and applied it to herself. +</P> + +<P> +She hated herself for it, but not enough to retract what she had done. +She went up to her room, threw herself on the bed, and burst out crying. +</P> + +<P> +Yes, she would stick to it now, but, all the same, she hated herself. +It was very unpleasant to be lowered in her own eyes, but she would go +through with the matter now, whatever befell. +</P> + +<P> +The chance of going to Dawlish, the chance of winning the Scholarship, +meant too much to her; she must secure this good thing which had fallen +in her path at any cost. +</P> + +<P> +The evening drew on apace, and the whole school was in a perfect fever +of excitement. The girls came up to their different dormitories to +dress for the occasion. +</P> + +<P> +Kitty, who was not too well provided with clothes, nevertheless did +possess one very smart evening frock. It was made of lovely Indian +muslin, exquisitely embroidered and beautifully made. She took it now +out of her trunk, and looked at it with admiration. Her father had +bought this Indian muslin for her, having sent for it straight away to +India, and he had himself superintended the making of the beautiful +dress. +</P> + +<P> +Kitty's fingers trembled now as she slipped the soft folds over her +head, and tucked in the spray of cherry-colored ribbons just above her +white satin belt, and then she tied back her hair with the same shiny +soft ribbon, and looked at her little pale face in the glass and +wondered how soon she would see her father again. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, father! father!" she thought, "I am going to try my hardest, my +very, very hardest, and all for your sake, and I'll be brave for your +sake, and three years won't be very long passing if I spend every +moment of the time in working my very hardest, and doing my very best +for you." +</P> + +<P> +When she had finished her dressing she turned to help the other girls. +Mabel and Alice Cunningham were in soft pink dresses, a little paler in +shade than the cherry-colored ribbons which as a matter of course they +would wear, and one and all of the girls of the Upper school were +becomingly and suitably dressed, with the exception of poor Florence; +but Florence's muslin dress was coarse in texture and badly made, and +notwithstanding the soft cherry-colored ribbons, she did not look her +best. Also her head ached, and she was in low spirits. +</P> + +<P> +Kitty was particularly affectionate to Florence, and she asked her now +in an anxious tone how she had managed with regard to her English +History. +</P> + +<P> +"I am so dreadfully sorry," she said; "I meant to give you such a +coaching in the reign of Queen Elizabeth all this afternoon, Florry, +but there, it can't be helped. How did you manage, dear? Do you think +you have answered all the questions?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I have," answered Florence, in an almost cross voice, for +she could scarcely bear Kitty's affectionate manners just then. "You +take me for a great dunce, Kitty, but I am not quite so bad as you +imagine." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I know you are anything but a dunce," replied Kitty; "I don't take +you for one, I assure you, Florence, only I did hope that I might help +you in English History, for that is my strong point." +</P> + +<P> +"You are quite conceited about it, I do believe," said Florence. +"There, don't pull my dress about any more. Thank you, I like my +cherry bow here better than in my belt. Don't touch me, please." +</P> + +<P> +Florence hated herself beyond words for being so cross, but the fact +was her heart ached so badly she could scarcely be civil to Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +She ran downstairs, and for the rest of the evening kept out of Kitty +Sharston's way. +</P> + +<P> +Yes; it was a glorious evening, and everything passed off without a +hitch of any sort. The guests consisted of all the best people in the +neighborhood. They sat round and applauded all the girls, who danced +the minuet with becoming grace and looked very pretty as they glided +about on the lamp-lit lawn. +</P> + +<P> +And then one or two of them recited, and one or two of them sang songs, +and then there was a great chorus in which all the girls joined, and +then they danced Sir Roger de Coverley to the merry strains of a string +band, and presently the great occasion of all came when the girls, +followed by the guests, entered the great central hall of Cherry Court, +and the prizes were given away. +</P> + +<P> +Florence obtained two prizes, a beautiful edition of Scott's poems, and +also a little portfolio full of some pretty water-color drawings, for +Florence had a great taste for art, and had managed to come out at the +head of the school with her own water-color sketches. +</P> + +<P> +The other girls also obtained prizes, all but Kitty Sharston, who was +not long enough in the school to be entitled to one. +</P> + +<P> +Kitty found herself now close to Sir John Wallis, who motioned to her +to come up to his side, and pointed to a chair near where she could sit. +</P> + +<P> +"I heard from your father this morning," he said, "and I mean to send +him a cable to Malta if you are elected as one of the fortunate three. +He expects to touch Malta on Saturday, and the cable will be waiting +for him with the good news, I make not the slightest doubt." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, will you? How splendid of you!" said Kitty; "but perhaps I shall +not succeed." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, I have no doubt you will. Now, pluck up your courage, answer +your best; don't be a scrap afraid." +</P> + +<P> +"But, Sir John, you must promise me one thing," said Kitty, looking +earnestly into his face. +</P> + +<P> +"What is that, my dear?" asked Sir John, smiling down into the eager +little face. +</P> + +<P> +"You won't favor me more than the other girls? You'll be quite, quite +fair, and give the chance to those girls who are really in your opinion +the best?" +</P> + +<P> +"I will, Kitty, I will," said Sir John; "do you think I could do +anything else as regards your father's daughter? And now, child, the +time is up, and I am going into the oak parlor. You will all follow me +in a moment." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty never forgot the hour which was spent in the oak parlor with her +companions of the Upper school. She did not know how she answered the +questions put with great animation by Sir John. She only knew that her +heart was beating wildly, and she was thinking all the time of that +cablegram which would comfort her father when he reached Malta, and +resolving as surely girl never resolved before not to disappoint him, +to give him if she could, if it were any way within her power, that +supreme pleasure. And so when the hour was over and the brief +examination was made, and the names of the successful competitors +called out, and Kitty Sharston's name appeared at the head of the list, +she could only look at Sir John, and think of the cablegram, and not +feel at all elated, although her companions clustered around her and +shook her hand and wished her joy. +</P> + +<P> +The two other successful competitors were Florence Aylmer and Mary +Bateman. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Clavering then read out certain rules which Sir John had made with +regard to the Scholarship, and soon afterwards the proceedings of the +evening broke up; the guests departed to their homes, carrying their +baskets of cherries with them; and Kitty, Florence and Mary were +surrounded by their companions, who wished them joy and cheered them +three times three, and took them up to their dormitory in triumph. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE LITTLE MUMMY. +</H4> + +<P> +It was a week afterwards when Kitty stood at the gate of Cherry Court +School to wish Florence Aylmer good-bye, for Florence had obtained the +darling wish of her heart, and was on her way to Dawlish to spend a +week with her mother. She was to travel third-class, and the journey +was a long one, and the day happened to be specially hot, but nothing +could damp Florence's delight, and Kitty, as she watched her, could not +help for a moment a slight pang of envy coming over her. +</P> + +<P> +"Have a good time, Florry, and tell me all about it when you return," +said Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +And Florence promised, thinking Kitty a very good-natured, agreeable +girl as she did so, and then Kitty turned slowly back to the house and +Florence found herself alone. She was driving in a hired chaise to +Hilchester railway-station. She had said good-bye to Kitty and to Mrs. +Clavering, and her earnest wish was that the week might spread itself +into two or three, and that she could banish all thought of Kitty and +Mrs. Clavering and Cherry Court School from her mind. +</P> + +<P> +"For, although I mean to win the Scholarship—yes, I shall win it; I +have made up my mind on that point—I cannot help more or less hating +Kitty Sharston, and Mrs. Clavering, and the school itself," thought the +girl. "But there, I will forget every unpleasant thing now. I have +not seen the little Mummy for a whole year; it will be heavenly to kiss +her again. If there is anyone in the world whom I truly, truly love it +is the dear little Mummy." +</P> + +<P> +All during her hot journey across England to the cool and delightful +watering-place of Dawlish, Florence thought more and more of her +mother. She was an only child, her father having died when she was +five years old, and Mrs. Aylmer had always been terribly poor, and +Florence had always known what it was to stint and screw and do without +those things which were as the breath of life to most girls. And +Florence was naturally not at all a contented girl, and she had fought +against her position, and disliked having to stint and screw, and she +had hated her shabby dress and unwieldy boots and ugly hats and coarse +fare. +</P> + +<P> +But one portion of her lot abundantly contented her—she had no fault +to find with her mother. The little Mummy was all that was perfection. +For her mother she would have done almost as much in her own way as +Kitty would do for her father in hers. +</P> + +<P> +And now her heart beat high and her spirits rose as she approached +nearer hour by hour the shabby little home where her mother lived. +</P> + +<P> +It was in the cool of a hot summer's evening that the train at last +drew up at Dawlish, and Mrs. Aylmer stood on the platform waiting to +receive her daughter. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer was a plain dumpling sort of little body, with a perfectly +round face, and small beady black eyes. She had a high color in each +of her cheeks and fluffy black hair pushed away from her high forehead. +She was dressed in widow's weeds, which were somewhat rusty, and she +now came forward with a beaming face to welcome Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Mummy, it is good to see you," said Florence. She had a brusque +voice and a brusque manner, but nothing could keep the thrill out of +her words as she addressed her mother. +</P> + +<P> +"I am not going to kiss you till we get into the cottage," she said. +"Here's my luggage—only one box, of course. Oh, it is good to see +you, it is good!" +</P> + +<P> +"Then come right off home, Florry," said Mrs. Aylmer; "I have got +shrimps for tea and some brown bread and butter, and Sukey made the +bread specially for you this morning; you always liked home-made bread. +Come along; the porter will bring your trunk in presently. You'll see +to it, Peter, won't you?" said Mrs. Aylmer. +</P> + +<P> +Peter, the rough-headed outside porter, nodded in reply, and Mrs. +Aylmer, leaning upon Florence, who was head and shoulders taller than +her parent, walked down the little shingly beach, and a moment +afterwards entered the cottage door. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear Mummy," she said, "it is good to see you. Now, turn round, +Mummy, and let us have a right good hearty stare. Oh, you look just as +well as ever, sunburnt—so much the better. Now then, for a hug." +</P> + +<P> +Florence opened her arms, and the next moment little Mrs. Aylmer was +clasped to her daughter's breast. +</P> + +<P> +"There, that's nice," said Florence, "that's a right hearty hug. I am +so glad you are well, Mummy. I am so thankful you were able to send me +the money; I hope I didn't screw you up very tight." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it did, Florence," replied Mrs. Aylmer; "I shall not be able to +have any meat for a whole month after you leave, dear. That was the +way I managed, just docking the butcher's bill and the greengrocer's +bill. I must have butter to my bread and milk in my tea, but the +greengrocer and the butcher will pay your third-class return fare to +the school. There now, Flo, don't worry. Come upstairs to our room; +you will share my bed, dear; I could not afford to have an extra room; +you will share my bed." +</P> + +<P> +Florence followed her mother upstairs without a word. The cottage was +a very, very tiny one, and, tiny as it was, Mrs. Aylmer only owned one +half of it. She had a little sitting room downstairs, and a wee, wee +bedroom upstairs, and the use of the kitchen, and the use of Sukey's +time for so many hours every day, and that was about all. But a +delicious sea breeze blew into the tiny sitting-room and filled the +little bed-room; and clematis and honey-suckle and climbing plants of +every description clustered around the windows, and Florence thought it +the dearest, sweetest, most fascinating place in the world. +</P> + +<P> +"It is rather a small bed for two," she reflected, as she entered the +room, stooping to get beneath the lintel of the door; "but never mind, +it's Mummy's little room and Mummy's bed, and I am happy, happy as the +day is long." +</P> + +<P> +So she tossed off her hat and washed her face and hands, and tidied her +hair, and went down to enjoy the honey and bread and fruit and shrimps +and tea with cream in it which Mrs. Aylmer had provided in honor of her +daughter's arrival. +</P> + +<P> +"There," said Florence, "that was a hearty meal. Now let us go out on +the beach, Mummy. You will have a great deal to say to me, and I shall +have a great deal to say to you." +</P> + +<P> +"It is exciting having you back, Flo," said Mrs. Aylmer, "and we must +make the week go as far as possible." +</P> + +<P> +"We will sit up very late at night," said Florence, "and we will get up +very early in the morning, for we must talk, talk, talk every moment of +our precious time, except just the few hours necessary for sleep. You +don't want much sleep, do you, Mummy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but I do, my dear; I want my seven to eight hours' sleep within +the twenty-four hours, or I am just good for nothing. I get muzzy in +the head unless I sleep enough. Do you ever suffer from muzziness in +the head, dear?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's just like one of your dear old-fashioned words," said Florence; +"if I did feel it I shouldn't be allowed to express it in that way at +school. By the way, mother, what do you think of me? Haven't I grown +a good lot?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, you're a fine hearty girl, but you are not exactly beautiful, +Florry." +</P> + +<P> +Florence's eyes fell and a discontented look crossed her face. "How +can I look decent in these clothes?" she said; "but there, never mind, +you can't give me better, can you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I, darling! How could I? I have not fifty pounds a year when all is +told, and I cannot do more with my money. It's your Aunt Susan who is +to blame, Florence, and she is worse than ever. I'll tell you all +about her to-morrow; we won't worry to-night, will we?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; let us think of only pleasant things to-night," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, come down on the beach, Flo. I am all agog to hear your news. +What is this about the Scholarship?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Mummy, need we talk of this either to-night?" said Florence, +frowning. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes, I should like it," said Mrs. Aylmer; "you see, you know all +about it, and I don't. You told me so little in your letter. You +don't write half as long letters as you used to, Flo. I wish you +would, for I have nothing else to divert me. I have turned and +re-turned my best dress—I turned it upside down last year, and +downside up this year, and back to front and front to back, and I am +trimming it now with frills which I have cut another old skirt up to +make, and I really cannot do anything more with it. It won't by +stylish, try as I will, and your Aunt Susan hasn't sent me a cast-off +of hers for the last two years. It's very stingy of her, very stingy +indeed. She sells her clothes now to a dealer in London who buys up +all sorts of wardrobes. Before she found out this wardrobe-dealer I +used to get her cast-offs and managed quite nicely. It's horrid of +her. She is a very unamiable character. Don't you ever take after +her, Florry, be sure you don't." +</P> + +<P> +"I hate her quite as cordially as you do, mother; but now come along by +the shore and I'll tell you about the Scholarship, if you really wish +to know." +</P> + +<P> +Which Florence did, with one arm clasped tightly round her mother's +waist, and Mrs. Aylmer almost danced by her daughter's side as she +listened, and tried to fancy herself nearly as young as Florence, and +was certainly quite as eager with regard to the winning of the great +Scholarship. +</P> + +<P> +"You must get it," she said at last, after a pause; "it would make the +most tremendous, tremendous difference." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I mean to try," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"And if you try, dear, you will succeed. You're a very clever girl, +ain't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't say 'ain't,' mother; it is not quite——" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't you go to correct me, my love. I can't help having the +rather rough ways of people with small means; but you are clever, +aren't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I believe I am in some things. There are some things again which I +never can get into my head, try as I will. I am a queer mixture." +</P> + +<P> +"You are a darling old thing," said the mother, giving her arm an +affectionate squeeze. +</P> + +<P> +"And you are the sweetest pet in the world," said Florence, glancing +down at her parent. "Oh, it is good to be with you, Mummy, again." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, darling, you'll get the prize, there's nothing to prevent it." +</P> + +<P> +"There are several things to prevent it," said Florence, in a gloomy +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"What, my dear, darling pet—what?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, for instance, there are two other girls." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, girls," said Mrs. Aylmer, in a contemptuous voice. "I am not +going to be frightened by girls. My Florence is equal to the best girl +that ever breathed." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but mother, you cannot quite understand. There's Kitty Sharston, +for instance." +</P> + +<P> +"Kitty Sharston," said Mrs. Aylmer; "what about her?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, she is really clever, and everyone seems to wish her to win." +</P> + +<P> +"I call that shocking unfair," said Mrs. Aylmer. +</P> + +<P> +"It is, mother, but we cannot get over the fact. She is a favorite +with the school, and I must own she is a jolly girl. Now, what do you +think she did for me?" +</P> + +<P> +"What, my darling?" +</P> + +<P> +"You know the Cherry Feast?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I do—have not you described it to me so often? You would +make a wonderful writer, I believe, you would make a lot of money +writing stories, Florence." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I wouldn't, Mummy, not really. It takes a good deal to be a good +story-writer." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, go on, pet, I am all agog to hear." +</P> + +<P> +So Florence related also the story of the cherry ribbons. +</P> + +<P> +"Wasn't it like Aunt Susan?" she said. +</P> + +<P> +"Just," exclaimed the mother; "the stingiest old cat in existence." +</P> + +<P> +"And wasn't it nice of Kitty, and didn't she do it well?" said +Florence. "Oh, she is a splendid girl, and I ought not to hate her." +</P> + +<P> +"But you do hate her?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am afraid I do sometimes." +</P> + +<P> +"And I'm not a bit surprised, dear, coming between you and this great +chance. But, oh, Florry, you must win, it is all-important; I'll tell +you why to-morrow. There is a letter from your Aunt Susan which will +take some of the pleasure out of this little visit, but it makes the +Scholarship absolutely essential. I'll tell you all about it +to-morrow." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +AUNT SUSAN. +</H4> + +<P> +Florence slept soundly that night, and awoke the next morning in the +highest of spirits and the best of health. +</P> + +<P> +"It is wonderful, Mummy," she said, "how you and I can squeeze into +this camp bed, but there, I never moved all night; it was delicious to +have you so close to me. I cannot understand why I love you as I do, +for you are a very plain, ordinary sort of woman." +</P> + +<P> +"I never was anything else," replied Mrs. Aylmer, by no means offended +by Florence's frank remarks. "Your poor father always said, 'It's your +heart, not your face, that has won me, Mabel.' Your poor father had a +great deal of pretty sentiment about him, but I am matter-of-fact to +the backbone. There, child, jump up now and get dressed, and I'll go +down and prepare the breakfast. Sukey is rather cross this morning, +and I always make the coffee myself." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer bustled out of the room, and Florence slowly rose and +dressed. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what mother would think of me," she said to herself, "if she +knew how I really secured my present position as one of the lucky +three; I wonder what mother would think about it. Would she be +terribly shocked? I doubt if the little Mummy has the highest +principles in the world; in fact, I don't doubt, for I am quite certain +that the Mummy's principles are a little lax, but there, she is the +Mummy, and I love her. What a queer thing love is, for Mummy is not +the highest-souled woman, nor the most beautiful in the world. Still, +she is the Mummy, and I love her." +</P> + +<P> +So Florence finished dressing and ran downstairs, and enjoyed a hearty +breakfast of brown bread and butter, honey, and delicious coffee. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't do much for you in the meat line, my dear," said her parent. +"I don't indulge in meat more than once a week myself, but we'll take +it out in fish. Fish is cheap and plentiful in Dawlish, and we can get +dear little crabs for fourpence apiece." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, lovely," said Florence; "I adore crabs." +</P> + +<P> +"We will go down to the fishwife after breakfast, and get her to boil +some for us in time for supper," said the mother; "and now, Florence, +if you are quite disposed to listen, I may as well get over this bad +business." +</P> + +<P> +"You allude to Aunt Susan, of course?" said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, my dear child, to her last letter. I could not read it to you, +for really the tone is that aggravating it would make milk turn, and I +know the contents by heart." +</P> + +<P> +"What are they, mother? You may as well tell me; I am pretty well +accustomed to bad news. Is she going to make your screw still smaller?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, she says nothing about that. Florence, child, I wish it had been +the will of Providence to have spared my brother, for if your Uncle Tom +had lived I would not be in the sordid state I am now. If one of them +had to go, why wasn't it your Aunt Susan?" +</P> + +<P> +"She is not my real aunt, you know," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"That's just it, dear, but she owns the money. Now, if she had left it +to Tom he would have had me to live with him. I doubt, after his +experience with your Aunt Susan, if he would ever have taken a second +wife, and you and I would have had plenty." +</P> + +<P> +"Dear me, mother," said Florence, frowning slightly, "what is the good +of going over that now? Uncle Tom has been in his grave for the last +six years, hasn't he? and Aunt Susan rules the roost. It's Aunt Susan +we have got to think about. What did she say in that unpleasant +letter?" +</P> + +<P> +"Something about stocks and shares and dividends, dear—that her +dividends are not coming in as well as usual, and that in consequence +her income is not so large, and she finds it a great strain keeping +you, Florry, at that expensive school." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, that's all arranged," said Florence, in a somewhat nervous +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"My dear Florry, don't you bear yourself up with false hopes and false +ideas, for it seems, according to your Aunt Susan's letter, that the +thing is not arranged at all. In fact, she declares positively that +she won't keep you at Cherry Court School longer than another term." +</P> + +<P> +"What, mother?" +</P> + +<P> +"She says so, my love. I am sorry to have to tell you, but it is a +fact. She says that you are going on sixteen, and that at sixteen you +ought to be a very good pupil teacher at another school, where your +services would be given in lieu of payment. She says she knows a +school in the country where you would be taken, a place called Stoneley +Hall, where there are sixty girls. It is up amongst the Yorkshire +moors, in the dreariest spot, I make no doubt. Well, in her letter she +said that she had arranged that you are to go to Stoneley Hall at +Christmas, and that the next term is your last at Cherry Court School." +</P> + +<P> +"If I win the Scholarship I need not do that," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, dear, that's just it; and she says also that when she removes +you from Cherry Court School she will allow me fifteen pounds a year +more than I have at present, which will make my income of sixty-five +pounds instead of fifty. I mean to give you that fifteen pounds a year +to buy your clothes with, Florry. You shall have that, my poor dear +child, whatever happens. I think you can dress yourself quite neatly +on that." +</P> + +<P> +"I should judge from the sort of clothes I have now," said Florence, +giving her foot a pettish kick against the obnoxious blue serge, "I +should judge they did not cost five pounds a year. Yes, the fifteen +pounds would be delicious; and you would give it to me, Mummy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, of course, darling, because you would have no income of your own +at Stoneley Hall for the first two years, and after that it depends +altogether on what you can do. You are not half educated yet, are you +Florence?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course not, mother; a girl of fifteen is not educated, as a rule." +</P> + +<P> +"That's just it, but your Aunt Susan does not care a bit. She reminds +me in her horrid letter, that you are not her own niece at all, and +that very few women would be as kind to her husband's people as she is +to you and me. She says frankly——" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, what an odious frank way she has!" interrupted Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"She says frankly," pursued Mrs. Aylmer, wiping the moisture from her +brow as she spoke, "that we are the greatest worry to her, both of us, +and that she does not care a pin for either of us, but that she does +not want to have it said that her husband's people are in the +workhouse, and that is why she is doing what she is doing." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Mummy," said Florence, "can you bear her? When you tell me those +sort of things I just long to throw her gifts in her face and to say +boldly, 'We won't take another halfpenny from you, we will go to the +workhouse to spite you, we'll tell every one we can that we are +connected with you. Yes, we'll go to the workhouse to spite you.'" +</P> + +<P> +"That's all very well, Florence," replied Mrs. Aylmer, rising as she +spoke and shaking the crumbs from her dress outside the window. "I +doubt if it would vex your Aunt Susan very much, and it would vex us a +considerable deal, my love. Your Aunt Susan's relations might not even +hear of it, and we would be miserable and disgraced for ever. No, we +must swallow our pride and take her money; there is no help for it. +But if you get the Scholarship, Flo, she is the kind of woman who would +be proud of you, she is really. If she thought you had any gift she +would turn round in jiffy and begin to spend money properly on you. +She asked me in her last letter what sort of girl you were growing up, +and if you had a chance of being handsome, for, said she, 'if Florence +is really handsome, I might take a house in London and give her a +season. I enjoy taking handsome girls about, and I am a right good +matchmaker.' That is what she said, the horrid old cat. But you are +not handsome, Florry, not a bit." +</P> + +<P> +"I know," replied Florence, "I know. Well, mother, we must make the +best of things. You may be certain I won't leave a stone unturned to +get the Scholarship." +</P> + +<P> +"You will get it, dear, and then your education will be secured, and by +and by you will get a post as governess, a good post in some +fashionable family, and perhaps you would meet a nice young man who +would fall in love with you. They do over and over in the +story-books—the nice young man, the heir to big properties, meets the +governess girl and falls in love with her, and then she gets a much +higher position than her employer's daughters. That is what I would +aim for if I were you, Florry." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, dear me, mother," said Florence. She stared very hard at the +round face of her parent, and wondered down deep in her heart why she +was so very fond of Mummy. "Let us go out and have a walk," she said, +restlessly; "let us visit the little shrimp-woman; I'd like to see her +and all the old haunts again." +</P> + +<P> +"But before we go," said Mrs. Aylmer, "tell me, my darling, why are you +nervous, why you fear you may not get the Scholarship." +</P> + +<P> +"I told you last night, mother—can't you understand? I am your one +pet chicken, but I am not anything at all really in the eyes of the +world. I am not beautiful and I am not specially clever." +</P> + +<P> +"But you got amongst the lucky three, as you call them; you must be +clever to have done that." +</P> + +<P> +Florence stared very hard at her mother; her face went a little pale +and then red. +</P> + +<P> +"What is the matter, Flo? Why do you stare at me like that?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am going to tell you something if you will never tell back again." +</P> + +<P> +"What is it, dear? Really, Flo, you make me quite uncomfortable; you +have got a very bold way of staring, love." +</P> + +<P> +"I am going to tell you something," repeated Florence; "I got into the +lucky three because I was mean. I did a mean, shabby, low thing, +Mummy." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, no," said Mrs. Aylmer, restlessly, "no, no, darling." +</P> + +<P> +"I did, mother," said Florence, and now her lips trembled. "I did +something very mean, and I did it to the girl who gave me those lovely +cherry ribbons." +</P> + +<P> +"That spoilt chit—Kitty Sharston you call her?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that girl. I opened her desk and looked at an answer which she +put to a certain question in English History which I did not know +myself. If I had not answered that question I make no doubt I should +not have been included in the lucky three." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, well," said Mrs. Aylmer. She looked restless and disturbed. +She went again to the little window and looked out. "I don't see how +you can help yourself," she said. +</P> + +<P> +"But it was a mean thing, wasn't it, mother?" +</P> + +<P> +"Poor people cannot help themselves," said the widow, in a restless +voice, "but I wish you hadn't told me, Florence; it was—it was the +sort of thing that your poor father would not have done; but there, you +couldn't help yourself, of course." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you don't think, mother, that I ought to tell Mrs. Clavering?" +said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell and give up your chance! No, no, no; that is the disadvantage of +being so poor, one has to stoop sometimes. Your father would not have +done it, but you could not help yourself. Come out, child, come out." +</P> + +<P> +The mother and daughter wandered along the beach. They visited the +shrimp-woman and then sat under the shade of a big rock and looked at +the dancing waves, and talked of Florence's chance of winning the +coming Scholarship. +</P> + +<P> +By tacit consent they neither of them alluded to that shabby deed which +Florence had done; they were both in their hearts of hearts +uncomfortable about it, but both equally resolved to carry the thing +through now. +</P> + +<P> +"For it is too important," thought Mrs. Aylmer. +</P> + +<P> +And Florence also thought, "It is too important, it means too much; I +must take every chance of securing the Scholarship." +</P> + +<P> +The two ladies returned home rather late, and there, to their +astonishment, they found a telegram waiting them. It was addressed to +Mrs. Aylmer. She tore it open eagerly and uttered an exclamation. +</P> + +<P> +"There, Florry," she said, "read that." +</P> + +<P> +Florence took the thin pink sheet and read the following words: +</P> + +<P> +"Staying at Torquay. Going back to London to-morrow. Will put up at +the hotel at Dawlish for one night on purpose to see Florence.—SUSAN." +</P> + +<P> +"There," said the mother, "there's a chance for you, Flo; I hope you +have brought a decent dress. Perhaps she will do something now that +she sees you; it is a wonderful chance. Dear, dear, dear! I have not +seen Susan for three or four years. She was a stylish woman in her +day; perhaps she'll give me one or two of her cast-offs." +</P> + +<P> +"Mother," said Florence, "we must make the best of things. You must +look nice and I must look nice, and we won't plead poverty. I feel +proud in the presence of Aunt Susan. I am sorry she is coming; I may +as well say so frankly." +</P> + +<P> +"But it's a great chance, child," said the widow; "what do you think +about inviting her here to tea?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense, mother," replied the daughter; "she ought to invite us to +tea." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if she will. I wonder which hotel she'll go to. There is a +splendid one on the beach, the 'Crown and Garter.' It would be very +stylish to be seen going there, and Sukey would think a great deal more +of me and also my friends, the Pratts, if they knew that we had tea'd +or lunched at the 'Crown and Garter.' I hope she will ask me. But +then, on the other hand, to see Susan in the cottage—she would +probably drive up in a carriage and pair—I really wonder which would +be best. It would have a great effect on the neighbors. I have spoken +to them of my grand relations, but somehow, seeing is believing. It's +wonderfully exciting—her coming, isn't it, Flo?" +</P> + +<P> +But Florry had walked to the window and was looking out with a shade of +disgust on her brow. The Mummy was the Mummy, but she certainly needed +repression. Even if you had those sort of sentiments, if you were +educated at all you would keep them to yourself. +</P> + +<P> +The rest of the evening was spent in considerable excitement on the +part of Mrs. Aylmer. Much as she professed to dislike her +sister-in-law, Susan Aylmer, the thought of seeing her caused much more +commotion than she had experienced at the thought of welcoming Florence +home. +</P> + +<P> +Florence was a dear old thing and her own daughter, but then she +depended on Susan for her bread. Early on the following morning she +was seen to put on her best and much-turned dress. +</P> + +<P> +She went to the shop and even committed the great extravagance of +getting a new white widow's front for her bonnet, and also a pair of +new black silk gloves, and then she waited restlessly until the arrival +of Mrs. Aylmer. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer arrived in state by a train which reached Dawlish about +noon, and the other Mrs. Aylmer—the poor one—and her daughter +Florence watched her from afar. +</P> + +<P> +"There she is," said Mrs. Aylmer the less, as she might truly be +called, "there she is, Flo. She's grown stouter than ever, she +promises to be a very large woman in her old age; and what a pompous +way she does walk! I do declare—well, that beats everything—she is +walking to the hotel, not even taking a carriage. That's just like +Susan. Come, Flo, we'll go toward and speak to her; there's no good in +having relations and keeping one's self in the background. Follow me, +my dear, and pull yourself up and look as nice as you can. Everything +depends on your aunt's first impression of you. Just push your hat +straight—there, that's better; now come along." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer and Florence pushed their way through a crowd of people who +had just arrived, and a moment later Mrs. Aylmer the less and Mrs. +Aylmer the great were shaking hands in greeting. +</P> + +<P> +"How do you do, Mabel?" said Mrs. Aylmer the great, "and is this your +daughter?" A pair of light blue eyes traveled all over Florence from +the crown of her head to the sole of her foot. "I'll see you both at +the hotel," said Mrs. Aylmer, in a gracious tone, "after I have had +lunch. I shall want a little rest immediately after, but don't keep me +waiting. I shall expect you at three o'clock." +</P> + +<P> +"Come home, Flo," said Mrs. Aylmer the less. "We must not disturb you, +of course, Susan, and we'll be punctual to the moment. What do you +think of her, Flo?" said the widow, as soon as she and her daughter +were out of sight. +</P> + +<P> +"I think she looks horrid, mother, just as she always did. How well I +remember going to see her shortly after poor father died, and how she +used to make you cry, and how cold she always was, and what miserable +tea she gave us! We had better ask her to a meal unless we want to be +starved, Mummy, dear." +</P> + +<P> +"I can't afford it really, Flo, and she would remark upon every luxury +we had at the table. She would write to me afterwards and say, 'From +the style of your meal,' etc." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't mother; I wish she hadn't come," said Florence. "You and I +could have been quite happy and cosy alone, but now she will contrive +to make us truly miserable." +</P> + +<P> +"She has come for a reason," said Mrs. Aylmer, solemnly, "and it +behooves you, Flo, to put your best foot foremost. I have got a nice +little white jacket for you to wear this afternoon, and white becomes +you very much." +</P> + +<P> +"A white jacket! What sort?" said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"One that your aunt sent me two years back, and which I altered by a +pattern of yours. You can wear it with that serge dress, and you will +look quite cool and nice. Now then, darling, let us have our own +dinner, because we must be punctual; it would never do to keep Susan +waiting." +</P> + +<P> +Neither of the ladies did keep Aunt Susan waiting. They arrived at the +hotel, which turned out to be the "Crown and Garter," just as the great +clock in the hall struck three. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer had never been inside the "Crown and Garter," and she now +looked around her with intense pleasure, and when one of the waiters +came forward asked him in a pompous voice for "my sister-in-law, Mrs. +Aylmer." +</P> + +<P> +The man withdrew, to return in a moment or two to say that Mrs. Aylmer +was in her private sitting-room, number 24, and would see the ladies +immediately. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +"I ALWAYS ADMIRED FRANKNESS." +</H4> + +<P> +"Hold your head up, Flo, and don't be nervous," whispered the widow, as +they walked down the long corridor, the waiter going in front. He +paused opposite number 24, flung the door open, and announced in a loud +voice, "Mrs. Aylmer and Miss Florence Aylmer," and then shut the door +behind the two ladies. +</P> + +<P> +The widow walked nervously up the room and then stood confronting her +sister-in-law. The elder Mrs. Aylmer had just risen from a sofa on +which she had been lying. Mrs. Aylmer the less was quite right in +prophesying her sister-in-law would be a large woman in the future; she +was a large woman now, stoutly built and very fat about the face. Her +face was pasty in complexion without a scrap of color in it, and her +eyes were of too light a blue to redeem the general insipidity of her +appearance; but when she spoke that insipidity vanished, for her lips +were very firm, and were apt to utter incisive words, and at such +moments her pale blue eyes would flash with a light fire which was full +of sarcasm, and might even rise to positive cruelty. +</P> + +<P> +"Sit down, Mabel," she said to Mrs. Aylmer. "Now Florence, I wish to +say a few words to you. You will have tea with me, of course, Mabel, +you and your daughter." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you very much indeed, Susan," said Mrs. Aylmer the less. "It +will be a real treat," she added <I>sotto voce</I>, but loud enough for her +sister-in-law to hear. +</P> + +<P> +"H'm! I have tea at four o'clock," said Mrs. Aylmer the great; "I will +just ring the bell and give orders; then we shall have time for a nice +comfortable conversation. My dear," she added, turning to her niece, +"would you oblige me by ringing that bell?" +</P> + +<P> +Florence rose and did so. There was an ominous silence between the +three until the waiter appeared to answer the summons. +</P> + +<P> +"Three cups of tea and some thin bread and butter at four o'clock," +said Mrs. Aylmer the great, in an icy tone of command. +</P> + +<P> +The waiter said, "Yes, ma'am," bowed, and withdrew. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer the less thought of the hearty tea she and Florence would +make at home, the shrimps and the brown bread and butter, and the honey +and the strong tea with a little cream to flavor it; nevertheless, her +beady black eyes were fixed on her sister-in-law now with a look which +almost signified adoration. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't stare so much, Mabel," said Mrs. Aylmer; "you have not lost that +unpleasant habit; you always had it from the time I first knew you, and +I see your daughter has inherited it. Now then, Florence, to business." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, aunt, to business," replied Florence, very brusquely. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer stared at her niece. +</P> + +<P> +"You speak in a very free-and-easy way," she said, "considering your +circumstances." +</P> + +<P> +Florence colored angrily. +</P> + +<P> +"My circumstances," she answered; "I don't quite understand." +</P> + +<P> +"Has not your mother told you about my, alas! unavoidable change of +plans?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have, Susan, I have," said the widow, in an eager, deprecating +voice. "I told dear Florry the day after her arrival. By doing +without meat and fruits and vegetables I contrived to pay her +third-class fare from Cherry Court School to Dawlish, and on the night +of her arrival I told her about your sensible letter." +</P> + +<P> +"H'm, I am glad you think it sensible," said Mrs. Aylmer; "sensible or +not, it is unavoidable. You leave Cherry Court School at the end of +next term, Florence, and I am about to write to your governess, Mrs. +Clavering, to give her due notice of your removal. I hope, my dear, +you have profited much by the excellent education which I have given +you during the last three years." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know that," replied Florence, in a sulky tone. "Where is the +good," she said to herself, "of trying to please this horrid Aunt +Susan, and I quite hate Mummy to fawn on her the way she is doing. I +at least cannot stoop to it. No; and I will not." +</P> + +<P> +"You have not profited by your time at school," replied Mrs. Aylmer the +great; "what do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have done my best, of course," replied Florence, "but I am quite a +young girl still, only just fifteen. Girls of fifteen are not +educated, are they, Aunt Susan? Were you educated when you were +fifteen?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Flo, Flo," said the mother, in a voice of agony; "pray do forgive +her, Susan." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish you wouldn't interrupt, Mabel," said Mrs. Aylmer, lying back in +her luxurious chair as she spoke, and folding her fat hands across her +lap. "I like Florence to speak out. I hate people to fawn on me." +</P> + +<P> +"Dear! dear!" said Mrs. Aylmer the less. She rolled her black eyes, +then lowered them and fixed them on the carpet. It was impossible to +understand Susan, she was a most extraordinary woman. If, after all, +Florry was on the right track and won the day! +</P> + +<P> +"Girls of fifteen are not specially well educated," proceeded Mrs. +Aylmer, fixing her eyes again upon Florence's face, which was now a +little red; "and I don't intend your education to be finished. I have +been fortunate enough to gain you admittance into an excellent school +for the daughters of the poor clergy. You are to go as a pupil +teacher; you will not receive any remuneration for the first two years, +but you can continue to have lessons in music, French, and German." +</P> + +<P> +"And what about English?" said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"You are to impart English. I conclude that at your age you at least +know your mother tongue thoroughly." +</P> + +<P> +"But that's just it, I do not," said Florence. "I know French fairly +well for a girl of my age, and I have a smattering of German, and am +fairly fond of music. I don't care for English History nor English +Literature, and I have not studied either of them; and my grammar is +very weak, and my spelling—well, Aunt Susan, I can't spell properly. +I am sorry, but I inherit bad spelling from my mother." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Florence!" cried the poor little widow. +</P> + +<P> +"I do, Mummy; you know perfectly well that you have never yet spelt +'arrange' right, nor 'agreeable.' You always leave out one of the 'e's' +in the middle of agreeable. Oh, I have had such a fight with those two +words, and I do inherit my bad spelling from you. Well, Aunt Susan, +what more do you wish me to say?" +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot admire your manners, Florence, and as to your appearance, it +leaves very much to be desired." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer looked very calmly all over Florence. Florence suddenly +sprang to her feet, her temper was getting the better of her. She +inherited her temper, not from her mother, for the little Mummy had the +easiest-going temper in the world, but from her father. John Aylmer +when he was alive had been known to plead his own cause with effect on +more than one occasion, and now some of his spirit animated his young +daughter. She rose to her feet and spoke hastily. +</P> + +<P> +"I am not good-looking," she said, "and I know it; I cannot help my +features, God gave them to me and I must be content with them. My nose +is snub and my mouth is wide, but I have got some good points, and if I +were your daughter, Aunt Susan—and I am heartily glad I'm not your +daughter; I would much, much rather be Mummy's daughter, poor as she +is—but if I were your daughter you would dress me in such a fashion +that my good points would come out, for I have good points; a nice +complexion, fine hair and plenty of it, and fairly good eyes, and my +figure would not look clumsy if I wore proper stays and properly-made +dresses; and my feet would not be like clodhoppers, if I had fine +well-made boots and silk stockings; and my hands——" +</P> + +<P> +"You need not proceed, Florence," said Mrs. Aylmer, rising abruptly. +"Mabel, I pity you; I should like to wash my hands of your daughter, +but I cannot forget my promise to my poor dead husband, who begged me +on his deathbed not to allow either of you to starve. 'For the sake of +the family, Susan,' he said, 'don't let my sister-in-law Mabel and her +daughter Florence go to the workhouse.' And I promised him, and I mean +as long as the breath animates this feeble frame to keep my word. +</P> + +<P> +"As long as I live, Mabel, your fifty pounds a year is secured to you, +and I shall allow you, after Florence leaves that expensive school, +which has cost me from one hundred and twenty to a hundred and forty +pounds a year, to give you an additional fifteen pounds, thus raising +your income to the very creditable one of sixty-five pounds per annum. +As to you, Florence, having gone to the enormous expense of your +education and having placed you at Mrs. Goodwin's excellent school at +Stoneley Hall as pupil teacher, I wash my hands of you." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, Aunt Susan, that's all right," replied Florence. "I never +did like you and I like you less every time I see you, but I want to +say something on my own account. It is quite possible that I may not +go to Mrs. Goodwin's school at Stoneley Hall. There is a chance that I +may be able to remain at Cherry Court School quite independent of you, +Aunt Susan." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Flo, that's right," said Mrs. Aylmer the less, rising now to her +feet and giving her daughter an admiring glance. "I always knew you +had spirit, my darling; you inherit it from your poor dear father. If +John were alive he would be proud of you, now, Flo. Tell about the +Scholarship, Florry, my pet; tell about the Scholarship, dear." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer the great was now so speechless with astonishment that she +did not open her lips. Florence turned and faced her. +</P> + +<P> +"It is your fault that I am plain," she said, "you have not done what +my uncle asked you to do. You have paid my fees at school, but you +have not made it possible for me to grow up nice in any sense of the +word. You have always thrown your gifts in my face, and you have never +given me decent clothes to wear. It is very hard on a girl to be +dressed as shabbily as I am, and to be twitted by her companions for +what she cannot help; and although you kept me at Cherry Court School, +there have been times over and over when I hated you, Aunt Susan, and +but for my dear little Mummy I would have left the school and earned my +bread as a dressmaker or a servant. But there is a chance that I may +continue to be a lady and hold the position I was born to without any +help from you. A great Scholarship has been offered to the girls of +Cherry Court School. It is offered by Sir John Wallis, the owner of +Cherry Court Park." +</P> + +<P> +"Sir John Wallis! The owner of Cherry Court Park! Why, I know him," +said Mrs. Aylmer. "I was staying in the same house with him last +year—a most charming man, delightful, good-looking, most agreeable +manners, and such a brave soldier! Do you mean to tell me, Florence, +that you know him?" +</P> + +<P> +"He is the patron of our school; I thought you were aware of that +fact," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"Your manners, my dear, are simply odious, but I listen to your words +with interest. Ah! here comes the tea. Put it on that table, waiter!" +</P> + +<P> +The waiter appeared, carrying the tray waiter-fashion on his hand. It +contained three very small cups of weak tea, and about five tiny wafers +of the thinnest bread and butter. There was a little sky-blue milk in +a jug, and a few lumps of sugar in a little silver basin. Mrs. Aylmer +glanced at the meal as if she were about to give her sister-in-law and +her niece a royal feast. "This is most exciting," she said; "we will +enjoy our tea when you, Florence, have explained yourself. So you know +Sir John Wallis. When you see him again pray remember me to him." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know him personally," said Florence; "there is a girl at +the school he is very fond of, but I just go in with the others. He is +giving the Scholarship, however." +</P> + +<P> +"Go on, my dear; you interest me immensely. With judicious dress and a +little attention to manners, you might be more presentable than I +thought you were at first, Florence. Take this chair near me; now go +on. What has dear Sir John done?" +</P> + +<P> +"He is offering a Scholarship to the girls of Cherry Court School, and +the girl who wins the Scholarship is to receive a free education for +three years," said Florence. "I am trying for the Scholarship, and if +I win it I shall remain at Cherry Court School for three years at Sir +John's expense. I shall be known as the Cherry Court Scholarship girl, +and be much respected by my companions; so you, Aunt Susan, will have +nothing to say to my subsequent education. I shall be very pleased to +wash my hands of you. I think, Mummy, that is about all, and we had +better go now. There will be a better tea for us at home, and I for +one am rather hungry." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer the great was quite silent for a moment, then she spoke in +a changed voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Florence," she said, "you need much correction; you are a very +bombastic, disagreeable, silly, ignorant girl, but I will own it—I do +admire spirit, you have a look of your father, and I was very fond of +poor John; not as fond of him as I was of my own dear Tom, but still I +respected him. Had he lived you would have been a different girl, but +your unfortunate mother—" +</P> + +<P> +"If you say a word against mother I shall leave the room this instant, +and never speak to you again," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"Really, my dear, you do go a little beyond yourself—I who have done +so much for you; but that Scholarship is interesting. Florence, you +had better go home; I will have a word with your mother by herself. +First of all, however, are you likely to win it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I vow that I'll get it," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"Florence is really clever, dear Susan," said Mrs. Aylmer the less, now +bursting in in an irrepressible voice; "I believe Sir John is much +struck with her. He did an extraordinary thing, and at the Cherry +Feast, which always ends the summer term at the school, had a +preliminary examination, and dear Flo, with two other girls, is +eligible to compete for the great Scholarship. They call themselves +the lucky three—their names are Kitty Sharston, Mary Bateman, and +Florry. Yes, Florence is very clever." +</P> + +<P> +"She has a good-shaped forehead," said Mrs. Aylmer; "I greatly admire +genius. You can go, Florence; I'll speak to your mother." +</P> + +<P> +"I think you had better come too, Mummy," said Florence; "surely it is +not necessary for you to remain." +</P> + +<P> +But Mrs. Aylmer glanced at her sister-in-law and then at Florence, and +decided to remain. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, dear child," she said, "I have a great deal to say to your +Aunt Susan; she has the kindest heart in the world, and the fact is, I +am looking forward to my cup of tea. What delicious tea it looks! It +is so kind of you, Susan, to give it to me." +</P> + +<P> +Florence stalked to the door without a word, opened it, and shut it +after her. When she had done so the widow glanced at the rich Mrs. +Aylmer. +</P> + +<P> +"You must forgive the dear child, Susan," she said. +</P> + +<P> +"Forgive her! there is nothing to forgive," said Mrs. Aylmer. +</P> + +<P> +"But she was very rude to you." +</P> + +<P> +"I prefer her rudeness to your fawning, Mabel, and that I will say +frankly." +</P> + +<P> +"Fawning! Dear Susan, you certainly have a very peculiar way, but +there—" +</P> + +<P> +"We need not talk about my ways; my ways are my own. I wish to say +something now. If my niece Florence wins the Scholarship, after her +term at Cherry Court has expired I shall send her abroad for two years, +paying all expenses of her education there. On her return, if she +turns out to be a highly-educated, stylish woman, I shall take her to +live with me, taking a house in London and giving her every advantage. +I intended to do this for Florence if she turned out good-looking; she +will never be good-looking, but she may be a genius which is equally +interesting. All depends on her winning the Scholarship. If she loses +it she goes to Mrs. Goodwin's school at Stoneley Hall, having clearly +proved to me that her abilities are not above the average. If she wins +it I do what I say, and in the meantime I wish you, my dear Mabel, to +get her one or two pretty dresses, a nice hat, and a few suitable +clothes. Or, stay, I have not the least doubt that your taste is +atrocious; give me her measurements, and I shall write to my own +dressmaker in London. Florence shall return to Cherry Court School as +my niece, and I will write to Sir John Wallis myself with regard to +her. Now, I think that is all. Oh, you would like your tea. Take it, +pray, and hand me a cup. That silly girl! but I always did admire +frankness." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE FAIRY BOX. +</H4> + +<P> +The rest of the week at Dawlish passed on the wings of speed. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer took her departure on the following morning, and neither +the little Mummy nor Florence saw her again, but at the end of the week +a box arrived at the widow's cottage. It was a wooden box carefully +nailed down, and labelled: "This side up with care." It was addressed +to Miss Florence Aylmer, and caused intense excitement, not only in the +breast of Florence herself and Mrs. Aylmer, but also in that of Sukey +and the near neighbors, for Mrs. Aylmer's tongue had not been idle +during the few days which had passed since her sister-in-law's visit, +and the intentions of Aunt Susan with regard to Florence had been +freely talked over and commented on. +</P> + +<P> +Nothing was said about the Scholarship. Mrs. Aylmer thought it just as +well to leave that out. Her remarks were to the following effect: +</P> + +<P> +"Florence is about to be adopted by her very wealthy aunt; she is +already keeping her at a good school, and is about to send her some +suitable dresses. In the end she will doubtless leave her her fortune." +</P> + +<P> +After this Sukey and the neighbors looked with great respect at +Florence, who for her part had never felt so cross in her life as when +these hints were made. +</P> + +<P> +"Mummy," she said once to her parent, "if I want to keep my +self-respect I ought to refuse those clothes and give up Aunt Susan." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear child, what do you mean? If you wanted to keep your +self-respect! My dear Florence, are you mad?" +</P> + +<P> +"Alas, mother, I fear I am mad," replied the girl, "for I do intend to +accept Aunt Susan's bounty. I will wear her pretty dresses, and all +the other things she happens to send me, and I will take her money and +do my best, my very best, to get the Scholarship; but all the same, +mother, I shall do it meanly, I know I shall do it meanly. It would be +better for me to give up the Scholarship and go as a poor girl to +Stoneley Hall. Mother, there is such a thing as lowering yourself in +your own eyes, and I feel bad, bad about this." +</P> + +<P> +Florence made these remarks on the evening the box arrived. The box +was in the tiny sitting-room still unopened. Mrs. Aylmer was regarding +it with flushed cheeks, and now after Florence's words she suddenly +burst into tears. +</P> + +<P> +"You try me terribly, Flo," she said, "and I have struggled so hard for +your sake. This is such a splendid chance: all your future secured and +I, my darling, relieved of the misery of feeling that you are +unprovided for. Oh, Flo, for my sake be sensible." +</P> + +<P> +"I will do anything for you, mother," said Florence, whose own eyes had +a suspicion of tears in them. "It was just a passing weakness, and I +am all right now. Yes, I will get the Scholarship, and I will stoop to +Aunt Susan's ways—I will cringe to her if necessary; I will do my best +to propitiate Sir John Wallis, and I will act like a snob in every +sense of the word. There now, Mummy, I see you are dying to have the +box opened. We will open it and see what it contains." +</P> + +<P> +"First of all, kiss me, Florry," said Mrs. Aylmer. +</P> + +<P> +Florence rose, went up to her mother, took her in her arms, and kissed +her two or three times, but there was not that passion in the embrace, +that pure <I>abandon</I> of love which Florence's first kiss when she +arrived at Dawlish had been so full of. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, then," she said, in a hasty voice, "let us get the screwdriver +and open the box. This is exciting; I wonder what sort of taste Aunt +Susan's dressmaker has." +</P> + +<P> +"Exquisite, you may be sure, dear. There, there, I am all trembling to +see the things, and Sukey must have a peep, mustn't she, Flo?" +</P> + +<P> +"If I acted as I ought," said Florence, "I would take this box just as +it stands unopened to Cherry Court School to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, my dear; you could not think of doing such a thing; it would +be so unkind to me. I shall dream of you in your pretty dresses, my +love." +</P> + +<P> +Florence said nothing more; she took the screwdriver from her mother, +and proceeded to open the box. +</P> + +<P> +Inside lay fold after fold of tissue paper. This was lifted away and +then the first dress appeared to view. It was a soft shimmering silk +of light texture, fashionably made and very girlish and simple. +Florence could not help trembling when she saw it. All her scruples +vanished at the first sight of the lovely clothes, and she took them +out one by one to gaze at them in amazed delight. +</P> + +<P> +The silk dress was followed by a flowered barege, and this by one or +two cottons, all equally well made, quite suitable for a young girl, +and the sort of dress which would give to Florence's somewhat clumsy +figure a new grace. Under the three lighter dresses was a very plain +but smartly-made thin blue serge, altogether different from the sort of +serge which Florence had worn up to the present. To this serge was +pinned a label, on which the words were written: "Travelling dress, and +to be worn every day at school." +</P> + +<P> +Under the pretty serge were half a dozen white embroidered aprons, and +below them piles and piles of underlinen, all beautifully embroidered, +silk stockings, little shoes, plenty of gloves, handkerchiefs, also +embroidered with Florence's name. In short, a complete and very +perfect wardrobe. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear, dear, is it a dream?" said Florence; "am I the same girl? What +magic that Scholarship has worked!" +</P> + +<P> +"You must try them on, Flo," said the widow; "we shall be up some time. +You must try one and all of them on, and Sukey shall come in and see +you." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, mother, is it necessary to show them all to Sukey?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think so, love, for it will spread the news, and it will greatly +enhance my position in the place. I quite expect the Pratts will ask +me to tea once a week, and they give very good teas—excellent; I never +tasted better hot cakes than Ann Pratt makes. Yes, Flo dear, Sukey +must see you in your smart clothes. Come upstairs to our bedroom and +let us begin the trying-on, dearest." +</P> + +<P> +Florence was sufficiently impressed with her new position to agree to +this. She went upstairs with her mother, and for the next two hours +the ladies were very busy. +</P> + +<P> +Sukey was called to view Florence in each of her frocks, and when Sukey +held up her hands and said that Miss Florence looked quite the lady of +quality, and when she blinked her old eyes and fussed round the young +girl, Mrs. Aylmer thought that her cup of bliss was running over. +</P> + +<P> +At last the trying-on was completed, the old dresses discarded and put +away, and Florence came downstairs in her travelling serge, wondering +if a fairy wand had been passed over her, and if she were indeed the +same girl who had arrived at Dawlish a week ago. +</P> + +<P> +"And here's a letter from your aunt; it arrived a quarter of an hour +ago," said Mrs. Aylmer. "I have not opened it yet. I wonder what she +says." +</P> + +<P> +"Read it to me, mother; we may as well go in for the whole thing. Aunt +Susan evidently intends to turn me out properly. Do I look much nicer +in this serge, mother?" +</P> + +<P> +"You look most elegant, dear, you really do. You will have a very fine +figure some day, and your face now in that very pretty setting-off has +a very distinguished appearance. You have an intellectual forehead, +Flo; be thankful that you inherit it from your poor dear father." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, read the letter now, mother," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer opened the envelope, and took out the thick sheet of paper +which it contained. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer the great generally wrote few words. It was only on the +occasion of her last letter that she had indulged in a long +correspondence. Now she said briefly: +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"MY DEAR MABEL: I believe that Florence's box of clothes will arrive on +Thursday evening, so that she will be able to return to Cherry Court +School dressed as my niece. I wish her in future to speak of herself +as my niece, as I am very well known in many circles as Mrs. Aylmer, of +Aylmer Hall. If Florence plays her cards well and obtains the +Scholarship she will have a good deal to say of Aylmer Hall in the +future. +</P> + +<P> +"I enclose herewith a five-pound note, and please ask Florence to +exchange her third-class ticket for a first-class one, and telegraph to +the station-master at Hilchester to have a carriage waiting for her, in +order to take her back to the school as my niece ought to arrive. Tell +her from me that during the next term I will allow her as pocket-money +two pounds a month, so that she may show her companions she is really +the niece of a wealthy woman. As to you, Mabel, I hope you will not +interfere in any way with the dear child, but allow her to pursue her +studies as my niece ought. If she fails to get the Scholarship all +these good things will cease, but doubtless she has too much spirit and +too much ability to fail." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"There," said Mrs. Aylmer, when she had finished the letter, "can you +take your tea after that? Five pounds, and you are to go back +first-class! That I should live to see the day! This is all Sir John +Wallis's doing. There is not the least doubt that he had a wonderful +effect upon Aunt Susan." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, a wonderful effect," said Florence, in a gloomy voice. She was +wearing the neat and beautifully fitting serge, a white linen collar +encircled her throat, and was fastened by the neatest of studs, and +white linen cuffs also encircled her wrists; her figure was shown off +to the best advantage. On her feet were the silk stockings and the +dainty shoes which she had so coveted a week ago, and yet her heart +felt heavy, heavy as lead. Her mother pushed the five-pound note +towards her, but she did not touch it. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here, Mummy," she said, "we will exchange the third-class fare +for a first-class one, and then you shall have the balance of the five +pounds. It will make up for what you denied yourself to have me here; +it is only fair." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Flo, you dear, sweet, generous child—but dare I take it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Mummy, you must take it; it is the only drop of comfort in all +this. I don't like it, Mummy. I have a mind even now to——" +</P> + +<P> +"To what, my dear child?" +</P> + +<P> +"To take off this finery and send back the money, and just be myself. +I wish to respect myself, but somehow I don't now. Oh, Mummy, Mummy, I +don't like it." +</P> + +<P> +"Florence, dear child, you are mad. This sudden happiness, this +unlooked-for delight has slightly turned your brain—you will be all +right in the future. Don't think any more about it, love. We must go +upstairs now to pack your things in order to get you ready for your +journey to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"You have not taken your tea, dearest. Is there any little thing you +would fancy—I am sure Sukey would run to the butcher's—a sweetbread +or anything?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, mother—nothing, nothing. I am not hungry—that's all." +</P> + +<P> +The next morning at an early hour Florence bade her mother good-bye and +started back for Cherry Court School. It was very luxurious to lie +back on the soft padded cushions of the first-class carriage and gaze +around her, and sometimes start up and look at her own image in the +glass opposite. She could not help seeing that she looked much nicer +in her white sailor hat, her pretty white gloves, and well-fitting dark +blue serge than she had looked when she went to Dawlish one week ago. +And that trunk in the luggage-van kept returning to her memory again +and again, and in her purse were ten shillings, and in her mother's +purse were three pounds, for the difference between the third-class and +the first-class fares had been paid, and Florence, after keeping ten +shillings for immediate expenses, could still hand her mother three +pounds. +</P> + +<P> +"You don't know what it will be to me, Flo," the little Mummy had said. +"I shall be able to buy a new dress for the winter. I didn't dare to +say a word to your Aunt Susan about her cast-offs; I scarcely liked to +do so. But there are your clothes too, dear; I can cut them up and +make use of them. Yes, I am quite a rich woman, and it is all owing to +the Scholarship." +</P> + +<P> +The thought of that three pounds for her mother did comfort Florry, and +her conscience was not accusing her so loudly that day, so she sat back +on the cushions and reviewed the position. She was going back to +Cherry Court School as a rich girl; what would her companions think of +her? +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +AN INVITATION. +</H4> + +<P> +The holidays had come to an end, and the girls were returning to the +school. The three who were to compete for Sir John's Scholarship had +special desks assigned to them, were instructed by special teachers, +and were looked upon with intense respect by the rest of the school. +The holidays had gone by and had been pleasant, for Mrs. Aylmer had +written to Mrs. Clavering to beg of her to take her niece Florence for +a week's change on the seaside, and Mrs. Clavering had insisted on +Kitty accompanying them, and, as Mrs. Aylmer paid the greater part of +the expenses, the girls had a good time. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer now wrote twice a week, if not to Florence herself, at +least to Mrs. Clavering; and Mrs. Clavering had to alter her views with +regard to Florence, to give her every advantage possible, and to look +upon her with a certain amount of respect. +</P> + +<P> +"It certainly is most important that you should get that Scholarship," +she said once to the young girl. "Mrs. Aylmer has explained the whole +position to me, but then you won't get it, Florence, unless you earn +it." +</P> + +<P> +"I know that," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"And Kitty has an equal chance with you. I think Kitty is a remarkably +intelligent girl. It is just as important for her to get it as it is +for you, you quite understand that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I quite understand," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"Then there is also Mary Bateman. Mary has not as brilliant an +intellect as Kitty, and in some ways is not as scholarly as you are, +Florence, but she is very plodding and persevering, and as a rule gets +to the head of her class. Mary is neither rich nor poor, but she would +be very glad of the Scholarship, and says that it would give her father +and mother great happiness if she obtained it; so you see, dear, you +three girls are to work for the same goal—it is almost as important to +one of you as to another. I want you therefore to be perfectly fair in +your dealings each with the other, and to try to keep envy and all +ill-feeling out of your hearts. The one who wins this great generous +offer of Sir John Wallis must not think more highly of herself than she +ought, and those who lose must bear their loss with resignation, +feeling that they have acquired a great deal of knowledge, even if they +have not acquired anything else, and trying to rejoice in the success +of the one who has succeeded. The next few months until October will +be a time of strain, and I hope my dear girls will be equal to the +occasion." +</P> + +<P> +Florence got very red while Mrs. Clavering was speaking to her. +"Sometimes——" she said, in a low voice, and then she paused and her +tone faltered. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it, Florence?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sometimes I heartily wish that Sir John had not put this great thing +in my way. Last term I was poor and had shabby clothes, and no one +thought a great deal of me, but in some ways I feel less happy now than +I did last term. Last term, for instance, I was very fond of Kitty +Sharston and I liked Mary Bateman, but there are moments now when I +almost hate both of them." +</P> + +<P> +"It is brave of you to confess all this, Florence, and I think none the +worse of you for doing so, and if you pray against this feeling it will +not increase, dear. Now go away and prepare for your French paper. By +the way, a special master is coming twice a week now to coach all three +of you. This has been done by Sir John Wallis's orders. Go away now, +dear, and work." +</P> + +<P> +The one great subject of conversation in the school was the Cherry +Court Scholarship, and the lucky three were looked upon with wonder and +a little envy by their less fortunate companions, for their privileges +were so great and the goal set before them so high. For instance, Mrs. +Clavering had so contrived matters that the three could work at their +special Scholarship studies in the oak parlor. She had given each girl +a desk with a lock and key, where she could keep her different themes +and exercises. They had a special master to teach them deportment in +all its different branches, and once a week they spent an evening in +Mrs. Clavering's drawing-room, where special guests were invited to see +them. +</P> + +<P> +On these occasions the young girls had to act turn about as hostess, +pouring out tea, receiving the visitors, seeing them out again, and +entering into what was considered in the early seventies polite +conversation. The almost lost art of conversation was as far as +possible revived during the time of Scholarship competition, and in +order to give Kitty, Florence, and Mary greater opportunities of +talking over the events of the day they were obliged to read the +<I>Times</I> every morning for an hour. +</P> + +<P> +Their companions, those of the Upper school, were invited to assemble +in the drawing-room on the occasions of the weekly conversazione, as it +was called, and a special subject was then introduced, which the girls +were obliged to handle as deftly and as well as they could. +</P> + +<P> +As to conduct marks, there was nothing said about conduct, and no one +put down those marks except the head mistress herself. Florence +sometimes trembled when she met her eyes. She wondered if those calm +grey eyes could read through down into her secret soul, could guess +that she herself was unworthy, that she had committed a deed which +ought really to exclude her from all chance of winning the Scholarship. +Then, as the days went on, Florence's conscience became a little +hardened, and she was less and less troubled by what she had done with +regard to Kitty Sharston. +</P> + +<P> +Florence's change in circumstances were much commented upon by the +other girls, and there is no doubt that in her neatly-fitting dress +with her abundant pocket-money she did appear a more gracious and a +more agreeable girl than she had done in the old days when her frock +was shabby, her pinafore ugly, her pocket-money almost <I>nil</I>. +</P> + +<P> +One of the first things she did on her arrival at the school was to +present Kitty Sharston with a white work-bag embroidered with cherries +in crewel-stitch, and with a cherry-colored ribbon running through it. +She had spent from five to six shillings on the bag, and had denied +herself a little to purchase it. +</P> + +<P> +Kitty received it with rapture, and used to bring it into Mrs. +Clavering's drawing-room on the company evenings, and to show it with +pride to her companions as Florence's gift. +</P> + +<P> +"She had never had such a pretty bag in her life," she said, and she +kissed Florence many times when she presented it to her. +</P> + +<P> +Florence meant it as payment for the cherry-colored ribbons, but she +did not mean it as payment for what she had stolen out of Kitty's desk. +She knew that nothing could ever pay for that deed; but it comforted +her conscience just a little to present the bag to Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +The Scholarship was to be competed for on the thirtieth of October, and +the girls reassembled at Cherry Court School about the fifteenth of +August. +</P> + +<P> +Three weeks after the school had recommenced, some time therefore in +the first week in September, Mary Bateman, who had been bending for a +long time over her desk with her hands pressed to her temples and her +cheeks somewhat flushed, suddenly raised her eyes and encountered the +fixed stare of Kitty Sharston. Kitty had done her work and was leaning +back in her chair. Kitty's sweet pale face looked a little paler than +usual. She was expecting a letter from her father, and on the week +when the letter was to arrive she always looked a little paler and a +little more anxious than she did at other times. +</P> + +<P> +"Have you finished your theme?" said Mary, abruptly. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +"You write so easily," pursued Mary, in a somewhat discontented voice; +"you never seem to have to think for words. Now, I am not at all good +at composition." +</P> + +<P> +"I am not at all good at other things," replied Kitty, in a gentle +voice; "mathematics, for instance; and as to my arithmetic, it is +shameful. Father wants me to be able to keep accounts very well for +him. I shall do that when I go to India, but still I have no ability +for that sort of thing—none whatever." +</P> + +<P> +"How much you must love your father," said Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Love him!" answered Kitty. Her color changed, a flush of red rose +into her cheeks, leaving them the next moment more pallid than ever. +</P> + +<P> +"You don't look very strong," pursued Mary, who had a blunt downright +sort of manner; "I wonder if India will agree with you; I wonder if you +will really go to India." +</P> + +<P> +"Why do you say that?" answered Kitty, impatiently, "when it is the one +dream, the one hope of my life. Of course I shall go to India. I +shall do that in any case," she added <I>sotto voce</I>. +</P> + +<P> +"It is so strange all about this Scholarship," continued Mary, in an +uneasy voice, "that we three should long for it so earnestly, and yet +each feel that two others will be more or less injured if we win it." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't let us talk of it," said Kitty. "I—I must get it." +</P> + +<P> +"And I must get it," pursued Mary, "and yet perhaps it means a little +less to me than it does to you and Florence. Florence is the one +likely to win it, I am sure." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty's face turned white again and her little hand trembled. +</P> + +<P> +"I must get it," she said, in a restless voice. "I don't think I am +selfish—I try not to be, and I would do anything for you, Mary, and +anything for Florence; but—but I can't give up the Scholarship: it +means too much." +</P> + +<P> +She shivered slightly. +</P> + +<P> +At that moment Florence entered the room. She sat down at her desk, +unlocked it, and took out her papers. She was just about to commence +her study—for the Scholarship study was all extra, and had to be done +in odd hours and moments—when, glancing up, she met the disturbed and +questioning gaze of Kitty Sharston. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here," said Kitty, "we three are alone now; let us have a good +talk, just once, if never again. Why do you want to get the +Scholarship, Mary? Why?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why do I want to get it?" said Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I wish to work now; if you mean to discuss that point I had better +leave the room," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, do stay, Flo; I won't be more than a moment. I want to +understand things, that's all," said Kitty. "Please, Mary, say why is +the Scholarship of great importance to you." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, for several reasons," replied Mary. "I am not like you, +Florence, and I am not like you, Kitty. I have got both a father and +mother. My father is a clergyman; there are nine other children +besides me—I am the third. It was extremely difficult for father to +send me to this expensive school, but he felt that education was the +one thing necessary for me. Father is a very advanced, liberal-minded +man; he is before his time, so everyone says; but mother does not think +it necessary that girls should know too much. Mother thinks that a +girl ought to be purely domestic; she is very particular about +needlework, and she would like every girl to be able to make a shirt +well, and to be able to cook and preserve, and know a little about +gardening, and know a great deal about keeping a house in perfect +order. But father says, and very rightly, that every girl cannot +marry, and that the girls who do not marry cannot want to know a great +deal about keeping a house in order, and that such girls, unless they +have fortunes left to them, will have to earn their own living. Of +course, there are very few openings for women, and most women have to +teach, so it is decided that I shall teach by and by. If marriage +comes, all right, but if it does not come I shall earn my living as a +governess. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, to be a really good governess father wants me to be very well +educated, and he is spending the little money that he might have left +to me when he died in sending me to this good school. Whether I get +the Scholarship or not, I shall remain at the school for three years. +I am fifteen now; I shall remain here until I am eighteen. If I do get +the Scholarship father means to save the money that the three years' +schooling would cost, and he means to send me when I return home at the +age of eighteen to a wonderful new College for Women which has been +established at a place called Girton. He will spend the money which he +would have spent on my education at Cherry Court School in keeping me +at Girton, where I shall attend the University lectures at Cambridge, +and learn as much as a man learns. It is wonderful to think of it. +Mother is rather vexed; she says that I shall be put out of my sphere +and cease to be womanly, but I don't think I could ever be that. You +see that it is very important for me to win the Scholarship, and I mean +to try very, very, very hard." +</P> + +<P> +When Mary had finished her little speech she drooped her head once +again over her desk. When at last she raised her eyes she encountered +the bold black ones of Florence Aylmer, and the soft, lovely, dilated +eyes of Kitty Sharston. +</P> + +<P> +"And I want to win the Scholarship," said Kitty, taking up the theme, +"because it means staying on here and being happy and being well +educated for three years. It means getting the best lessons in music, +and the best lessons in singing, and the best lessons in art, and it +means also getting the best instruction in modern languages, and in all +those other things which an accomplished woman ought to know. Then at +the end of three years if all is well and father gets promoted to the +hill station, I shall go out to join him in Northern India, and I want +to be as perfect as possible in order to be father's friend as well as +daughter, his companion as well as child." +</P> + +<P> +"And if you don't get the Scholarship, what will happen?" said +Florence, in a low, growling sort of voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, then I am going to live with a lady whom I don't love; her name +is Helen Dartmoor; she is a Scotchwoman, and a cousin of my mother's. +She is not the least like my dear mother, and I never loved her, and I +know that the best in me will not be brought to the fore if I am with +her; and I shan't learn those things which would delight dear father; I +shall not know modern languages, nor be a good musical scholar, nor be +able to sing nicely, and I—I shall hate that life, and my nature may +be warped, and I—but, oh! I will win the Scholarship." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty sprang to her feet and went over to the window. "This makes me +restless," she said; "I didn't mean to express all my feelings; I am +very sorry for you, Mary, and for you, Florence, but, I mean to get the +Scholarship." +</P> + +<P> +"You have not yet seen the thing from my point of view," said Florence. +"Perhaps in reality this means more to me than even to you, Kitty, for +I—I in reality am horribly poor. I know, Kitty, that you are poor +too—I know perfectly well that your father is poor for his position; +but whatever happens, you are a lady, Kitty, and your father is a +gentleman, and at the end of three years, whether you win the +Scholarship or not, you will go out to him and lead the life of a lady. +I don't suppose, when all is said and done, that it will make any +difference in his affection whether you can speak French and read +German or not, and I am certain he won't kiss you less often because +you do not play charmingly and because you do not sing divinely. But +I—if I lose the Scholarship I lose all—yes, I lose all," said +Florence, rising to her feet and standing before the other two girls +with a solemn and yet frightened look on her face. "For I shall sink +in every sense of the word; I shall no longer be a lady, I shall go as +pupil teacher to a common, rough sort of school, and my mother, my dear +mother, will suffer, and I shall suffer, and all the good things of +life will be taken from me. So it is more to me than it is to you, +Kitty Sharston; and as to you, Mary Bateman, you are out of count +altogether, for why should you go to that new-fangled college and be +turned into a man when you are born a woman? No, no; I mean to get +this Scholarship, for it means not only all my future, but mother's +future too. It is more to me than to either of you." +</P> + +<P> +Florence swept up her papers, thrust them into her desk, and abruptly +left the room, slamming the door after her. +</P> + +<P> +Kitty looked at Mary, and Kitty's eyes were full of tears. "It is +quite dreadful," she said; "how she does feel it! I never knew +Florence was that intense sort of girl, and it does seem a great deal +to her. What is to be done, Mary? Are we to give it up?" +</P> + +<P> +"Give it up?" said Mary, with a laugh; "not quite. Kitty, for +goodness' sake, don't allow Florence's words to trouble you. You have +got to fight with all your might and main. You will fight honorably +and so will I, and if you mean to give it up there will be the greater +chance for me, but of course you won't give it up." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I shan't give it up," said Kitty, "but all the same, Florence's +words pain me." +</P> + +<P> +At that moment a clear ringing little voice was heard in the passage +outside, the door of the oak parlor was burst open, and Dolly Fairfax +rushed in. Dolly's eyes were shining and her cheeks were crimson. +"Here are two letters," she said, "both for you, Kitty Sharston; it +isn't fair that you should get all the letters." +</P> + +<P> +"Come and sit on my knee while I read them," said Kitty, stretching out +her arms to Dolly. +</P> + +<P> +Dolly sprang into Kitty's lap, twined her soft arms round her neck, and +laughed into her face. +</P> + +<P> +"I do so love you, Kitty," she said; "I do so hope you will win the +Scholarship. I don't want you to get it, ugly Mary, and I don't want +nasty Florence to get it; but I want you, sweet, dear, darling Kitty, +to get it. You shall—you shall!" +</P> + +<P> +"You are a very rude little thing, but I don't mind," said Mary, +laughing good-humoredly. "I know I am plain, and I don't care a bit; +I'll win the Scholarship if I never win anything else, so you may as +well make up your mind, Kitty Sharston." +</P> + +<P> +But Kitty never heard her, she was deep in her father's letter. Yes, +it had come, and it was a long letter closely written on foreign paper, +and Kitty took a very long time reading it, so long that little Dolly +slipped off her lap and wandered restlessly to the window and stood +there gazing out into the court, and then back again into the +softly-shaded room, with the slanting rays of the afternoon sun making +bars of light across the oak. +</P> + +<P> +At last Kitty finished; she heaved a long sigh and looked up. "I had +forgotten you were here, Mary," she said, "and as to you, Dolly—but +there, it is beautiful, good news. Father has arrived and has begun +his work, and he says he has every chance of going up into the hills +about the time that I shall have finished my education here. Oh, it is +such a relief to read his letter. If you are very good indeed, Mary, +and if you are very good, Dolly, you shall both hear some of my +letter—not the private part, of course—but the public part, which +speaks about father's wonderful interesting travels, and his sort of +public life, the life he gives to his country. Oh, dear! I never saw +anyone grander than dear, dear father!" +</P> + +<P> +"You have said that very often," said Dolly; "I have got a father too, +but I don't think he is specially grand. I suppose it was because your +father was a hero before Sebastopol. I shall never forget about +Sebastopol now and the trenches since you told me that wonderful story +about your father and Sir John Wallis, and the night they were both +nearly frozen," said Dolly Fairfax. "I suppose that is why you love +your father so much." +</P> + +<P> +"No, it isn't," answered Kitty stoutly; "I love him just because he is +my father and because, because, oh! I don't know why—I love him +because I do." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, read your other letter now; two have come—read the other." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty picked up the other letter and glanced at it. "This is a private +letter; it has come by hand," she said. "Oh, of course, it is from Sir +John Wallis. I wonder what he has got to say to me." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty opened the letter and read the following words: +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"MY DEAR KITTY: I want you and Miss Florence Aylmer and Miss Mary +Bateman to spend to-morrow with me at Cherry Court Park. Mrs. +Clavering will accompany you, and I have written to her also on the +subject. My dear child, my reason in having you three girls is simply +that I want to study your characters. I say this quite frankly, and +you may tell both your companions that such is my intention in having +you to spend a long day with me. I will do all I can to make you +happy, and I think it but fair to put all three of you on your guard, +for please understand that the Scholarship is given, not only for +scholarly attainments and correct deportment, but also for those lofty +traits of character which are a greater possession to any woman than +either ladylike manners or great accomplishments. Pray do not be +anything but your natural selves to-morrow, for I shall never allude to +this matter again. From now until the date when the Scholarship is to +be decided, I will expect you three to spend one day a week at Cherry +Court Park. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"Your affectionate friend,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">"JOHN WALLIS."</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +AT THE PARK. +</H4> + +<P> +The news that the lucky three were to spend a whole day at Cherry Court +Park caused great excitement amongst the other girls of the school. +</P> + +<P> +"It's nothing short of delightful," said Alice Cunningham to her +sister; "I only wish I had such a chance." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you have not, so there's no use in fretting about it," replied +Mabel. "They certainly are having a good time, but who will win? I +vote for Florence." +</P> + +<P> +"And I for Kitty," said Alice; "who has a chance beside Kitty? She is +the most brilliant of the three girls, and such a favorite with Sir +John." +</P> + +<P> +"But for that very reason she may have less chance of winning, because +Sir John is a wonderfully just man. Did you ever see anyone so +terribly in earnest as Florence? Her eyes have quite a strained look +at times, and she does not eat half as much as she did; then she gets +such long, long letters from that wonderful aunt of hers. She did not +get those letters at all last term, and her dress is so smart, and she +has such heaps of pocket-money; there is a great change in Florence. +Sometimes I feel that I want her to win, but at other times all my +sympathies are for Kitty." +</P> + +<P> +"No one seems to think of poor Mary Bateman," said Edith King, in a +thoughtful voice, "and yet in reality she is one of the nicest girls in +the school, and if she wins the Scholarship, for she has been telling +me all about it, she is to go to Girton." +</P> + +<P> +"Where in the name of wonder is Girton?" asked Alice Cunningham. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it is a College for Women which has been opened near Cambridge." +</P> + +<P> +"Then if I thought I had to go to a College for Women I should be +rather sorry to win the Scholarship," said Mabel Cunningham; "but +there, don't let us talk of it any more. We are to have something of a +half-holiday to-day, for Mrs. Clavering is to take the three lucky ones +to Cherry Court Park." +</P> + +<P> +Florence dressed herself with great care for this expedition. Kitty +had shown her Sir John's letter, and she had felt a queer tingling pain +at her heart as she read it; but then a sort of defiance, which was +growing more and more in her character day by day, arose to her aid, +and she determined that she would not give Sir John one loophole to +find out anything amiss in her conduct. +</P> + +<P> +"We are going to be spied upon, and it is perfectly horrid," she said, +under her breath, "but never mind, I am determined to stand the test." +</P> + +<P> +The day happened to be a lovely one, and Florence looked carefully +through her wardrobe. She finally decided to put on the light summer +silk which Mrs. Aylmer had provided for her. She looked very nice in +that silk, almost pretty, and as all its accompaniments were perfect, +the lace ruffles round the neck, the lace hanging over her hands, the +trimmings of every sort just as they ought to be, the hat which she was +to wear with the dress, specially chosen by the London dressmaker for +the purpose, no one could look more elegant than Florence did as she +stood in the hall of Cherry Court School just before she started for +Cherry Court Park. +</P> + +<P> +Kitty, on the other hand, had thought very little about her dress; she +had no fine clothes to wear, so she just put on a clean white muslin +dress, tied a colored sash round her waist, put her sailor hat on her +head, and ran downstairs, a light in her eyes and a pleased smile round +her lips. +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot be anything great," she whispered to her heart, as she +glanced for a moment at Florence, who looked something like a fashion +plate as she stood in the hall, "but at least I'll be myself. I'll +try—yes, I'll try very hard to forget all about the Scholarship +to-day. I want to make dear Sir John happy, and I hope, I do hope +he'll tell me something about father and the time they spent together +outside Sebastopol." +</P> + +<P> +Mary Bateman was the downright sort of girl who never under any +circumstances could trouble herself about dress. She wore her best +Sunday frock, that was all, and her best hat, and her gloves were a +little darned at the tips, but she looked like a lady and was not the +least self-conscious. +</P> + +<P> +Sir John's own carriage was to arrive to fetch the ladies to the Park. +Cherry Court Park was between two and three miles away from Cherry +Court School, and Mrs. Clavering and her three pupils greatly enjoyed +their drive to the splendid old place. Kitty had been there twice +before, once with her father and once without him, but neither Florence +nor Mary had ever seen the interior of the Park. Mary's exclamations +of rapture as they drove under the overhanging trees and down the long +winding avenue were frequent and enthusiastic. Florence, however, +scarcely spoke; she was not a girl to be much impressed by external +beauty; she was thinking all the time how she could keep the best and +most amiable part of her character to the fore. What did Sir John mean +to do? What sort of test was he going to apply to her? She felt that +she must be armed on every point. +</P> + +<P> +"My dear girls," said Mrs. Clavering, just as they were approaching the +house, "I see you are all a little nervous, thinking that a somewhat +strange test will be applied to you to-day, but I assure you, my dears, +that nothing of the kind is intended, and I beg of you, as you wish to +impress your kind host favorably, to be at any cost natural and true to +yourselves. Florence dear, I would specially beg of you to remember my +words. Don't set your heart too much on any earthly good thing, my +child, for often those who lose gain more than those who win." +</P> + +<P> +But Florence shook off the gentle hand; she could scarcely stand Mrs. +Clavering's words just then, and avoided meeting her eyes. +</P> + +<P> +Sir John stood on the steps of his magnificent old house to welcome his +guests. As the carriage drew up beside the porch he came down and +extended his hand to each. +</P> + +<P> +"Welcome, welcome," he said, "thrice welcome! What a lovely day we +have! Mrs. Clavering, I hope to have the privilege of taking you round +my gardens, which are just in their autumn prime, and as to you three +girls, will you amuse yourselves exactly as you please until +luncheon-time?" +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you so much," said Mary, in her blunt voice. She could never +act a part to save her life. "That is just what I should like best to +do," she added, smiling and dimpling. She had a jolly little face, +somewhat tanned with the sun, two round good-humored brown eyes, and a +wide mouth. Her teeth were white, however, and her smile pleasant. +</P> + +<P> +"Kitty, my dear," said Sir John, turning to Kitty Sharston, "you have +been here before and I depute to you the task of doing the honors. +Take the girls wherever you please. If, for instance," added Sir John, +"you three would like to have a row on the lake there is the boat all +moored and ready. Kitty, you know how to handle an oar?" +</P> + +<P> +"Rather," said Kitty; "I have rowed more or less since I could walk." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, that is all right; but if you require any assistance you +have but to call one of the gardeners, there are sure to be plenty +about. Now off you go, all three; forget the old man, and enjoy +yourselves as happy girls should." +</P> + +<P> +As Sir John spoke he gave his arm with old-fashioned courtesy to Mrs. +Clavering, and the two turned away. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, is not this just like dear Sir John?" said Kitty, beginning to +dance about. "Come, girls, I'll have greatest pleasure in taking you +about." +</P> + +<P> +"I am surprised to hear that you know all about Cherry Court Park," +said Florence, in a somewhat cross voice, but then she remembered +herself and made an effort to smile. +</P> + +<P> +"I have been here twice before," said Kitty. "What do you say to +having a row? Mary, what do you wish?" +</P> + +<P> +"If you will allow me to do exactly what I like," said Mary, "I don't +want anyone to guide me; I want to wander here, there, and everywhere +just at my own sweet will. I have brought my little sketch-book with +me, and mean to sketch some of these splendid old trees. Mother is so +fond of outdoor sketches, and I could seldom indulge her with anything +so fine as I could get in an old place like this. Just go off where +you please, girls, and don't bother about me." +</P> + +<P> +Off ran Mary on her sturdy legs, and Florence looked after her with a +laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"Poor Mary," she said, in a contemptuous tone. +</P> + +<P> +"Why poor?" asked Kitty; "I think Mary is such a downright, jolly, +sensible sort of girl." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, very downright and sensible," said Florence. "Kitty, do you +really want to go in the boat?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not if you don't want to go," said Kitty, looking somewhat anxiously +at her companion. +</P> + +<P> +"But I see you do; I notice the expression in your eyes." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's very sweet in the boat, it does soothe one so; the last +time I was there it was with father; but never mind, I won't go if you +would rather not. Shall we sit under this tree and talk?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, let us," said Florence. "I feel very cross to-day; I don't +exactly know what is the matter." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish you would tell me some of your troubles, Flo." +</P> + +<P> +"How can I; you are my enemy." +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense, nonsense! how can you regard me in that light? You make me +quite miserable when you talk as you do." +</P> + +<P> +"And I meant to be amiable to-day," said poor Florence, "but somehow +everything grates. It is Aunt Susan. Kitty, you cannot understand my +position. I have to be civil and pleasant to one whom I—but there, +don't talk of it." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't quite understand; I wonder if you feel for your Aunt Susan as +I feel for Helen Dartmoor." +</P> + +<P> +"The lady you are to live with if you lose the Scholarship?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Kitty, sadly. +</P> + +<P> +"You had better make up your mind to like her then, Kitty, for you will +have to live with her." +</P> + +<P> +"Why do you say that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Only that I mean to get the Scholarship, and I think my will is +stronger than yours." +</P> + +<P> +"It is not a case of will," said Kitty, trembling a little as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"Isn't it? I rather fancy it is. But there, we are to be amiable +to-day, are we not? Look at Mary sitting under that tree and sketching +as if her life depended on it. I wonder if she is really doing it +hoping to please Sir John." +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bit of it; that would not be Mary's way. All the same," added +Kitty, in a thoughtful voice, "he will be delighted. Mary's sketches +are very spirited, and Sir John loves people to appreciate his place. +He will ask you what you think about it at lunch, Florry; you had +really better let me show you round a bit." +</P> + +<P> +"If that is the case, certainly," said Florence. She got up, and she +and Kitty began to wander through the different grounds. They had +nearly completed their peregrinations, having wandered over many acres +of cultivated and lovely land, when the luncheon bell summoned them +back to the house. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I am so hungry," said Kitty, "and Sir John has the most splendid +luncheons. I wonder where Mary is." +</P> + +<P> +The girls looked to right and left, but could not see a sign of Mary +Bateman anywhere. They approached the house. A great big colley came +up, wagging his tail slowly, and thrust his nose into Kitty's hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear old Watch, how sweet you are!" said the girl. +</P> + +<P> +She bent down, flinging her arms round the colley's neck, and pressed a +kiss on a white star on his forehead. +</P> + +<P> +Just then Sir John's voice was heard calling them. "Hey, little +women," he said, "I hope you had a pleasant time and enjoyed yourselves +as much as I meant you to." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I have enjoyed myself immensely," said Kitty. "Haven't you, too, +Florry!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Florence, "I like the place and the gardens." +</P> + +<P> +In spite of herself she spoke in a stiff, constrained voice; she felt +that Sir John's eye was upon her. She wondered how Kitty could forget +all that hung upon this visit. +</P> + +<P> +Kitty's face was quite careless and happy, there was a wild-rose bloom +on her cheeks which did not visit them very often, and her large +pathetic grey eyes looked more beautiful than ever. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Clavering now came forward. +</P> + +<P> +"Come upstairs, dears," she said, "and wash your hands before lunch." +</P> + +<P> +The girls followed their mistress up the great central hall and +ascended the low oak stairs. They entered a bedroom magnificently +furnished. +</P> + +<P> +"What a great delightful place this is!" said Florence; "fancy any one +person owning it!" She heaved a quick sigh as she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"It is a great responsibility having a place like this and so much +money," answered Mrs. Clavering. "Florence dear, I don't want to +preach—in fact, there is nothing I hate more, but I should like to say +one thing. Happiness in the world is far more evenly divided than +anyone has the least idea of. Riches are eagerly coveted by those who +are poor, but the rich have immense responsibilities. Remember, my +child, that we all have to give an account with regard to our +individual talents some day." +</P> + +<P> +Florence stirred restlessly and approached the window. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder where Mary is," she said, and just as she uttered the words +the silver gong in the hall sounded, and the three ladies hurried down +to luncheon. +</P> + +<P> +Still no sign of Mary, but just as they were all wondering with regard +to her absence, the door was opened, and a girl, with a smudge on her +face and her hat pushed crooked on her head, entered the room. She +held her little sketch-book and came eagerly forward. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I am sorry I am late," she said; "I hope I kept no one waiting. I +forgot all about it—it was that wonderful old oak-tree." +</P> + +<P> +"What, the grenadier?" said Sir John, with a smile. "Have you been +sketching it, Miss Bateman?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have been trying to, but it is awfully difficult." +</P> + +<P> +"You must let me see your attempt." +</P> + +<P> +He went up to Mary, took her sketch-book, opened it, and a smile of +pleasure flitted across his face as he saw the very clever and spirited +sketch which the girl had made. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah!" he said, "I am delighted you like this sort of thing. Would you +like to take many views from my grounds?" +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly—better than anything in the world almost," said Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, let me offer you my arm now into lunch. Ladies, will you follow +us, please?" +</P> + +<P> +Florence's brow contracted with a frown. Mrs. Clavering took Kitty's +hand, motioned to Florence to follow, and they went into the +dining-room. +</P> + +<P> +During the rest of the meal Sir John devoted himself to Mary; her +frank, commonplace face, her downright manners, her total absence of +all self-consciousness pleased him. He found her a truly intelligent +girl, and discovered in talking over her father that they knew some +mutual friends. +</P> + +<P> +To Kitty he hardly spoke, although he glanced at her once or twice. +Florence seemed not to receive the most remote share of his attention. +</P> + +<P> +"And yet," thought Florence to herself, "I am the only girl present +properly dressed for the occasion. Surely Sir John, a thorough +gentleman as he is, must notice that fact. I wonder what it can mean. +Why does he devote himself to Mary? Am I wrong from first to last? Do +girls who are real ladies think little or nothing about their dress? +Would Sir John have been more inclined to be pleasant to me if Aunt +Susan had never interfered?" +</P> + +<P> +As these thoughts came to the restless and unhappy girl's mind she only +played with her food, became <I>distrait</I> and inattentive, and had to be +spoken to once or twice by Mrs. Clavering in order to recall her +wandering attention. +</P> + +<P> +Just as the meal came to an end Sir John turned to Kitty, then glanced +at Florence, laid his hand emphatically on the table, touched Mary on +her sleeve in order to ensure her attention, and spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"Now," he said, "I am just going to say a word before we go for our +afternoon expedition." +</P> + +<P> +"Afternoon expedition! Are we going to have anything very jolly this +afternoon?" said Kitty, her eyes sparkling. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so, my little girl; I have ordered horses for us all. I +understand that you can all ride, and I thought we could ride to +Culner's Heath, where we may enjoy a gipsy tea." +</P> + +<P> +Even Florence almost forgot herself at this announcement. Could she +ride in her silk dress? Had Sir John thought of habits? It seemed +that Sir John had thought of everything. +</P> + +<P> +"You will find habits in your bedroom, ladies," he said, "and you can +choose your horses when they come up to the door—but one word first." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Clavering, who had half risen from the table, now paused, arrested +by an expression on her host's face. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," she said. +</P> + +<P> +Sir John glanced at her and then smiled. +</P> + +<P> +"I am about to speak to the girls," he said, "on the matter which we +discussed this morning, my dear madam." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Clavering smiled, and bowed her head. +</P> + +<P> +"You know, my dear girls," continued Sir John, turning and addressing +the three, "that the Scholarship competition will take place in a +little over a month from now. Now, I mean that occasion to be a very +grand occasion, I mean it to be strongly impressed upon the mind of +every girl in Cherry Court School, and no pleasure which I can devise +shall be omitted on the auspicious day. The happy winner of the +Scholarship shall be truly crowned with laurels, bonfires are to be +lighted in her honor, and the whole country-side is to be invited to +attend the great function, which I propose to take place, not at the +school, but in this house. I intend to invite the entire school to be +my guests on the great day. They shall all come early in the morning +and stay at this house until the following day. I am already making +preparations for the delightful time. And now, there is one thing I +want to ask. You three girls who are called by your companions the +lucky three have it in your power to invite each one guest to witness +your triumph. You are to name the guest to me, and I myself will send +the invitation in proper style. I know who Kitty would like to have +with her, but, failing that person, Kitty, is there anyone else whom +you may think it perhaps not your pleasure, but your duty, to ask to be +present?" +</P> + +<P> +"There is only Helen Dartmoor," said Kitty, in a low voice, the crimson +flush rising to her face, "and though it will be very unpleasant to +have Helen here, if you think it right, Sir John, I—don't mind." +</P> + +<P> +"That is very valiantly answered, Kitty, and I wish I might say at once +that you need not have anyone present whom you do not wish to have +present, but I rather think it would please your father if Miss +Dartmoor received a proper invitation. I will ask her therefore, my +dear child, if there is no one else you would rather have?" +</P> + +<P> +"There is no one else that I can have, and I don't suppose I need see a +great deal of Helen." +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly not; she will only arrive at the Park the day before the +Scholarship competition takes place." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I suppose she must come," said Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +"It would be a kindness," said Sir John, slowly. "I happen to know +Miss Dartmoor; she has few pleasures." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty nodded. Sir John turned to Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, then, Miss Bateman, whom am I to ask on your account?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, father, father! How delightful! how he will enjoy it!" said Mary, +her eyes sparkling, her face beaming. "He will so thoroughly +appreciate it all, and it will be so splendid of you, Sir John." +</P> + +<P> +"How very free and easy Mary Bateman is," thought Florry to herself. +</P> + +<P> +Sir John smiled, took down Mr. Bateman's address, and promised that the +invitation should reach him in good time. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if he will come. How he would love it!" thought Mary. +</P> + +<P> +Sir John glanced at her pleased face with marked approval. +</P> + +<P> +"And now, Miss Aylmer," he said, turning to Florence, "who will you +have present—the one you love best: your mother, for instance?" +</P> + +<P> +Now, Florence had sent one wild throbbing thought to the little Mummy +the moment Sir John had spoken of his plan. How the Mummy would enjoy +it, how she would revel in the good food and the lovely house! What a +red-letter day it would be to her all her life, for all the rest of her +years! How Sukey and Ann Pratt and the neighbors down at Dawlish would +respect her for evermore! And doubtless the Mummy's dress might be +managed, and—but what about Aunt Susan? Would Aunt Susan ever forgive +her? She dared not run the risk of her displeasure; too much depended +on keeping her in a good humor. +</P> + +<P> +"I should like my aunt to come," she said, in a steady voice; "she is +very kind to me and specially interested in the result of the +Scholarship." +</P> + +<P> +"I know; I have heard from Mrs. Aylmer," said Sir John, in a pleasant +tone; "if you would really prefer her to have the invitation to your +mother, it shall be as you wish, Miss Aylmer." +</P> + +<P> +"I think it would be right," said Florence. Her heart gave a heavy +throb, then seemed to stand still. +</P> + +<P> +Sir John gave her one keen glance, and took down Mrs. Aylmer's address +in his pocket-book. +</P> + +<P> +"I happen to know your aunt, Miss Aylmer, and shall be pleased to +extend hospitality to her on the auspicious event." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE PUPIL TEACHER. +</H4> + +<P> +At the beginning of the autumn term there happened to come to the +school a girl of the name of Bertha Keys. She was between seventeen +and eighteen years of age, and came to Cherry Court School in the +capacity of pupil teacher. She was not a pleasant girl to look at, and +had Mrs. Clavering seen her before she engaged her she might have +hesitated to bring her into the midst of her young scholars. +</P> + +<P> +But Bertha was clever and outwardly amiable. She performed her duties +with exactitude and despatch. She kept the younger girls in order, and +was apparently very unselfish and willing to oblige, and Mrs. +Clavering, after the first week or fortnight, ceased to feel +apprehensive when she looked at her face. For Bertha's face bore the +impress of a somewhat crooked mind. The small light blue eyes had a +sly gleam in them; they were incapable of looking one straight in the +face. Bertha had the fair complexion which often accompanies a certain +shade of red hair, and but for the expression in her eyes she might +have been a fairly good-looking girl. She had an upright trim figure, +and dressed herself neatly. Those watchful eyes, however, marred the +entire face. They were as clever as they were sharp and knowing. +Nothing escaped her mental vision. She could read character like a +book. +</P> + +<P> +Now, Bertha Keys was very poor. In her whole future life she had +nothing to look forward to except what she could win by her own +individual exertions. Bertha's apparent lot in life was to be a +teacher—her own wish was to cringe to those in power, to obtain a +footing amongst those who were likely to aid her, and she had not been +a week in the school before she made up her mind that of all the girls +at Cherry Court School no one was so likely to help her in the future +as Florence Aylmer. If Florence won the Scholarship and became the +adopted heiress of a rich aunt, the opportunities in favor of Bertha's +advancement would be enormous. On the other hand, if Mary Bateman won +the Scholarship nothing at all would happen to further Bertha's +interest. The same might be said with regard to Kitty Sharston. +Bertha, therefore, who was extremely sharp herself and thoroughly well +educated, determined that she would not leave a stone unturned to help +Florence with regard to the Scholarship. Nothing was said on the +subject between Florence and Bertha for several weeks. Bertha never +failed, however, to propitiate Florence, helping her when she could +with her work, doing a thousand little nameless kindnesses for her, and +giving her, when the opportunity offered, many sympathetic glances. +She managed to glean from the younger girls something of Florence's +history, noted when those long letters came from Mrs. Aylmer the great, +observed how depressed Florence was when she received letters from +Dawlish, noted her feverish anxiety to deport herself well, to lead a +life of excellent conduct, and, above all things, to struggle through +the weighty themes which had to be mastered in order to win the great +Scholarship. +</P> + +<P> +One day about three weeks before the Scholarship examination was to +take place, and a week after the events related in the last chapter, +Florence was engaged in reading a long letter from her Aunt Susan. +Mrs. Aylmer had received her invitation to Cherry Court Park, and had +written to her niece on the subject. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall arrive the day before the Scholarship examination," she wrote, +"and, my dear girl, will bring with me a dress suitable for you to wear +on the great day. I have consulted my dressmaker, Madame le Rouge, and +she suggests white bengaline, simply made and suitable to a young girl. +Yours, my dear Florence, will be the simplest dress in the school, and +yet far and away the most elegant, for what we have to aim at now is +the extreme simplicity of graceful youth. Nothing costs more than +simplicity, my dear girl, as you will discover presently. But more of +that when we meet. One last word, dear Florence; of course, you will +not fail. Were I to see you dishonored, I should never hold up my head +again, and, as far as you are concerned, would wash my hands of you +forever." +</P> + +<P> +Florence's lips trembled as she read the last words. An unopened +letter from her mother lay on her lap. She flung down Mrs. Aylmer's +letter and took up her mother's. She had just broken the envelope and +was preparing to read it when Dolly Fairfax rushed into the room. +</P> + +<P> +"Florence, do come out for one moment," she said; "Edith wants to tell +you something." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I can't go; I am busy," said Florence, restlessly. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish you would come; it is something important; it is something +about to-night. Do come; Edith would come to you, but she is looking +after two or three of the little ones in the cherry orchard. You can +go back in five minutes." +</P> + +<P> +Uttering a hasty exclamation, and thrusting her mother's letter into +her pocket, Florence started up and followed Dolly. She forgot all +about her aunt's letter, which had fallen to the floor. +</P> + +<P> +She had scarcely left the room before Bertha Keys stepped forward, +picked up the letter, read it from end to end, and having done so laid +it back on Florence's desk. Florence returned presently, sat down by +her desk, and, taking her mother's letter out of her pocket, read it. +</P> + +<P> +The little Mummy was in trouble; she had contracted a bad cold, the +cold had resolved into a sharp attack of pleurisy. She was now on the +road to recovery, and Florence need not be the least bit anxious about +her, but she had run up a heavy doctor's bill, and had not the +slightest idea how she was to meet it. +</P> + +<P> +"I do wish, Florence, my darling," she said, "you could manage to let +me have some of that pocket-money which your Aunt Susan sends you every +week. If I could give the doctor even one pound I know he would wait +for the rest, and then there is the chemist, too, and I have to be a +little careful now that the weather is getting chilly, and must have +fires in the evening, and so on. Oh, I am quite well, my precious pet, +but a little help from you would see me round this tight corner." +</P> + +<P> +Florence ground her teeth and her eyes flashed. The little Mummy ill, +ill almost to the point of danger. Better now, it is true, but wanting +those comforts which Aunt Susan had in such abundance. +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot stand it," thought the girl. "What is to be done? By fair +means or foul, I must get that Scholarship. Oh, I fear nothing. I +believe I am sure to win if only I can beat Kitty on her own ground. +Her ground is history and literature. There is to be a horrible theme +written, and a great deal depends on how that theme is handled, and I +am no good at all at composition. I have no power with regard to +picturesque writing. I cannot see pictures like Kitty can. I believe +Sir John has set that theme on purpose, in order to give Kitty an +advantage; if so, it is horribly unfair of him." +</P> + +<P> +Florence muttered these words to herself; then she glanced again at her +mother's letter. She put her hand into her pocket and pulled out her +purse. That purse, owing to Aunt Susan's bounty, contained over two +pounds. Florence resolved to send that two pounds to her mother +immediately. She began to write, but had scarcely finished her letter +before Bertha Keys, equipped for a walk, briskly entered the room. +</P> + +<P> +"I am going to Hilchester," she said; "have you any message, Florence?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I should be so much obliged if you would post a letter for me," +said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"I will, with pleasure," replied Bertha. +</P> + +<P> +"Can you wait five minutes? I shall not be longer than that writing +it." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Bertha. She went and stood by the low window-ledge, and +Florence bent over her sheet of paper. She wrote rapidly, a burning +flush coming into each cheek. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, darling little Mummy," she wrote, "I am sending you all the money +I have. Yes, you may be quite certain I will win the Scholarship by +fair means or foul. I feel nearly mad when I think of your sufferings; +but never mind, once the Scholarship is won and I am declared to the +world to be the Cherry Court Scholarship girl, once I am crowned queen +on the great day of the Scholarship competition, I shall, I perceive +well, be able to do exactly what I like with Aunt Susan, and then be +sure you shall not want. Please, dear Mummy, pay what is necessary of +this to the doctor, and get yourself what you can in the way of +nourishment. I am most, most anxious about you, my own darling little +Mummy, and I vow at any risk that you shall have my ten shillings a +week for the present. What do the girls at the school matter? What +matters anything if you are ill? Oh, do take care of yourself for my +sake, Mummy." +</P> + +<P> +Bertha Keys moved restlessly, and Florence, having addressed the +envelope and stamped it, went up to her. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here," she said, eagerly, "I wish I could come with you, but I +can't, for I have my lessons to prepare, and this is the night of the +conversazione. If you would be truly kind, would you do something for +me!" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I'll be truly kind," said Bertha; "I take a great interest +in you, Miss Aylmer, but who would not who knew you well?" +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean by that?" said Florence, who was keenly susceptible +to flattery. +</P> + +<P> +Bertha gave a little contemptuous sniff. +</P> + +<P> +"You are the only girl in the school whose friendship is worth +cultivating," she said; "you have go and courage, and some day you will +be very handsome; yes, I feel sure of it. I wish you would let me help +you to form your figure; you might draw your stays a little tighter, +and do your hair differently. I wish you would let me be your friend. +You are the only girl in the school whose friendship I care twopence +about." +</P> + +<P> +"What!" said Florence, trembling slightly and looking full into +Bertha's face, "do you think more about me than you do of Kitty +Sharston?" +</P> + +<P> +The pupil teacher gave a slight shrug of her shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +"Miss Sharston," she said; "oh, a nice little girl, very nice and very +amiable, but, my dear Miss Aylmer, you and she are not in the same +running at all. But there, I must be quick; I have to return home in +time to undress the little ones. Oh, what a lot is mine, and I pine +for so much, so much that I can never have." +</P> + +<P> +"Poor girl, I am sorry for you," said Florence; "but there, I won't +keep you any longer. See, this is what I want you to do. Will you +convert these two sovereigns into a postoffice order, and will you put +it into this letter, and then fasten the envelope and put the whole +into the post?" +</P> + +<P> +Florence gave some more directions with regard to the postoffice order. +In 1870 postal orders, much simpler things, were unknown. Bertha Keys +promised, took in all the directions quickly, and started off on her +mission. +</P> + +<P> +She walked down the road as briskly as possible. The distance between +Hilchester and Cherry Court School was between two and three miles. +The road was a lonely one. Bertha presently crossed a stile and found +herself in a shady lane. When she reached this point she looked behind +her and in front of her; there was no one in sight. Then taking +Florence's letter out of her pocket, she slowly and quietly read the +contents. Having read them, a smile flitted across her face. +</P> + +<P> +"Little Mummy," she said aloud, "you must do without your two pounds. +Bertha Keys wants this money a great deal more urgently than you do. +Florence must suppose that her letter has got lost in the post. Let +her suppose what she will, this money is mine." +</P> + +<P> +Having made these remarks under her breath, Bertha calmly tore poor +Florence's letter into a thousand tiny fragments. These she scattered +to the four winds, and then, humming a gay air to herself, proceeded on +her way to Hilchester. She transacted her business, went to a shop and +purchased out of one of Florence's sovereigns some gay ribbons and +laces for her own bedizenment, and then returned home. +</P> + +<P> +"Did you post my letter?" said Florence, who met her in one of the +corridors. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, dear, I am glad to say it caught the evening post." +</P> + +<P> +"Then that's right, and mother will receive it early to-morrow," +thought the girl to herself. +</P> + +<P> +The feeling that her money would relieve her mother contrived to ease +her overburdened conscience, and she was more cheerful and +happy-looking that evening. +</P> + +<P> +The next day at an early hour, as Florence was standing in the oak +parlor alone for a wonder, for neither Mary Bateman nor Kitty Sharston +were present, Bertha Keys came into the room. +</P> + +<P> +"The subject of the composition is to be set this afternoon," she said. +"You are good at composition, are you not, Miss Aylmer?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, that is it—I am very bad indeed," replied Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"I am very sorry, for I believe a great deal turns on the way the +themes are done. They must be very good ones." +</P> + +<P> +"I must do my best," said Florence, in a gloomy voice; "there is not +the least doubt that I shall beat Kitty Sharston in mathematics and +arithmetic, and as to Mary Bateman, she has not a scrap of imagination +in her composition." +</P> + +<P> +"But the little Kitty has a great deal," said Miss Keys, in a +reflective tone. "I have read some of her themes; she has a poetical +mind. The programme for the great day is to be given out also this +afternoon, and I believe Sir John intends to read the three Scholarship +essays aloud, and the guests present are then to vote with regard to +the fortunate winner. Of course, the theme will not quite decide the +Scholarship, but it will go a very long way in that direction. I have +seen Sir John, and I know that all his tendencies, all his feelings are +in favor of Miss Sharston." +</P> + +<P> +"There is little doubt on that point," replied Florence; "if it were +not for Kitty Sharston this Scholarship would never have been offered. +I wish it never had been offered," she continued, with a burst of +confidence which she could scarcely repress. "Oh, Miss Keys, I have a +great weight on my mind; I am a miserable girl." +</P> + +<P> +"I see you are, but why don't you confide in me? I believe I could +sympathize with you; I also believe I could help you." +</P> + +<P> +"I will, I must win," said poor Florence. "Oh, I could scarcely sleep +last night with thinking of my mother. I am so truly, truly glad that +you were able to post that letter in time; but for your happening to go +to Hilchester she would not have had it this morning. Now she must be +feeling great relief." +</P> + +<P> +"I can post as many more letters to your mother as you like," said +Bertha Keys. "I will do anything in my power for you; I want you to +believe that. I want you to believe also that I am in a position to +give you serious and substantial help." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," said Florence. She gazed into Bertha's eyes, and felt a +strange thrill. +</P> + +<P> +Bertha had a rare power of magnetism, and could influence almost any +girl who had not sufficiently high principles to withstand her power. +</P> + +<P> +She now hastily left the oak parlor to attend to her studies, and +Florence sat down to begin her studies. Her head ached, and she felt +restless and miserable. She envied Kitty's serene face and Mary +Bateman's downright, sensible way of attacking her subjects. +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot think how you keep so calm about it," she said to Mary, in +the course of that morning; "suppose you lose?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have thought it all out," answered Mary, "and I cannot do more than +my best. If I succeed I shall be truly, truly glad. If I fail I shall +be no worse off than I was before. I wish you would feel as I do about +it, Florry, and not make yourself quite ill over the subject. The fact +is you are not half as nice as you were last term when everyone called +you Tommy." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I know, I know," answered Florence, "but I cannot go back now. +What do you think the theme for the Scholarship will be?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have not the slightest idea. That theme will be Kitty's strong +point; there is not the slightest doubt about that." +</P> + +<P> +Florence bent again over her French exercise. She was fairly good at +French, and her German was also passable, but as she read and worked +and struggled through a difficult piece of translation her thoughts +wandered again and again to the subject of the English theme. What +would it be? History, poetry, or anything literary? +</P> + +<P> +The more she thought, the less she liked the idea of this supreme test. +</P> + +<P> +Dinner passed, and the moment for the reassembling of the school for +afternoon work arrived. Just as all the girls were streaming into the +large schoolroom, Mrs. Clavering came hurriedly forward. +</P> + +<P> +"Before you begin your duties this afternoon, young ladies," she said, +"I have received a communication from Sir John, and as you are all +interested in the Scholarship, which may be offered another year to +some further girls of Cherry Court School, I may as well say that I +have just received a letter from him suggesting the theme for the +essay. I will repeat to you what he has said." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Clavering stood beside her desk and looked down the long +school-room. The room contained at this moment every girl in the +school, also the teachers. Florence glanced in the direction of Bertha +Keys. She was standing just where a ray of light from one of the +windows caught the reflection of her red hair, which surrounded her +pale face like a glory. She wore it, not in the fashion of the day, +but in an untidy and yet effective style. The girls of the day wore +their hair neatly plaited and smooth to their heads. +</P> + +<P> +One of Mrs. Clavering's special objections to Bertha was her untidy +head. She often longed to ask her to get a brush and smooth out those +rough locks. +</P> + +<P> +Nevertheless, that very roughness of her hair gave her face a look of +power, and several girls gazed at her now half fascinated. Bertha's +light blue eyes flashed one glance in Florence's direction, and were +then lowered. She liked best to keep her most secret thoughts to +herself. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Clavering glanced round the room, and then, opening Sir John's +letter, spread it out before her. +</P> + +<P> +"I will read you my friend's letter aloud," she said; "you will all +clearly understand what he says." She then proceeded to read: +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"MY DEAR MRS. CLAVERING: After a great deal of reflection I have +resolved that the all-important essay which the lucky three are to +write shall be on the following subject—Heroism. This opens up a wide +field, and will test the capacities of each of the young competitors. +The essay is to be written under the following conditions: It is to be +the unaided work of the competitor; it is to contain not less than two +thousand words and not more than two thousand five hundred. It is to +be written without the aid of books of reference, and when finished is +to be unsigned and put into a blank envelope. The three envelopes +containing the essays are to be handed to you, who will not open them, +but will place them before me on the night of the Scholarship +competition. +</P> + +<P> +"Further particulars with regard to the competition I will let you know +in a few days, but I may as well say now that most of the examination +will be <I>vivâ voce</I>, and will consist of eight questions relating to +the study of the French language, eight questions on the study of the +German tongue, eight mathematical questions, eight arithmetical +questions, eight questions on English History, and eight on English +Literature. In addition, a piece of music will be played by each girl +and a song sung by each; but the final and most searching test of all +will be the essay, which in itself will contain, I doubt not, the +innermost heart of the competitor, for she cannot truly write on +Heroism without understanding something of what a hero or heroine +should be. Thus that innermost spirit which must guide her life will +come to the front. Her spelling and English composition will be +subjected to the best tests by means of those written words; her +handwriting will not go without comment; her style will be noted. She +can make her essay rich with reference, and thus prove the varied +quality of her reading. And the grace of her diction will to a certain +extent testify to her ladylike deportment and the entire breadth of her +education. +</P> + +<P> +"I need add no more. I have thought deeply over this matter, and trust +my subject will meet with universal approval. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"Yours very truly,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">"JOHN WALLIS."</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +TEMPTATION +</H4> + +<P> +Amongst the many duties which fell to the care of Bertha Keys was the +one of looking after the postbag. Every afternoon she took the girls' +letters and put them in that receptacle, hanging the key on a little +hook in the hall. Morning after morning it was she who received the +postbag, unlocked it, and brought the contents to Mrs. Clavering, who +always distributed the letters herself. Thus it was easy for Bertha to +abstract the letters which contained the Dawlish postmark. She did +this for a reason. It would never do for Florence to find out that her +mother had not received the letter with the postoffice order. +</P> + +<P> +Bertha knew well that if enquiries were made it could be quickly proved +that she had never obtained a postoffice order at all, and thus her own +ruin would be the result of her theft. She had taken the two +sovereigns in a momentary and strong impulse, and had since to a +certain extent regretted her foolhardy and wicked deed. Not that she +regretted it because she had stolen the money, but because she feared +the consequences. She now, therefore, had a double object for putting +Florence Aylmer into her power. If she could do that, if by means of +some underhand action on her part she could win the Scholarship for +Florence, Florence would help her in the future, and even if Bertha's +theft was known to her, would never dare to betray her. It is well +known that it is the first step which costs, and Bertha's first theft +was followed by the purloining of several letters from poor Mrs. Aylmer +to her daughter. +</P> + +<P> +At first Florence, relieved with regard to her mother's financial +condition, did not bother about this silence. She was very much +occupied and intensely anxious on her own account, but when more than a +week went by and she had no letter from Dawlish, she began to get +alarmed. What could be wrong? +</P> + +<P> +In these days it would be easy for a girl to satisfy her nervous +terrors by means of a telegram, but in 1870 a telegram cost a shilling, +and Florence was now saving every penny of her money to send to her +mother. She hoped soon to have another two pounds to transmit to her +by means of a post-office order. For Mrs. Aylmer the great was +thoroughly generous now to Florence, and never a letter arrived which +did not contain a money remittance. +</P> + +<P> +"She never guesses that it all goes to the little Mummy, that it helps +to cheer her life and to give her some of the comforts she needs," +thought the anxious girl; "but why, why does not Mummy write?" +</P> + +<P> +When ten days had gone by, Florence sat down one morning and wrote to +her mother: +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"DARLING MUMMY: I cannot understand your silence. You have not even +acknowledged the post-office order which I sent to you. I meant to +wait until I could send you another postoffice order for two pounds, +but I won't delay any longer, but will send you a postoffice order for +one pound to-day. Darling, darling Mummy, I do wonder how you are. +Please write by return mail to your loving daughter, FLORENCE +AYLMER." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Having written and signed her letter, Florence addressed it, stamped +it, and laid it by her desk. She then took out some sheets of +manuscript paper on which she was vainly endeavoring to sketch out a +scheme for her essay on Heroism. The conditions which attached to this +essay were already neatly written out by Mrs. Clavering's directions, +and were placed opposite to her on her desk: "The essay must contain +not less than two thousand words. It must be the unaided work of the +competitor. It must further be written without reference to books." +</P> + +<P> +Florence, smart enough about most things, was altogether foiled when a +work which must so largely be a work of imagination was required of her. +</P> + +<P> +It was a half-holiday in the school, and Mary Bateman and Kitty +Sharston were not sharing the oak parlor with Florence. They were out +in the cherry orchard; their gay voices and merry laughter might have +been heard echoing away through the open window. +</P> + +<P> +Florence sighed heavily. As she did so she heard the handle of the +door turn and Bertha Keys came softly in. Bertha brought a basket with +her. It contained some stockings belonging to the little ones which +she was expected to darn. She sat down on the low window-ledge and, +threading her needle, proceeded to work busily. She did not glance in +Florence's direction, although Florence knew well that she was aware of +her presence, and in all probability was secretly watching her. +</P> + +<P> +The silence in the room was not broken for several minutes. Bertha +continued to draw her needle in and out of the little socks she was +darning. Once or twice she glanced out of the open window, and once or +twice she cast a long, sly glance in the direction of Florence's bent +head. The scratch of Florence's pen over the paper now and then +reached her ears. At last Florence stopped her work abruptly, leant +back in her chair, stretched out her arms behind her head, uttered a +profound yawn which ended in a sigh, and then, turning round, she spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish to goodness, Bertha," she said, "you wouldn't sit there just +like a statue; you fidget me dreadfully." +</P> + +<P> +"Would you rather I went out of the room, dear?" said Bertha, gently. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, of course not; only do you mind sitting so that I can see you? +I hate to have anyone at my back." +</P> + +<P> +Bertha very quietly moved her seat. The oak parlor had many windows, +and she now took one which exactly faced Florence. As she did so she +said, in a very quiet, insinuating sort of voice, "How does the essay +on Heroism proceed?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it does not proceed a bit," said Florence; "I cannot master it. I +am not a heroine, and how can I write about one? I think it was a very +shabby trick on the part of Sir John Wallis to set us such a theme." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't worry about it if your head aches," said Bertha. "You can only +do work of that sort if you feel calm and in a good humor. Above all +things, for work of the imaginative order you must have confidence in +yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"Then if I wait for the day when I have confidence in my own power and +feel perfectly calm, the essay will never be written at all," said +Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"That would be bad," remarked Bertha; "you want to get that +Scholarship, don't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I must get it; my whole life turns on it." +</P> + +<P> +Bertha smiled, sighed very gently, lowered her eyes once more, and +proceeded with her darning. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe you have a bit of sympathy for me," said Florence, in +an aggrieved voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but I have; I pity you terribly. I see plainly that you are +doomed to the most awful disappointment." +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean? I tell you I will get the Scholarship." +</P> + +<P> +"You won't unless you write a decent essay." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Bertha, you drive me nearly mad; I tell you I will get it." +</P> + +<P> +"All the willing and the wishing in the world won't make the impossible +come to pass," retorted Bertha, and now she once more threaded her +darning-needle and took out another stocking from the basket. +</P> + +<P> +"Then what is to be done?" said Florence. "Do you know what will +happen if I fail?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; tell me," said Bertha, and now she put down her stocking and +looked full into the face of her young companion. +</P> + +<P> +"Aunt Susan will give me up. I have told you about Aunt Susan." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, yes, have you not? I can picture her, the rich aunt with the +generous heart, the aunt who is devoted to the niece, and small wonder, +for you are a most attractive girl, Florence. The aunt who provides +all the pretty dresses, and the pocket-money, and the good things, and +who has promised to take you into society by and by, to make you a +great woman, who will leave you her riches eventually. It is a large +stake, my dear Florence, and worth sacrificing a great deal to win." +</P> + +<P> +"And you have not touched on the most important point of all," said +Florence. "It is this: I hate that rich aunt who all the time means so +much to me, and I love, I adore, I worship my mother. You would think +nothing of my mother, Bertha, for she is not beautiful, and she is not +great; she is perhaps what you would call commonplace, and she has +very, very little to live on, and that very little she owes to my aunt, +but all the same I would almost give my life for my mother, and if I +fail in the Scholarship my mother will suffer as much as I. Oh, dear! +oh, dear! I am an unhappy girl!" +</P> + +<P> +Bertha rose abruptly, walked over to Florence, and laid her hand on her +shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, look here," she said, "you can win that Scholarship if you like." +</P> + +<P> +"How so? What do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"Are you willing to make a great sacrifice to win it?" +</P> + +<P> +"A great sacrifice?" said Florence, wearily; "what can you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"I will tell you presently, but first of all amuse yourself by reading +this." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I am in no mood to amuse myself; I must face my terrible position." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, I see you have written a letter to your mother; shall I put it in +the postbag for you?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, thank you; I mean to walk into Hilchester myself presently. I +want to post that letter myself. I am anxious at not hearing from +mother; she has never acknowledged my last postoffice order. I mean to +send her another to-day, and I want to post the letter myself." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I will walk into Hilchester with you after tea. We shall have +plenty of time to get there and back before dark." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," said Florence; "that will do very well." +</P> + +<P> +"Now, then, read this. Put your essay away for the present. I can see +by the expression on your face that you have a terrible headache." +</P> + +<P> +"But why should I read that, Bertha? What is it?" +</P> + +<P> +Bertha had thrust into Florence's hand a small magazine. It was called +"The Flower of Youth," and had a gay little cover of bright pink. +There were one or two pictures inside, rather badly done, for +black-and-white drawings in cheap magazines were not a special feature +of the early seventies. The letterpress was also printed on poor +paper, and the whole get-up of the little three-penny weekly was +shabby. Nevertheless, Florence glanced over it with a momentary +awakening of interest in her eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"I never heard of 'The Flower of Youth' before," she said. "Is it a +well-known magazine?" +</P> + +<P> +"It is one of the first magazines of the day," said Bertha, in a proud +voice; "will you read this little paper?" +</P> + +<P> +Florence's eyes lighted upon a short essay. It was called "The +Contented Heart," and her first glance at it made her sigh. +</P> + +<P> +"My heart is so terribly discontented I don't want to read about the +contented heart just now," she said. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, but I do wish you would; it is not long, Florence." +</P> + +<P> +Urged by a peculiar look in Bertha's eyes, Florence did read the short +essay. It was couched in plain language and was forcible and to a +certain extent clever. It occupied but a couple of pages, and having +once begun, Florence read on to the end without a pause. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," she said at last, "I should judge by that writing that the +author had not a contented mind. It seems to say a great deal about +things the other way round." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, but how do you judge the writing? Is that good or bad?" +</P> + +<P> +"Good, I should say; it interested me immensely. I was full of worries +and it seemed to lift them and smooth them away. I forgot them for the +time being. Yes, I should say that essay was well written, but I +didn't think about the writing at all." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, then it was well written," said Bertha. "But it is nearly tea +time; don't let us say anything more about it now. I will tell you +when we are walking to Hilchester." +</P> + +<P> +She caught up the little magazine, thrust it into her pocket, and left +the room without glancing at Florence again. +</P> + +<P> +"What a queer girl she is!" thought Florence to herself. She had run +up to her room to wash her hands, for tea, and presently joined her +companions in the tea-room. +</P> + +<P> +Half an hour later Florence and Bertha were on their way to Hilchester. +Both girls were feeling anxious. Florence had that weight of care ever +at her heart, and Bertha was wondering by what means she could smuggle +the letter to Mrs. Aylmer out of her daughter's hands. Think and think +as she would, however, she could see no way of preventing that +postoffice order being obtained, of its being slipped into the +envelope, and put into the post. She was noted for her ready wit, +however, and ingenuity, and she could only now trust to what she termed +a lucky chance. One thing, however, was more important than ever; she +must as quickly as possible get Florence into her power. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," she said, as the two girls strolled arm in arm down the shady +lane towards Hilchester, "you wonder, don't you, why I showed you 'The +Flower of Youth' this morning?" +</P> + +<P> +"I had forgotten all about it," said Florence, frowning. +</P> + +<P> +"I will tell you now. You admired that little paper on a contented +heart!" +</P> + +<P> +"It interested me," said Florence, "but why do you harp so about it? I +have so much to think of, it is rather bothering for you to go back +again and again to the same subject. The writer of that paper has not +a contented heart." +</P> + +<P> +"How clever of you to say that, for it is true." +</P> + +<P> +"True! Do you know the writer?" +</P> + +<P> +"I happen to know her." +</P> + +<P> +"You know a real live author! Are you joking, Bertha? You must be +joking." +</P> + +<P> +"I know her," said Bertha, casting down her eyes, and a modest +expression creeping over her face, "I know her well, for she—don't +start away from me, Flo—she happens to be your humble servant." +</P> + +<P> +"Now you must be joking! You are the author of 'The Contented Heart'?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am, dear. I got five shillings for that little essay; not much, you +will say, but better than nothing. The editor praised me and asked for +more. I write occasionally in 'The Flower of Youth,' and when I am +very hard up I am glad of the few shillings my writings bring me." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you are a real genius," said Florence "and I respect you." +</P> + +<P> +"I am glad you respect me; I always had a gift for writing." +</P> + +<P> +"I should like to read your essay, 'The Contented Heart,' again." +</P> + +<P> +"You shall, dear, you shall. I have always said that you could +understand me, Florence, but you must not reveal my secret. I would +not have it known in the school for worlds that I am an author. It +would be fatal." +</P> + +<P> +"But why? Are you not proud of the fact?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, I am proud of it, but perhaps Mrs. Clavering might not +approve. People have strange ideas in these days. They think when a +girl puts herself into print she makes herself too public." +</P> + +<P> +"But they can't think that. Why, they would make you into a perfect +heroine; you are a great, great genius, Bertha." +</P> + +<P> +"I am glad you think I have a little talent," said Bertha, in a modest +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"But it is a great deal more. Have you ever written stories?" +</P> + +<P> +"A few; but I have never published any." +</P> + +<P> +"Some day you will write a great book, a book that will live. You will +be a second Currer Bell." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, how I adore 'Jane Eyre,'" said Bertha, in a low, intense voice. +"Currer Bell has a great soul; she lifts the curtain, she reveals to +you her heart." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I could read 'Jane Eyre' again," said Florence. "I read it +once when I was at home for the holidays, but Mrs. Clavering does not +approve of novels." +</P> + +<P> +"Mrs. Clavering is a little old-fashioned. Let us walk quickly, +Florence. Do you know that I write poetry, too?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, then you are a tremendous genius." +</P> + +<P> +"I have a little talent," replied Bertha once more; "but now, Florence, +I have a suggestion to offer." +</P> + +<P> +There was something in her tone which caused Florence's heart to beat; +she seemed to guess all of a sudden what was coming. +</P> + +<P> +Bertha turned and gazed at her. "Look here," she said, "I don't do +things without a reason. I am anxious to be your friend because—well, +because I do like you, and also because I think you may be useful to me +by and by." +</P> + +<P> +"I am sure I cannot imagine what you mean, for it is not in my power to +be useful to anyone. Your friendship for me must be disinterested, +Bertha." +</P> + +<P> +"That is as it may be," answered Bertha, in a dubious voice; "we will +say nothing on that point at present. You want to get the Scholarship?" +</P> + +<P> +"I must get it." +</P> + +<P> +"You shall, with my aid." +</P> + +<P> +"Now what do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"It all depends on yourself, Florence. How much are you prepared to +sacrifice to win the Scholarship?" +</P> + +<P> +"To sacrifice? to sacrifice?" Florence felt very uneasy. She tried to +wriggle away from her companion, who held her arm firmly. "To +sacrifice?" she repeated. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that's just about it—how much?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, my time—my health even." +</P> + +<P> +"You must go a little further than that, Florence, if you mean to win." +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"I will be quite plain with you," said Bertha. "If you are not +prepared to sacrifice more than your time, more than your health, you +will fail, for Kitty Sharston has what you have not. She has the +imaginative mind and the noble heart." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh," said Florence. She colored, and tried to wriggle once again away +from her companion. +</P> + +<P> +"I must speak plainly," said Bertha. "At a moment like this there is +no good beating about the bush. Kitty will write an essay on Heroism +which will win her the Scholarship; she will do so because she is +animated by a very great and noble love. She will do so because she +has got poetry in her composition. You must face that fact. As to +Mary Bateman, she is out of the running. She is a good girl and might +even go ahead of you were the theme not the supreme and final test; but +that being the test, Kitty will win. You may as well put down your +oars at once, Florence; you may as well lower your colors, if you +cannot compete with Kitty on her own ground." +</P> + +<P> +"I know it; it is shockingly unfair." +</P> + +<P> +"But all the same, you can win if you will make the supreme sacrifice." +</P> + +<P> +"What is that?" +</P> + +<P> +"The sacrifice of your honor." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no; oh, no; oh, what do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"That is what I mean. You can think it all over. I will make my +suggestion, for I know you won't betray me. I will write your essay +for you. I can do it. I can write on noble things; I am well +educated; I am to a certain extent a practiced writer. I may not have +Kitty's talent, but I have—what she has not—the practiced pen. She +will struggle, but she cannot succeed against me. I will write the +essay on Heroism, and you shall accept it as your work. Now, think it +over; don't answer me at once." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE FALL. +</H4> + +<P> +The remainder of that walk was taken in complete silence. Florence's +head felt as if it were going round. There was a buzzing noise in her +ears. Higher and yet higher over her moral nature did the waves of +temptation rise. She struggled, but each struggle was feebler than the +last. They reached Hilchester, and Bertha looked at her companion. +</P> + +<P> +"You are as white as a sheet," she said; "won't you go in and rest at +Mrs. Baker's shop? I shall call there presently for buns and things I +am bringing back for the conversazione to-night; she will gladly let +you rest. The postoffice is quite five minutes' walk from here. Let +me post your letter for you. Have you the money in your pocket for the +order?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think I will rest at Mrs. Baker's," said Florence. "You will be +sure to get the order all right, Bertha? Here is the letter; put the +order in, won't you, and then put the letter in the post?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yes," said Bertha; "I'll be as quick as possible." +</P> + +<P> +She almost snatched the letter from Florence's hand, took the +sovereign, slipped it into her purse, and walked down the street with +rapid strides. In less than a quarter of an hour she had returned to +Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"It is all right," she said, briskly; "and now for my commissions here. +I hope you are more rested, Flo." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, I am quite rested," replied Florence; but there was a dead +sort of look on her face and the color had gone out of her eyes. +</P> + +<P> +Bertha walked briskly to the counter. She was in excellent spirits, +her carriage was perfectly upright, her well-poised head looked almost +queenly as it rested on her graceful shoulders. Her figure was +Bertha's strong point, and it never looked better than now. Even +Florence as she glanced at her was conscious of a dull admiration. +</P> + +<P> +How clever Bertha was, and really, when you come to consider her +carefully, how stylish and good-looking! +</P> + +<P> +"I shall never again as long as I live say that I dislike red hair," +thought Florence to herself. "Yes, Bertha certainly has a remarkable +face; no wonder she is able to write; and as to her eyes, I shall end +by liking her eyes. They do look as if they held a secret power." +</P> + +<P> +Bertha having given her orders now, waited until Mrs. Baker, the +confectioner's wife, had made up the cakes and biscuits and chocolate +creams which were necessary for the evening conversazione. Each girl +then carried a large parcel, and retraced her steps in the direction of +Cherry Court School. Their walk back was as silent as the latter part +of their walk to Hilchester. +</P> + +<P> +Just as they were entering the porch of the school Bertha laid her hand +on her companion's arm. +</P> + +<P> +"Well?" she said. +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot give you my answer to-night; I will to-morrow," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, Flo; but let me tell you in advance I know what that answer +will be." +</P> + +<P> +Florence felt a shudder run all through her frame. She ran upstairs to +the dormitory. It was late, and time to dress for the evening +festivities. +</P> + +<P> +Kitty was in her cubicle. Mary Bateman in hers. Neither girl had +drawn her curtain, and when they saw Florence they each began to talk +to her. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know, Florence," said Mary, "that that little genius Kitty has +absolutely written her essay, finished it all between tea and this +hour. She means to polish it to-morrow, but the rough draft is done. +I feel quite in despair when I look at her." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you need not; I don't suppose it is good a bit," said Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +"I dare not ask you what it is about," said Mary, "or I would love +beyond words to read it. When I look at your face and then think that +you were asked to write on Heroism, I feel that you were given a task +which neither Florence nor I can execute." +</P> + +<P> +"Speak for yourself, pray," said Florence, in a cross voice. She gave +a vindictive glance at Mary, avoided meeting Kitty's eyes, and vanished +into her own cubicle. Here she drew the turkey-red curtain, glanced +wildly round, and the next moment had dropped on her knees. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, please, God, save me from myself," whispered the wretched girl. +"Help me out of this somehow. Give me the strength to write the essay +myself. Oh, please, God, I must—I must have the Scholarship. Please, +please give me the ability, the genius to write the essay myself." +</P> + +<P> +Her wild, distracted prayer was the reverse of soothing. She sprang +up, poured some water into her basin, and began to wash her face and +hands; then she dressed herself neatly and gracefully. There were no +lack of pretty dresses now for Florence Aylmer to bedeck herself in. +She took great pains with her toilet. There was a certain +satisfaction, as she donned her silken chains, in knowing that at least +she could look as well as Kitty, nicer even than Kitty, as far as dress +was concerned. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer the great had excellent taste, and every one of Florence's +frocks were suitable for Florence to wear. They were all girlish and +simple. The frock she chose to-night was of a very pale pink. It was +made of the simplest stuff, and was not trimmed at all. It gave grace +to her figure and added to her height. A little ruffle of lace +surrounded her girlish throat, and on her arm she slipped a gold +bangle, Mrs. Aylmer's latest present. She then ran downstairs to the +drawing-room. In her pretty shoes and silk stockings and well-fitting +dress Florence made quite a graceful figure. She dropped a curtsey at +the door as she was required to do, and then, going forward, took her +place beside Kitty Sharston and Mary Bateman. +</P> + +<P> +These three girls were, according to the rules of the competition, to +entertain their companions. Neither Kitty nor Mary were in the least +self-conscious, and to-night Florence also, in the pressure of a great +misery, contrived to forget herself. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Clavering looked at her with distinct approval. +</P> + +<P> +"How that girl has improved," she said, bending towards Sir John +Wallis, who invariably appeared on these occasions. "She will end in +being handsome." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, she is a distinguished-looking girl," said Sir John, just +glancing at Florence, and then looking away again, "but Kitty is my +choice; give me the little wildflower Kitty. How sweet she is!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, of course, she belongs to a totally different order of being," +said Mrs. Clavering, dropping her voice; "but what about the +Scholarship, Sir John?" +</P> + +<P> +"I dare not think of anyone else winning it," said Sir John; "but, of +course, I have to face the fact that either of the other girls may +succeed. Above all things, one must act fairly." +</P> + +<P> +"I just doubted whether you gave a fair subject for the essay," said +Mrs. Clavering. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"Heroism," repeated the head mistress, speaking slowly and dropping her +voice. "With such a subject you appeal so distinctly to the heart. If +the heart does not respond, the essay on Heroism will never be done +justice to." +</P> + +<P> +"Ay, it is the supreme test, the supreme test," said Sir John, slowly. +Again his eyes wandered to Kitty. From her charming, bright, anxious +face he looked at Florence. It so happened that at that moment +Florence had raised her own dark eyes and fixed them on him. The +suffering she had lately lived through had added refinement to her +face, and the baronet caught himself looking at her again and again. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, she has improved; there is something in her; but what is she so +unhappy about, I wonder?" he thought. +</P> + +<P> +Just then Mary Bateman skipped up, asked his opinion with regard to a +fresh sketch she was making, and carried him away to chat with her in a +corner. +</P> + +<P> +Next to Kitty, Sir John certainly liked plain little Mary best. +</P> + +<P> +Light refreshments were brought in on little trays, and the girls were +invited to partake. The three young hostesses acted with <I>aplomb</I> and +much tact. Dull girls were drawn out of themselves, lively girls were +placed with suitable companions. Games were proposed, which were all +conducted in a spirited and lively manner, and finally the proceedings +ended with a gay dance. It was at this moment, just when the dance was +in full swing, that Sir John Wallis came up and offered his arm to +Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"Will you waltz with me?" he said. +</P> + +<P> +She looked up at him, colored with delight, and laid her hand on his +arm. The two led the dance, and right merry was the music which was +played to it. +</P> + +<P> +The dance had just come to an end when Sir John looked full at Florence +and spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"I heard from your aunt, Mrs. Aylmer, and she is much pleased to accept +my invitation. She will be my guest on the evening of the 29th, and I +hope I may persuade her to stay a few days longer. You must see a +great deal of her while she is at Cherry Court Park. You are a great +favorite with her, are you not?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of late I have been a favorite," said Florence, and now she looked +full at Sir John and her lip trembled. +</P> + +<P> +"There is something the matter with you, my dear," said Sir John. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know—nothing." Then she added, as if the words were +wrung from her lips, "I hate Aunt Susan." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, come, come," said Sir John, truly shocked; "let me tell you that +is a very unladylike way of speaking and scarcely fair to your aunt, +who is doing so much for you." +</P> + +<P> +"That is all you know, Sir John, but I dare not say any more." +</P> + +<P> +"But having said so much, I am afraid you must. I asked you three +girls what special friend or relation you would like to be present in +the hour of your triumph, and you selected Mrs. Aylmer. If you did not +like Mrs. Aylmer, why did you ask her to come? I would gladly have +received your own mother." +</P> + +<P> +"I will tell you," said Florence, in a hurried voice. "Mrs. Aylmer is +much interested in your Scholarship, Sir John, and she says if I win it +that she will adopt me. I shall be her—her heiress then. You +understand that it means a great deal to me, the Scholarship?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I understand," said Sir John, gravely. His face looked troubled. +"Sit down here, my dear," he said. Florence seated herself on a chair +by his side. "I can understand, and I am sorry; it is scarcely fair +that your young mind should be strained to this extent. And if you +don't win the Scholarship?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, if I don't, Aunt Susan will not need you to ask me much to Cherry +Court Park. She will wash her hands of me." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed, this is disturbing." +</P> + +<P> +"I ought not to have told you, and you must pretend that you do not +know." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall say nothing, of course; all the same, I am sorry." +</P> + +<P> +Sir John sat very thoughtful for a moment. After a long pause he spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"I ought not to give you any special advantage over the other girls," +he said, "but suppose I do this?" +</P> + +<P> +"What?" asked Florence, looking into his face. +</P> + +<P> +"Suppose I have Mrs. Aylmer as my guest and allow you to choose +another? What about your mother, Miss Aylmer?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, do you mean it?" said Florence; her face flushed, and then turned +pale. She had a wild, wild thought that even if she failed her mother +would not turn from her. She had a choking sensation in her throat, +which made her feel that even in the moment of absolute defeat the +little Mummy's kisses would be supporting, cheering, encouraging. +Tears brimmed into her eyes. "You are very good," she said. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I'll do it; give me your mother's address. She shall be your +guest; the other Mrs. Aylmer shall be mine. And now cheer up, my dear; +we can never do more than our best." +</P> + +<P> +Sir John turned aside, and soon afterwards the little party broke up. +</P> + +<P> +That night Florence hardly slept. At a very early hour she awoke. She +had prayed her prayer of the night before; she had asked God to help +her. As to not winning the Scholarship, that was absolutely and +completely out of the question. She must win it. The thought of +disgrace was too intolerable; she must, she would win it. She +determined to rise now and test her powers of composition. It was +between five and six in the morning. She rose very softly, got into +her clothes, and stole out of the dormitory. +</P> + +<P> +The light was just beginning to dawn, but there was not light enough to +work. Florence slipped softly down to the oak parlor; having secured a +candle and a box of matches, she lit the candle and placed it on her +desk, and, taking out a sheet of manuscript paper, she pressed her face +on her hands, once again uttered a wild, passionate prayer, and then, +dipping the pen in the ink, waited for inspiration. +</P> + +<P> +"Heroism," she said, under her breath. "What did it mean?" All that +it really meant rushed over her—self-denial, self-abnegation, the +noble courage which comes to those who think of others, not themselves. +"I cannot write," she said, passionately. She said the words aloud, +dashing down her pen and making a blot on the fair sheet of manuscript +paper. At that moment the door was opened and Bertha came in. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought I heard a noise," she said; "so it is you? What are you +doing there, Florence?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, nothing, nothing; but why have you come to tempt me?" said +Florence. She raised two haggard eyes to the pupil teacher's face. +</P> + +<P> +"Not to tempt you, but to help you, poor child. Of course, you will do +what I wish. There, Florence, I wrote your essay for you last night. +It came over me and I wrote it without much trouble. Here it is, dear; +you have only to copy it; put it in your desk for the present, there is +plenty of time, and go back to bed, dear, for you look worn out." +</P> + +<P> +Florence burst into tears. The next moment she had flung her arms +around Bertha's neck and laid her head on her shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"There, there," said Bertha, "there, there, you are overcome, but it +will be all right now." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE GUESTS ARRIVE. +</H4> + +<P> +It wanted three days to the Scholarship competition. The girls who +were called in the school the lucky three now scarcely spoke on the +subject—the other girls watched them anxiously. All lessons, except +those in connection with the Scholarship, were suspended so far as Mary +Bateman, Kitty Sharston, and Florence Aylmer were concerned. +</P> + +<P> +The trial essays, the essays which were to be the supreme test of +merit, were all written, and in sealed envelopes were handed in to Mrs. +Clavering. Meanwhile exercises on history, French, German, arithmetic, +were the order of the hour. The girls were busy all day long. The +three faces were somewhat pale, and lines which ought not to have +appeared round the young eyes and lips were beginning to make +themselves manifest. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall be truly thankful when the thing is over," said Mrs. Clavering +to Sir John; "this is bad for them, very bad. In particular I do not +like Florence Aylmer's expression. The girl thinks too much about this +matter. If she fails she will have an illness." +</P> + +<P> +"And if she succeeds Kitty will fail or have an illness," said Sir +John, restlessly. +</P> + +<P> +"Kitty will feel it, but she will not have an illness," said Mrs. +Clavering; "you have but to see the expression on the two faces to know +that. Kitty is anxious also and resolved, but there is a firm, steady, +fine sort of expression about her, quite the reverse of poor +Florence's." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I confess I do not understand that girl," said Sir John; "and +yet," he added, "I cannot help liking her; she has a good deal in her." +</P> + +<P> +"I pity her, poor child," said Mrs. Clavering; "she is placed in a very +false position. I once met her aunt, Mrs. Aylmer, of Aylmer's Court; +that was on the occasion when Florence was brought to my school, and I +confess I did not take to her." +</P> + +<P> +Sir John shrugged his shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +"It is invidious to speak of a lady who is soon to be one's guest," he +said, "but I also have met Mrs. Aylmer." +</P> + +<P> +On the morning of the same day Florence had received a letter from her +mother. Bertha Keys had gone away on the previous evening to visit a +sick cousin, and in consequence had not the charge of the postbag. She +was very unwilling to leave at this critical moment, but the cousin was +ill, required her services. Mrs. Clavering was willing to spare her +for one night, there was no help for it; she must go. "I must only +trust that no letter will come from Dawlish," she said to herself; "but +after all, even if it does, it cannot really matter. Florence must +sooner or later feel that she is in my power; perhaps the sooner the +better." +</P> + +<P> +Florence found the letter from her mother on the breakfast-table. She +stretched out her hand, caught it with a firm grip, thrust it into her +pocket, and then applied herself to her breakfast. +</P> + +<P> +"Why don't you read your letter? You know you are allowed to do so," +said Edith King, who was seated next to her. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it will do after breakfast," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"You don't look well, Flo; what is the matter with you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am a little anxious, if you must know," said Florence, turning round +and glancing at her companion; "I have not heard from my mother for two +or three weeks; but there, of course, it is all right. She has not +even told me whether she has accepted Sir John Wallis's invitation. +Sir John told me he had written, but I cannot tell whether she is +coming or not." +</P> + +<P> +"It will be delightful for you if she does come, will it not?" said +Edith King. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, delightful," answered Florence. She did not speak any more, +but finished her breakfast somewhat hastily. At the first moment she +could find herself alone Florence rushed into the cherry orchard and +tore open her letter. It contained the following words: +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"MY DARLING CHILD: +</P> + +<P> +"Such a wonderful, extraordinary, delightful thing has happened. It is +so unexpected that it quite puts out of my head a great deal which has +made me anxious up to the present. I have received a letter from no +less a person than Sir John Wallis, the distinguished owner of that +magnificent place, Cherry Court Park, and he has invited me, my +darling, to be present at the moment of your great triumph. He says, +which I regret very much, that your Aunt Susan will also be there, but +I am asked as your guest, my child. It is all most wonderful, +unexpected, and truly fascinating. The effect on the neighbors is +already so surprising that I have literally not been obliged to provide +myself with a single meal since the news came. The Pratts have invited +me each morning to breakfast, and Ann Pratt has assiduously catechized +me, so much so that I have found an ancient book on the 'baronial halls +of England, and have worked up some information for her benefit from +this volume. I never saw anyone so eager as the creature is to find +out Sir John's income and all about him. It is extraordinary, but +still quite human nature. +</P> + +<P> +"Sukey is wonderfully affected since the news came, and in fact right +and left your poor Mummy is quite an honored individual. +</P> + +<P> +"I feel like a heroine, my darling, and walk about Dawlish with my head +well up. I am also quite extravagant, and am wearing that dress which +I described to you as being turned for the fifth time. It is reckless +of me, but I cannot help it. For what do you think, dear?—Sir John +has sent me a check for my expenses. He says that he could not +possibly ask me to be present if I were put to any expense in the +matter, and he has absolutely sent me twenty pounds; so I shall be able +to buy a suitable costume to be present in when I see my darling +crowned with glory. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, what a supreme moment it will be! I have already got the black +silk, and Miss Macgregor, in the Parade—you know what a fashionable +dressmaker she is—is making it up. I shall, of course, wear my +widow's bonnet, as it looks so <I>distingué</I>, and Mrs. Sweat, the +milliner in the High Street, is making up a new one, most stylish. +</P> + +<P> +"I can add no more now. My heart goes pit-a-pat. When you receive +this I shall be packing for my journey. It will be splendid to see +Susan in the moment of your triumph. Altogether, dear, I never felt +more elated in my life. This great and unexpected excitement has +perfectly restored my health. I say to myself—you know, Flo, I always +was a reckless little woman—I say to myself, 'Never mind, enjoy the +present, Mabel Aylmer, even if afterwards comes the deluge.' Good-bye, +my dearest; we shall soon meet and embrace. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"Your most affectionate<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">"MOTHER."</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Florence read the letter over once or twice. She then put it in her +pocket and paced thoughtfully up and down the cherry orchard. The +cherry trees were rapidly dropping their leaves now, and some of them +fell over Florence. She shook them off impatiently. +</P> + +<P> +"It was queer of mother never to mention those postoffice orders which +I sent her," thought the girl; "she has not even thanked me for them; +but there, I suppose it is all right, and she is very happy. It was +good of Sir John to send her that twenty pounds, and yet—and yet it +chokes me to think of it. He would not dare to send the money to +Kitty's cousin, Helen Dartmoor, nor would he dare to send it to Mary +Bateman's father. Oh, if I can only win this Scholarship I shall hold +my head high and exercise that pride, which, after all, no woman ought +to be without." +</P> + +<P> +Florence went back to the house, and soon afterwards Bertha Keys +entered the oak parlor. In the course of the morning she sat next to +Florence, who bent towards her and said, "I have had a long letter from +my mother." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, indeed," said Bertha, changing color in spite of herself; "and +what did she say?" +</P> + +<P> +"She is coming to Cherry Court Park. Bertha, it is rather queer she +has said nothing at all about the postoffice orders. I wonder if she +got them safely." +</P> + +<P> +"Is it likely she didn't?" replied Bertha, in a calm voice; "of course +she did. She was too excited to think of them; to have an invitation +of that sort would absorb her very much." +</P> + +<P> +"It does absorb her very much indeed," replied Florence. "Doubtless +she forgot. Well, I shall soon see her and be able to ask her all +about the matter." +</P> + +<P> +Sir John Wallis had arranged that the three girls who were to compete +for the Scholarship were to arrive at Cherry Court Park early on the +morning of the great day. They were to sleep there that night, and +return to the school the following day. The rest of the school were to +arrive in the evening, but the Scholarship girls were to have the run +of the Hall, and were to be entertained as the honored guests during +the whole of the important day. +</P> + +<P> +No girls could possibly be more excited than these three when at last +the morning broke. Florence, who had scarcely slept at all the +previous night, felt that she would be almost glad, even if the worst +befell her, to have the terrible ordeal over. +</P> + +<P> +"By this time to-morrow I shall be the happiest girl in the world or +the most truly miserable," she thought to herself. But the greatness +of the ordeal now had a certain composing effect, and Kitty, Mary and +Florence started off in Sir John's carriage in apparently high spirits. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you think?" said Kitty, bending forward and touching Mary on +the sleeve; "Sir John has promised if I succeed to send a cable to +father. Isn't it perfectly splendid of him? He has not said anything +to father about the cable. What a surprise and delight it will be if +he gets it." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish you would not tell me," said Mary; "when I look into your eyes +and see all that this means to you I feel a perfect brute, and yet +nevertheless I mean to play my very best to-night, and to sing with all +my heart in my voice, and to answer each question as carefully as I +can, for my dear, dear old father will be present. Oh, how happy, how +delighted I shall be to meet him again!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it will be splendid for you; and you, Florence, how glad you will +be to see your mother," said Kitty. "But, oh, dear! oh, dear! I wish +it hadn't been necessary to ask Helen Dartmoor to be present on the +great occasion." +</P> + +<P> +The girls went to the Hall in neat morning dresses, but the white +dresses they were to wear in the evening, which were by Sir John's +orders to be pure white, had already been sent on to the Hall. +</P> + +<P> +The day was a glorious one, and as they drove through the beautiful +scenery in Sir John's immense park a golden mist lay over everything. +At last they drew up before the great front entrance. A group of +ladies were standing in the hall. Sir John came down the steps. The +next moment a little figure was seen running briskly forward, and +Florence was clasped in the arms of the little Mummy. +</P> + +<P> +"My darling! my darling!" said little Mrs. Aylmer. Florence kissed her +with a quick passion, held her then at arm's length, looked into her +face, and crushed some moisture out of her own eyes. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile a very trim, staid-looking woman, with faded hair, pale blue +eyes, and a correct, old-maid sort of demeanor, had given Kitty a light +kiss on her forehead. "How do you do?" she said, in an accent which +was truly Scotch. "It was very kind of Sir John to invite me to the +Hall. I hope, for your own sake, you will win the Scholarship." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty answered as brightly as she could. +</P> + +<P> +"If not, of course, you are fully aware that you will be my guest for +the next two or three years. It is scarcely likely you will win the +Scholarship, and I have already been making all the arrangements I +could with regard to your instruction," said Miss Dartmoor. "Will you +come round the place now with me; I should like to have some +conversation with you. I have not seen you for some little time." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty gave a wild glance round. Would not Sir John help her? Helen +Dartmoor was the only person in the world that she truly disliked. She +felt a restless sensation rising up in her heart, but there was no +escape. Sir John had gone off with Mary Bateman and Mary's father. +Florence and her mother had already vanished inside the house. Kitty +had to submit to her fate. +</P> + +<P> +Helen Dartmoor walked with prim, small steps. She had a little +three-cornered shawl on her shoulders, and an old-fashioned bonnet was +tied under her chin. Her perfectly cold, serene face glanced now and +then at Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +"You are not improved, Catherine," she said. +</P> + +<P> +"Why do you say that?" replied Kitty. +</P> + +<P> +"You look anxious and excitable. I dislike a woman showing any +emotion. Of course, you are only a child yet, but I trust if I have +the care of you, which I fully expect to have—for it is scarcely +likely you will for a single moment win this ridiculous Scholarship—I +trust that I shall send you out to your father a well-mannered and +decorous woman. I have the greatest dislike to the manners of the +present day, and the new sort of girl who is growing up so rapidly in +our midst is thoroughly abhorrent to me." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Helen," said Kitty, glancing full at her, "I know you won't mind +if I am frank. I certainly wish to win the Scholarship; I am +struggling with all my might and main to win it. It is of the utmost +importance to me, for I want to be as well educated as possible when I +go to dear father in India; but if I fail—yes, Helen, I will try my +very best to please you while I am under your roof." +</P> + +<P> +"Hoots, lass, you cannot do more, but do not speak in such exaggerated +phrases. Now let us walk down this avenue. What a beautiful view! +How soothing is nature in all her aspects!" +</P> + +<P> +Kitty could not help shuddering. "Oh, dear! oh, dear!" she whispered, +under her breath, "how am I to live if I lose the Scholarship!" +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile little Mrs. Aylmer, clasping a firm hold of Florence's arm, +had carried her off right through the house and into one of the gardens +at the back. "Your Aunt Susan is not down yet," she said; "it is the +most merciful Providence, for I judge from her manner of last night +that she means to absorb you. Now, then, darling, tell me what are +your chances?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know, mother; I suppose they are pretty good, and I have +tried my best—I can't do any more." +</P> + +<P> +"Really, Florence, you look quite splendid; I would not know you for +the same girl. How your figure has changed; you have attained quite an +elegant shape, my love—small waist, rounded form, a little pale, paler +than I should wish, but your eyes have greatly improved; they have got +a sort of pathetic expression in them which is very becoming, very +becoming indeed." Mrs. Aylmer danced in front of Florence, examining +each feature critically, her own small eyes twinkling, and her round +face flushing in her excitement. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, isn't it a magnificent place?" she said, "and such a dinner as +they had last night—course after course, if you'll believe me. I +should think there must have been fifteen courses if there was one. I +kept counting them, and then my poor head got so confused, for I was +seated not far from Sir John, and he talked to me in such a kind, +marked sort of way, and your Aunt Susan kept glittering her pale blue +eyes at me as if she was eaten up with jealousy. I tell you, my +darling, I did enjoy myself; I gave myself away, and talked in a frank, +pleasant, easy sort of style. I made several of the guests laugh, I +did really. Florence, my dear, my dress is beautiful; it quite stands +out with richness. I assure you, my love, you will have no cause to be +ashamed of your little Mummy to-night. I got Miss Macgregor to put a +yard and a half of train into the back—a yard and a half, Flo, and it +quite adds to my height. I have not had such a lovely dress since your +poor dear father's time—that I haven't. I thought I would like to +thank Sir John in private, and to tell him that I have made the money +for my expenses go so far that I was able to purchase the dress." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, mother, please, please, mother, don't!" said Florence, in a tone +of agony. +</P> + +<P> +"Why not, my sweet child? If Sir John knows that I am thoroughly poor +he may give me another little <I>douceur</I>—there's no saying." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, mother, mother, you don't know what agony this gives me!" +</P> + +<P> +"My poor child, but are not you glad that your little Mummy has got +some money? Dear me, Flo, I have been ill since you saw me last. I +was almost at death's door, and Dr. Hunt was so kind, coming in two or +three times a day. But there, I have not paid his bill yet; it is +fearful to think of it! Now, I should really like to take Sir John +into my confidence. I would not ask him for the money, but I should +just tell him exactly how I am placed, with so much a year—very, very +little; a scrimped, tightened widow: that's the only way in which I can +express my condition, scrimped and tightened, nothing else. A generous +cheque from him would set all right." +</P> + +<P> +"Mother, you must promise me here and now that you will say nothing on +the subject to Sir John. And, Mummy dear, that reminds me, you never +acknowledged my postoffice orders. I know I hadn't much to send you, +but what I did have I sent, and I promised that you should have ten +shillings a week, my pocket-money, until you had paid the doctor's +bill. I could do no more. Mummy dear, what is the matter? Why do you +look at me like that, Mummy?" +</P> + +<P> +"I may well ask you what is the matter?" said Mrs. Aylmer, now standing +stock still in front of her daughter and raising a round, agitated face +to Florence. "Postoffice orders, and from you, Flo! Oh, my dear, +darling, precious child, I have been wondering at never hearing from +you. I wrote to tell you all about my illness—not until it was over, +Flo; as I said to myself, 'No, the child shall not be disturbed; that +Scholarship she must win. I will not tell her that her mother is ill +until her mother is out of danger.' But when the danger was past I +told you—oh, my darling, I have not had any postoffice orders from you +nor any letters whatsoever—none whatsoever, Flo, and I have been so +astonished. I have tried not to feel hurt. I am very sensible about +most things. I was sure that you did not write because you were too +busy to write, but still, in the dead of night, I did shed one or two +tears—I did really, my own pet." +</P> + +<P> +"But, mother, this is too extraordinary for anything. I sent you two +postoffice orders, the first was for two pounds, the second for one. +Do you mean to say that you never got them?" +</P> + +<P> +"Never, my darling; I have been robbed. Who could have done it? Oh, +Flo, this is fearful; three pounds sent to me by my own darling, and I +never to receive the money! What can it mean, Florence—what can it +mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"Say no more, mother; I will see about this." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER SIX. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +TIT FOR TAT. +</H4> + +<P> +The long, bewildering, beautiful day was over and the three candidates +for the coming competition were being dressed for the occasion. +</P> + +<P> +The dressing took place in one immense room where the girls were +afterwards to sleep, and the assistants at the dressing were no less +people than Miss Helen Dartmoor, Mrs. Aylmer the great, and Mrs. Aylmer +the less. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer the great and Mrs. Aylmer the less fussed round Florence, +fussed round her to such an extraordinary degree that she felt a mad +desire to thrust them both out of the room. +</P> + +<P> +The very beautiful dress which Aunt Susan had purchased for Florence in +London was, after all, not to be used on this occasion, for Sir John +had given forth his mandate that each of the three candidates was to be +dressed exactly alike, and as this was his supreme wish he further said +that he himself would purchase the dresses for the occasion. +</P> + +<P> +These were made in Greek style, and were long, flowing, and simple. +The material was the finest white cashmere edged with swansdown, and +each girl had clasped round her waist a belt of massive silver, also +Sir John's present. Their hair was unbound and hung down their backs, +being kept in its place on the head by a narrow fillet of silver. +</P> + +<P> +Nothing could be simpler and yet more graceful than the dress, the long +flowing sleeves falling away from the elbow and showing the young +molded arms distinctly. +</P> + +<P> +It so happened that no dress could suit Kitty better, and doubtless Sir +John had an eye to the appearance of his favorite in such a robe when +he ordered it. +</P> + +<P> +Florence also looked very well in her Greek costume; and even Mary +Bateman seemed to acquire added grace and dignity when she put on the +pretty classical robe. The girls wore sandals on their feet, and +altogether nothing could be choicer and prettier than the dresses which +Sir John had devised for them. +</P> + +<P> +Little Mrs. Aylmer almost hopped round Florence as she was being +attired in her festive robe. +</P> + +<P> +"I am sure," she said, "I can guess the reason why; I have been +wondering over it all day, and at last the solution has come to me. +Listen, my dear Miss Bateman; listen, Miss Sharston; Susan, you cannot +prevent my speaking. I see, Miss Dartmoor, you are thinking me a +little fool, but I have guessed at the solution. It is because in the +moment of triumph the brow of the young victor—victress, don't you +say? no, of course, victor—will be crowned with a laurel wreath. Ah, +how sweet! Florence dear, nothing could be more becoming to you." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Dartmoor was heard to give an indignant snort. She went up to +Kitty and looked at her with marked attention. +</P> + +<P> +"I hate the heathenish sort of dress," she exclaimed, "but if it comes +to that, I believe that Catherine Sharston will look just as well with +a chaplet of leaves round her head as anyone else in the room." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we are not disputing that point," said Mrs. Aylmer the less, +chirruping away as she spoke, and dancing up to a neighboring +looking-glass to take a side view of her own dress; "we are not +disputing that point. The one who wins the Scholarship will look +beautiful in her wreath of glory. Time will prove who that lucky +person will be." +</P> + +<P> +Here she winked at Florence, who turned away. +</P> + +<P> +Her head ached; there was a heavy, heavy feeling at her heart. She had +one great desire, which for the time being swallowed up all others, and +that was to see Bertha Keys for a moment alone. Bertha was to arrive +with the rest of the school in time for the great ceremony, which was +to take place in the great central hall of the old house. +</P> + +<P> +The hall had been decorated for the occasion, and in its dark recesses +gleamed now many fairy lamps. In the middle of the hall was a dais, on +which the judges were to sit, and before whom the young competitors +were to appear when the crucial moment came. +</P> + +<P> +A flood of light from many incandescent burners poured down upon this +dais, making it one of dazzling light. +</P> + +<P> +The rest of the girls of the school were to sit in a darker part of the +hall; they were to be dressed in their best. The guests were to occupy +a gallery to the left, except those guests who, by Sir John's special +invitation, were to sit upon the dais and give their votes in favor of +the essays. Desks were provided also in the middle of the hall for the +three young competitors, at which they were to sit to answer the +questions which were to be asked them by three professors specially +sent for from London by Sir John. +</P> + +<P> +There was not to be the slightest indication of who the successful +winner was to be until the crucial moment, and the examination from +first to last was expected to occupy about an hour and a half. +</P> + +<P> +While it was going on very soft music was to be played on a distant +organ; the competitors were then to go forward and to stand in front of +the judges while the three essays were read aloud by no less a person +than Sir John himself. +</P> + +<P> +The judges would retire, something like a jury at a court of justice, +on hearing the essays, to give their votes for the lucky winner of the +Scholarship, and then Sir John was to crown the successful girl with +glory. A chaplet of silver bay-leaves was to encircle her brow, and +the locket and chain were to be put round her neck. She was to receive +the purse which would contain the expenses for one year at Cherry Court +School, and the parchment scroll, which through all time would testify +to her ability and her triumph, was to be put into her hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, nothing could be more perfect than the arrangements," said Miss +Dartmoor, who had heard all about the programme during the course of +the day; "but," she added, fixing her eyes now upon the elder Mrs. +Aylmer's face, "I disapprove of this sort of thing immensely. I don't +suppose for a single moment my cousin, Catherine Sharston, will get the +Scholarship; but seeds of envy and discontent will be sown in her +heart, and I shall have some trouble in bringing her into a proper +frame of mind when she joins me in Scotland." +</P> + +<P> +"I pity you," said Mrs. Aylmer, in reply to this speech, "but the girl +looks well-meaning and easily influenced." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, am I?" thought Kitty, who overheard these words and who could not +help giving her little head a toss; "I doubt it. Oh, if it were not +for father I don't think I could go through with this evening." +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile Florence had slipped out of the room. In her pretty Greek +dress she glided down the corridor, met a servant, and asked her if the +young ladies from school had yet come. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, miss," was the reply, "and they are all unrobing in the green +bedroom at the end of this corridor." +</P> + +<P> +"I should be so much obliged if you would do something for me," said +Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I will, miss," was the reply. The girl gave Florence a +long, admiring look. She could not help being struck with the elegant +dress and the eager, passionate, quivering face. "What is it you want, +miss?—I'll do anything you wish." +</P> + +<P> +"I want you to go into the green bedroom and ask if Miss Keys is there. +If she is, say that I, Florence Aylmer, would like to see her for a few +moments." +</P> + +<P> +The servant tripped off at once, and a moment later Bertha joined +Florence in the corridor. +</P> + +<P> +"Is there anywhere where we can be alone?" said Florence, clasping +Bertha's hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, my dear Flo, how lovely you look! What a charming, charming robe!" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't talk about my dress now, and don't say anything about my looks; +I want to speak to you," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +For a wild moment Bertha Keys felt inclined to say, "It is impossible; +I am engaged with my pupils, and cannot give you any of my time," but a +glance into Florence's face showed her, as she vulgarly expressed it, +"the fat was in the fire," and she had better face the position at +once. Accordingly she said coolly, "I can give you two or three +minutes, although I cannot imagine what you want to say now. I shall +come to see you when it is all over. There is not the slightest doubt +that you will win the Scholarship, so rest assured on that head." +</P> + +<P> +"If I thought for a moment there was a doubt do you think I would have +acted as I did?" said Florence; "but now that things have come to a +crisis I wonder if I greatly care. I——" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, nonsense, Florence, how would you stand the disgrace? and the +clergy school, you know—don't forget, Florence, what it means. Hold +up your head, pluck up your courage. What is it you want to say to me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Something—but I must see you alone." +</P> + +<P> +"Let us come along this corridor; there are a great many bedrooms: we +will open one on the chance of its being empty." +</P> + +<P> +Bertha seized Florence's hand and began to fly down the corridor with +her. She knocked at a door, there was no reply, she opened it. +</P> + +<P> +"There, it is unoccupied," she said; "we will stay here for a minute or +two. Come now, what is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"It is this," said Florence; she turned and faced Bertha. +</P> + +<P> +"Bertha Keys," she said, "my mother has told me, and I heard that of +you this morning which——" +</P> + +<P> +"That of me, indeed," said Bertha, turning very pale; "what can you +have heard of me?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have heard that which shows me your true character. My mother never +received those post-office orders. I gave you three sovereigns to +change into postoffice orders for my mother, and she—she never had +them; she never got any of my letters, she thought me cold, heartless, +unfeeling—she, my mother, the one I love best in the world. You, you +held back the letters, you kept the money—dare you deny it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, dear, what a fuss!" said Bertha. "But you can act just as you +please, Florence; you can go down and tell all about me. Of course, +having done so, my career will be ruined." +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean? What did you do?—speak, speak! Oh, this is +driving me mad!" +</P> + +<P> +"Calm yourself, my dear, and stay quiet; I won't attempt to conceal the +truth from you. I took the money; I wanted it very badly. Whether I +wanted it more badly than your mother is a matter of not the smallest +importance to me. I wanted it, and I took it. Let that suffice." +</P> + +<P> +"And what do you think I shall do; do you think I will submit to this +sort of thing?" +</P> + +<P> +"You can please yourself. Of course, if you tell about me, I can tell +about you. Tit for tat—you quite understand." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I quite understand," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +She sank down on the nearest chair, her face had turned quite grey. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Keys regarded her for a moment silently, then she went up and laid +her hand on her shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, Flo," she said, suddenly dropping on her knees by the unhappy +girl's side, "come, cheer up; don't look so miserable. You and I are +in the same boat and we must sink or swim together. If you support me +I'll support you. I can help you again and again, and think what I am +doing for you to-night." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I hate myself, I hate myself! I don't think I can go through with +it," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"Then what do you mean to do?" +</P> + +<P> +"Tell Sir John all before he begins. It is Kitty's Scholarship—not +mine; and how—how am I to take it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Now this is utter folly," said Bertha, seriously alarmed at last, for +if Florence were to develop a conscience, and a conscience of such a +sensitive order, at this hour, all would indeed be lost as far as she +was concerned. +</P> + +<P> +"Come," she said, "think what it means. You love your mother; think of +her position if you lose; and it was only three pounds, and I +promise—there, I promise I'll save it out of my salary; you shall have +it back. Oh, don't tell on me; I shall be ruined for ever; +don't—don't—don't!" +</P> + +<P> +Bertha clasped her hands, the tears rose to her eyes—a bell was heard +in the distance. It was the bell which was to summon the guests, the +girls of the school, and the three competitors to the great hall. +</P> + +<P> +"There, I must be going," said Florence, "but I am miserable. My head +aches, I doubt if I can go through with this." +</P> + +<P> +"You will feel quite different when you get downstairs," said Bertha, +"and now cheer up; only just remember one thing. If you fail me I will +fail you, and <I>vice versa</I>." +</P> + +<P> +Florence did not dare to look back at Bertha; she left the room. There +was a noise in her ears and a swimming before her eyes. +</P> + +<P> +Bertha stood for a moment, looking after her retreating form. +</P> + +<P> +"I am almost sorry I did not tell her at the time," she said to +herself; "when she has accepted the Scholarship I shall be safe; but +she has had a shock. There is no saying what a girl of that +temperament may do under pressure; but there, I believe the excitement +will carry her through, and I don't believe for a moment she has the +moral courage to stand the public disgrace which would be hers if she +told now. Yes, she is in for it; she must go through with it." +</P> + +<P> +Bertha patted her red hair and drew herself up to her full height, and +presently accompanied the pupils down to the great hall, where they +took their seats in the places allotted to them; excellent seats from +the point of view, for they could see every single thing and were +themselves to a certain extent in shadow. +</P> + +<P> +The different guests had assembled, all beautifully dressed. Mrs. +Aylmer the great and Mrs. Aylmer the less found themselves side by +side. Mrs. Aylmer the great was in a magnificent robe of violet +brocade, open at the throat, displaying a quantity of rich lace. On +her head glittered diamonds, and her light eyes flashed as she glanced +from time to time at Mrs. Aylmer the less. +</P> + +<P> +"Really," she said to herself, "the one drawback in adopting Florence +is that most unpleasant little woman. Where did she get that splendid +silk from? But what airs she does put on; how vulgar she is!" +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer the great did not look particularly happy. She was most +anxious to force herself into what she termed county society, and she +found up to the present that, although she was the owner of a +magnificent place like Aylmer Court, she was not taken much notice of +by those people who were, as she expressed it, really in the swim. It +was a great feather in her cap to be invited to Cherry Court Park, and +if Sir John would only favor her with a little attention she might get +more invitations in consequence. +</P> + +<P> +If her niece was the lucky winner of the Scholarship all would +undoubtedly go well with Mrs. Aylmer. She would be the aunt, +practically the adopted mother, of the heroine, the girl on whom all +eyes were fixed, Sir John's special <I>protégée</I>, the Cherry Court School +Scholarship girl. She could talk about Florence and her great +abilities from time to time, and gently insinuate little hints with +regard to the girl's unfortunate position and her great kindness in +adopting her. Thus people would think her a most good-natured woman as +well as a very rich one, the aunt of a girl of undoubted genius—yes, a +great deal might follow in the train of such consequences. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer the less on this occasion had many wild and exciting +thoughts with regard to Miss Pratt and the other neighbors at Dawlish, +also with regard to Sukey; but still, her thought above all other +thoughts was the consciousness that soon her beloved child would be +done honor to, and her eyes, silly enough in expression, were now so +full of love that many people thought her a good-natured and +pleasant-looking woman, and in reality gave her far kinder thoughts +than they did to Mrs. Aylmer the great, whose cold face would never +shine with any human feeling, and whose motives could be easily read by +the proud county folk. +</P> + +<P> +As Florence slowly entered the room, accompanied by Kitty and Mary, a +little buzz of applause greeted the three graceful girls as, in their +Greek costumes, they glided slowly forward and took their places at the +little desks placed for them. Florence for one wild moment glanced at +her mother, and the love and longing and delight in the little Mummy's +face did more to reconcile her present evil plight than anything else. +</P> + +<P> +"There," she whispered under her breath, "in for a penny, in for a +pound. I cannot break the heart of the little Mummy—I can't—I won't." +</P> + +<P> +A peculiar expression stole round her lips, her eyes grew feverishly +bright, she looked handsome, and Mrs. Aylmer the great felt justly very +proud of her. +</P> + +<P> +"She is tall, her figure is improving every day; she will be a very +good-looking girl by and by—what is more, a stylish one," thought Aunt +Susan. +</P> + +<P> +But most of the guests scarcely looked at Florence, for their eyes were +attracted by the sweet expression, the inimitable grace of Kitty +Sharston. +</P> + +<P> +Florence's cheeks were deeply flushed, her eyes so bright that they +looked dark as night; but Kitty, equally excited, her heart beating, +every nerve highly strung, only showed her excitement by a dewy look in +the great big grey eyes, and a wild-rose bloom on the delicate cheeks. +</P> + +<P> +Mary's downright appearance did not attract comment one way or the +other. All three were pronounced nice-looking, ladylike girls, and now +the guests bent forward to listen to the <I>viva voce</I> examination, which +immediately began. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XX. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +"THE HILLS FOR EVER." +</H4> + +<P> +The examination began and was continued amidst a profound silence on +the part of all the spectators. Necks were craned forward and ears +were at attention point. When Florence answered a question correctly +Mrs. Aylmer the less nodded her little head until the plumes which she +wore in her hair quivered all over. Mrs. Aylmer the great bridled and +glanced with her cold eyes at the proudest of the county folk, as much +as to say, "There's genius for you." +</P> + +<P> +Mary Bateman's father, who sat very near Mrs. Aylmer the less, smiled +also when Florence made a correct answer, and looked with sympathy at +little Mrs. Aylmer; and when his own child Mary scored a point, as he +expressed it, a gratified flush rose to his old cheeks, and he dropped +his eyes, not caring to look at the girl whom he loved best in the +world. +</P> + +<P> +But when to question after question Kitty Sharston gave a correct +reply, the <I>furore</I> and excitement in the breasts of several of the +spectators rose to the highest pitch, for Kitty's soft voice, her +gentle answers, her correct and lady-like utterances impressed everyone +favorably. Then, too, it was an open secret that she was Sir John's +favorite; it had been whispered by more than one visitor to another +that it was on account of Kitty Sharston that this great fuss had been +made, that the Scholarship had been opened to the competition of the +school, that the girls were here, that they themselves were here—it +was all on account of this slim little girl with the big eyes and the +sweet pathetic face; and reminiscences of Sir John and Kitty's father +together side by side, shoulder to shoulder, in the trenches before +Sebastopol arose in the memory of one or two visitors present. +</P> + +<P> +It was undoubtedly the wish of the guests who were assembled at Cherry +Court Park that night that Kitty should be the successful winner. And +now there were strong, more than strong hopes that such would be the +case, for although Florence's answers were full of spirit and +invariably correct, there seemed to those who listened to be a +background of substantial knowledge behind Kitty's grave remarks. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Helen Dartmoor sat bolt upright, her lips firmly compressed, and a +disapproving expression in her eyes; but Miss Helen Dartmoor did not +count. It was Sir John, whose eyes followed his favorite with keener +and keener appreciation and admiration; it was Mrs. Clavering; it was +also most of the girls themselves, for beyond doubt Kitty was the +favorite. If she won the Scholarship it would give universal +satisfaction. +</P> + +<P> +And now most of the examination had come to an end. The questions on +history had all been answered and duly marked by the patient professors +who had come to Cherry Court Park for the great occasion. The girls +one by one had approached the piano and played each her trial piece and +had sung her trial song, and still it seemed to everyone that Kitty led +the van; for her music, although not quite so showy and brilliant as +Florence's, was marked with true musical expression, and her song, a +sweet old English ballad, came purely and freely from her young lips. +</P> + +<P> +Mary also acquitted herself extremely well in the musical examination, +and old Mr. Bateman raised his head and listened with real pleasure as +the wild warbling notes of "Annie Laurie" sounded through the old hall. +</P> + +<P> +But at last the supreme test of all arrived. The three girls, Sir John +leading the way, approached the central dais. There they stood side by +side, their soft Greek draperies falling round their slim young +figures. Sir John then stepped to the front and addressed the crowd of +eager spectators. +</P> + +<P> +"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "I need not tell you with what intense +pleasure I have listened to the spirited answers our three young +friends have made to the different questions put to them. The +Scholarship, however, has yet to be won—the supreme test is now to be +given—the trial essays are now to be read. In order that fair play +should above all things be exercised on this important occasion, I have +asked my three young friends not to sign their names to the essays they +have written. The essays are in three blank envelopes, which now lie +before me on the table." Here Sir John touched three envelopes with +his hand. "I will proceed to read them aloud, taking them up +haphazard, and having no idea myself who the writer of each essay is. +I have selected as the subject of the test essay the great and +wonderful subject of Heroism, for I feel that such a theme will give +scope for the real mind, the real heart, the real soul of the young +writer. I will say no more now. After I have read the essays we will +retire into the outer hall for two or three minutes, and on our return +I shall have the pleasure of declaring on whose head I am to place the +crown of bay-leaves." +</P> + +<P> +Sir John paused for a moment, the girls stood close together, they +faced the crowd standing at one side of the dais. Florence glanced +across the hall. Once again she met her mother's eyes—she saw no one +in that intense moment of her young life except the little Mummy, and +the love in her mother's eyes once again made her say to herself, +"Nothing, nothing, nothing will make me break her heart; I will go +through with it—yes, I will go through with it." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty Sharston's clear eyes also gazed across the hall, but she saw no +one present—only, far, far away, a lonely man with an iron-grey head, +and a face which was the dearest face in all the world to her. She saw +this man, and felt that for his sake no effort could be too great. If +she won the Scholarship all would indeed be well; but if she failed she +could at least be good, she could at least submit. Oh, yes; oh, yes; +it would be fearfully hard, but God could give her strength. +</P> + +<P> +As to Mary Bateman, she looked at her father and her father looked at +her, and then she held herself erect and said to herself, "I can but +fail, and in any case I have done my best." +</P> + +<P> +Just then, the murmurs of applause having died away, Sir John took up +the first of the envelopes, opened it, unfolded the sheet of paper +which lay within, and commenced to read. +</P> + +<P> +The essay on Heroism which he first read happened to be written by Mary +Bateman. It was practical, written in good English, the spelling all +correct, and also contained some fairly well-chosen allusions to great +heroes of history. The essay was thoughtful, and, although there was +little originality in it, the guests listened with marked attention. +The reading of the essay occupied exactly ten minutes, for Sir John +read it slowly, pausing often to give full weight to the words which he +read. He had a beautiful, mellow, perfectly-trained voice, and Mary's +somewhat lame utterances could not have sounded to better advantage. +</P> + +<P> +When he had finished the guests applauded, but without any intense +enthusiasm. He laid the paper down before him on the table, and then +proceeded to read the second essay. This had altogether a different +note. The allusions to history were far less numerous, but the heart +of the young writer made itself felt. It was the work of an immature +mind, but here and there was a delicate touch which pointed to the +possibility of future genius. Here and there was a graceful allusion +which caused Sir John's own voice to falter, and above all things, +through each word there breathed a lofty and noble spirit. +</P> + +<P> +"Only the daughter of a soldier could have written those words," +thought Sir John; "surely this must be Kitty's work, and surely no +other essay could approach hers." +</P> + +<P> +So he thought, and as he came to the last words his voice rang out +clear and full, and when he ceased the applause was great, and Kitty's +eyes shone, although she dared not meet anyone, for it was part of the +code of honor amongst the three girls that the judges should not guess +who had written each individual essay. +</P> + +<P> +Then at last it came to be Florence's turn. Florence had copied Bertha +Keys' paper, scarcely taking in its meaning. She had copied it in hot +haste, with hot rage, defiance, determination in her heart. She +scarcely knew herself what the words meant, she had not taken in their +true significance. The essay was a little longer than the others, and +began in quite a different way. +</P> + +<P> +Sir John paused for a moment, glanced down the page, then adjusted his +glasses, drew himself up very erect and began to read. He had not read +one sentence before he perceived that he had now quite different metal +to deal with. Although disappointment stormed at his heart, he was too +true a gentleman and too brave a soldier to allow such a feeling to +influence him even for a moment. Yes, he would do the spirited words +with which he had now to deal every justice. So he read on, the fire +in the paper communicating itself to him, and the guests who listened +soon forgot all about the Scholarship and all about the three young +candidates. They were interested in the words themselves; the words +rang out; they were not remarkable so much for the heart element as for +the strong, proud, intellectual touch. +</P> + +<P> +The essay was rich in metaphor and still richer in quotation. From the +Greeks, from the Romans, from the English, from America, from +Australia, from all parts of the globe did the young writer cull +incident and quotation. She used a brief and telling argument, and she +brought it to a successful and logical conclusion. Finally she quoted +some words from Tennyson, aptly and splendidly chosen, and when Sir +John's voice ceased the entire hall rose up in a body and cheers and +acclamations ascended to the roof. +</P> + +<P> +Florence's face was white as death. +</P> + +<P> +Sir John laid down the paper. +</P> + +<P> +"We will now," he said, turning to his fellow-judges, "retire for a few +moments to decide on the winner of the Scholarship." +</P> + +<P> +Sir John and the other judges immediately left the hall, and the girls, +still standing in that strained and painful position, waited with +lowered eyes for the result. Amongst the three, however, all doubt was +over. Mary Bateman knew that her poor and lame words had not the +slightest chance. Kitty would not have taken the Scholarship even if +it had been offered to her. Could Mary have written that brilliant +essay? Could it by any possibility be the work of Florence? But +whoever had written it deserved the Scholarship, deserved it by every +rule which had been laid upon the young competitors. +</P> + +<P> +So she thought, and Florence, who did not dare to meet Bertha's eyes, +who did not dare at this moment even to look at her mother, wished with +all her heart that the ground might open and swallow her up. +</P> + +<P> +Could she take this undeserved honor? The words were crowding to her +lips, "Oh, don't, for heaven's sake, give it to me; I could never have +written it," but she did not speak the words. +</P> + +<P> +Just then there was a pause amongst the crowd of spectators, and Sir +John and the other judges returned. The judges sat down in their seats +and Sir John came slowly forward. His face was very white. +</P> + +<P> +"The examination for the Cherry Court School Scholarship is over," he +began. "With one accord we have adjudged the prize. The three young +competitors have all done admirably. The questions have been so +universally well answered that there would have been a difficulty in +giving the prize to any one when all three so very nearly had earned +it, were it not for the trial essay; but the trial essay has removed +all doubt. The Scholarship, by every test of learning, of high +endeavor, of noble thought, belongs to the girl whose motto on her +paper has been 'The Hills for Ever.' She has indeed gone to the hills +for her breezy thoughts, for her noble and winged words. May she to +the longest day she lives retain all that she now feels, and go on +truly from strength to strength. The names of the competitors are not +attached to the essays, therefore I must request the girl who has +adopted the motto, 'The Hills for Ever,' to come forward, for she is +the winner of the Scholarship." +</P> + +<P> +Sir John paused and looked down the room. He did not dare to glance at +Kitty, for he knew only too well that, clever and sweet as she was, she +had not written those words. +</P> + +<P> +There was a dead silence. Mary Bateman looked at Florence—Kitty also +looked at her. They felt sure she had written the splendid essay, and +they wondered at her silence. She remained quite still for a moment. +</P> + +<P> +"Miss Bateman, is this your essay?" said Sir John, holding up the paper +to Mary. +</P> + +<P> +Mary shook her head and fell back. +</P> + +<P> +"Catherine Sharston, is this yours?" again said Sir John. +</P> + +<P> +Kitty bent her head low in denial. +</P> + +<P> +"Then Miss Aylmer—what is the matter, Miss Aylmer?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, nothing, nothing," said Florence. She gave one wild glance in the +direction of Bertha Keys, but Bertha was too wise to meet Florence's +eyes just then. +</P> + +<P> +"She feels it, but she must go through with it," thought the pupil +teacher. "I did not know that I had such genius, but I shall never +doubt my own power in the future. Is she indeed mean enough to take my +work and claim it as her own? Of course she is; it would be fatal to +me if she did otherwise." +</P> + +<P> +As Florence slowly, very slowly, as if each step was weighted with +lead, crept forward to the front of the dais without any of that look +of triumph and pleasure which ought to have marked her face at such a +moment, Bertha Keys threw back her own head and allowed her watchful +light blue eyes to follow the girl, while a smile of sardonic import +curled her lips. +</P> + +<P> +When Florence got opposite Sir John she suddenly, as if overpowered by +intense emotion, fell on her knees. She could not have done anything +which would more completely bring down the house. Cheers, +acclamations, hurrahs, every sort of congratulation filled the air. +When they had subsided for a moment and Mrs. Aylmer the less had +released the hand of Mrs. Aylmer the great, which she had clutched +frantically in her intense agitation, Sir John took Florence's hand and +with a slight motion raised her to her feet. +</P> + +<P> +"Stand up, Florence Aylmer," he said; "you have done splendidly; I +congratulate you. The Scholarship is yours, nobly won, splendidly won. +Take your honors, my dear." +</P> + +<P> +As he spoke he stepped to the table and brought back a small crown of +filigree silver. It was a simple wreath in the form of bay-leaves. He +laid it on Florence's dark head. +</P> + +<P> +"This is yours," he said; "wear it with dignity; keep the great, the +good, the true always before you. And this also is yours," he said. +He slipped a thin gold chain with the ruby locket attached round +Florence's neck. He then placed the purse which contained the +Scholarship money for the ensuing year, and the parchment scroll, in +her hand. "And now, young people," he said, "let us all cheer three +times the winner of the Scholarship." +</P> + +<P> +The girls cheered as lustily as schoolboys, the band in the corner +burst forth with the gay strains of "See the Conquering Hero Comes," +and after a brief signal from Sir John there was suddenly heard outside +the report of a small cannon, which was the intimation that the +bonfires were to be lit. +</P> + +<P> +"Florence, Florence, come here!" said her mother, and Florence ran +across the hall and buried her face in her mother's lap. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXI. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE STING OF THE SERPENT. +</H4> + +<P> +The day was over, the long, exciting, exhausting evening had come to an +end. The girls had danced to their hearts' content, had played and +romped, and congratulated Florence with all the heartiness of which +their frank natures were capable. They had wandered through the +grounds in groups to watch the bonfires, they had partaken of the most +delicious supper the heart of girl could conceive, and at last, worn +out and intensely happy, they had retired to rest. +</P> + +<P> +Three long dormitories had been fitted up for their occupation, but the +lucky three had each a very small room to herself. Florence was glad +of that. Yes, if she could be glad of anything on that awful, terrible +evening, it was the knowledge that she might be alone, all alone for +some hours. During those hours she could think, could collect her +thoughts, could face the position which she had in future to occupy. +</P> + +<P> +In the pleasure and delight of the evening no one had specially noticed +how little Florence spoke. Mrs. Aylmer the less, as the mother of the +heroine, minced about with her head in the air, so elated, so excited, +so carried out of herself, that not the grandest county lady present +had power to awe her. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I am the mother of the dear child. Oh, I always knew that she +was specially gifted," Mrs. Aylmer was heard to say. "She could learn +from the time she was a baby in the most marvellous way, but even I was +astonished at her essay; it wrung tears from my eyes." +</P> + +<P> +"It was a very noble work," said the Countess of Archester, slightly +bowing her own queenly head, and giving Mrs. Aylmer a half-quizzical, +half-pitying glance. "How the girl wrote it, how that woman's daughter +could have written such an essay, is a puzzle to me," said the Countess +afterwards to her husband. +</P> + +<P> +But Mrs. Aylmer was unconscious that any such remarks were uttered. +She was thinking of her own dazzling future, of what Dawlish would mean +to her in the time to come, of what Sukey would say, what Ann Pratt +would say, what other neighbors would say. All was indeed well; she +was the mother of a genius, a girl who had achieved such high honor +that her name in future would always be remembered in the neighborhood +of Cherry Court School. Yes, it was a proud moment for Mrs. Aylmer, +quite the proudest in her life. It is true that Florence had said very +little to her mother, that Florence had scarcely responded to Mrs. +Aylmer when she had flung her arms round her neck, and pressed up close +to her, and looked into her eyes, and said, "My darling! oh, my +darling, my sweet, precious daughter, how proud your Mummy is of you!" +</P> + +<P> +Florence had turned away just then, and Mrs. Aylmer had felt that her +daughter's hand trembled as it lay for a moment in hers. +</P> + +<P> +But Mrs. Aylmer the great was even more remarkable in her conduct than +Mrs. Aylmer the less. She had called Florence to her, and before all +the assembled guests had kissed her solemnly. +</P> + +<P> +"You are my daughter henceforth," she said, "my adopted daughter. Not +a word, Mabel; this girl belongs to me in the future." +</P> + +<P> +And just then the queerest pang of jealousy had rushed through the +heart of Mrs. Aylmer the less, for was it possible that Susan really +meant to take her child from her altogether? Was Florence henceforward +to be considered by the world as the daughter of Mrs. Aylmer the great? +Was she, her real mother, the mother who had nursed her as a baby, who +had put up with her childish troubles, to have nothing whatever to do +with her in the future? Notwithstanding that crown of glory which +seemed to quiver over the forehead of the little widow, she did not +like this aspect of the question. She felt she could scarcely stand +it. If Susan meant to have the child, then indeed the Scholarship +would present a very serious drawback to the mind of Mrs. Aylmer. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer the great, however, now pushed herself quite into the +forefront of the county society. It was impossible to suppress her; +she was past suppressing. Sir John himself took her into the great +hall where supper was laid. She sat by his side during that auspicious +meal, and when he talked of Florence she boldly told him that a golden +future lay before the girl. +</P> + +<P> +"It is a pity," was his reply, "that being the case, that Miss Aylmer +should have got the Scholarship, for whether she got it or not, being +your niece, she would of course have been well educated. The +Scholarship money would have done more good to a poorer girl"—and here +Sir John had quickly to suppress a sigh, for was he not thinking of +Kitty—Kitty, who had never looked sweeter than during this evening of +defeat, who had never, never been nearer to his heart? +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer the great looked at him in some astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"I am surprised," she said; "it almost sounds as if you——" +</P> + +<P> +"As if I grudged the Scholarship to your niece; far from that," he +answered; "she is a remarkable girl; any girl who could write that +essay possesses genius. She will be heard of in the future." +</P> + +<P> +Then the heart of Mrs. Aylmer the great swelled within her, and she +absolutely loved her niece Florence. +</P> + +<P> +But now the day was over and Florence was alone in her room. The door +was closed; her mother's last kiss and blessing had been given. Mrs. +Aylmer the great had solemnly embraced Florence also, had given her to +understand that there was no request which she would not grant, and +then the tired girl had been left alone. +</P> + +<P> +She went to the door of her room and locked it, then she stood for a +moment in the centre of the floor. There was a large mirror fastened +to one of the walls, and Florence could see her own reflection in it. +She glanced at it for a moment in a puzzled way, a solitary young +figure, tall and well proportioned, a head of dark hair, eyes very +bright, a face somewhat pale now from excessive emotion, pathetic lines +round the mouth. On the head shone the silver crown of bay-leaves, the +Greek dress fell away from the graceful figure, on the neck gleamed the +wonderful locket with its dazzling ruby. The light from a large lamp +fell upon this ruby and caused it to gleam brightly. Florence went +nearer to the mirror and looked into it. The fire from the heart of +the ruby seemed to leap out. She hastily unfastened the gold chain +from her neck and held the locket in her hand. The ruby with its heart +of fire seemed now to the excited girl to possess an evil eye which +could see through her. She felt that she hated it, she trembled a +little, she hastily unlocked a drawer and thrust in the ruby locket and +chain. She then removed the silver wreath of bay-leaves and put it +also in the drawer with the ruby. Then she clasped her hands above her +head and looked earnestly into her own face. Well she knew in that +moment of bitter triumph what had happened to her. +</P> + +<P> +"I am made for life," she said at last slowly, aloud; "all the good +things of life can in the future be mine—all the wealth, all the +glory, to a great extent also the love." +</P> + +<P> +But when Florence thought of the love she paused; for she remembered +her mother. Did anyone in all the world love her as the little Mummy +loved her? In the future she knew well that she should see very little +of her mother. Aunt Susan would not permit it for a moment; she might +see her occasionally, but never again would they meet as child and +mother. There would be a gulf between them, the gulf which ever and +always separates the rich from the poor. For Florence henceforth would +belong to the rich ones of the earth. Mrs. Aylmer the great was so +pleased, so elated, so triumphant at her marked and brilliant success +that there was nothing she would not do for her. Yes, Florence's +future life was secure, she was fortunate, the world lay at her feet, +her fortune was made. +</P> + +<P> +She sat down on a low chair. +</P> + +<P> +"It is all before me," she muttered, "the riches, the honor, the glory. +I shall also, if I am dressed well, be beautiful. Mine is the sort of +face that requires good decoration; mine is the figure which needs the +best clothes. I shall have everything, everything. I ought to be +happy; I wonder I am not. I ought to be very happy. Oh, I wish this +fire did not burn in my heart, and that horrid, scorching, intolerable +feeling, I wish it did not consume me. Oh, I suppose I shall get over +it in time; and if life lasted forever I should be the happiest girl in +the world; but of course it won't—nothing lasts forever, for age comes +even to the youngest, and then—then there is illness and—and perhaps +death. And I may not even live to be old. Rich and lucky and +fortunate as I am, I may die. I should not like to die a bit—not a +bit; I should not be prepared for the other world. Oh, I must shut +away the thought, for there is no going back now." +</P> + +<P> +Just at this point in her meditations there came a knock at her door. +Florence started when she heard the sound. She wished that she had +thought of putting out the candle. She could not bear to feel that +anyone was coming to see her to-night. Her mother?—she dared not meet +her mother alone; she would be prepared in the morning, but she could +not meet her mother's searching glance just now. +</P> + +<P> +She did not reply at all to the first knock, but the light from the +candle streamed out under the door, and the knock was repeated, and now +it was more insistent, and a voice said: +</P> + +<P> +"It is only me, Florence; it is only me; let me come in." +</P> + +<P> +Florence shuddered and turned very pale. She knew the voice: it was +the voice of Bertha Keys. If there was anyone in all the wide world +whom she would most dread to meet on that unhappy night it was Bertha +Keys, the girl who knew her secret. There was no help for it, however. +</P> + +<P> +With a shudder Florence arose, crossed the room, unlocked the door, and +flung it open. +</P> + +<P> +"I am so tired, Bertha," she said; "must you see me to-night?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am sorry you are tired," replied Bertha, "but I must see you +to-night." +</P> + +<P> +Bertha slowly entered the room. When Florence shut the door Bertha +turned the key in the lock. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you doing that for?" said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +"Because I do not wish to be interrupted; I want to see you alone." +</P> + +<P> +"But I wish you would not lock the door; it is quite unnecessary—no +one will come here at present." +</P> + +<P> +"I make certainty sure—that is all," said Bertha. "Don't fuss about +the lock. Now, then, Florence, I want to have a straight talk with +you; you understand?" +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose I do; but I don't think I can comprehend anything to-night." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, you can, you certainly can; you must pull yourself together. +You went through that ordeal very well, let me tell you. How do you +feel now?" +</P> + +<P> +"Miserable," said Florence. +</P> + +<P> +Bertha went up close to her, sat down by her, and, suddenly putting her +hand under Florence's chin, raised her face, and looked into her eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"Bah!" she said, "it was a pity I did it for you; you are not worth it." +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" said Florence, turning pale. +</P> + +<P> +"Because you are not; I don't believe you'll go through with it even +now. Bah! such glory, such honor, such a proud moment, and to say you +are miserable! May I ask what you are miserable about?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because I have sacrificed my honor; because I am the meanest, most +horrid girl on God's earth," said Florence, with passion. "Because the +Scholarship so won turns to dust and ashes in my mouth. +Because—because of Kitty, little Kitty, who wanted really what I have +so basely taken from her. Oh, I hate myself and I hate you, Bertha. +Why did I ever meet you?" +</P> + +<P> +Florence was past tears, a dry sob rose in her throat, it half choked +her for a moment, then she stood up and wrung her hands. +</P> + +<P> +"Go away, please, Bertha; leave me now; I cannot have you." +</P> + +<P> +"You can put things right, of course, according to your idea of right," +said Bertha, in a sulky voice; "you can go to Sir John and tell him +what has happened; you can do that if you please." +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot—you know I cannot." +</P> + +<P> +"I certainly do know you cannot," said Bertha. "Well, now, my dear, we +will leave off heroics; it is all very fine for you to talk of your +conscience, but I don't think that little monitor within is of a very +active turn of mind. If he were he would have absolutely at the first +idea shunted off the evil proposal which I happened to make to you. +You would never have yielded to the temptation. Think just for a +moment: would Kitty Sharston have done this thing?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course not; why do you ask?" +</P> + +<P> +"Think again, would Mary Bateman have done this thing?" +</P> + +<P> +"Again, why do you ask?" +</P> + +<P> +"My dear Florence, I ask in order to reassure you that, sensitive and +keen as you think your little inward monitor, it is at best but a poor +weakling. Now, the conscience of Kitty and the conscience of Mary +would have risen up in hot protest, and the temptation would not have +been a temptation to them, but it was to you because of the poor health +of your little monitor. Believe me, the monitor is in a bad way, and +if you will struggle through the remorse of the next couple of days it +will simply die." +</P> + +<P> +"And then I shall be lost," said Florence, with a frightened look in +her face. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you will live a very comfortable life if you take care of your +health; you have a good sixty years before you. You can do a good deal +in sixty years, and now for goodness' sake stop talking about the +matter. It is done and cannot be undone. I want to say something to +you myself." +</P> + +<P> +"But at the end of sixty years I shall die all the same," said +Florence. "Oh, Bertha, I go mad when I think of dying. Oh, Bertha! +Bertha!" +</P> + +<P> +Even Bertha felt a momentary sense of terror when she looked into +Florence's eyes. She backed away from her and stood by the table. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, come, my dear," she said, "you'll get over all this," but still +she avoided looking at Florence's eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you want with me?" said Florence at last, restlessly; "I must +sleep. I wish you would go away." +</P> + +<P> +"I will when I have made my request." +</P> + +<P> +"What is that?" +</P> + +<P> +"I want you to give me twenty pounds." +</P> + +<P> +"Twenty pounds! Why, you know I have not got it." +</P> + +<P> +"Practically you have, and I want it. I want it early to-morrow +morning." +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Bertha, you must be mad." +</P> + +<P> +"Not at all; I am abundantly sane. That essay which so excited the +spectators to-night was worth twenty pounds. I mean you to buy it from +me, and those are my terms." +</P> + +<P> +"You know I cannot. I cannot imagine what you mean by coming to me in +this fashion." +</P> + +<P> +"Without twenty pounds I shall be undone," said Bertha; "I need it to +pay some debts. If the debts are not paid I shall be exposed, and if I +go under, you, my pretty Florence, go under, too—understand that, +please. Twenty pounds is cheap at the price, is it not?" +</P> + +<P> +"But I have not got it, Bertha; I would give it you, but I cannot. You +might as well ask me for my right hand." +</P> + +<P> +"I tell you the great Mrs. Aylmer will do anything for her pretty and +gifted niece. Ask her for the money to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +"For you?" +</P> + +<P> +"By no means—for yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"Bertha, I simply cannot." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," said Bertha. "I give you until to-morrow at noon to +decide. If by that time I have twenty pounds in my hand all right, +your secret is respected and no catastrophe will happen, and your +frightful deceit will never be found out. Only one person will know +it, and that is I. But if you do not give me the twenty pounds I shall +myself go to Mrs. Clavering and tell her everything. I shall be sorry; +the consequences will be very disagreeable for me; I cannot even say if +I shall quite escape the punishment of the law, but I expect I shall. +In any case, you will be done for, my pretty Florence; your career will +be over. Think of that; think of the little Mummy, as you call her, +without the great Scholarship to back you up—think what it means." +</P> + +<P> +"I do, I do; the only one I do think of at the present moment is my +mother," said Florence. "When I think of her it gives me agony. But, +Bertha, I cannot get that twenty pounds." +</P> + +<P> +"You can; make an excuse to your Aunt Susan to obtain it. Now, my +dear, you know why I have come to you; I will not trouble you any +further. The twenty pounds at noon to-morrow, or you know the +consequences." Bertha waved her hand with a light air, kissed the slim +little figure in its Greek dress, then she opened the door and went out. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE VOICE OF GOD. +</H4> + +<P> +After Bertha had left her, Florence sat in a stunned attitude. She was +just rising slowly from her chair when there came a knock a second time +at the door. This time Florence had not even a moment to say "Come +in." The door was softly opened, and the fair, sweet face of Kitty +peeped round it. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! I thought you were not in bed," she said; "I came to see you just +for a minute to wish you good-night." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish you had not come," said Florence. She looked so pale and +frightened that Kitty glanced at her aghast. +</P> + +<P> +"I came," said Kitty Sharston, "because I thought you ought to know +that Mary and I"—she paused to swallow something in her throat. Kitty +had suffered that night and had hidden her suffering; she did not want +Florence to think that she had gone through any great time of sorrow. +She looked at Florence attentively. "Mary Bateman and I agreed that I +could come and tell you, Flo, how pleased—yes, how pleased we are that +you have got the Scholarship, for you won it so nobly, Florence—no one +could grudge it to you for a minute." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you really mean that?" said Florence, eagerly. She went up to +Kitty and seized both her hands. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, how hot your hands feel, and, oh, please do not squeeze me quite +so tightly," said Kitty, starting back a step. +</P> + +<P> +Florence snatched away her hand. "If you knew me," said Florence; "if +you knew me!" +</P> + +<P> +"I do know you," said Kitty. "Oh, Flo—Tommy, dear—let me call you by +the old name just for once—we are all so proud of you, we are really. +I thought perhaps you would be a little uncomfortable thinking of me +and of Mary, but we don't mind—we don't really. You see, we hadn't a +chance, not a chance against genius like yours. We never guessed that +you had such great genius, and it took us slightly by surprise; but of +course we are glad, awfully glad, and perhaps Sir John will offer the +Scholarship another year, and perhaps I will try then and—and succeed. +But no one else had a chance with you, Florence, and we are glad for +you, very glad." +</P> + +<P> +"But you—what will you do? I know this means a great deal to you." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall go away with Helen Dartmoor; I don't feel unhappy, not at all. +I am sure Sir John will be my friend, and perhaps I may try for the +Scholarship even though I am staying with Helen Dartmoor; I just came +to tell you. Good-night, Florence, good-night. Mary and I love you; +we'll always love you; we'll always be proud of you. Good-night, +Florence." +</P> + +<P> +Kitty ran up to her companion, kissed her hastily, and ran to the door. +She had reached it, had opened the door and gone out, when Florence +called her. Florence spoke her name faintly. +</P> + +<P> +"Kitty, Kitty, come back." +</P> + +<P> +But Kitty did not hear. She shut the door and ran down the passage, +her steps sounding fainter, until Florence could hear them no longer. +Then Florence Aylmer fell on her knees, and the tears which all this +time had lain like a dead weight against her eyeballs, were loosened, +and she sobbed as she had never sobbed before in all her life. +Exhausted by her tears, she threw herself on her bed and, dressed as +she was, sank into heavy slumber. +</P> + +<P> +It was very early in the morning when she awoke. It was not yet five +o'clock. Florence struck a light and saw by the little clock on the +mantelpiece that the hands pointed to a quarter to five. +</P> + +<P> +"There is time," she thought, eagerly. She sat up on her elbow and +reflected. Her eyes were bright, her face paler than ever. Presently +she got out of bed and fell on her knees; she pressed her face against +the side of the bed, and it is doubtful whether many words came to her, +but when she rose at last she seemed to hear an inward voice, and the +voice was saying, "Refuse the Evil and choose the Good." +</P> + +<P> +The voice kept on saying, "Refuse the Evil and choose the Good," and +Florence felt more and more frightened, and more and more intensely +anxious to do something in great haste before she had time for +reflection. +</P> + +<P> +She lit the candles and put them on the writing-table at the foot of +the bed, and then she sat by the writing-table and pulled out a sheet +of paper and began to write. She wrote rapidly, with scarcely a pause. +Whenever she stopped the voice kept saying louder and clearer, louder +and clearer, "Refuse the Evil and choose the Good." +</P> + +<P> +Florence went on writing. At last she had finished. She folded up the +sheet of paper and put it into an envelope. Then she hastily opened +the drawer which contained the silver wreath and the ruby locket and +the purse of gold and the parchment scroll. She collected them +hastily, scarcely glancing at them, wrapped up in tissue-paper, then in +brown, tied the little parcel with string, slipped the note inside the +string and laid it on the table. +</P> + +<P> +The voice which kept speaking to her was now quieter; it ceased to say, +"Refuse the Evil," but once again through the silent room she seemed to +hear the echo of the words, calm, great, all knowing, "<I>Choose the +Good, choose the Good</I>," and then she hastily, very hastily got into +her clothes, for it seemed to her that there was nothing else worth +while in all the world but the following, the obeying of this voice. +To choose the Good was greater than to choose Happiness, greater than +to choose Ambition, greater than to choose Wealth. It was the only +thing. +</P> + +<P> +So she dressed herself in her everyday clothes, and, taking the little +parcel, she softly unfastened the door, and then she slipped down +through the silent house and entered Sir John Wallis's study, and laid +the packet which contained all the symbols of her success and her +letter of confession on his desk. Having done this, she turned away, +came upstairs softly, and, going down another corridor, opened the door +of her mother's room and went in. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer was lying sound asleep; it was not yet six o'clock. She +was very tired and she was sleeping heavily; she was enjoying pleasant +dreams in her sleep, dreams of Florence, her dear, her darling, the +success Florence had won, the happy future which lay before her. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Aylmer's dreams were all one glow of great bliss, and in the midst +of them she felt a cold, small hand laid upon her own, and, opening her +eyes, she saw Florence bending over her. +</P> + +<P> +"Mummy," said Florence, "I want you to get up at once." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear, dear child, what can be the matter?" said Mrs. Aylmer the +less. She started up in bed, rubbed her sleepy eyes and stared at her +daughter. "What is it, Flo?" +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot tell you just yet, mother, but I want you, if ever, ever in +the whole course of your life you really loved me, to stand by me now. +Something fearful has happened, mother dear, and I cannot tell you at +present, but I want you to help me. I want to go back to Dawlish with +you; I want to go back by the very first train this morning with you +alone, Mummy; I will tell you on the way home what has happened, and +then—but I cannot say any more; only come, mother, come. No one else +would stand by me—but you will, won't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"You frighten me dreadfully, Florence," said Mrs. Aylmer; "I cannot +imagine what you are talking about. Have you lost your reason, my poor +darling? Has this great, great triumph turned your brain? Oh, my +child, my child!" +</P> + +<P> +"No, mother," said poor Florence, "I am quite sane; I have not lost my +reason. On the contrary, I think I have got it back again; I never +felt saner than I do now, but—but you must help me, and there is no +time to lose. I have done what I could; you must come away with me, +mother, and we must go at once. I have looked up the trains. I'll go +myself and wake up one of the servants and get a trap ordered, and we +will go. Have you got a little money—that's the main thing?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have got five pounds left out of Sir John's cheque." +</P> + +<P> +"Then that will be splendid. I only want just enough to get back to +Dawlish, to the little old house and to you. Oh, come, Mummy! oh, +come!" +</P> + +<P> +Florence's words were very brave and very insistent, and Mrs. Aylmer +roused herself. She got out of bed, feeling a dull wonder stealing +over her. Florence now took the command, and hastened her mother into +her clothes, and herself packed her mother's things. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, my dear child, my best dress! don't let it get crushed," said the +little widow. +</P> + +<P> +Florence's trembling hands smoothed out the rich folds, she placed the +dress in the top of the trunk, and before half-past six that morning +Mrs. Aylmer was dressed and her things packed. +</P> + +<P> +Then Florence went down again through the house and awoke one of the +servants, and got her to wake a groom, who put a horse to a trap and +brought it round to a side door, and so it came to pass that before +seven o'clock that morning Mrs. Aylmer and Florence had left Cherry +Court Park forever. +</P> + +<P> +When they got into the train poor Mrs. Aylmer turned to Florence and +begged for an explanation. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess something dreadful has happened, but I can't imagine what it +is," she said. "What does this mean, Florence?" +</P> + +<P> +"It means, Mummy," said Florence, "that I have done that which no one +but a mother would forgive. Listen, and I will tell you." +</P> + +<P> +And then she told the whole story, from the very beginning, and Mrs. +Aylmer listened with a cold feeling at her heart, and at first a great +anger there; but when the story was finished, and Florence timidly took +her mother's hands and looked into her eyes and said, "Are you a true +enough mother to love me through it all?" then little Mrs. Aylmer's +heart melted, and she flung her arms round Florence's neck and +whispered through her sobs, "Oh, my child! oh, my child! I had a +dreadful feeling last night when your Aunt Susan said that you were my +daughter no longer; but this—this gives you to me forever." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course it does, Mummy; Aunt Susan will never speak to me again. +Oh, Mummy, what it is to have you! What should I do without you now?" +</P> + +<HR ALIGN="center" WIDTH="60%"> + +<P> +The rest of this story can be told in a few words. It would be +impossible to depict the astonishment, the consternation, the amazement +which Sir John felt when he read poor Florence's confession. After +thinking matters over a short time, he sent for Mrs. Clavering, and he +and that good woman had a long conference together. The upshot of it +was that the guests were allowed to depart without knowing what had +really happened, Sir John saying that he would write to them afterwards. +</P> + +<P> +Bertha Keys was sent for, severely reprimanded, and dismissed from her +post with ignominy. She never returned to Cherry Court School, leaving +Cherry Court Park for a distant part of the country that very day. +This history has nothing further to do with her. Whether she succeeded +in the future or whether she failed, whether she turned from the evil +of her ways or not, must all be matters of conjecture. +</P> + +<P> +The main fact which concerns us is the following: Kitty won the +Scholarship, after all, for the very next day Sir John visited Cherry +Court School and told the bare outline of poor Florence's sin and +confession. To Kitty was given the purse of gold, and the ruby locket, +the crown of bay-leaves and the parchment scroll. They were given to a +very sad Kitty, for the thought of Florence's sin completely +overpowered both her and Mary Bateman, and indeed every girl in the +school. +</P> + +<P> +Sir John returned to his own house a sadder and a wiser man. +</P> + +<P> +"After all, did I do right to offer this great temptation?" he said to +himself, and this thought so affected him, and occurred to him so +often, that a week later he went down to Dawlish and had an interview +with Mrs. Aylmer and Florence, and the result was that Florence was +sent to a good school and had a chance of educating herself. She was +not too proud to take this help from Sir John, for it relieved her from +all claims on her Aunt Susan in the future. +</P> + +<P> +As to Mrs. Aylmer the great, never from the day when Sir John, in a few +words, told her what her niece had done, has that worthy woman +mentioned the name, Florence Aylmer. She still gives Mrs. Aylmer her +fifty pounds a year, but, as she herself declared it, "I have washed my +hands of that wicked girl once and forever." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="finis"> +THE END. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + +<HR> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/cat-1.jpg" ALT="Catalog page 1" BORDER="" WIDTH="302" HEIGHT="479"> +</CENTER> + +<BR> + +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/cat-2.jpg" ALT="Catalog page 2" BORDER="" WIDTH="279" HEIGHT="474"> +</CENTER> + +<BR> + +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/cat-3.jpg" ALT="Catalog page 3" BORDER="" WIDTH="303" HEIGHT="488"> +</CENTER> + +<BR> + +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/cat-4.jpg" ALT="Catalog page 4" BORDER="" WIDTH="287" HEIGHT="475"> +</CENTER> + +<BR> + +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/cat-5.jpg" ALT="Catalog page 5" BORDER="" WIDTH="293" HEIGHT="477"> +</CENTER> + +<BR> + +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/cat-6.jpg" ALT="Catalog page 6" BORDER="" WIDTH="301" HEIGHT="476"> +</CENTER> + +<BR> + +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/cat-7.jpg" ALT="Catalog page 7" BORDER="" WIDTH="305" HEIGHT="485"> +</CENTER> + +<BR> + +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/cat-8.jpg" ALT="Catalog page 8" BORDER="" WIDTH="303" HEIGHT="496"> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Bunch of Cherries, by L. 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T. Meade + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Bunch of Cherries + A Story of Cherry Court School + +Author: L. T. Meade + +Release Date: April 12, 2009 [EBook #28564] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BUNCH OF CHERRIES *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Cover art] + + + + + +A Bunch of Cherries + +A STORY OF CHERRY COURT SCHOOL + + +BY + +Mrs. L. T. MEADE + + + + + +AUTHOR OF + +"A Modern Tomboy," "The School Favorite," "Children's Pilgrimage," +"Little Mother to the Others," Etc. + + + + +CHICAGO: + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. + +1898 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER. + + I. The School + II. The Girls + III. The Telegram + IV. Sir John's Great Scheme + V. Florence + VI. Kitty and Her Father + VII. Cherry-Colored Ribbons + VIII. The Letter + IX. The Little Mummy + X. Aunt Susan + XI. "I Always Admired Frankness" + XII. The Fairy Box + XIII. An Invitation + XIV. At the Park + XV. The Pupil Teacher + XVI. Temptation + XVII. The Fall + XVIII. The Guests Arrive + XIX. Tit for Tat + XX. The Hills for Ever + XXI. The Sting of the Serpent + XXII. The Voice of God + + + + +A BUNCH OF CHERRIES. + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE SCHOOL. + +The house was long and low and rambling. In parts at least it must +have been quite a hundred years old, and even the modern portion was +not built according to the ideas of the present day, for in 1870 people +were not so aesthetic as they are now, and the lines of beauty and +grace were not considered all essential to happiness. + +So even the new part of the house had square rooms destitute of +ornament, and the papers were small in pattern and without any artistic +designs, and the windows were square and straight, and the ceilings +were somewhat low. + +The house opened on to a wide lawn, and at the left of the lawn was a +paddock and at the right a shrubbery, and the shrubbery led away under +its overhanging trees into the most perfect walled-in garden that was +ever seen. The garden was two or three hundred years old. The oldest +inhabitants of the place had never known the time when Cherry Court +garden was not the talk of the country. Visitors came from all parts +round to see it. It was celebrated on account of its very high walls +built of red brick, its size, for it covered at least three acres of +ground, and its magnificent cherries. The cherry trees in the Court +garden bore the most splendid fruit which could be obtained in any part +of the county. They were in great demand, not only for the girls who +lived in the old house and played in the garden, but for the neighbors +all over the country. A big price was always paid for these cherries, +for they made such splendid jam, as well as being so full of juice and +so ripe and good to eat that their like could not be found anywhere +else. + +The cherries were of all sorts and kinds, from the celebrated White +Heart to the black cherry. There were cherries for cooking and +cherries for eating, and in the season the trees, which were laden with +ripe fruit, were a sight to behold. + +In the height of the cherry season Mrs. Clavering always gave a cherry +feast. It was the event of the entire year, and the girls looked +forward to it, making all their arrangements in connection with it, +counting the hours until it arrived, and looking upon it as the great +feature of their school year. Everything turned on whether the +cherries were good and the weather fine. There was no greater stimulus +to hard work than the merest mention of this golden day, which came as +a rule towards the end of June and just before the summer vacation. +For Cherry Court School was old-fashioned according to our modern +ideas, and one of its old-fashioned plans was to give holidays at the +end of June instead of the end of July, so that the girls had the +longest, finest days at home, and came back to work at the end of +August refreshed and strengthened, and prepared for a good long tug at +lessons of all sorts until Christmas. + +The school consisted of twenty girls, never more and never less, for +Mrs. Clavering was too great a favorite and had too wise and excellent +ideas with regard to education ever to be without pupils, and never +more, for she believed twenty to be the perfect number to whom she +could give every attention and offer every advantage. + +The school, small as it was, was divided into two sections, the Upper +and the Lower. In the Upper school were girls from eighteen to +fourteen years of age, and in the Lower some of the small scholars +numbered even as few years as six. There was a resident French +mistress in the school and also a resident German, and there was an +English governess, and, of course, Mrs. Clavering herself; but the +other teachers came from the neighboring town of Hartleway to instruct +the pupils in all those accomplishments which were in the early +seventies considered necessary for a young lady's education. I can +assure those of my readers who are well acquainted with modern schools +that no one could have been more particular than Mrs. Clavering with +regard to her girls. In such things as deportment and nice manners and +all the code which signifies politeness, and in the almost lost art of +brilliant conversation, she could instruct as very few other people +could in her day, and then what accomplishments she did teach were +thorough. The girls were taught French properly, they understood the +grammar of the language, and could also speak it nicely; and their +German was also very fair, if not quite as thorough as their French. +And their music had some backbone in it, for a little of the science +was taught as well as the practice, and their singing was very sweet +and true. They could also recite, those of them who had any gift for +it, quite beautifully, and if they had a turn for acting that also was +brought to the fore and made the most of. As to their knowledge of the +English language, it bade fair to eclipse many of the High School girls +of the present day, for they did understand in the first place its +literature, and in the next its grammar, and were well acquainted with +the works of Shakespeare and those other lions of literature whose +names we are so proud of and whose works we love. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE GIRLS. + +It was a lovely day in the beginning of June, and, being Wednesday, was +a half-holiday. The girls of the Upper school, numbering seven in all, +were assembled in the cherry garden. The cherry garden stood a little +apart, to the left of the great general garden, and was entered by a +low walled-in door. + +Mrs. Clavering was so proud of her cherries and so afraid that the +neighbors might be tempted to help themselves to the luscious fruit, +that she kept the door locked between the cherry garden and the other, +and only those girls who were very privileged were allowed to sit in +it. But the girls in the Upper school were, of course, privileged, and +they were now enjoying a fine time seated on the grass, or on little +camp-stools and chairs, under the trees, which were already laden with +the tempting fruit. + +They were all eagerly discussing the great event of the year, the +Cherry Feast, which was to take place in three weeks from the present +day. Their names were Mabel and Alice Cunningham, two handsome +dark-eyed girls, aged respectively seventeen and fifteen; Florence +Aylmer, who was also fifteen and the romp of the school; Mary Bateman, +a stolid-looking girl of fourteen; Bertha Kennedy, who had only lately +been raised to the rank of the Upper school; Edith King, a handsome, +graceful girl, who competed with Mabel for the honors of the head of +her class; and Kitty Sharston, who had only lately come, and who had +some Irish blood in her, and was very daring and very much inclined to +break the rules. She was a hobbledehoy sort of girl, having +outstripped her years, which were only thirteen, and was considered by +some of her companions very plain and by others very fascinating. + +Mrs. Clavering did not quite know what to make of Kitty, but hoped to +break her in by and by, and meanwhile she was very gentle, and Kitty +loved her, although she never could be got to see that so many +restrictions and so many little petty rules were not good, but +extremely bad, for her character. + +On this particular lovely summer's afternoon Kitty was the last to make +her appearance. She came skimming gracefully through the orchard under +the cherry trees, with her hair down her back, her skirt awry, and a +great stain on the front of her pinafore. In the seventies girls as +old as Kitty wore long white pinafores. The stain was caused by some +cherry juice, for Kitty had stopped many times as she approached the +others to take great handfuls of the ripe fruit, and thrust them into +her mouth. Mabel called to her to sit down. + +"We are all busy discussing the great event," she said, "and I have +kept a seat for you near me, Kitty; wasn't it good of me?" + +"Awfully good," answered Kitty. She flung herself on the ground by her +friend's side and looked up at her with affectionate eyes. + +"I like you all," she said, glancing round at them, "and yet all the +same I hate school. The great thing that I look forward to in the +treat is that immediately afterwards the holidays follow. I shall go +down to join my father in Cornwall. He said he would take me to +Ireland, but I doubt if he will. Now, Tommy, what are you frowning at?" + +This remark was made to Florence Aylmer. Kitty from the first had +insisted upon calling her Tommy. She was the first girl in Cherry +Court School who had dared to adopt a nickname for any of her +companions, and Florence, who had begun by being indignant, could not +help laughing now as the saucy creature fixed her with her bright eyes. + +"What are you frowning at, Tommy? Aren't you glad, too, that the +holidays are so near?" + +"No, I am not--I hate the holidays," replied Florence Aylmer. As she +spoke Mabel took one of Kitty's hands, gave it a slight squeeze, it was +a sort of warning pressure. Kitty looked up at her with a startled +glance, then she glanced again at Florence, who was looking down. +Suddenly Florence raised her face and returned the girl's gaze fully. + +"I have no home like the rest of you," she said; "my mother is very +poor and cannot afford to have me at home." + +"Then where are you going to spend the holidays?" said Kitty; "do say, +dear old Tommy, where--where?" + +"Here probably, or wherever Mrs. Clavering likes to take me," replied +Florence; "but there, don't talk of it any more--I hate to think of it. +We have three weeks still to be happy in, and we'll make the best of +that." + +"Do you know, Mabel," asked Mary Bateman, now bending forward, "if Mrs. +Clavering has yet decided what the programme is to be for the 25th?" + +"I think she will tell us to-night," replied Mabel; "she said something +about it this morning, didn't she, Alice?" + +"Yes, I heard her talking to Mademoiselle Le Brun. I expect we shall +hear at tea-time. If so we will meet in the oak parlor, and Mrs. +Clavering will have her annual talk. She is always very nice on those +occasions." + +"She is nice on every occasion--she is an old dear," said Kitty. + +"Why, Kitty, you don't know her very well yet." + +"She is an old dear," reported Kitty; "I love her with all my heart, +but I should like beyond words to give her a right good shock. I +cannot tell you girls, how I positively tremble to do it. At prayers, +for instance, or still more at meals, when we are all so painfully +demure, I want to jump up and utter a shout, or do something of that +sort. I have suppressed myself hitherto, but I really do not know if I +can go on suppressing myself much longer. Oh, what is the matter, +Edith--what are you frowning at?" + +"Nothing," replied Edith King; "I did not even know that I was +frowning. I was just thinking how nice it was to be trained to be +ladylike and to have good manners and all that. Mrs. Clavering is such +a perfect lady herself that we shall know all the rules of polite +society when we leave the school." + +"And I hate those rules," said Kitty; "but there, somebody is coming to +meet us. Oh, it is little Dolly Fairfax; she is sure to be bringing a +message." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE TELEGRAM. + +Dolly came up in her brisk way. She was holding something concealed in +her little pinafore. She looked very mysterious. She had a round +cherub face and two great big blue eyes, and short hair, which she wore +in a curly mop all over her head. Dolly was the youngest girl in the +school and a great pet with everyone. When Bertha saw her now she +sprang to her feet and went forward in her somewhat clumsy way. + +"Come, little Dolly," she said; "what's the mystery?" + +"It's not for you, Bertha," said Dolly, "and don't you interrupt. It's +for--it's for Kitty Sharston." + +"For me?" cried Kitty. "Oh, what a love you are, Dolly; come and sit +on my lap. Is it a box of bon-bons or is it a letter?" + +"Guess again," said Dolly, clapping her hand to her little mouth, and +looking intensely mysterious. Her blue eyes rolled roguishly round +until they fixed themselves on Edith King's face, then she looked again +at Kitty as solemn as possible. + +"You guess again," she said; "I'll give you five guesses. Now, then, +begin right away." + +"It's the book that Annie Wallace said she would lend me--that's it, +now, isn't it, Dolly? See, I'll feel in your pinafore." + +"No, it's not--wrong again," said Dolly; "that's three guesses--two +more." + +Kitty made another guess--wrong again. Finally Dolly was induced to +unfold her pinafore, and inside lay an unopened telegram. + +Now, in those days telegrams were not quite as common as they are now. +In the first place, they cost a shilling instead of sixpence, which +made a vast difference in their number. Kitty's face turned slightly +pale, she gripped the telegram, shook little Dolly off her lap, stood +up, and, turning her back to the girls, proceeded to open it. Her +slim, long fingers shook a little as she did so. She soon had the +envelope torn asunder and had taken out the pink sheet within. She +unfolded it and read the words. As she did so her face turned very +white. "Is the messenger waiting for an answer?" she said, turning to +Dolly. + +"Yes," replied Dolly; "he is waiting up at the Court." + +"Then I must run away at once and answer this," said Kitty. "Oh, I +wonder if I have got money enough!" + +"I'll lend you a shilling if you like," said Edith King. + +"Thanks, awfully," replied Kitty. "I'll pay you back when I get my +pocket-money on Saturday." + +There was a queer, troubled, dazed sort of look in her eyes. Edith +handed her the shilling and she disappeared under the cherry trees. + +Dolly proceeded to skim after her. + +"No, do stay, Dolly," cried Florence Aylmer; "stay and sit on my lap +and I'll tell you a story." + +Dolly looked undecided for a moment, but presently she elected to go +with Kitty. + +"There is something bothering her," she said; "I wonder what it can be. +I'll run and see; I'll bring word afterwards." + +She disappeared with little shouts under the trees. Nothing could ever +make Dolly sad long. The other girls turned and looked at one another. + +"What in the world can it be?" said Florence. "Poor Kitty! how very +white she turned as she read it." + +Meanwhile Kitty had reached the house; the messenger was waiting in the +hall. Mrs. Clavering came out just as the girl appeared. + +"Well, my dear Kitty," she said, "I hope it is not very bad news?" + +"I will tell you presently; I must answer it now," said Kitty. + +"You can go into the study, dear, and write your telegram there." + +Kitty went in; she spent a little time, about ten minutes or so, +filling in the form; then she folded it up, gave it to the boy with a +shilling, and went and stood in the hall. + +"What is the matter, Kitty?" said her governess, coming out and looking +her in the face. + +"My telegram was from father. He--he is going to India," said Kitty, +"that is all. I won't be with him in the holidays--that's all." + +She tried to keep the tremble out of her voice; her eyes, brave, +bright, and fearless, were fixed on Mrs. Clavering's face. + +"Come in here and let us talk, dear," said Mrs. Clavering. + +"I can't," said Kitty; "it is too bad." + +"What is too bad, dear?" + +"The pain here." She pressed her hand against her heart. + +"Poor child! you love him very much." + +"Very much," answered Kitty, "and the pain is too bad, and--and I can't +talk now. I'll just go back to the other girls in the cherry orchard." + +"But, Kitty, can you bear to be with them just now?" + +"I can't be alone," said Kitty, with a little piteous smile. She ran +out again into the summer sunshine. Mrs. Clavering stood and watched +her. + +"Poor little girl," she said to herself, "and she does not know the +worst, nor half the worst, for I had a long letter from Major Sharston +this morning, and he told me that not only was he obliged to go to +India, but that he had lost so large a sum of money that he could not +afford to keep Kitty here after this term. She is to go to Scotland to +live with an old cousin; she must give up all chance of being properly +educated. Poor little Kitty! I wonder if he mentioned that in the +telegram, and she is so proud, too, and has so much character; it is a +sad, sad pity." + +Meanwhile Kitty once more returned through the orchard. She began to +sing a gay song to herself. She had a very sweet voice, and was +carolling wild notes now high up in the air--"Begone, dull care; you +and I shall never agree." + +The girls sitting under the finest of the cherry trees heard her as she +sang. + +"There can't be much wrong with her," said Mary Bateman, with a sigh of +relief. "Hullo, Kitty, no bad news, I hope?" + +"There is bad news, but I can't talk of it now," said Kitty. "Come, +what shall we do? We need not stay under the trees any longer surely, +need we? Let's have a right good game--blind man's buff, or shall we +play hare and hounds." + +"Oh, it's much too hot for hare and hounds," said Edith King. + +"Well, let's do something," said Kitty; "we all ought to be very happy +on a half-holiday, and I don't mean to be miserable. Now, then, start +something. I'll go and hide. Now, who will begin?" + +Kitty laughed merrily; she glanced from one to the other of the girls, +saw that their eyes were shining with a queer mixture of curiosity and +sympathy, and felt that she would do anything in the world rather than +gratify them. + +"After all," she said to herself, as she ran wildly across the cheery +orchard, "poor old Tommy and I will have our holidays together, for at +the very best, even if father has not lost that money, I will have to +stay here during the holidays. Oh, father! oh, father! how am I to +live without you? Oh, father, dear, this is too cruel! I know, I am +certain you have lost the money, or you would not be going to India +away from your own, own Kitty." + +She crushed down a sob, reached a little summer-house, into which she +turned, pulled down some tarpaulin to cover her, and, crouching in the +corner, lay still, her heart beating wildly. + +"Begone, dull care," she whispered stoutly under her breath; and then +she added, with a sob in her voice, "whatever happens, I won't give in." + +That evening was a time of great excitement in the school, for the +programme for the Cherry Feast was to be publicly announced, and the +girls felt that there was further news in the air. + +Immediately after early tea, between five and six o'clock, Mrs. +Clavering called Kitty into the oak parlor. + +"My dear," she said, "I want to have a talk with you." + +Some of the wild light had gone out of Kitty's eyes by this time, and +the flush had left her cheeks, leaving them somewhat pale. + +"Yes, Mrs. Clavering," she said; "what is it?" + +"I want you, my dear little girl, not to keep all your troubles to +yourself." + +"But what am I to do?" said Kitty, standing first on one leg and then +on the other. + +"Hold yourself upright in the first place, dear. After all, the laws +of deportment ought to be attended to, whatever one's trouble." + +Kitty gave an impatient sigh. + +"There you are," she exclaimed, "that's what makes you so very queer; +that's what makes it almost impossible for me to bear the restraint of +school. When--when your heart is almost breaking, what does it matter +how you stand?" + +"My dear child, you will find in the events of life that it greatly +matters to learn self-control." + +"I have self-control," said Kitty, with a quiver in her lips. + +"Well, dear, I hope you will prove it, for I fear, I greatly fear, that +you are about to have a bad time." + +"Oh, I am having a bad time," said Kitty; "don't you suppose that I am +not suffering. I am suffering horribly, but I won't let anybody +know--that is, if I can help it. I am not going to damp the pleasure +of the others; you know that father is going, and I am his only child. +He is coming just once to say good-bye to me; yes, he promises me that +even in the telegram. He will come in about a fortnight from now, just +a week before the Cherry Feast. Oh, I am miserable, I am miserable!" + +All of a sudden the poor child's composure gave way, she covered her +face with her trembling hands, and burst into a great flood of weeping. + +A look of relief crossed Mrs. Clavering's face. + +"Now she will be better," she said to herself; "she will understand +what I have to say to her better. Shall I say it to her now or shall I +wait until the morning? It is very hard; perhaps she had better know +all at once." + +So Mrs. Clavering led the weeping girl to the nearest sofa, and +presently she stole her arm round her waist, and coaxed her to lay her +head on her shoulder, and by and by she kissed the tired, flushed +little face. + +Kitty, who had the most loving heart in the world, returned her +embrace, and nestled close to her, and felt in spite of herself a +little better than she had done before. + +"I know it is very bad, dear," said Mrs. Clavering, "but we can talk +about it now if you like." + +"I don't know that there is anything to say," said Kitty; "he would not +have gone but for----" + +"But for what, my child!" + +"But for that dreadful money. He was very anxious when he sent me +here. Oh, perhaps, I ought not to say anything about it." + +"I think you may, Kitty, for I know, dear. I had a long letter from +your father this morning. He told me then news which I considered very +sad. You know, my love, that this is an expensive school. All the +girls who come here pay well; most of the girls who are here have rich +fathers and mothers." + +"Oh, I know that," interrupted Kitty; "and how I hate rich fathers and +mothers! Why should only rich people have nice things?" + +"Then you do like this school, don't you, my love?" + +"As much as I could like any place away from father; but what did he +say this morning, Mrs. Clavering?" Kitty started restlessly and faced +her governess as she spoke. + +"He said, dear, that he must go to India because he had lost a very +large sum of money. He said he would send you a telegram as soon as he +had made arrangements, as there was no good troubling you before. He +thought it best you should know by telegram, as the sight of the +telegram itself would slightly prepare you for the bad news. But, my +dear little Kitty, in some ways there is worse to follow, for your +father cannot afford to pay my fees, and you must leave Cherry Court +School at the end of this term." + +Kitty sat silent. This last news, very bad in itself, scarcely +affected her at first. It seemed a mere nothing compared to the +parting from her beloved father. + +"Yes," she said at last, in a listless voice, "I must leave here." + +"I will keep you with me, darling, until the end of the vacation." +Kitty gave a perceptible shudder. "I am going to the seaside with +Florence Aylmer, and you shall come with us. I will try and give you +as good a time, dear little Kitty, as ever I can, but it would not be +fair to the other girls to keep you here for nothing." + +"No, of course it would not be fair," said Kitty. "And where am I to +go," she added, after a very long pause, "when the vacation is over, +when the girls come back here again at the end of August?" + +"Then, my dear child, I greatly fear you will have to go and stay with +your father's cousin, Miss Dartmoor, in Argyleshire." + +"Helen Dartmoor!" said Kitty, suddenly springing to her feet, "father's +cousin, Helen Dartmoor! She came to stay with us for a month after +mother died, and if there is a person in the whole world whom I loathed +it was her. No, I won't go to her; I'll write and tell father I +can't--I won't; it shan't be. Nothing would induce me to live with +her. Oh, Mrs. Clavering, you don't know what she is, and she--why, she +doesn't speak decent English, and she knows scarcely anything. How am +I to be educated, Mrs. Clavering? I could not do it." + +"There is a school not far from Miss Dartmoor's; of course, not a +school like this, but a school where you can be taught some things, my +poor child." + +"I won't go to Helen Dartmoor--I won't!" said Kitty, in a passionate +voice. + +"I fear there is no help for it, my love; but when you see your father +he will tell you all about it. I wish with all my heart, I could keep +you here, but I greatly fear there is no help for it." + +"And is that all you have to say?" said Kitty, rising slowly as she +spoke. + +"Yes, dear, all for the present." + +"Then I am a very miserable girl. I'll go away to my room for a +little. I may, may I not?" + +"On this occasion you may, although you know it is the rule that none +of the girls go to their dormitories during the daytime." + +Kitty left the room, walking very slowly. She had scarcely done so +before a loud ring, followed by a rat-tat on the knocker of the front +door, was heard through the house. + +A moment later the door of Mrs. Clavering's oak parlor was flung open, +and Sir John Wallis entered the room. + +Sir John Wallis was the great man in the neighborhood. + +He was the owner of Cherry Court School, renting the house and +beautiful grounds to Mrs. Clavering year by year. He was an unmarried +man, and took a great interest in the school. He was a very +benevolent, kindly person, and Mrs. Clavering and he were the closest +friends. + +"Ah, my dear madam," he said, bowing now in his somewhat old-fashioned +way, and then extending his hand to the good lady, "I am so glad to see +you at home. How are you and how are the girls?" + +"Oh, very well, Sir John." + +"But you look a little bit worried; what is wrong?" + +"Well, the fact is, one of my girls, Kitty Sharston----" + +"That pretty, queer-looking half-wild girl whom I saw in church on +Sunday?" + +"The same; she is the daughter of Major Sharston, a very estimable man." + +"Sharston, Sharston, I should think he is. Why, he is an old brother +officer of mine; we served together in the time of the Crimea. +Anything wrong with Sharston! What's up, my dear madam, what is up!" + +"Well, it's just this," said Mrs. Clavering. "Major Sharston has lost +a lot of money, and is obliged to take an appointment in India, and he +cannot afford to leave poor Kitty at the school longer than till the +end of term. I intend to have her as my guest during the holidays, but +afterwards she must go to an old cousin in Scotland, and the poor child +has little chance of ever being very well educated. She is very much +shaken by the blow." + +"But this is fearful," said Sir John, "fearful! What can we do?" + +"Nothing, I am afraid," said Mrs. Clavering. "Nothing would offend +Major Sharston more than for his daughter to accept charity in any +form. He is a very proud man, and Kitty, when all is said and done, +although very wild and needing a lot of training, has got a spirit of +her own. She will be a fine girl by and by." + +"And a beautiful one to boot," interrupted Sir John. "Well, this is +terrible; what can we do?" + +"Nothing," repeated Mrs. Clavering again. + +Sir John looked very thoughtful. + +"Is it to-night," he said, "you announce your programme for the Cherry +Feast?" + +"Yes," answered the good lady. + +"Then I have a crow to pluck with you; you never sent me notice to +attend." + +"I did not, for I thought you would be away, but will you come in this +evening, Sir John, we shall all be delighted to see you?" + +Sir John considered for a moment. + +"I will," he said, "and you know I always offer a prize of my own, +which is to be given at the Cherry Feast. Now, why should not we on +this occasion offer a prize which Kitty Sharston runs a chance of +winning, and which would save her from leaving Cherry Court School?" + +Mrs. Clavering shook her head. + +Sir John bent forward and began to speak eagerly. + +"Now, come," he said, "I think I can manage it. Could it not be done +in this way?" He spoke in a low tone, and Mrs. Clavering bent her head +to listen. + +"But, even if you did offer such a prize," she said, "which in itself +would be very valuable, what chance has Kitty of winning it? She is +not particularly forward in any of her studies, and then the girls who +did not want it would get it." + +"I am persuaded that Kitty has plenty of ability," said Sir John. + +"I quite agree with you, and to work for such a prize would be an +immense stimulus; but then, you know, the feast comes on so soon, and +there are only three weeks in which to prepare." + +"We can manage it by means of a sort of preliminary canter," said the +baronet, in a musing tone; "I am sure we can work the thing up. Now, +let us put our heads together and get some idea into shape before +to-night. That child must be saved; her father's feelings must be +respected. She must stay here and be under your wing, and I will go +and have a chat with Sharston and see if I cannot make life endurable +to the poor little girl, even though he is away in India." + +"Well, it is very nice your being a friend of Major Sharston's. If you +will stay here for about half an hour while I am attending to something +else, I will come back and we will see what scheme we can draw up." + +"Good," said Sir John, "and don't hurry back, for I am going to put on +my considering-cap. This thing must be managed by hook or by crook." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +SIR JOHN'S GREAT SCHEME. + +It was in this way that the great prize which caused such excitement in +Cherry Court School was started. + +It was called the Scholarship prize, and was a new and daring idea of +the early seventies. Girls were not accustomed to big prizes in those +days, and scholarships were only in vogue in the few public schools +which were then in existence. + +Sir John and Mrs. Clavering between them drew up a scheme which put +every other idea into the shade, for there was a great honor to be +conferred as well as a very big money prize, and the girls were +stimulated to try their very best. It was arranged that the prize was +to be competed for between this day in early June and the day when the +Cherry Feast was held by the entire Upper school, but that after that +date the competitors were only to number three. The three girls who +came out in the first list at the time of the Cherry Feast were to +compete for the great prize itself in the following October, and Mrs. +Clavering had made private arrangements with Sir John to keep Kitty at +the school, in case she came out one of the first three, until October, +when the prize itself was to be won. + +There were three tests which were to qualify for the prize. First and +above all, good conduct; an unselfish, brave, noble character would +rank very high indeed. Second would come neat appearance and admirable +deportment, which would include graceful conversation, polite manners +and all those things which are more or less neglected in modern +education; and last of all would come the grand educational test. + +Thus every idea of the school would be turned more or less topsy-turvy, +for Sir John's scheme was so peculiar and his prize so munificent that +it was worth giving up everything else to try for. + +The prize itself was to consist of a free education at Cherry Court +School for the space of three years; accompanying it was a certificate +in parchment, which in itself was to be considered a very high honor; +and thirdly, a locket set with a beautiful ruby to represent a cherry, +which was the badge of the school. + +When the great day arrived it was decided that the happy winner of this +great prize would receive the fees for a year's schooling in a purse +presented to her by Sir John himself, also the scroll of merit and the +beautiful ruby locket. + +The news of Sir John's bounty and the marvelous prize which was to be +offered to the fortunate girls was the talk of the entire school. Even +Kitty, who little guessed how deeply she was concerned in the matter, +could scarcely think of anything else. It diverted her mind from her +coming sorrow. On the day that the prize was formally announced she +sat down to write to her father to inform him on the subject. + +"It is too wonderful," she wrote; "I was the most miserable girl in all +the world when I got your telegram. I scarcely knew what I was doing, +and then Mrs. Clavering took me into her oak parlor and told me still +further bad news. That I--oh, father dear, oh, father--that I was to +go and live with Helen Dartmoor. How could you think of it, father? +But there, she said it had to be, and I felt nearly wild. You don't +know what I was suffering, although I tried so very hard to be brave. +I am suffering still, but not quite so badly, for what do you think +happened in the evening. + +"You know, or perhaps you don't know, that at the end of summer there +is always such a glorious day--it is called Cherry Feast Day, and is +given in honor of the school, which is called Cherry Court School. The +whole day is given up to festivities of every sort and description, and +all the neighborhood are invited to a great big Cherry Feast in the +evening. + +"The feast is held in the walled-in garden, which is lit with colored +lanterns. In the very centre of the garden is a grass sward, the +greenest grass you ever saw, father, and, oh, so smooth--as smooth as +velvet, and on this grass, lit with fairy lamps, the girls dance all +kinds of stately, wonderful, old-fashioned dances, and the neighbors +sit round and watch, and then at the end we all go into the house, into +the great oak hall in the middle, and Mrs. Clavering gives the prizes +to the lucky girls. + +"Of course, feasts of cherries are the order of the hour, and we wear +cherry ornaments if possible. You cannot imagine how full of cherries +we are in the school, even to cherry-colored ribbons, you know. + +"Well, yesterday, when your dreadful telegram came, was the day when we +were to draw up a programme for the Cherry Feast, and when all we girls +came into the oak parlor in the evening--I mean all the girls of the +Upper school, for the little ones, although they enjoy the feast +splendidly at the time, are never allowed to know much of the +preparations--well, when we were all in the oak parlor who should come +in but Mrs. Clavering and such a tall, stately, splendid-looking man. +His name is Sir John Wallis, and it seems, father dear, that he knows +all about you, for he called me up afterwards and spoke to me, and he +put his arm round my waist, and when he said good-bye he even kissed +me, and he said that you and he were some of the heroes before +Sebastopol. Oh, father, he did speak so splendidly of you, and he +looked so splendid himself, I quite loved him, I did really. But +there, how I am digressing, father! + +"Mrs. Clavering gave out the programme for the day--the usual sort, you +know, the dancing on the lawn in the evening, and the crowds of +spectators, and the assembling in the big hall for the prizes to be +given out to all the lucky girls who had won them. + +"Of course, I won't get any this year. I have not been at school long +enough, although I am trying and working very hard. Well, Mrs. +Clavering read out the usual programme and we all stood by and +listened, and I could not help glancing at Sir John, although I had not +spoken to him then, and did not know, not a bit of it, that he knew +you, darling, precious father. + +"But all of a sudden Sir John himself came forward and he took Mrs. +Clavering's place on the little rostrum, as they call it, and he spoke +in such a loud, penetrating, and yet beautiful voice, and he said that +he, with Mrs. Clavering's permission, had a scheme to propose. + +"He began by saying how he loved the school, how he had always loved +it, how his own mother had been educated at Cherry Court School, and +how he thought there was no school like it in the world, and then he +said that he was anxious, now that he had returned home to live and was +growing an old man himself, to do something for the school, and he +proposed there and then to offer it a Scholarship. + +"Do you know what a scholarship is, father? I thought only men won +scholarships. Well, anyhow, he did offer a Scholarship, such a +magnificent one. It was to be held by the girl who was best in +conduct, best in deportment, and best in her educational work, in the +following October, and she was to hold it for three years, and what do +you think the scholarship was? + +"Oh, was there anything so splendid! A lovely, lovely gold locket with +a ruby cherry on the right side and a wonderful inscription on the left +side, and a parchment scroll, father, in which the full particulars of +the great Scholarship were written down, and besides that, a purse of +money. Oh, father, a girl would not mind taking money in that way, +would she?--and what was the money for?--it was to pay all her fees for +a year. + +"Every expense connected with the school was to be met by this +wonderful purse of money; she was to be educated and called the Cherry +Court Scholarship girl, and it was to be a wonderfully proud +distinction, I can tell you, and at the end of the year Sir John Wallis +was to give another purse of money, and at the end of that year another +purse of money, so that the lucky girl who won the Scholarship was to +be educated free of expense for three whole years. + +"Oh, father, father! I mean to try for it--I mean to try with all my +might and main. I don't suppose I'll succeed, but I shall have such a +fit of trying--you never knew anything like it in your life. But do +you know, perhaps, that what Kitty tries for with all her might and +soul she generally wins. + +"Oh, dear father, this has made me quite happy and has taken off the +worst of my great pain. I feel now that there is hope, for at the end +of three years I shall be a well-educated girl--that is, if I win the +Scholarship, and then perhaps you will allow me to come out to you to +India. I am not without hope, now, but I should be utterly and +completely devoid of it if I had to go and live with Helen Dartmoor. + +"Your loving and excited daughter, KITTY." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +FLORENCE. + +It began to be whispered in the school--at first, it is true, in very +low tones and scarcely any words, but just a nod and a single +glance--that Mrs. Clavering was very anxious that Kitty should win the +Scholarship. + +There was really no reason for this rumor to get afloat, but beyond +doubt the rumor was afloat, was in the air, and was talked of by the +girls--at first, as I have said, scarcely at all, but by and by more +and more plainly as the hours flew on towards the Cherry Feast. + +Kitty herself knew nothing of these whispers. She was very busy +planning and reconstructing all her previous ideas with regard to +education. Her first object was to come out one of the happy three who +were to compete for the Scholarship in the coming October. If she +succeeded in this she felt sure that all would be well. She began now +eagerly to examine her companion's faces. Sometimes they turned away +from her bright, almost too bright, eyes, but then again they would +look at her with a certain compassion. + +It would be very nice, they all thought, to win the Scholarship--there +was no girl at Cherry Court School who would not feel proud to get so +great a prize--but they also knew that what would be merely nice for +them was life or death for poor Kitty Sharston, and yet nothing had +been told them; they only surmised that there was a wish in Mrs. +Clavering's breast that Kitty should be the lucky girl. + +On a certain afternoon about a week before the Cherry Feast, Mabel and +Alice Cunningham, with Florence Aylmer and Edith King, were once more +assembled under one of the cherry trees in the cherry orchard. + +"I am sure of it," said Alice. "Of course, it is nothing that I have +heard, but it is a sort of look in Mrs. Clavering's face, and she is so +eager to give Kitty all sorts of help. She has her by herself now +every evening to coach her for an hour." + +"Well, for my part, I don't call it a bit fair," said Florence Aylmer. + +"Florry! Oh, surely you are not jealous, and of poor little Kitty?" + +"I am not exactly jealous--oh, no, I am not jealous," said Florence, +"but it rather takes the heart out of one. If after all one's trouble +and toil and exertion one gets the thing and then Mrs. Clavering is +discontented and Kitty Sharston's heart is broken, I don't see the use +of having a big fight--do you, Mabel? do you, Edith?" + +"Oh, I don't know," said Edith; "I only feel puzzled; perhaps it is a +mere suspicion and there is no truth in it." + +"I cannot imagine, if it is really Sir John's wish that Kitty should be +the successful competitor, why he does not give her the money straight +away and end the thing," said Florence again. + +"But, you see, he could not do that," said Mabel, "for Kitty is very +proud and----" + +"Well, I don't like it," said Florence, "and I tell you what it is--now +that the whisper has got into the air, I mean to know. I shall go +straight to Mrs. Clavering and ask her. If it is true I for one will +not enter the lists at all." + +"But would you dare to ask her?" exclaimed Mabel, in a voice almost of +awe. "You know, Mrs. Clavering, although she is the kindest woman in +the world, never allows any liberties to be taken with her. I don't +think you can dare to ask her, Florry--I really don't." + +"Oh, I shall, all the same," replied Florence. "If this thing is fair +and above board, and equal chances are given to us all, why, I shall go +in for it and be delighted to have a chance, but if it is not, Kitty +shall have it without much exertion, as far as I am concerned." + +She got up restlessly as she spoke, and moved towards the house. + +The day was a very hot one, and all the doors and windows stood wide +open. Sir John Wallis was standing inside the porch talking to Mrs. +Clavering. + +Florence came slowly forward. Sir John held out his hand to her. + +"Well, Miss Aylmer," he said, in his pleasant voice, "and how do the +studies get on, and are you all agog to be one of the lucky three?" + +"I am not at all sure about that," said Florence; "I was coming to you, +Mrs. Clavering, to speak about it." + +"Why, what can be wrong?" said the baronet; "I thought that you were +one of the most promising pupils and had a very good chance." + +"But what," said Florence, her face suddenly blazing into color, and +her eyes fixing themselves first on Sir John's face and then on that of +Mrs. Clavering, "what if you don't want me to win the prize!" + +"Don't want you--what nonsense!" said Mrs. Clavering, but she colored +faintly as she spoke. + +Sir John gave Florence a very keen glance. + +"I may as well speak out now that I am about it," continued the girl. +"There is a rumor in the school--I cannot tell you who started it, but +there is a rumor--that you, Sir John, want Kitty to get the prize." + +"It is perfectly true that I should like her to get it," said Sir John, +instantly, "but the prize shall be bestowed upon the girl who comes out +best in deportment, best in conduct, and best in learning, whether she +is Kitty Sharston or another. Now, that is all, Florence Aylmer. I +have spoken. Don't, I beg of you, say a word of what you have just +said to me to Kitty herself. You have all equal chances. If Kitty +fails she fails. I shall be disappointed, but I shall honor the girl +who wins the great prize all the same." + +"Thank you," replied Florence. She entered the hall; a moment later +Mrs. Clavering followed her. + +"My dear," she said, "what is wrong with you? I would not know you +with that expression on your face." + +"Things seem very hard," said Florence. "At first, when the prize was +mentioned, it seemed quite too delicious, for you know, dear Mrs. +Clavering, that I am poor, too, and if I were to win the prize it would +be only too delightful; but if you do not wish me to take it"--tears +filled her eyes; one of them rolled down her cheeks. + +"I do heartily wish you to have it if you really win it, Florence. The +competition is an open one, rest assured of that; and now, my dear, +cease to think unkind thoughts of Kitty, and, above all things, don't +breathe a word of what you have just said to me to her." + +"That I promise," said Florence, but she went upstairs feeling +discontented and depressed. + +She sat down to write a letter to her mother. + +"Dear mother," she wrote, "we are trying for an extraordinary prize +here, quite a valuable Scholarship, such as are given to men at the +Universities, and I am going to have a big try for it, but I should +like to talk things over with you. I wonder if Aunt Susan would rise +to the occasion, and let me have a third-class return ticket to +Dawlish, and if you, Mummy, could secure a tiny room for me next +yourself. I want to spend a week with you during the coming holidays. +I have a good deal to say and am rather anxious and miserable. Try and +arrange it with Aunt Susan. It won't cost very much really, and I +promise to return at the end of a week. + +"Your loving daughter, + "FLORENCE." + +"P. S.--I shall eat very little and be satisfied with the plainest +food. You might mention that to Aunt Susan when you are writing." + +"P. S. 2.--There is a new girl at the school; she came just at the +beginning of term, but I never mentioned her name to you before. She +is called Kitty Sharston, and I think she has a very great chance of +winning the Scholarship. She is rather an awkward kind of girl, but +will be handsome by and by. She is a great friend of Sir John Wallis, +the man who is the patron of the school, and who is giving the +Scholarship. I mean to have a good try for the Scholarship, Mummy, +dear. Be sure you say so to Aunt Susan when you ask her for my +third-class fare to Dawlish. Good-bye again, Mummy dear. +FLORENCE." + + +Having written this letter Florence uttered a sigh of relief, put it +into its envelope, addressed it, stamped it, and ran downstairs to put +it in the school letter-box. Just as she was in the act of doing so +the chaise drew up at the front door, a tall soldierly man got out, he +came into the porch, and just as he was about to ring the bell, his +eyes met those of Florence. + +"This is Cherry Court School, is it not?" he said, taking off his hat +to the girl. + +"Yes," replied Florence; "can I do anything for you, sir?" + +"My name is Major Sharston. I have come to see my daughter; can you +tell me where I shall find her?" + +"Are you indeed Kitty's father?" said Florence, her heart now shining +out of her eyes. She had beautiful eyes, dark grey with very long, +black lashes. Her face, which was somewhat pale, was quite quivering +with emotion. + +"Yes, I am Kitty's father," was the reply. "Shall I go into the house, +and will you be kind enough to tell her that I am here; or perhaps," +added the Major, looking as wistful as Florence herself, "you might +take me to her straight away?" + +"I will take you to her straight away, that's just it," said Florence. +She turned back to drop her letter into the school letter-box, and then +conducted the Major across the lawn and into the outer garden. In this +garden every old-fashioned flower imaginable bloomed and thrived, and +reared its graceful head. The Major walked down through great lines of +tall hollyhocks and peonies of every color and description. Then he +passed under a sweet-briar hedge and then along a further hedge of +Scotch roses, red and white; and the scent from mignonette and sweet +peas and the sweet-briar and the roses came up to his nostrils. Never +to the longest day of his life did the Major forget the sweet scent of +the old-fashioned garden and the pain at his heart all the time, for he +was going to see Kitty, to bid her good-bye for years--perhaps, who +could tell? for ever. + +Florence seemed to guess some of his feelings, though she did not know +the actual story, for Kitty was very reserved and kept her troubles to +herself. The Major made no remark about the garden, which in itself +was somewhat curious, for strangers were always in raptures over this +old-world garden, with its yew-trees cut in quaint shapes, and its high +walls, and its flowers, which seemed, every one of them, to belong to +the past. + +At last the Major and Florence reached the postern-gate which opened +into the cherry orchard, and then Florence stood still and raised her +voice and called, "Kitty! Kitty Sharston!" and there came an answering +call, clear and high as a bird's, and the next instant Kitty, in her +white summer dress, was seen emerging from under the cherry-trees. She +saw her father, uttered a cry half of rapture, half of pain, and the +next instant was clasped in his arms. Florence saw the Major's arms +fold around Kitty, and a queer lump rose in her throat and she went +away all by herself. Somehow, at that moment she felt that she shared +Mrs. Clavering's wish that Kitty Sharston should get the prize. + +"Although it means a great deal to me, a great deal more than anyone +can guess," thought Florry to herself, "for Aunt Susan is never very +kind to the dear little mother, and she makes such a compliment of +giving her that money term after term, and she insists on doing +everything in the very cheapest way. Why will she not," continued +Florence, looking down at her dress as she spoke, "why will she not +give me decent clothes like other girls! I never have anything pretty. +It is brown holland all during the summer, the coarsest brown holland, +and it is the coarsest blue serge during the winter; never, never +anything else--no style, no fashion, no pretty ribbons, not even a +cherry ribbon for my hair, and so little pocket-money, oh! so +little--only a penny a week. What can a girl do with a penny a week? +Of course, she does allow me a few stamps, just a very few, to send +Mummy letters, but she does keep me so terribly close. Sometimes I can +scarcely bear the life. Oh, what a difference the Scholarship would +make, and Sir John Wallis would think a great deal of me, and so would +Mrs. Clavering. Why, I should be the show girl of the school, the +Cherry Court Scholarship girl; it would be splendid, quite splendid! +But then Kitty, poor Kitty, and what a look the Major had on his face! +I wonder what can be wrong? Oh dear! oh, dear! my heart is torn in +two. Why do I long beyond all words to win the prize, and why, why do +I hate taking it from Kitty Sharston?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +KITTY AND HER FATHER. + +Meanwhile the Major and Kitty went away by themselves. As soon as +Kitty had hugged her father, one close, passionate, voiceless hug, she +released him, stepped back a pace, looked him in the face, and then +said eagerly, "Come away quickly, father; there is a meadow at the back +of the cherry orchard which we can have quite to ourselves. Come at +once. Did Mrs. Clavering send you out here? How good of her to let me +see you alone!" + +"She does not even know that I have come, Kitty," replied her father. +"I met a girl--I don't know what her name is--just as I reached the +porch, and she took me to you. I cannot stay very long, my love, as I +must get back to Chatham to-night." + +"All right," said Kitty; "let us make for the meadow; there is a big +oak-tree and we can sit under it and no one need see us. We must be +alone all, all during the time that you are here." + +The Major said nothing. Kitty linked her hand through his arm. She +was feeling wildly excited--her father and she were together. It might +be an hour, or it might be two hours, that they were to spend together, +but the time was only beginning now. They were together, and she felt +all the warm glow of love, all the ecstasy of perfect happiness in +their reunion. + +They reached the oak-tree in the meadow, the Major sat down, and Kitty +threw herself by his side. + +"Well, Kitty," he said, "what is this that I hear? I read your letter; +it is quite a wonderful letter, little girl. It was the sort of letter +a brave girl would write." + +"The sort of letter a girl would write whose father was a hero before +Sebastopol," said Kitty. + +"What has put that in you head, my darling?" + +"Sir John Wallis spoke of it. Oh, father dear, won't you go and see +Sir John Wallis--he is so nice and so kind? You were both heroes +before Sebastopol, were you not, father dearest, you and he?" + +"We were in the trenches and we suffered a good bit," said the Major, a +grim smile on his face, "but those are bygone times, Kitty." + +"All the same they are times that can never be forgotten while English +history lasts," said Kitty with a proud sparkle in her eyes. + +"Well, no, little girl, I don't suppose England will ever forget the +men who fought for her," replied the Major; "but we won't waste time +talking on these matters now, my child; we have much else to say." + +"What, father?" + +"Well, your letter for instance; and you greatly dislike going to stay +with Helen Dartmoor?" + +Kitty's face turned pale; she had been rosy up to now. The roses faded +out of her cheeks, then her lips turned white, and the brightness left +her eyes. + +"I should hate it," she said; "there are no other words." + +"And you think there is just an off chance that you may win this +wonderful Scholarship?" + +"I mean to have the biggest try a girl ever had, and you know your +Kitty," replied the girl. + +"Yes, I know my brave, brave Kitty, the girl who has clung to her +father through thick and thin, who has always tried to please him, who +has a spirit of her own." + +"Which I inherit from you," said Kitty. "Oh, I have lots of faults; I +can be so cheeky when I like, and so naughty about rules, but somehow +nothing, nothing ever frightens me, except the thought of going to +Helen Dartmoor. You see, father, dear, it would be so hopeless. You +cannot take the hope out of anybody's life and expect the person to do +well, can you, father? Do speak, father--can you?" + +"No, my child, I know that, but even if you have to go to her, Kitty, +remember that I am working very hard for you--that as soon as possible +I will make a home for you, and you shall come to me." + +"How long will you be in India, father?" + +"I do not know, my child. The appointment which I have just received +under Government I can, I believe, retain as long as I please. My idea +is, darling, to do very good service for our Government, and to induce +them to send me into a healthy place." + +"But where are you going now?" said Kitty; "Is the place not healthy, +is your life to be endangered?" + +"No, I am too seasoned for that," replied the Major, in a very cheerful +tone which, alas! he was far from feeling. "You need not be a scrap +anxious, my love," he added; "the place would not suit a young thing +like you, but a seasoned old subject like myself is safe enough. Never +you fear, Kitty mine." + +"But go on, father; you have more to say, haven't you?" + +"Yes, Kitty, I have more to say and the time is very brief. If you win +the Scholarship, well and good. You will be well educated, and my mind +will be relieved of an untold load of care. But, of course, darling, +there is a possibility of your failing, for the Scholarship is an open +one, and there are other girls in the school, perhaps as clever, as +determined, as full of zeal as you, my Kitty." + +"I am afraid, father, dear, there are other girls much cleverer than +your Kitty, who know a vast lot more, and who are very full of zeal. +But," added the young girl, and now she clasped her hands and sprang to +her feet, "there is no one who has the motive I have, and this will +carry me through. I mean first of all to come out one of the lucky +three--that's certain." + +"When is the preliminary examination to take place, Kitty?" + +"On the day of the Cherry Feast," replied Kitty. + +"Well, dear, I have been thinking matters over. If you fail you fail, +but I am determined to give you this chance. I shall see Mrs. +Clavering before I leave and arrange that you are to stay with her +until October; then if you win the Scholarship your future is arranged; +you take your three years' education, and then by hook or by crook, my +darling, you come out to me to India, for by then, unless I am vastly +mistaken, I shall have got into a hill station where it will be safe +for you to stay with me." + +"Oh, you darling, how heavenly it will be!" said Kitty. She clung +close to her father, flung her arms round his neck, laid her head on +his breast, and looked at him with eyes swimming in tears. + +"Oh, I am not a bit unhappy, though I cry," she said, "it is only +because I feel your goodness so much, for though I would have tried +away with Helen Dartmoor I should not have had the chance I shall have +here, for Mrs. Clavering is very good, and I know she wants me to get +the prize, only she feels that I must compete fairly with the other +girls." + +"Of course, you must compete fairly with the other girls, Kitty," said +her father; "if I thought there was any special favoritism in this, +well--" His bronzed cheeks flushed, an indignant light fired his eyes. + +"What, father?" + +"I am a proud man, Kitty, and Helen Dartmoor is your cousin, and would +keep you for the very small sum which it is in my power to offer her." + +"Your pride shall not be hurt, father, darling. I will win the +Scholarship honorably and in open fight." + +"That is my own Kitty." + +"I vow I'll win it," said the girl. + +The Major smiled at her. "You must not be too sure," he said, "or you +will be doubly disappointed if you fail. And now there is one thing +more to be said, and then we can talk on other matters. If you do +fail, my Kitty, you will go to Helen Dartmoor with a heart and a half." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean that you will go to her and not allow hope to die out of your +breast; you will go as a brave girl should, making the best of what +seems an adverse circumstance. If you do this, Kitty, it will be +severe discipline, but not too severe discipline for a soldier's +daughter. Never forget that, my dear, and that, one way or other, at +the end of the three years you come out to me." + +"When I come out to you," said Kitty, "I want you to be proud of me. I +want you to say, 'My girl is a lady, my girl knows things, she is not +ignorant, she can deport herself well, and act well and she knows +things.' But in any case, father, whether I am ignorant or whether I +am not, I promise--yes, I promise--to make the best of circumstances." + +"Then God bless you, child, you are your mother's own girl." + +"And yours--yours," said Kitty, in a low tone of mingled pain and love. + +"We will go back to the house, and I will see Mrs. Clavering, and +afterwards I will ask her permission to let me take you up to see Sir +John Wallis, for, strange as it may seem, I have lost sight of Wallis +for quite fifteen years--such are the fortunes of war, my love. We +were brothers, standing shoulder to shoulder during a momentous year of +our lives, and since then Sir John retired from the service, and I have +heard and seen nothing of him. It was almost immediately afterwards, I +believe, that he came in for the great property and the title which he +now possesses. But come, Kitty, we have not much time to lose." + +Kitty never forgot the rest of that afternoon, for she and her father +had so much to do, so many people to see, and so many things to +arrange, that time flew on wings, and it was not until the last moment +when the parting really came that she realized all it meant to her. + +There was a hurried clasp in the strongest, bravest arms in all the +world, a brief kiss on her cheek, a look in her father's eyes which was +enough to stimulate the highest in any girl's heart, and then the +parting was over. + +The Major had left Cherry Court School, having given all possible +directions for his little girl's comfort and well-being, and had gone +away sorely broken down, crushed to the earth himself, but leaving +Kitty with a courage which did not falter during the days which were to +come. For the Major knew that, strong as he was, he was going to a +part of India where brave men as strong as he are stricken down year +after year by the unhealthy climate, and three years even at the best +was a long time to part with a girl like Kitty, particularly when she +was the only child he had, the light of his eyes, the darling of his +heart. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +CHERRY-COLORED RIBBONS. + +The day of the Cherry Feast dawned bright and glorious. The girls +awoke in the early morning of that splendid summer day, feeling that +something very delightful was about to happen. One after another they +peeped out and saw the sun on the grass and heard the birds sing and +felt the soft zephyrs of the summer breeze blowing on their cheeks. +Then they returned back again to their different little beds in their +different dormitories, and remarked with intense satisfaction that the +long wished-for day had come, and that to-morrow they were all going +home--home for the holidays. Could anything be more fascinating, +stimulating, and delightful? And each girl hoped to go back again to +the beloved home with honor, for Mrs. Clavering had a wonderful way +with her pupils, a very stimulating way, and she so arranged her prizes +and her certificates that no girl who had really worked, who had really +taken pains, was excluded from distinction. It was only the hopelessly +idle, the hopelessly disobedient, who could leave Cherry Court School +without some token of its mistress's sympathy, regard, and +encouragement. + +Kitty Sharston was too new a scholar to expect to get any reward in the +ordinary sense of this term, but, all the same, she had worked fairly +well, and during the last three weeks had tackled her studies and +regulated her conduct like a veritable little Trojan. Every moment of +Kitty's day was now marked out. There was never an instant that she +was off guard with regard to herself; there was no time left in her +busy life for reckless speeches and reckless deeds. The goal set +before her was such a high one, the motive to struggle for pre-eminence +was so strong, that Kitty was quite carried along by the current. Her +natural keen intelligence stood her in good stead, her marks for +punctuality, for neatness, for early rising were all good, and she had +little, very little fear of the results of this afternoon's brief +examination. + +The examination was to be very short, and was to be conducted on this +special occasion by no less a person than Sir John Wallis himself. +Mrs. Clavering having reckoned up the marks, Mademoiselle Le Brun +having given her testimony, Fraulein having given hers, and the English +teachers having further testified to the industry of the pupils, the +girls of the Upper school were to pass muster before Sir John, who was +to decide without prejudice in favor of the lucky three who alone were +to compete for the great Scholarship in October. + +Florence and Kitty were in the same class in school, and up to the date +of the offering of the Scholarship had been excellent friends. They +were still friends as far as Kitty was concerned, for she was a +generous-hearted girl, and although the winning of the prize meant +everything almost in her life, did another girl take it from her fairly +and honorably in open fight, she would resign it without a trace of +ill-will or any sore feeling towards the winner. But there were things +in Florence's life which made her now look aloof at Kitty. She had +been receiving letters from her mother, and the mother had been asking +the girl strange questions, and Mrs. Aylmer was not a woman of lofty +principle nor of strong courage, and some of the jealous thoughts in +Florence's heart had been fanned into flame by her mother's injudicious +words. So on the day of the great Cherry Feast she awoke with a +headache, and, turning away from Kitty, who looked at her with anxious, +affectionate eyes, she proceeded to dress quickly and hurried off to +the school-room. + +The dormitory in which Kitty slept was a long, low room with a sloping +roof. It ran the whole width of the house, and was occupied by Kitty +herself, by Mabel and Alice Cunningham, by Edith King, and by Florence +Aylmer. Each girl had her little cubicle or division curtained off +from her fellows, where she could sleep and where she could retire, if +necessary, into a sort of semi-solitude. But one-half of the dormitory +was open to all the girls, and they often drew their curtains aside and +chatted and talked and laughed as they dressed and undressed, for Mrs. +Clavering, contrary to most of the school-mistresses of her day, gave +her girls a certain amount of liberty. They were not, for instance, +required to talk French in the dormitories, and they were always +allowed, provided they got into bed within certain limits and dressed +within certain limits, to have freedom when in their rooms. They never +dreamt of abusing these privileges, and better, healthier, brighter +girls could not be found in the length and breadth of England. + +"Well, I am glad the day has come at last," said Edith, as she rose +that morning with a yawn. "Oh, dear, and it's going to be splendid, +too. Kitty, what dress are you going to wear at the festival to-night?" + +Kitty replied with a smile that she meant to wear her Indian muslin. + +"And have you got your cherry-colored ribbons?" said Edith; "we all +wear bunches of cherry ribbons in the front of our dresses and tying +back our hair. Have you got yours, Kitty?" + +"Yes," replied Kitty; "father sent me a quantity of cherry-colored +ribbons last week." + +She hardly ever mentioned her father's name, and the girls did not like +to question her. Now she turned her head aside, and proceeded hastily +with her dressing. + +"Well, it is going to be a splendid day," said Alice, "and, you know, +there are no lessons of any sort; all the examinations are over and the +results will be known to-night; the day is to be a long and happy +one--no lessons, nothing to do except to wander about and please +ourselves; pack our trunks, of course, which will be truly a delightful +occupation. Think of the joys of the evening and the further delights +of to-morrow. I expect to reach home about six o'clock in the evening. +When will you get to your place, Edith?" + +"A little later than you," replied Edith, "for it is farther away, but +father and mother have promised to come and meet me at Canterbury. I +shall reach Canterbury about six o'clock in the evening. We have ten +miles to drive then, so I don't suppose I shall be home till half-past +seven. The boys are going to make a bonfire; there is to be no end of +fun--there always is when I come home for the summer holidays." + +Kitty gave a faint sigh and there came a cruel pang at her heart. She +and Florence Aylmer were to spend the holidays together. She had tried +to think she would enjoy this solitary time, but in her heart of hearts +she knew that she had to make a great struggle with herself. + +"But, never mind," she muttered now softly under her breath, "I shall +spend most of the hours in studying; there is so much to get through +before the Scholarship exam. comes off in October, and I know Florence +will study, too, and, of course, I shan't be at all jealous of her, and +if she does succeed in winning the prize, why, I will just remember +father's words and make the best of things, whatever happens." But the +next moment she was saying fiercely under her breath, "I shall win, I +will win; whatever happens, I will, I must win." + +The girls went down to breakfast, which was a very sociable meal that +morning, the English tongue being allowed to be spoken, and the usual +restrictions all being utterly withdrawn. + +Florence appeared then and took her place at the table; she looked a +little pale and untidy, and her eyes were red as if she had been +secretly crying. More than one girl glanced at her and wondered what +was the matter. When breakfast was over Kitty went up to Florence, +slipped her hand through her arm, and pulled her out into the sunshine. + +"Is anything wrong, Florry?" she said. + +"Oh, it's only that beastly mean Aunt Susan," retorted Florence, +shrugging her shoulders. + +"Your Aunt Susan?" + +"Yes, of course; you have heard me talk of her. I am dependent on her, +you know; oh, it's the most hateful position for any girl!" + +"I am very sorry, and I quite understand," said Kitty. + +"I don't believe you do; you have never been put in such an odious +plight. For instance, you have cherry-colored ribbons to wear +to-night, have you not?" + +"Such beauties," replied Kitty; "father sent them to me a week ago. A +yard and a half to make the bunch for the front of my dress, and a yard +and a half to tie up my hair--three yards; and such a lovely, lovely +color, and such soft ribbon, corded silk on one side, and satin at the +other. Oh, it is beautiful." + +"Yes, of course, it is beautiful," said Florence; "you have told us +about those ribbons a great many times." Florence could not help her +voice being tart, and Kitty looked at her in some astonishment. + +"But all the same," she said, "you're glad I have got cherry-colored +ribbons, are you not?" + +"I don't know," replied Florence, flushing; "I believe I hate you for +having them. There, I'm nothing if I'm not frank." + +"You hate me for having them? Oh, Florry, but you cannot be so mean." + +"I wrote to Aunt Susan myself--there was no time to tackle her in a +roundabout way through mother. I wrote to her and got her reply this +morning. She sent me--what do you think? Instead of the beautiful +ribbons which I asked for, three yards of which are absolutely +necessary to make even a show of a decent appearance, six stamps! Six +stamps, I assure you, to buy what I could for myself! Did you ever +hear of anything so miserably mean? Oh, I hate her, I do hate her!" + +"Poor Florence!" said Kitty; "but you must have the ribbons somehow, +must you not?" + +"I must; I dare not appear without. Mademoiselle Le Brun is going into +Hilchester immediately after breakfast, and I am going to ask her to +get me the best she can, but, of course, she will get nothing worth +having for sixpence--a yard and a half at the most of some horrid +cottony stuff which will look perfectly dreadful. It is mean of Aunt +Susan, and you know, Kitty," continued Florence, her tone softening at +the evident sympathy with which Kitty regarded her, "I am always so +shabbily dressed; I wouldn't be a bit bad-looking if I had decent +clothes. I saved up all the summer to have my muslin dress nicely +washed for this occasion, but it's so thick and so clumsy and--oh, +dear! oh, dear! sometimes I hate myself, Kitty, and when I look at you +I hate myself more than ever." + +"Why when you look at me? I am very sorry for you, Florence." + +"Because you are so generous and so good, and I am just the other way. +But there, don't talk to me any more. I must rush off; I want to have +another look through those geography questions; there is no saying what +Sir John Wallis may question us about to-night, and if I don't get into +the lucky three who are to compete for the Scholarship, I believe I'll +go off my head." + +Florence dashed away as she spoke and rushed into the school-room, +slamming the door behind her. Kitty stood for a moment looking after +her. As she did so Mary Bateman, the stolid-looking girl in the Upper +school, came slowly up. + +"A penny for your thoughts, Kitty Sharston," she said. + +"They are not worth even that," said Kitty. "Where are you going, +Mary?" + +"Into the cherry orchard; we are all to pick cherries for to-night's +feast. By the way, will you be my partner in the minuet? You dance it +so beautifully." + +Kitty hesitated, and a comical look came into her face. + +"You know we are to open the proceedings by dancing the old-fashioned +minuet," continued Mary Bateman; "on the lawn, of course, with the +colored lamps lighting us up. I believe I can do fairly well if I have +you for my partner, for although you are awkward enough you dance +beautifully." + +"I'll be your partner if you like," said Kitty, with a sigh, "but look +here, Mary, when is Mademoiselle Le Brun going into Hilchester?" + +"I did not know she was going at all," replied Mary; "do you want her +to buy you anything'?" + +"I am not quite sure, but I'd like to see her before she goes." + +"Well, there she is, and there's the pony cart coming round. I expect +she has to buy a lot of things for Mrs. Clavering. Run up to her if +you want to give her a message, Kitty. Hullo, mademoiselle, will you +wait a minute for Kitty Sharston--she wants to say something to you?" + +But Kitty stood still. There was a battle going on in her heart. She +had very little pocket-money, very little indeed, but when her father +was saying good-bye to her he had put two new half-crowns into her hand. + +"Keep them unbroken as long as you can, Kitty," he said. "The money +will be something to fall back upon in a time of need." And five +shillings was a large sum for the Major to give Kitty just then, and +Kitty cherished those two half-crowns very dearly, more dearly than +anything else in the world, for they had been her father's last, very +last present to her. + +But perhaps the hour of need had come. This was the thought that +darted into her heart, for Florence did want those cherry-colored +ribbons, and Florence's heart was sore, and things were nearly as bad +for her as they were for Kitty herself. Kitty had a brief struggle, +and then she made up her mind. + +"One moment, mademoiselle; I won't keep you any time," she called out +to the governess, who nodded back to her with a pleased smile on her +face, for Kitty was a universal favorite. + +Then the young girl rushed upstairs to her dormitory, unlocked her +little private drawer, took out her sealskin purse, extracted one of +the new half-crowns, and was down again by the little governess cart, +whispering eagerly to Mademoiselle Le Brun, within the prescribed time. + +"All right," said mademoiselle; "I'll do the very best I can." + +"And have the parcel directed to Florence," said Kitty, "for I don't +want her to know about my giving it to her; I am sure she would rather +not. If there is any change from the half-crown you can let me have it +back, can you not, mademoiselle?" + +"I'll see to that," said mademoiselle; "there is Florence's own +sixpence towards it, you know. Oh I daresay I can give you a shilling +back and get very good ribbon." + +"Well, be sure it is soft and satiny and with no cotton in it," called +Kitty again, and then the governess cart rolled down the avenue and was +lost to view. + +Notwithstanding that she had only half a crown in that sealskin purse +Kitty felt strangely exultant and happy when she ran back to the cherry +orchard and helped her companions in gathering the ripe fruit. + +She had put on a large blue apron, for cherries stain a good deal when +they are as luscious as those in Cherry Court orchard, and quantities +had to be picked, for it was the custom from time immemorial for each +of the guests to take a basket of cherries away with them, and the +baskets themselves--long, low, broad, and ornamental--were filled now +first with cherry-leaves, and then with fruit, by the excited and happy +girls. + +After Kitty had spent an hour or two in the cherry orchard she ran into +the house, washed her face and hands, smoothed her hair, and ran down +to the school-room, for she too wanted to look through her examination +papers. They were not difficult, and she was very quick and ready at +acquiring knowledge, and she soon felt certain that she could answer +all the questions, and, having folded them up, she replaced them in her +desk. + +It was the custom of the school that each girl should keep her desk +locked, and Kitty now slipped the key of hers into her pocket. As she +did so the door was opened and Florence came in. Florence looked pale +and _distrait_. + +"Do you know," she said, "I have got the most racking headache; I +wonder if you would hear me through my English History questions, +Kitty. It would be awfully kind of you. I am so wretched about every +thing and things seem so hopeless, and it is so perfectly miserable to +think of spending all the holidays here, for I don't believe Mrs. +Clavering is going to take us to the seaside after all. Really, I +think life is not worth living sometimes." + +"Oh, but it is," said Kitty, "and we are only preparing for life +now--don't forget that, Florry." + +"I can't take a high and mighty view of anything just now," said +Florence; "I am cross, and that's a fact. I wish I wasn't going to the +feast to-night. If it were not for the chance of being one of the +lucky three in the Scholarship competition I wouldn't appear on the +scenes at all, I vow I would not, with that horrid bit of cottony +cherry-colored ribbon--yes, I vow I wouldn't. Why, Kitty, how you have +stained your dress; you must have knelt on a cherry when you were +picking them just now in the orchard." + +"So I have; what a pity!" said Kitty. She glanced down at the deep red +stain, and then added, "I'll run upstairs presently and wash it out." + +"Well, don't catch cold, whatever you do. But stay, won't you first +hear me my English History questions?" + +Kitty immediately complied. Yes, Florence was stupid; she did not half +know her questions; her replies were wide of the mark. Kitty felt at +first distressed and then very determined. + +"Look here, Florence," she said, "this will never do; you must work +through that portion of English History all the afternoon, and I will +help you to the very best of my ability. I happen to know the time of +Queen Elizabeth so well, for it was a favorite time with my father. He +always loved those old stories of the great worthies who lived in the +time of Queen Elizabeth. Yes, I'll help you. Shall we read these +chapters of history together this afternoon?" + +"I cannot, I cannot," said Florence. "My head aches and everything +seems hopeless. Why, if that is so, Kitty, I shan't even have a chance +of being one of the lucky three." + +"Oh, yes, you will--you must," said Kitty. "Half of the pleasure of +the competition would be lost if you and I were not to work together +during the holidays." + +"Well, there is something in that," said Florence, brightening as she +spoke. "I forgot when I spoke so dismally that you, too, were to spend +the holidays here. By the way, has your father sailed yet?" + +"On Monday last," said Kitty, in a very low voice. She turned her head +aside as she spoke. + +"I believe you are the bravest girl in the world," said Florence, +stoutly; "but there, you are a great deal too good for me. I wish you +were naughty sometimes, such as you used to be, daring and a little +defiant and a little indifferent to rules, but you are so changed since +the Scholarship has come to the fore. Does it mean a great deal to +you, Kitty?" + +"I can't talk of it," said Kitty, "I'd rather not; we are both to try +for it; I believe it means a great deal to us both." + +"It means an immensity to me," said Florence. + +"Then it is not fair for us to talk it over when we are both going to +try our hardest to win it, are we not?" + +"If that is the case why do you help me with my English History?" + +"Because I should like you to be one of the lucky three." + +"Are you certain? Although I don't know this history very well, I +shall be a dangerous rival, that I promise." + +"I don't care; I mean to win if I can, but I should like to compete +with you," said Kitty, stoutly. + +At that moment the sounds of wheels in the avenue was heard, and a +moment or two afterwards Mademoiselle Le Brun entered the school-room +and put a little parcel into Florence's hand. + +"There, my dear," she said. + +Florence let it lie just where it was. + +"Thank you," she answered; "you did your best?" + +"Yes, dear, I did my best." + +The governess left the room without even glancing at Kitty. Kitty felt +herself coloring; she bent low, allowing her curly hair to fall over +her face and forehead. + +A moment later there came an exclamation from Florence. + +"Oh, I say, Kitty, what does this mean--look, do look!" + +Kitty looked up. The flush had left her face now, and it was cool and +composed as usual. + +"Why, Florry," she exclaimed, "she has got you three yards, and it is +absolutely beautiful, satiny and smooth, and not a scrap of cotton in +the ribbon, and such a sweet color. What does it mean?" + +"Kitty, do you understand?" said Florence. + +"I am so glad you have got it," said Kitty, in a quiet voice; "yes, it +is lovely ribbon; perhaps they had a cheap sale or something." + +"Perhaps," said Florence, "but all the same I don't believe this ribbon +could have been bought for twopence a yard. I must speak to +mademoiselle; she could not--oh, no, no, that is +impossible--mademoiselle is very poor and stingy--but what does it +mean?" + +"It means that you are going to wear cherry-colored ribbons to-night, +doesn't it?" said Kitty, "and now cheer up, do, Florry, and work away +at your history. I must run off now to wash my hands before dinner." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE LETTER. + +After dinner Mrs. Clavering called the girls of the Upper school into +the oak parlor. + +"My dears," she said, "I won't keep you a minute, but I have just had a +letter from Sir John Wallis, and he wishes me to say that he would like +the girls who are to compete for the preliminary examination for the +Scholarship to write their answers to the English History questions. +He has sent over the questions in this envelope, and you can all read +them, and you are to write your answers in advance, and fold them up +and put them into envelopes for him to open and read to-night. I +believe there are ten questions, but his rule is that you are none of +you to be helped by any book in the answers, and that no one girl is to +assist another. That is all, my dears; you can go into the school-room +and get the matter through in less than an hour if you like. And now +hurry away, for there is no time to lose. I will have the question +pinned up in the school-room for you all to see." + +Mrs. Clavering hastened away, and all the girls of the Upper school, +seven in all, presently found themselves seated by their desks, busily +answering Sir John Wallis's questions on the reign of Queen Elizabeth. + +When Mrs. Clavering had made her statement Florence had cast one +anxious, half-despairing glance in Kitty's direction, and Kitty had +slowly raised her arched eyebrows and looked at her friend with +compassion and distress. + +Kitty now walked quickly to her desk, glanced at the questions, and +wrote the answers in a good bold, firm hand. + +Her early training with her father stood her in excellent stead, and +she was able to give a vivid account of the Spanish Armada and of other +great events in the reign of good Queen Bess. She felt quite cheerful +and hopeful as she wrote her answers, expressing them in good English, +and taking great pains to be correct with regard to spelling. At last +they were finished. She slipped them into her envelope, put them back +in her desk, and left the room. As she did so she passed Florence, +whose cheeks were flushed like peonies, and who was bending in some +despair over her paper, for Florence was well known in the school to be +ignorant as regarded all matters connected with history, although she +was smart enough in her own line. + +"Poor Florry, I am sorry for her," thought Kitty. Then she went away +to her room and employed her spare time writing a long letter to her +father, and did not give Florence any more thought. + +Meanwhile Mabel and Alice Cunningham, Mary Bateman, Bertha Kennedy, and +Edith King, one and all answered the English History questions; they +slipped them into envelopes, and put them into their desks. They also +left the room, and Florence was alone in the school-room. + +When she found herself so she threw back her head, uttered a great +yawn, and then glanced in despair at the ten very comprehensive +questions set by Sir John Wallis. + +"I shall never answer them," she said to herself; "it is quite +impossible. I have not the faintest idea what he means by question +five, for instance. She hated Mary Queen of Scots, I know that, and +she got her to be imprisoned, I know that also; but what is the story +in connection with the Earl of Leicester? I cannot, cannot remember +it. Oh, how tiresome, how more than tiresome--this may lose me my +chance with the lucky three, for Alice Cunningham is trying quite hard, +and Edith King is having a regular fight over the matter; and of +course, there is no doubt that Kitty Sharston will be elected to try +for the Scholarship, but I--yes, I must be elected--I will; but what +shall I do?" + +Florence paced restlessly up and down the school-room. As she did so +she suddenly perceived with a quickening of her heart's pulses that +Kitty through an oversight had left the key in her desk; all the other +girls had locked their desks; but Kitty, who was generally careful +enough in this matter, had left the key in hers. + +Nothing in all the world would be easier than for Florence to open +Kitty's desk, to take out the envelope which contained her replies to +the English History questions, and to glance at the momentous question +which related to the Earl of Leicester. Right or wrong, Florence felt +she must stoop to this mean action. + +"After all, being included in the lucky three does not mean winning the +Scholarship," she said to herself, "and I should so like to be one of +the three. I think I will take one look; there is no one in the house +at present. I saw Kitty cross the courtyard and go in the direction of +the garden not half an hour ago. No one will know, and I shall have an +equal chance with the others; if not, I shall fail, and to fail now +would drive me mad." + +Just at that moment Florence, who had approached the window in her +restless pacing up and down, saw the postboy enter the courtyard. She +ran out to meet him. He brought several letters, and amongst others +one for Florence from her mother. She took it back with her to the +schoolroom. Mrs. Aylmer's letters were never particularly cheerful, +but Florence opened it now with a slight degree of eagerness. + +"I have good news for you, Florence," wrote her mother; "if you succeed +in being elected as one of the three who are to compete for Sir John +Wallis's Scholarship, I shall certainly contrive to give you a week at +Dawlish with me. Of course, if you fail it will be utterly useless, +and I should not dream of wasting the money; so try your very best, my +dear child, for there is more in this than meets the eye. It will make +the most immense difference in your life, my dear Florence, if you gain +this Scholarship, and also in the life of your affectionate mother. I +may as well add here that your Aunt Susan becomes more intolerable day +by day, and it is extremely probable that she will soon cease to pay +your school fees at all. If that is the case, my dear, I really do not +know what is to become of you, as I certainly cannot afford to meet +them. Try your best for the Scholarship, dear. If you win it write to +me immediately and I will send you the money to come home." + +"What a chance!" thought Florence, as she finished reading the letter. +She folded it up and slipped it into her pocket; the next instant she +had crossed the room, had opened Kitty's desk, and taken out the +envelope with its folded sheet of paper within. She unfolded the paper +and glanced at its contents. One quick glance was sufficient. She put +back the paper into the envelope, shut Kitty's desk, and returned to +her own. + +Her cheeks were redder than ever and her heart was beating wildly, but +she knew what she wanted to know. Florence folded up her own sheet of +paper, put it into its envelope, and laid it in her desk. She felt +pretty certain now of being elected as one of the lucky three, and no +one need ever know that she had peeped at Kitty's answers. After all, +but for this ridiculous and sudden prohibition on the part of Sir John +Wallis, Kitty would have helped her with her English History all the +afternoon. Now, of course, she could not ask her, but never mind, she +knew what she wanted to know. + +Her heart felt a little uncomfortable, and, notwithstanding the hope +that she might spend a week at Dawlish with her mother, to whom she was +devotedly attached, and the further hope of taking an honorable place +in the coming competition, she felt a queer sense of depression. + +She was just preparing to leave the school-room when the door opened +and Mademoiselle Le Brun looked in. She did not see Florence at first, +then she glanced at her and spoke hurriedly. + +"I thought Kitty Sharston was here; I want her," she said. + +"No," said Florence; "what is it; what do you want?" + +"I have to give her a shilling back out of the change." + +"A shilling out of the change; what do you mean?" + +"Oh, nothing, my dear; I ought not to tell you; I owe her a shilling, +that's all." + +"By the way, mademoiselle," said Florence, "I have not thanked you yet +for getting me that lovely ribbon. How was it you managed to get it so +cheaply?" + +Mademoiselle looked very knowing. + +"I am glad you like it," she said; "it was not particularly cheap." + +She left the room, although Florence called after her to stay. + +Florence walked quickly to the window. She looked out. The sun was +still high in the heavens, for on this midsummer day it would take a +long time before the evening arrived. Florence's heart beat harder +than ever, for suddenly her eyes were opened, and she knew how she had +got the cherry-colored ribbon. Kitty had given it to her, and Florence +had stolen some of Kitty's knowledge and applied it to herself. + +She hated herself for it, but not enough to retract what she had done. +She went up to her room, threw herself on the bed, and burst out crying. + +Yes, she would stick to it now, but, all the same, she hated herself. +It was very unpleasant to be lowered in her own eyes, but she would go +through with the matter now, whatever befell. + +The chance of going to Dawlish, the chance of winning the Scholarship, +meant too much to her; she must secure this good thing which had fallen +in her path at any cost. + +The evening drew on apace, and the whole school was in a perfect fever +of excitement. The girls came up to their different dormitories to +dress for the occasion. + +Kitty, who was not too well provided with clothes, nevertheless did +possess one very smart evening frock. It was made of lovely Indian +muslin, exquisitely embroidered and beautifully made. She took it now +out of her trunk, and looked at it with admiration. Her father had +bought this Indian muslin for her, having sent for it straight away to +India, and he had himself superintended the making of the beautiful +dress. + +Kitty's fingers trembled now as she slipped the soft folds over her +head, and tucked in the spray of cherry-colored ribbons just above her +white satin belt, and then she tied back her hair with the same shiny +soft ribbon, and looked at her little pale face in the glass and +wondered how soon she would see her father again. + +"Oh, father! father!" she thought, "I am going to try my hardest, my +very, very hardest, and all for your sake, and I'll be brave for your +sake, and three years won't be very long passing if I spend every +moment of the time in working my very hardest, and doing my very best +for you." + +When she had finished her dressing she turned to help the other girls. +Mabel and Alice Cunningham were in soft pink dresses, a little paler in +shade than the cherry-colored ribbons which as a matter of course they +would wear, and one and all of the girls of the Upper school were +becomingly and suitably dressed, with the exception of poor Florence; +but Florence's muslin dress was coarse in texture and badly made, and +notwithstanding the soft cherry-colored ribbons, she did not look her +best. Also her head ached, and she was in low spirits. + +Kitty was particularly affectionate to Florence, and she asked her now +in an anxious tone how she had managed with regard to her English +History. + +"I am so dreadfully sorry," she said; "I meant to give you such a +coaching in the reign of Queen Elizabeth all this afternoon, Florry, +but there, it can't be helped. How did you manage, dear? Do you think +you have answered all the questions?" + +"Of course I have," answered Florence, in an almost cross voice, for +she could scarcely bear Kitty's affectionate manners just then. "You +take me for a great dunce, Kitty, but I am not quite so bad as you +imagine." + +"Oh, I know you are anything but a dunce," replied Kitty; "I don't take +you for one, I assure you, Florence, only I did hope that I might help +you in English History, for that is my strong point." + +"You are quite conceited about it, I do believe," said Florence. +"There, don't pull my dress about any more. Thank you, I like my +cherry bow here better than in my belt. Don't touch me, please." + +Florence hated herself beyond words for being so cross, but the fact +was her heart ached so badly she could scarcely be civil to Kitty. + +She ran downstairs, and for the rest of the evening kept out of Kitty +Sharston's way. + +Yes; it was a glorious evening, and everything passed off without a +hitch of any sort. The guests consisted of all the best people in the +neighborhood. They sat round and applauded all the girls, who danced +the minuet with becoming grace and looked very pretty as they glided +about on the lamp-lit lawn. + +And then one or two of them recited, and one or two of them sang songs, +and then there was a great chorus in which all the girls joined, and +then they danced Sir Roger de Coverley to the merry strains of a string +band, and presently the great occasion of all came when the girls, +followed by the guests, entered the great central hall of Cherry Court, +and the prizes were given away. + +Florence obtained two prizes, a beautiful edition of Scott's poems, and +also a little portfolio full of some pretty water-color drawings, for +Florence had a great taste for art, and had managed to come out at the +head of the school with her own water-color sketches. + +The other girls also obtained prizes, all but Kitty Sharston, who was +not long enough in the school to be entitled to one. + +Kitty found herself now close to Sir John Wallis, who motioned to her +to come up to his side, and pointed to a chair near where she could sit. + +"I heard from your father this morning," he said, "and I mean to send +him a cable to Malta if you are elected as one of the fortunate three. +He expects to touch Malta on Saturday, and the cable will be waiting +for him with the good news, I make not the slightest doubt." + +"Oh, will you? How splendid of you!" said Kitty; "but perhaps I shall +not succeed." + +"Oh, yes, I have no doubt you will. Now, pluck up your courage, answer +your best; don't be a scrap afraid." + +"But, Sir John, you must promise me one thing," said Kitty, looking +earnestly into his face. + +"What is that, my dear?" asked Sir John, smiling down into the eager +little face. + +"You won't favor me more than the other girls? You'll be quite, quite +fair, and give the chance to those girls who are really in your opinion +the best?" + +"I will, Kitty, I will," said Sir John; "do you think I could do +anything else as regards your father's daughter? And now, child, the +time is up, and I am going into the oak parlor. You will all follow me +in a moment." + +Kitty never forgot the hour which was spent in the oak parlor with her +companions of the Upper school. She did not know how she answered the +questions put with great animation by Sir John. She only knew that her +heart was beating wildly, and she was thinking all the time of that +cablegram which would comfort her father when he reached Malta, and +resolving as surely girl never resolved before not to disappoint him, +to give him if she could, if it were any way within her power, that +supreme pleasure. And so when the hour was over and the brief +examination was made, and the names of the successful competitors +called out, and Kitty Sharston's name appeared at the head of the list, +she could only look at Sir John, and think of the cablegram, and not +feel at all elated, although her companions clustered around her and +shook her hand and wished her joy. + +The two other successful competitors were Florence Aylmer and Mary +Bateman. + +Mrs. Clavering then read out certain rules which Sir John had made with +regard to the Scholarship, and soon afterwards the proceedings of the +evening broke up; the guests departed to their homes, carrying their +baskets of cherries with them; and Kitty, Florence and Mary were +surrounded by their companions, who wished them joy and cheered them +three times three, and took them up to their dormitory in triumph. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE LITTLE MUMMY. + +It was a week afterwards when Kitty stood at the gate of Cherry Court +School to wish Florence Aylmer good-bye, for Florence had obtained the +darling wish of her heart, and was on her way to Dawlish to spend a +week with her mother. She was to travel third-class, and the journey +was a long one, and the day happened to be specially hot, but nothing +could damp Florence's delight, and Kitty, as she watched her, could not +help for a moment a slight pang of envy coming over her. + +"Have a good time, Florry, and tell me all about it when you return," +said Kitty. + +And Florence promised, thinking Kitty a very good-natured, agreeable +girl as she did so, and then Kitty turned slowly back to the house and +Florence found herself alone. She was driving in a hired chaise to +Hilchester railway-station. She had said good-bye to Kitty and to Mrs. +Clavering, and her earnest wish was that the week might spread itself +into two or three, and that she could banish all thought of Kitty and +Mrs. Clavering and Cherry Court School from her mind. + +"For, although I mean to win the Scholarship--yes, I shall win it; I +have made up my mind on that point--I cannot help more or less hating +Kitty Sharston, and Mrs. Clavering, and the school itself," thought the +girl. "But there, I will forget every unpleasant thing now. I have +not seen the little Mummy for a whole year; it will be heavenly to kiss +her again. If there is anyone in the world whom I truly, truly love it +is the dear little Mummy." + +All during her hot journey across England to the cool and delightful +watering-place of Dawlish, Florence thought more and more of her +mother. She was an only child, her father having died when she was +five years old, and Mrs. Aylmer had always been terribly poor, and +Florence had always known what it was to stint and screw and do without +those things which were as the breath of life to most girls. And +Florence was naturally not at all a contented girl, and she had fought +against her position, and disliked having to stint and screw, and she +had hated her shabby dress and unwieldy boots and ugly hats and coarse +fare. + +But one portion of her lot abundantly contented her--she had no fault +to find with her mother. The little Mummy was all that was perfection. +For her mother she would have done almost as much in her own way as +Kitty would do for her father in hers. + +And now her heart beat high and her spirits rose as she approached +nearer hour by hour the shabby little home where her mother lived. + +It was in the cool of a hot summer's evening that the train at last +drew up at Dawlish, and Mrs. Aylmer stood on the platform waiting to +receive her daughter. + +Mrs. Aylmer was a plain dumpling sort of little body, with a perfectly +round face, and small beady black eyes. She had a high color in each +of her cheeks and fluffy black hair pushed away from her high forehead. +She was dressed in widow's weeds, which were somewhat rusty, and she +now came forward with a beaming face to welcome Florence. + +"Oh, Mummy, it is good to see you," said Florence. She had a brusque +voice and a brusque manner, but nothing could keep the thrill out of +her words as she addressed her mother. + +"I am not going to kiss you till we get into the cottage," she said. +"Here's my luggage--only one box, of course. Oh, it is good to see +you, it is good!" + +"Then come right off home, Florry," said Mrs. Aylmer; "I have got +shrimps for tea and some brown bread and butter, and Sukey made the +bread specially for you this morning; you always liked home-made bread. +Come along; the porter will bring your trunk in presently. You'll see +to it, Peter, won't you?" said Mrs. Aylmer. + +Peter, the rough-headed outside porter, nodded in reply, and Mrs. +Aylmer, leaning upon Florence, who was head and shoulders taller than +her parent, walked down the little shingly beach, and a moment +afterwards entered the cottage door. + +"Dear Mummy," she said, "it is good to see you. Now, turn round, +Mummy, and let us have a right good hearty stare. Oh, you look just as +well as ever, sunburnt--so much the better. Now then, for a hug." + +Florence opened her arms, and the next moment little Mrs. Aylmer was +clasped to her daughter's breast. + +"There, that's nice," said Florence, "that's a right hearty hug. I am +so glad you are well, Mummy. I am so thankful you were able to send me +the money; I hope I didn't screw you up very tight." + +"Well, it did, Florence," replied Mrs. Aylmer; "I shall not be able to +have any meat for a whole month after you leave, dear. That was the +way I managed, just docking the butcher's bill and the greengrocer's +bill. I must have butter to my bread and milk in my tea, but the +greengrocer and the butcher will pay your third-class return fare to +the school. There now, Flo, don't worry. Come upstairs to our room; +you will share my bed, dear; I could not afford to have an extra room; +you will share my bed." + +Florence followed her mother upstairs without a word. The cottage was +a very, very tiny one, and, tiny as it was, Mrs. Aylmer only owned one +half of it. She had a little sitting room downstairs, and a wee, wee +bedroom upstairs, and the use of the kitchen, and the use of Sukey's +time for so many hours every day, and that was about all. But a +delicious sea breeze blew into the tiny sitting-room and filled the +little bed-room; and clematis and honey-suckle and climbing plants of +every description clustered around the windows, and Florence thought it +the dearest, sweetest, most fascinating place in the world. + +"It is rather a small bed for two," she reflected, as she entered the +room, stooping to get beneath the lintel of the door; "but never mind, +it's Mummy's little room and Mummy's bed, and I am happy, happy as the +day is long." + +So she tossed off her hat and washed her face and hands, and tidied her +hair, and went down to enjoy the honey and bread and fruit and shrimps +and tea with cream in it which Mrs. Aylmer had provided in honor of her +daughter's arrival. + +"There," said Florence, "that was a hearty meal. Now let us go out on +the beach, Mummy. You will have a great deal to say to me, and I shall +have a great deal to say to you." + +"It is exciting having you back, Flo," said Mrs. Aylmer, "and we must +make the week go as far as possible." + +"We will sit up very late at night," said Florence, "and we will get up +very early in the morning, for we must talk, talk, talk every moment of +our precious time, except just the few hours necessary for sleep. You +don't want much sleep, do you, Mummy?" + +"Yes, but I do, my dear; I want my seven to eight hours' sleep within +the twenty-four hours, or I am just good for nothing. I get muzzy in +the head unless I sleep enough. Do you ever suffer from muzziness in +the head, dear?" + +"That's just like one of your dear old-fashioned words," said Florence; +"if I did feel it I shouldn't be allowed to express it in that way at +school. By the way, mother, what do you think of me? Haven't I grown +a good lot?" + +"Yes, you're a fine hearty girl, but you are not exactly beautiful, +Florry." + +Florence's eyes fell and a discontented look crossed her face. "How +can I look decent in these clothes?" she said; "but there, never mind, +you can't give me better, can you?" + +"I, darling! How could I? I have not fifty pounds a year when all is +told, and I cannot do more with my money. It's your Aunt Susan who is +to blame, Florence, and she is worse than ever. I'll tell you all +about her to-morrow; we won't worry to-night, will we?" + +"No; let us think of only pleasant things to-night," said Florence. + +"Well, come down on the beach, Flo. I am all agog to hear your news. +What is this about the Scholarship?" + +"Oh, Mummy, need we talk of this either to-night?" said Florence, +frowning. + +"Well, yes, I should like it," said Mrs. Aylmer; "you see, you know all +about it, and I don't. You told me so little in your letter. You +don't write half as long letters as you used to, Flo. I wish you +would, for I have nothing else to divert me. I have turned and +re-turned my best dress--I turned it upside down last year, and +downside up this year, and back to front and front to back, and I am +trimming it now with frills which I have cut another old skirt up to +make, and I really cannot do anything more with it. It won't by +stylish, try as I will, and your Aunt Susan hasn't sent me a cast-off +of hers for the last two years. It's very stingy of her, very stingy +indeed. She sells her clothes now to a dealer in London who buys up +all sorts of wardrobes. Before she found out this wardrobe-dealer I +used to get her cast-offs and managed quite nicely. It's horrid of +her. She is a very unamiable character. Don't you ever take after +her, Florry, be sure you don't." + +"I hate her quite as cordially as you do, mother; but now come along by +the shore and I'll tell you about the Scholarship, if you really wish +to know." + +Which Florence did, with one arm clasped tightly round her mother's +waist, and Mrs. Aylmer almost danced by her daughter's side as she +listened, and tried to fancy herself nearly as young as Florence, and +was certainly quite as eager with regard to the winning of the great +Scholarship. + +"You must get it," she said at last, after a pause; "it would make the +most tremendous, tremendous difference." + +"Well, I mean to try," said Florence. + +"And if you try, dear, you will succeed. You're a very clever girl, +ain't you?" + +"Don't say 'ain't,' mother; it is not quite----" + +"Oh, don't you go to correct me, my love. I can't help having the +rather rough ways of people with small means; but you are clever, +aren't you?" + +"I believe I am in some things. There are some things again which I +never can get into my head, try as I will. I am a queer mixture." + +"You are a darling old thing," said the mother, giving her arm an +affectionate squeeze. + +"And you are the sweetest pet in the world," said Florence, glancing +down at her parent. "Oh, it is good to be with you, Mummy, again." + +"Well, darling, you'll get the prize, there's nothing to prevent it." + +"There are several things to prevent it," said Florence, in a gloomy +voice. + +"What, my dear, darling pet--what?" + +"Well, for instance, there are two other girls." + +"Oh, girls," said Mrs. Aylmer, in a contemptuous voice. "I am not +going to be frightened by girls. My Florence is equal to the best girl +that ever breathed." + +"Yes, but mother, you cannot quite understand. There's Kitty Sharston, +for instance." + +"Kitty Sharston," said Mrs. Aylmer; "what about her?" + +"Well, she is really clever, and everyone seems to wish her to win." + +"I call that shocking unfair," said Mrs. Aylmer. + +"It is, mother, but we cannot get over the fact. She is a favorite +with the school, and I must own she is a jolly girl. Now, what do you +think she did for me?" + +"What, my darling?" + +"You know the Cherry Feast?" + +"Of course I do--have not you described it to me so often? You would +make a wonderful writer, I believe, you would make a lot of money +writing stories, Florence." + +"No, I wouldn't, Mummy, not really. It takes a good deal to be a good +story-writer." + +"Well, go on, pet, I am all agog to hear." + +So Florence related also the story of the cherry ribbons. + +"Wasn't it like Aunt Susan?" she said. + +"Just," exclaimed the mother; "the stingiest old cat in existence." + +"And wasn't it nice of Kitty, and didn't she do it well?" said +Florence. "Oh, she is a splendid girl, and I ought not to hate her." + +"But you do hate her?" + +"I am afraid I do sometimes." + +"And I'm not a bit surprised, dear, coming between you and this great +chance. But, oh, Florry, you must win, it is all-important; I'll tell +you why to-morrow. There is a letter from your Aunt Susan which will +take some of the pleasure out of this little visit, but it makes the +Scholarship absolutely essential. I'll tell you all about it +to-morrow." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AUNT SUSAN. + +Florence slept soundly that night, and awoke the next morning in the +highest of spirits and the best of health. + +"It is wonderful, Mummy," she said, "how you and I can squeeze into +this camp bed, but there, I never moved all night; it was delicious to +have you so close to me. I cannot understand why I love you as I do, +for you are a very plain, ordinary sort of woman." + +"I never was anything else," replied Mrs. Aylmer, by no means offended +by Florence's frank remarks. "Your poor father always said, 'It's your +heart, not your face, that has won me, Mabel.' Your poor father had a +great deal of pretty sentiment about him, but I am matter-of-fact to +the backbone. There, child, jump up now and get dressed, and I'll go +down and prepare the breakfast. Sukey is rather cross this morning, +and I always make the coffee myself." + +Mrs. Aylmer bustled out of the room, and Florence slowly rose and +dressed. + +"I wonder what mother would think of me," she said to herself, "if she +knew how I really secured my present position as one of the lucky +three; I wonder what mother would think about it. Would she be +terribly shocked? I doubt if the little Mummy has the highest +principles in the world; in fact, I don't doubt, for I am quite certain +that the Mummy's principles are a little lax, but there, she is the +Mummy, and I love her. What a queer thing love is, for Mummy is not +the highest-souled woman, nor the most beautiful in the world. Still, +she is the Mummy, and I love her." + +So Florence finished dressing and ran downstairs, and enjoyed a hearty +breakfast of brown bread and butter, honey, and delicious coffee. + +"I can't do much for you in the meat line, my dear," said her parent. +"I don't indulge in meat more than once a week myself, but we'll take +it out in fish. Fish is cheap and plentiful in Dawlish, and we can get +dear little crabs for fourpence apiece." + +"Oh, lovely," said Florence; "I adore crabs." + +"We will go down to the fishwife after breakfast, and get her to boil +some for us in time for supper," said the mother; "and now, Florence, +if you are quite disposed to listen, I may as well get over this bad +business." + +"You allude to Aunt Susan, of course?" said Florence. + +"Yes, my dear child, to her last letter. I could not read it to you, +for really the tone is that aggravating it would make milk turn, and I +know the contents by heart." + +"What are they, mother? You may as well tell me; I am pretty well +accustomed to bad news. Is she going to make your screw still smaller?" + +"No, she says nothing about that. Florence, child, I wish it had been +the will of Providence to have spared my brother, for if your Uncle Tom +had lived I would not be in the sordid state I am now. If one of them +had to go, why wasn't it your Aunt Susan?" + +"She is not my real aunt, you know," said Florence. + +"That's just it, dear, but she owns the money. Now, if she had left it +to Tom he would have had me to live with him. I doubt, after his +experience with your Aunt Susan, if he would ever have taken a second +wife, and you and I would have had plenty." + +"Dear me, mother," said Florence, frowning slightly, "what is the good +of going over that now? Uncle Tom has been in his grave for the last +six years, hasn't he? and Aunt Susan rules the roost. It's Aunt Susan +we have got to think about. What did she say in that unpleasant +letter?" + +"Something about stocks and shares and dividends, dear--that her +dividends are not coming in as well as usual, and that in consequence +her income is not so large, and she finds it a great strain keeping +you, Florry, at that expensive school." + +"Oh, well, that's all arranged," said Florence, in a somewhat nervous +voice. + +"My dear Florry, don't you bear yourself up with false hopes and false +ideas, for it seems, according to your Aunt Susan's letter, that the +thing is not arranged at all. In fact, she declares positively that +she won't keep you at Cherry Court School longer than another term." + +"What, mother?" + +"She says so, my love. I am sorry to have to tell you, but it is a +fact. She says that you are going on sixteen, and that at sixteen you +ought to be a very good pupil teacher at another school, where your +services would be given in lieu of payment. She says she knows a +school in the country where you would be taken, a place called Stoneley +Hall, where there are sixty girls. It is up amongst the Yorkshire +moors, in the dreariest spot, I make no doubt. Well, in her letter she +said that she had arranged that you are to go to Stoneley Hall at +Christmas, and that the next term is your last at Cherry Court School." + +"If I win the Scholarship I need not do that," said Florence. + +"No, no, dear, that's just it; and she says also that when she removes +you from Cherry Court School she will allow me fifteen pounds a year +more than I have at present, which will make my income of sixty-five +pounds instead of fifty. I mean to give you that fifteen pounds a year +to buy your clothes with, Florry. You shall have that, my poor dear +child, whatever happens. I think you can dress yourself quite neatly +on that." + +"I should judge from the sort of clothes I have now," said Florence, +giving her foot a pettish kick against the obnoxious blue serge, "I +should judge they did not cost five pounds a year. Yes, the fifteen +pounds would be delicious; and you would give it to me, Mummy?" + +"Well, of course, darling, because you would have no income of your own +at Stoneley Hall for the first two years, and after that it depends +altogether on what you can do. You are not half educated yet, are you +Florence?" + +"Of course not, mother; a girl of fifteen is not educated, as a rule." + +"That's just it, but your Aunt Susan does not care a bit. She reminds +me in her horrid letter, that you are not her own niece at all, and +that very few women would be as kind to her husband's people as she is +to you and me. She says frankly----" + +"Oh, what an odious frank way she has!" interrupted Florence. + +"She says frankly," pursued Mrs. Aylmer, wiping the moisture from her +brow as she spoke, "that we are the greatest worry to her, both of us, +and that she does not care a pin for either of us, but that she does +not want to have it said that her husband's people are in the +workhouse, and that is why she is doing what she is doing." + +"Oh, Mummy," said Florence, "can you bear her? When you tell me those +sort of things I just long to throw her gifts in her face and to say +boldly, 'We won't take another halfpenny from you, we will go to the +workhouse to spite you, we'll tell every one we can that we are +connected with you. Yes, we'll go to the workhouse to spite you.'" + +"That's all very well, Florence," replied Mrs. Aylmer, rising as she +spoke and shaking the crumbs from her dress outside the window. "I +doubt if it would vex your Aunt Susan very much, and it would vex us a +considerable deal, my love. Your Aunt Susan's relations might not even +hear of it, and we would be miserable and disgraced for ever. No, we +must swallow our pride and take her money; there is no help for it. +But if you get the Scholarship, Flo, she is the kind of woman who would +be proud of you, she is really. If she thought you had any gift she +would turn round in jiffy and begin to spend money properly on you. +She asked me in her last letter what sort of girl you were growing up, +and if you had a chance of being handsome, for, said she, 'if Florence +is really handsome, I might take a house in London and give her a +season. I enjoy taking handsome girls about, and I am a right good +matchmaker.' That is what she said, the horrid old cat. But you are +not handsome, Florry, not a bit." + +"I know," replied Florence, "I know. Well, mother, we must make the +best of things. You may be certain I won't leave a stone unturned to +get the Scholarship." + +"You will get it, dear, and then your education will be secured, and by +and by you will get a post as governess, a good post in some +fashionable family, and perhaps you would meet a nice young man who +would fall in love with you. They do over and over in the +story-books--the nice young man, the heir to big properties, meets the +governess girl and falls in love with her, and then she gets a much +higher position than her employer's daughters. That is what I would +aim for if I were you, Florry." + +"Oh, dear me, mother," said Florence. She stared very hard at the +round face of her parent, and wondered down deep in her heart why she +was so very fond of Mummy. "Let us go out and have a walk," she said, +restlessly; "let us visit the little shrimp-woman; I'd like to see her +and all the old haunts again." + +"But before we go," said Mrs. Aylmer, "tell me, my darling, why are you +nervous, why you fear you may not get the Scholarship." + +"I told you last night, mother--can't you understand? I am your one +pet chicken, but I am not anything at all really in the eyes of the +world. I am not beautiful and I am not specially clever." + +"But you got amongst the lucky three, as you call them; you must be +clever to have done that." + +Florence stared very hard at her mother; her face went a little pale +and then red. + +"What is the matter, Flo? Why do you stare at me like that?" + +"I am going to tell you something if you will never tell back again." + +"What is it, dear? Really, Flo, you make me quite uncomfortable; you +have got a very bold way of staring, love." + +"I am going to tell you something," repeated Florence; "I got into the +lucky three because I was mean. I did a mean, shabby, low thing, +Mummy." + +"Oh, no, no," said Mrs. Aylmer, restlessly, "no, no, darling." + +"I did, mother," said Florence, and now her lips trembled. "I did +something very mean, and I did it to the girl who gave me those lovely +cherry ribbons." + +"That spoilt chit--Kitty Sharston you call her?" + +"Yes, that girl. I opened her desk and looked at an answer which she +put to a certain question in English History which I did not know +myself. If I had not answered that question I make no doubt I should +not have been included in the lucky three." + +"Well, well," said Mrs. Aylmer. She looked restless and disturbed. +She went again to the little window and looked out. "I don't see how +you can help yourself," she said. + +"But it was a mean thing, wasn't it, mother?" + +"Poor people cannot help themselves," said the widow, in a restless +voice, "but I wish you hadn't told me, Florence; it was--it was the +sort of thing that your poor father would not have done; but there, you +couldn't help yourself, of course." + +"Then you don't think, mother, that I ought to tell Mrs. Clavering?" +said Florence. + +"Tell and give up your chance! No, no, no; that is the disadvantage of +being so poor, one has to stoop sometimes. Your father would not have +done it, but you could not help yourself. Come out, child, come out." + +The mother and daughter wandered along the beach. They visited the +shrimp-woman and then sat under the shade of a big rock and looked at +the dancing waves, and talked of Florence's chance of winning the +coming Scholarship. + +By tacit consent they neither of them alluded to that shabby deed which +Florence had done; they were both in their hearts of hearts +uncomfortable about it, but both equally resolved to carry the thing +through now. + +"For it is too important," thought Mrs. Aylmer. + +And Florence also thought, "It is too important, it means too much; I +must take every chance of securing the Scholarship." + +The two ladies returned home rather late, and there, to their +astonishment, they found a telegram waiting them. It was addressed to +Mrs. Aylmer. She tore it open eagerly and uttered an exclamation. + +"There, Florry," she said, "read that." + +Florence took the thin pink sheet and read the following words: + +"Staying at Torquay. Going back to London to-morrow. Will put up at +the hotel at Dawlish for one night on purpose to see Florence.--SUSAN." + +"There," said the mother, "there's a chance for you, Flo; I hope you +have brought a decent dress. Perhaps she will do something now that +she sees you; it is a wonderful chance. Dear, dear, dear! I have not +seen Susan for three or four years. She was a stylish woman in her +day; perhaps she'll give me one or two of her cast-offs." + +"Mother," said Florence, "we must make the best of things. You must +look nice and I must look nice, and we won't plead poverty. I feel +proud in the presence of Aunt Susan. I am sorry she is coming; I may +as well say so frankly." + +"But it's a great chance, child," said the widow; "what do you think +about inviting her here to tea?" + +"Nonsense, mother," replied the daughter; "she ought to invite us to +tea." + +"I wonder if she will. I wonder which hotel she'll go to. There is a +splendid one on the beach, the 'Crown and Garter.' It would be very +stylish to be seen going there, and Sukey would think a great deal more +of me and also my friends, the Pratts, if they knew that we had tea'd +or lunched at the 'Crown and Garter.' I hope she will ask me. But +then, on the other hand, to see Susan in the cottage--she would +probably drive up in a carriage and pair--I really wonder which would +be best. It would have a great effect on the neighbors. I have spoken +to them of my grand relations, but somehow, seeing is believing. It's +wonderfully exciting--her coming, isn't it, Flo?" + +But Florry had walked to the window and was looking out with a shade of +disgust on her brow. The Mummy was the Mummy, but she certainly needed +repression. Even if you had those sort of sentiments, if you were +educated at all you would keep them to yourself. + +The rest of the evening was spent in considerable excitement on the +part of Mrs. Aylmer. Much as she professed to dislike her +sister-in-law, Susan Aylmer, the thought of seeing her caused much more +commotion than she had experienced at the thought of welcoming Florence +home. + +Florence was a dear old thing and her own daughter, but then she +depended on Susan for her bread. Early on the following morning she +was seen to put on her best and much-turned dress. + +She went to the shop and even committed the great extravagance of +getting a new white widow's front for her bonnet, and also a pair of +new black silk gloves, and then she waited restlessly until the arrival +of Mrs. Aylmer. + +Mrs. Aylmer arrived in state by a train which reached Dawlish about +noon, and the other Mrs. Aylmer--the poor one--and her daughter +Florence watched her from afar. + +"There she is," said Mrs. Aylmer the less, as she might truly be +called, "there she is, Flo. She's grown stouter than ever, she +promises to be a very large woman in her old age; and what a pompous +way she does walk! I do declare--well, that beats everything--she is +walking to the hotel, not even taking a carriage. That's just like +Susan. Come, Flo, we'll go toward and speak to her; there's no good in +having relations and keeping one's self in the background. Follow me, +my dear, and pull yourself up and look as nice as you can. Everything +depends on your aunt's first impression of you. Just push your hat +straight--there, that's better; now come along." + +Mrs. Aylmer and Florence pushed their way through a crowd of people who +had just arrived, and a moment later Mrs. Aylmer the less and Mrs. +Aylmer the great were shaking hands in greeting. + +"How do you do, Mabel?" said Mrs. Aylmer the great, "and is this your +daughter?" A pair of light blue eyes traveled all over Florence from +the crown of her head to the sole of her foot. "I'll see you both at +the hotel," said Mrs. Aylmer, in a gracious tone, "after I have had +lunch. I shall want a little rest immediately after, but don't keep me +waiting. I shall expect you at three o'clock." + +"Come home, Flo," said Mrs. Aylmer the less. "We must not disturb you, +of course, Susan, and we'll be punctual to the moment. What do you +think of her, Flo?" said the widow, as soon as she and her daughter +were out of sight. + +"I think she looks horrid, mother, just as she always did. How well I +remember going to see her shortly after poor father died, and how she +used to make you cry, and how cold she always was, and what miserable +tea she gave us! We had better ask her to a meal unless we want to be +starved, Mummy, dear." + +"I can't afford it really, Flo, and she would remark upon every luxury +we had at the table. She would write to me afterwards and say, 'From +the style of your meal,' etc." + +"Oh, don't mother; I wish she hadn't come," said Florence. "You and I +could have been quite happy and cosy alone, but now she will contrive +to make us truly miserable." + +"She has come for a reason," said Mrs. Aylmer, solemnly, "and it +behooves you, Flo, to put your best foot foremost. I have got a nice +little white jacket for you to wear this afternoon, and white becomes +you very much." + +"A white jacket! What sort?" said Florence. + +"One that your aunt sent me two years back, and which I altered by a +pattern of yours. You can wear it with that serge dress, and you will +look quite cool and nice. Now then, darling, let us have our own +dinner, because we must be punctual; it would never do to keep Susan +waiting." + +Neither of the ladies did keep Aunt Susan waiting. They arrived at the +hotel, which turned out to be the "Crown and Garter," just as the great +clock in the hall struck three. + +Mrs. Aylmer had never been inside the "Crown and Garter," and she now +looked around her with intense pleasure, and when one of the waiters +came forward asked him in a pompous voice for "my sister-in-law, Mrs. +Aylmer." + +The man withdrew, to return in a moment or two to say that Mrs. Aylmer +was in her private sitting-room, number 24, and would see the ladies +immediately. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +"I ALWAYS ADMIRED FRANKNESS." + +"Hold your head up, Flo, and don't be nervous," whispered the widow, as +they walked down the long corridor, the waiter going in front. He +paused opposite number 24, flung the door open, and announced in a loud +voice, "Mrs. Aylmer and Miss Florence Aylmer," and then shut the door +behind the two ladies. + +The widow walked nervously up the room and then stood confronting her +sister-in-law. The elder Mrs. Aylmer had just risen from a sofa on +which she had been lying. Mrs. Aylmer the less was quite right in +prophesying her sister-in-law would be a large woman in the future; she +was a large woman now, stoutly built and very fat about the face. Her +face was pasty in complexion without a scrap of color in it, and her +eyes were of too light a blue to redeem the general insipidity of her +appearance; but when she spoke that insipidity vanished, for her lips +were very firm, and were apt to utter incisive words, and at such +moments her pale blue eyes would flash with a light fire which was full +of sarcasm, and might even rise to positive cruelty. + +"Sit down, Mabel," she said to Mrs. Aylmer. "Now Florence, I wish to +say a few words to you. You will have tea with me, of course, Mabel, +you and your daughter." + +"Thank you very much indeed, Susan," said Mrs. Aylmer the less. "It +will be a real treat," she added _sotto voce_, but loud enough for her +sister-in-law to hear. + +"H'm! I have tea at four o'clock," said Mrs. Aylmer the great; "I will +just ring the bell and give orders; then we shall have time for a nice +comfortable conversation. My dear," she added, turning to her niece, +"would you oblige me by ringing that bell?" + +Florence rose and did so. There was an ominous silence between the +three until the waiter appeared to answer the summons. + +"Three cups of tea and some thin bread and butter at four o'clock," +said Mrs. Aylmer the great, in an icy tone of command. + +The waiter said, "Yes, ma'am," bowed, and withdrew. + +Mrs. Aylmer the less thought of the hearty tea she and Florence would +make at home, the shrimps and the brown bread and butter, and the honey +and the strong tea with a little cream to flavor it; nevertheless, her +beady black eyes were fixed on her sister-in-law now with a look which +almost signified adoration. + +"Don't stare so much, Mabel," said Mrs. Aylmer; "you have not lost that +unpleasant habit; you always had it from the time I first knew you, and +I see your daughter has inherited it. Now then, Florence, to business." + +"Yes, aunt, to business," replied Florence, very brusquely. + +Mrs. Aylmer stared at her niece. + +"You speak in a very free-and-easy way," she said, "considering your +circumstances." + +Florence colored angrily. + +"My circumstances," she answered; "I don't quite understand." + +"Has not your mother told you about my, alas! unavoidable change of +plans?" + +"I have, Susan, I have," said the widow, in an eager, deprecating +voice. "I told dear Florry the day after her arrival. By doing +without meat and fruits and vegetables I contrived to pay her +third-class fare from Cherry Court School to Dawlish, and on the night +of her arrival I told her about your sensible letter." + +"H'm, I am glad you think it sensible," said Mrs. Aylmer; "sensible or +not, it is unavoidable. You leave Cherry Court School at the end of +next term, Florence, and I am about to write to your governess, Mrs. +Clavering, to give her due notice of your removal. I hope, my dear, +you have profited much by the excellent education which I have given +you during the last three years." + +"I don't know that," replied Florence, in a sulky tone. "Where is the +good," she said to herself, "of trying to please this horrid Aunt +Susan, and I quite hate Mummy to fawn on her the way she is doing. I +at least cannot stoop to it. No; and I will not." + +"You have not profited by your time at school," replied Mrs. Aylmer the +great; "what do you mean?" + +"I have done my best, of course," replied Florence, "but I am quite a +young girl still, only just fifteen. Girls of fifteen are not +educated, are they, Aunt Susan? Were you educated when you were +fifteen?" + +"Oh, Flo, Flo," said the mother, in a voice of agony; "pray do forgive +her, Susan." + +"I wish you wouldn't interrupt, Mabel," said Mrs. Aylmer, lying back in +her luxurious chair as she spoke, and folding her fat hands across her +lap. "I like Florence to speak out. I hate people to fawn on me." + +"Dear! dear!" said Mrs. Aylmer the less. She rolled her black eyes, +then lowered them and fixed them on the carpet. It was impossible to +understand Susan, she was a most extraordinary woman. If, after all, +Florry was on the right track and won the day! + +"Girls of fifteen are not specially well educated," proceeded Mrs. +Aylmer, fixing her eyes again upon Florence's face, which was now a +little red; "and I don't intend your education to be finished. I have +been fortunate enough to gain you admittance into an excellent school +for the daughters of the poor clergy. You are to go as a pupil +teacher; you will not receive any remuneration for the first two years, +but you can continue to have lessons in music, French, and German." + +"And what about English?" said Florence. + +"You are to impart English. I conclude that at your age you at least +know your mother tongue thoroughly." + +"But that's just it, I do not," said Florence. "I know French fairly +well for a girl of my age, and I have a smattering of German, and am +fairly fond of music. I don't care for English History nor English +Literature, and I have not studied either of them; and my grammar is +very weak, and my spelling--well, Aunt Susan, I can't spell properly. +I am sorry, but I inherit bad spelling from my mother." + +"Oh, Florence!" cried the poor little widow. + +"I do, Mummy; you know perfectly well that you have never yet spelt +'arrange' right, nor 'agreeable.' You always leave out one of the 'e's' +in the middle of agreeable. Oh, I have had such a fight with those two +words, and I do inherit my bad spelling from you. Well, Aunt Susan, +what more do you wish me to say?" + +"I cannot admire your manners, Florence, and as to your appearance, it +leaves very much to be desired." + +Mrs. Aylmer looked very calmly all over Florence. Florence suddenly +sprang to her feet, her temper was getting the better of her. She +inherited her temper, not from her mother, for the little Mummy had the +easiest-going temper in the world, but from her father. John Aylmer +when he was alive had been known to plead his own cause with effect on +more than one occasion, and now some of his spirit animated his young +daughter. She rose to her feet and spoke hastily. + +"I am not good-looking," she said, "and I know it; I cannot help my +features, God gave them to me and I must be content with them. My nose +is snub and my mouth is wide, but I have got some good points, and if I +were your daughter, Aunt Susan--and I am heartily glad I'm not your +daughter; I would much, much rather be Mummy's daughter, poor as she +is--but if I were your daughter you would dress me in such a fashion +that my good points would come out, for I have good points; a nice +complexion, fine hair and plenty of it, and fairly good eyes, and my +figure would not look clumsy if I wore proper stays and properly-made +dresses; and my feet would not be like clodhoppers, if I had fine +well-made boots and silk stockings; and my hands----" + +"You need not proceed, Florence," said Mrs. Aylmer, rising abruptly. +"Mabel, I pity you; I should like to wash my hands of your daughter, +but I cannot forget my promise to my poor dead husband, who begged me +on his deathbed not to allow either of you to starve. 'For the sake of +the family, Susan,' he said, 'don't let my sister-in-law Mabel and her +daughter Florence go to the workhouse.' And I promised him, and I mean +as long as the breath animates this feeble frame to keep my word. + +"As long as I live, Mabel, your fifty pounds a year is secured to you, +and I shall allow you, after Florence leaves that expensive school, +which has cost me from one hundred and twenty to a hundred and forty +pounds a year, to give you an additional fifteen pounds, thus raising +your income to the very creditable one of sixty-five pounds per annum. +As to you, Florence, having gone to the enormous expense of your +education and having placed you at Mrs. Goodwin's excellent school at +Stoneley Hall as pupil teacher, I wash my hands of you." + +"Very well, Aunt Susan, that's all right," replied Florence. "I never +did like you and I like you less every time I see you, but I want to +say something on my own account. It is quite possible that I may not +go to Mrs. Goodwin's school at Stoneley Hall. There is a chance that I +may be able to remain at Cherry Court School quite independent of you, +Aunt Susan." + +"Yes, Flo, that's right," said Mrs. Aylmer the less, rising now to her +feet and giving her daughter an admiring glance. "I always knew you +had spirit, my darling; you inherit it from your poor dear father. If +John were alive he would be proud of you, now, Flo. Tell about the +Scholarship, Florry, my pet; tell about the Scholarship, dear." + +Mrs. Aylmer the great was now so speechless with astonishment that she +did not open her lips. Florence turned and faced her. + +"It is your fault that I am plain," she said, "you have not done what +my uncle asked you to do. You have paid my fees at school, but you +have not made it possible for me to grow up nice in any sense of the +word. You have always thrown your gifts in my face, and you have never +given me decent clothes to wear. It is very hard on a girl to be +dressed as shabbily as I am, and to be twitted by her companions for +what she cannot help; and although you kept me at Cherry Court School, +there have been times over and over when I hated you, Aunt Susan, and +but for my dear little Mummy I would have left the school and earned my +bread as a dressmaker or a servant. But there is a chance that I may +continue to be a lady and hold the position I was born to without any +help from you. A great Scholarship has been offered to the girls of +Cherry Court School. It is offered by Sir John Wallis, the owner of +Cherry Court Park." + +"Sir John Wallis! The owner of Cherry Court Park! Why, I know him," +said Mrs. Aylmer. "I was staying in the same house with him last +year--a most charming man, delightful, good-looking, most agreeable +manners, and such a brave soldier! Do you mean to tell me, Florence, +that you know him?" + +"He is the patron of our school; I thought you were aware of that +fact," said Florence. + +"Your manners, my dear, are simply odious, but I listen to your words +with interest. Ah! here comes the tea. Put it on that table, waiter!" + +The waiter appeared, carrying the tray waiter-fashion on his hand. It +contained three very small cups of weak tea, and about five tiny wafers +of the thinnest bread and butter. There was a little sky-blue milk in +a jug, and a few lumps of sugar in a little silver basin. Mrs. Aylmer +glanced at the meal as if she were about to give her sister-in-law and +her niece a royal feast. "This is most exciting," she said; "we will +enjoy our tea when you, Florence, have explained yourself. So you know +Sir John Wallis. When you see him again pray remember me to him." + +"Oh, I don't know him personally," said Florence; "there is a girl at +the school he is very fond of, but I just go in with the others. He is +giving the Scholarship, however." + +"Go on, my dear; you interest me immensely. With judicious dress and a +little attention to manners, you might be more presentable than I +thought you were at first, Florence. Take this chair near me; now go +on. What has dear Sir John done?" + +"He is offering a Scholarship to the girls of Cherry Court School, and +the girl who wins the Scholarship is to receive a free education for +three years," said Florence. "I am trying for the Scholarship, and if +I win it I shall remain at Cherry Court School for three years at Sir +John's expense. I shall be known as the Cherry Court Scholarship girl, +and be much respected by my companions; so you, Aunt Susan, will have +nothing to say to my subsequent education. I shall be very pleased to +wash my hands of you. I think, Mummy, that is about all, and we had +better go now. There will be a better tea for us at home, and I for +one am rather hungry." + +Mrs. Aylmer the great was quite silent for a moment, then she spoke in +a changed voice. + +"Florence," she said, "you need much correction; you are a very +bombastic, disagreeable, silly, ignorant girl, but I will own it--I do +admire spirit, you have a look of your father, and I was very fond of +poor John; not as fond of him as I was of my own dear Tom, but still I +respected him. Had he lived you would have been a different girl, but +your unfortunate mother--" + +"If you say a word against mother I shall leave the room this instant, +and never speak to you again," said Florence. + +"Really, my dear, you do go a little beyond yourself--I who have done +so much for you; but that Scholarship is interesting. Florence, you +had better go home; I will have a word with your mother by herself. +First of all, however, are you likely to win it?" + +"I vow that I'll get it," said Florence. + +"Florence is really clever, dear Susan," said Mrs. Aylmer the less, now +bursting in in an irrepressible voice; "I believe Sir John is much +struck with her. He did an extraordinary thing, and at the Cherry +Feast, which always ends the summer term at the school, had a +preliminary examination, and dear Flo, with two other girls, is +eligible to compete for the great Scholarship. They call themselves +the lucky three--their names are Kitty Sharston, Mary Bateman, and +Florry. Yes, Florence is very clever." + +"She has a good-shaped forehead," said Mrs. Aylmer; "I greatly admire +genius. You can go, Florence; I'll speak to your mother." + +"I think you had better come too, Mummy," said Florence; "surely it is +not necessary for you to remain." + +But Mrs. Aylmer glanced at her sister-in-law and then at Florence, and +decided to remain. + +"No, no, dear child," she said, "I have a great deal to say to your +Aunt Susan; she has the kindest heart in the world, and the fact is, I +am looking forward to my cup of tea. What delicious tea it looks! It +is so kind of you, Susan, to give it to me." + +Florence stalked to the door without a word, opened it, and shut it +after her. When she had done so the widow glanced at the rich Mrs. +Aylmer. + +"You must forgive the dear child, Susan," she said. + +"Forgive her! there is nothing to forgive," said Mrs. Aylmer. + +"But she was very rude to you." + +"I prefer her rudeness to your fawning, Mabel, and that I will say +frankly." + +"Fawning! Dear Susan, you certainly have a very peculiar way, but +there--" + +"We need not talk about my ways; my ways are my own. I wish to say +something now. If my niece Florence wins the Scholarship, after her +term at Cherry Court has expired I shall send her abroad for two years, +paying all expenses of her education there. On her return, if she +turns out to be a highly-educated, stylish woman, I shall take her to +live with me, taking a house in London and giving her every advantage. +I intended to do this for Florence if she turned out good-looking; she +will never be good-looking, but she may be a genius which is equally +interesting. All depends on her winning the Scholarship. If she loses +it she goes to Mrs. Goodwin's school at Stoneley Hall, having clearly +proved to me that her abilities are not above the average. If she wins +it I do what I say, and in the meantime I wish you, my dear Mabel, to +get her one or two pretty dresses, a nice hat, and a few suitable +clothes. Or, stay, I have not the least doubt that your taste is +atrocious; give me her measurements, and I shall write to my own +dressmaker in London. Florence shall return to Cherry Court School as +my niece, and I will write to Sir John Wallis myself with regard to +her. Now, I think that is all. Oh, you would like your tea. Take it, +pray, and hand me a cup. That silly girl! but I always did admire +frankness." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE FAIRY BOX. + +The rest of the week at Dawlish passed on the wings of speed. + +Mrs. Aylmer took her departure on the following morning, and neither +the little Mummy nor Florence saw her again, but at the end of the week +a box arrived at the widow's cottage. It was a wooden box carefully +nailed down, and labelled: "This side up with care." It was addressed +to Miss Florence Aylmer, and caused intense excitement, not only in the +breast of Florence herself and Mrs. Aylmer, but also in that of Sukey +and the near neighbors, for Mrs. Aylmer's tongue had not been idle +during the few days which had passed since her sister-in-law's visit, +and the intentions of Aunt Susan with regard to Florence had been +freely talked over and commented on. + +Nothing was said about the Scholarship. Mrs. Aylmer thought it just as +well to leave that out. Her remarks were to the following effect: + +"Florence is about to be adopted by her very wealthy aunt; she is +already keeping her at a good school, and is about to send her some +suitable dresses. In the end she will doubtless leave her her fortune." + +After this Sukey and the neighbors looked with great respect at +Florence, who for her part had never felt so cross in her life as when +these hints were made. + +"Mummy," she said once to her parent, "if I want to keep my +self-respect I ought to refuse those clothes and give up Aunt Susan." + +"My dear child, what do you mean? If you wanted to keep your +self-respect! My dear Florence, are you mad?" + +"Alas, mother, I fear I am mad," replied the girl, "for I do intend to +accept Aunt Susan's bounty. I will wear her pretty dresses, and all +the other things she happens to send me, and I will take her money and +do my best, my very best, to get the Scholarship; but all the same, +mother, I shall do it meanly, I know I shall do it meanly. It would be +better for me to give up the Scholarship and go as a poor girl to +Stoneley Hall. Mother, there is such a thing as lowering yourself in +your own eyes, and I feel bad, bad about this." + +Florence made these remarks on the evening the box arrived. The box +was in the tiny sitting-room still unopened. Mrs. Aylmer was regarding +it with flushed cheeks, and now after Florence's words she suddenly +burst into tears. + +"You try me terribly, Flo," she said, "and I have struggled so hard for +your sake. This is such a splendid chance: all your future secured and +I, my darling, relieved of the misery of feeling that you are +unprovided for. Oh, Flo, for my sake be sensible." + +"I will do anything for you, mother," said Florence, whose own eyes had +a suspicion of tears in them. "It was just a passing weakness, and I +am all right now. Yes, I will get the Scholarship, and I will stoop to +Aunt Susan's ways--I will cringe to her if necessary; I will do my best +to propitiate Sir John Wallis, and I will act like a snob in every +sense of the word. There now, Mummy, I see you are dying to have the +box opened. We will open it and see what it contains." + +"First of all, kiss me, Florry," said Mrs. Aylmer. + +Florence rose, went up to her mother, took her in her arms, and kissed +her two or three times, but there was not that passion in the embrace, +that pure _abandon_ of love which Florence's first kiss when she +arrived at Dawlish had been so full of. + +"Now, then," she said, in a hasty voice, "let us get the screwdriver +and open the box. This is exciting; I wonder what sort of taste Aunt +Susan's dressmaker has." + +"Exquisite, you may be sure, dear. There, there, I am all trembling to +see the things, and Sukey must have a peep, mustn't she, Flo?" + +"If I acted as I ought," said Florence, "I would take this box just as +it stands unopened to Cherry Court School to-morrow." + +"Oh, no, my dear; you could not think of doing such a thing; it would +be so unkind to me. I shall dream of you in your pretty dresses, my +love." + +Florence said nothing more; she took the screwdriver from her mother, +and proceeded to open the box. + +Inside lay fold after fold of tissue paper. This was lifted away and +then the first dress appeared to view. It was a soft shimmering silk +of light texture, fashionably made and very girlish and simple. +Florence could not help trembling when she saw it. All her scruples +vanished at the first sight of the lovely clothes, and she took them +out one by one to gaze at them in amazed delight. + +The silk dress was followed by a flowered barege, and this by one or +two cottons, all equally well made, quite suitable for a young girl, +and the sort of dress which would give to Florence's somewhat clumsy +figure a new grace. Under the three lighter dresses was a very plain +but smartly-made thin blue serge, altogether different from the sort of +serge which Florence had worn up to the present. To this serge was +pinned a label, on which the words were written: "Travelling dress, and +to be worn every day at school." + +Under the pretty serge were half a dozen white embroidered aprons, and +below them piles and piles of underlinen, all beautifully embroidered, +silk stockings, little shoes, plenty of gloves, handkerchiefs, also +embroidered with Florence's name. In short, a complete and very +perfect wardrobe. + +"Dear, dear, is it a dream?" said Florence; "am I the same girl? What +magic that Scholarship has worked!" + +"You must try them on, Flo," said the widow; "we shall be up some time. +You must try one and all of them on, and Sukey shall come in and see +you." + +"Oh, mother, is it necessary to show them all to Sukey?" + +"I think so, love, for it will spread the news, and it will greatly +enhance my position in the place. I quite expect the Pratts will ask +me to tea once a week, and they give very good teas--excellent; I never +tasted better hot cakes than Ann Pratt makes. Yes, Flo dear, Sukey +must see you in your smart clothes. Come upstairs to our bedroom and +let us begin the trying-on, dearest." + +Florence was sufficiently impressed with her new position to agree to +this. She went upstairs with her mother, and for the next two hours +the ladies were very busy. + +Sukey was called to view Florence in each of her frocks, and when Sukey +held up her hands and said that Miss Florence looked quite the lady of +quality, and when she blinked her old eyes and fussed round the young +girl, Mrs. Aylmer thought that her cup of bliss was running over. + +At last the trying-on was completed, the old dresses discarded and put +away, and Florence came downstairs in her travelling serge, wondering +if a fairy wand had been passed over her, and if she were indeed the +same girl who had arrived at Dawlish a week ago. + +"And here's a letter from your aunt; it arrived a quarter of an hour +ago," said Mrs. Aylmer. "I have not opened it yet. I wonder what she +says." + +"Read it to me, mother; we may as well go in for the whole thing. Aunt +Susan evidently intends to turn me out properly. Do I look much nicer +in this serge, mother?" + +"You look most elegant, dear, you really do. You will have a very fine +figure some day, and your face now in that very pretty setting-off has +a very distinguished appearance. You have an intellectual forehead, +Flo; be thankful that you inherit it from your poor dear father." + +"Well, read the letter now, mother," said Florence. + +Mrs. Aylmer opened the envelope, and took out the thick sheet of paper +which it contained. + +Mrs. Aylmer the great generally wrote few words. It was only on the +occasion of her last letter that she had indulged in a long +correspondence. Now she said briefly: + + +"MY DEAR MABEL: I believe that Florence's box of clothes will arrive on +Thursday evening, so that she will be able to return to Cherry Court +School dressed as my niece. I wish her in future to speak of herself +as my niece, as I am very well known in many circles as Mrs. Aylmer, of +Aylmer Hall. If Florence plays her cards well and obtains the +Scholarship she will have a good deal to say of Aylmer Hall in the +future. + +"I enclose herewith a five-pound note, and please ask Florence to +exchange her third-class ticket for a first-class one, and telegraph to +the station-master at Hilchester to have a carriage waiting for her, in +order to take her back to the school as my niece ought to arrive. Tell +her from me that during the next term I will allow her as pocket-money +two pounds a month, so that she may show her companions she is really +the niece of a wealthy woman. As to you, Mabel, I hope you will not +interfere in any way with the dear child, but allow her to pursue her +studies as my niece ought. If she fails to get the Scholarship all +these good things will cease, but doubtless she has too much spirit and +too much ability to fail." + + +"There," said Mrs. Aylmer, when she had finished the letter, "can you +take your tea after that? Five pounds, and you are to go back +first-class! That I should live to see the day! This is all Sir John +Wallis's doing. There is not the least doubt that he had a wonderful +effect upon Aunt Susan." + +"Yes, a wonderful effect," said Florence, in a gloomy voice. She was +wearing the neat and beautifully fitting serge, a white linen collar +encircled her throat, and was fastened by the neatest of studs, and +white linen cuffs also encircled her wrists; her figure was shown off +to the best advantage. On her feet were the silk stockings and the +dainty shoes which she had so coveted a week ago, and yet her heart +felt heavy, heavy as lead. Her mother pushed the five-pound note +towards her, but she did not touch it. + +"Look here, Mummy," she said, "we will exchange the third-class fare +for a first-class one, and then you shall have the balance of the five +pounds. It will make up for what you denied yourself to have me here; +it is only fair." + +"Oh, Flo, you dear, sweet, generous child--but dare I take it?" + +"Yes, Mummy, you must take it; it is the only drop of comfort in all +this. I don't like it, Mummy. I have a mind even now to----" + +"To what, my dear child?" + +"To take off this finery and send back the money, and just be myself. +I wish to respect myself, but somehow I don't now. Oh, Mummy, Mummy, I +don't like it." + +"Florence, dear child, you are mad. This sudden happiness, this +unlooked-for delight has slightly turned your brain--you will be all +right in the future. Don't think any more about it, love. We must go +upstairs now to pack your things in order to get you ready for your +journey to-morrow." + +"All right," said Florence. + +"You have not taken your tea, dearest. Is there any little thing you +would fancy--I am sure Sukey would run to the butcher's--a sweetbread +or anything?" + +"No, no, mother--nothing, nothing. I am not hungry--that's all." + +The next morning at an early hour Florence bade her mother good-bye and +started back for Cherry Court School. It was very luxurious to lie +back on the soft padded cushions of the first-class carriage and gaze +around her, and sometimes start up and look at her own image in the +glass opposite. She could not help seeing that she looked much nicer +in her white sailor hat, her pretty white gloves, and well-fitting dark +blue serge than she had looked when she went to Dawlish one week ago. +And that trunk in the luggage-van kept returning to her memory again +and again, and in her purse were ten shillings, and in her mother's +purse were three pounds, for the difference between the third-class and +the first-class fares had been paid, and Florence, after keeping ten +shillings for immediate expenses, could still hand her mother three +pounds. + +"You don't know what it will be to me, Flo," the little Mummy had said. +"I shall be able to buy a new dress for the winter. I didn't dare to +say a word to your Aunt Susan about her cast-offs; I scarcely liked to +do so. But there are your clothes too, dear; I can cut them up and +make use of them. Yes, I am quite a rich woman, and it is all owing to +the Scholarship." + +The thought of that three pounds for her mother did comfort Florry, and +her conscience was not accusing her so loudly that day, so she sat back +on the cushions and reviewed the position. She was going back to +Cherry Court School as a rich girl; what would her companions think of +her? + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +AN INVITATION. + +The holidays had come to an end, and the girls were returning to the +school. The three who were to compete for Sir John's Scholarship had +special desks assigned to them, were instructed by special teachers, +and were looked upon with intense respect by the rest of the school. +The holidays had gone by and had been pleasant, for Mrs. Aylmer had +written to Mrs. Clavering to beg of her to take her niece Florence for +a week's change on the seaside, and Mrs. Clavering had insisted on +Kitty accompanying them, and, as Mrs. Aylmer paid the greater part of +the expenses, the girls had a good time. + +Mrs. Aylmer now wrote twice a week, if not to Florence herself, at +least to Mrs. Clavering; and Mrs. Clavering had to alter her views with +regard to Florence, to give her every advantage possible, and to look +upon her with a certain amount of respect. + +"It certainly is most important that you should get that Scholarship," +she said once to the young girl. "Mrs. Aylmer has explained the whole +position to me, but then you won't get it, Florence, unless you earn +it." + +"I know that," said Florence. + +"And Kitty has an equal chance with you. I think Kitty is a remarkably +intelligent girl. It is just as important for her to get it as it is +for you, you quite understand that?" + +"Oh, I quite understand," said Florence. + +"Then there is also Mary Bateman. Mary has not as brilliant an +intellect as Kitty, and in some ways is not as scholarly as you are, +Florence, but she is very plodding and persevering, and as a rule gets +to the head of her class. Mary is neither rich nor poor, but she would +be very glad of the Scholarship, and says that it would give her father +and mother great happiness if she obtained it; so you see, dear, you +three girls are to work for the same goal--it is almost as important to +one of you as to another. I want you therefore to be perfectly fair in +your dealings each with the other, and to try to keep envy and all +ill-feeling out of your hearts. The one who wins this great generous +offer of Sir John Wallis must not think more highly of herself than she +ought, and those who lose must bear their loss with resignation, +feeling that they have acquired a great deal of knowledge, even if they +have not acquired anything else, and trying to rejoice in the success +of the one who has succeeded. The next few months until October will +be a time of strain, and I hope my dear girls will be equal to the +occasion." + +Florence got very red while Mrs. Clavering was speaking to her. +"Sometimes----" she said, in a low voice, and then she paused and her +tone faltered. + +"What is it, Florence?" + +"Sometimes I heartily wish that Sir John had not put this great thing +in my way. Last term I was poor and had shabby clothes, and no one +thought a great deal of me, but in some ways I feel less happy now than +I did last term. Last term, for instance, I was very fond of Kitty +Sharston and I liked Mary Bateman, but there are moments now when I +almost hate both of them." + +"It is brave of you to confess all this, Florence, and I think none the +worse of you for doing so, and if you pray against this feeling it will +not increase, dear. Now go away and prepare for your French paper. By +the way, a special master is coming twice a week now to coach all three +of you. This has been done by Sir John Wallis's orders. Go away now, +dear, and work." + +The one great subject of conversation in the school was the Cherry +Court Scholarship, and the lucky three were looked upon with wonder and +a little envy by their less fortunate companions, for their privileges +were so great and the goal set before them so high. For instance, Mrs. +Clavering had so contrived matters that the three could work at their +special Scholarship studies in the oak parlor. She had given each girl +a desk with a lock and key, where she could keep her different themes +and exercises. They had a special master to teach them deportment in +all its different branches, and once a week they spent an evening in +Mrs. Clavering's drawing-room, where special guests were invited to see +them. + +On these occasions the young girls had to act turn about as hostess, +pouring out tea, receiving the visitors, seeing them out again, and +entering into what was considered in the early seventies polite +conversation. The almost lost art of conversation was as far as +possible revived during the time of Scholarship competition, and in +order to give Kitty, Florence, and Mary greater opportunities of +talking over the events of the day they were obliged to read the +_Times_ every morning for an hour. + +Their companions, those of the Upper school, were invited to assemble +in the drawing-room on the occasions of the weekly conversazione, as it +was called, and a special subject was then introduced, which the girls +were obliged to handle as deftly and as well as they could. + +As to conduct marks, there was nothing said about conduct, and no one +put down those marks except the head mistress herself. Florence +sometimes trembled when she met her eyes. She wondered if those calm +grey eyes could read through down into her secret soul, could guess +that she herself was unworthy, that she had committed a deed which +ought really to exclude her from all chance of winning the Scholarship. +Then, as the days went on, Florence's conscience became a little +hardened, and she was less and less troubled by what she had done with +regard to Kitty Sharston. + +Florence's change in circumstances were much commented upon by the +other girls, and there is no doubt that in her neatly-fitting dress +with her abundant pocket-money she did appear a more gracious and a +more agreeable girl than she had done in the old days when her frock +was shabby, her pinafore ugly, her pocket-money almost _nil_. + +One of the first things she did on her arrival at the school was to +present Kitty Sharston with a white work-bag embroidered with cherries +in crewel-stitch, and with a cherry-colored ribbon running through it. +She had spent from five to six shillings on the bag, and had denied +herself a little to purchase it. + +Kitty received it with rapture, and used to bring it into Mrs. +Clavering's drawing-room on the company evenings, and to show it with +pride to her companions as Florence's gift. + +"She had never had such a pretty bag in her life," she said, and she +kissed Florence many times when she presented it to her. + +Florence meant it as payment for the cherry-colored ribbons, but she +did not mean it as payment for what she had stolen out of Kitty's desk. +She knew that nothing could ever pay for that deed; but it comforted +her conscience just a little to present the bag to Kitty. + +The Scholarship was to be competed for on the thirtieth of October, and +the girls reassembled at Cherry Court School about the fifteenth of +August. + +Three weeks after the school had recommenced, some time therefore in +the first week in September, Mary Bateman, who had been bending for a +long time over her desk with her hands pressed to her temples and her +cheeks somewhat flushed, suddenly raised her eyes and encountered the +fixed stare of Kitty Sharston. Kitty had done her work and was leaning +back in her chair. Kitty's sweet pale face looked a little paler than +usual. She was expecting a letter from her father, and on the week +when the letter was to arrive she always looked a little paler and a +little more anxious than she did at other times. + +"Have you finished your theme?" said Mary, abruptly. + +"Yes," answered Kitty. + +"You write so easily," pursued Mary, in a somewhat discontented voice; +"you never seem to have to think for words. Now, I am not at all good +at composition." + +"I am not at all good at other things," replied Kitty, in a gentle +voice; "mathematics, for instance; and as to my arithmetic, it is +shameful. Father wants me to be able to keep accounts very well for +him. I shall do that when I go to India, but still I have no ability +for that sort of thing--none whatever." + +"How much you must love your father," said Mary. + +"Love him!" answered Kitty. Her color changed, a flush of red rose +into her cheeks, leaving them the next moment more pallid than ever. + +"You don't look very strong," pursued Mary, who had a blunt downright +sort of manner; "I wonder if India will agree with you; I wonder if you +will really go to India." + +"Why do you say that?" answered Kitty, impatiently, "when it is the one +dream, the one hope of my life. Of course I shall go to India. I +shall do that in any case," she added _sotto voce_. + +"It is so strange all about this Scholarship," continued Mary, in an +uneasy voice, "that we three should long for it so earnestly, and yet +each feel that two others will be more or less injured if we win it." + +"Don't let us talk of it," said Kitty. "I--I must get it." + +"And I must get it," pursued Mary, "and yet perhaps it means a little +less to me than it does to you and Florence. Florence is the one +likely to win it, I am sure." + +Kitty's face turned white again and her little hand trembled. + +"I must get it," she said, in a restless voice. "I don't think I am +selfish--I try not to be, and I would do anything for you, Mary, and +anything for Florence; but--but I can't give up the Scholarship: it +means too much." + +She shivered slightly. + +At that moment Florence entered the room. She sat down at her desk, +unlocked it, and took out her papers. She was just about to commence +her study--for the Scholarship study was all extra, and had to be done +in odd hours and moments--when, glancing up, she met the disturbed and +questioning gaze of Kitty Sharston. + +"Look here," said Kitty, "we three are alone now; let us have a good +talk, just once, if never again. Why do you want to get the +Scholarship, Mary? Why?" + +"Why do I want to get it?" said Mary. + +"Oh, I wish to work now; if you mean to discuss that point I had better +leave the room," said Florence. + +"No, no, do stay, Flo; I won't be more than a moment. I want to +understand things, that's all," said Kitty. "Please, Mary, say why is +the Scholarship of great importance to you." + +"Well, for several reasons," replied Mary. "I am not like you, +Florence, and I am not like you, Kitty. I have got both a father and +mother. My father is a clergyman; there are nine other children +besides me--I am the third. It was extremely difficult for father to +send me to this expensive school, but he felt that education was the +one thing necessary for me. Father is a very advanced, liberal-minded +man; he is before his time, so everyone says; but mother does not think +it necessary that girls should know too much. Mother thinks that a +girl ought to be purely domestic; she is very particular about +needlework, and she would like every girl to be able to make a shirt +well, and to be able to cook and preserve, and know a little about +gardening, and know a great deal about keeping a house in perfect +order. But father says, and very rightly, that every girl cannot +marry, and that the girls who do not marry cannot want to know a great +deal about keeping a house in order, and that such girls, unless they +have fortunes left to them, will have to earn their own living. Of +course, there are very few openings for women, and most women have to +teach, so it is decided that I shall teach by and by. If marriage +comes, all right, but if it does not come I shall earn my living as a +governess. + +"Now, to be a really good governess father wants me to be very well +educated, and he is spending the little money that he might have left +to me when he died in sending me to this good school. Whether I get +the Scholarship or not, I shall remain at the school for three years. +I am fifteen now; I shall remain here until I am eighteen. If I do get +the Scholarship father means to save the money that the three years' +schooling would cost, and he means to send me when I return home at the +age of eighteen to a wonderful new College for Women which has been +established at a place called Girton. He will spend the money which he +would have spent on my education at Cherry Court School in keeping me +at Girton, where I shall attend the University lectures at Cambridge, +and learn as much as a man learns. It is wonderful to think of it. +Mother is rather vexed; she says that I shall be put out of my sphere +and cease to be womanly, but I don't think I could ever be that. You +see that it is very important for me to win the Scholarship, and I mean +to try very, very, very hard." + +When Mary had finished her little speech she drooped her head once +again over her desk. When at last she raised her eyes she encountered +the bold black ones of Florence Aylmer, and the soft, lovely, dilated +eyes of Kitty Sharston. + +"And I want to win the Scholarship," said Kitty, taking up the theme, +"because it means staying on here and being happy and being well +educated for three years. It means getting the best lessons in music, +and the best lessons in singing, and the best lessons in art, and it +means also getting the best instruction in modern languages, and in all +those other things which an accomplished woman ought to know. Then at +the end of three years if all is well and father gets promoted to the +hill station, I shall go out to join him in Northern India, and I want +to be as perfect as possible in order to be father's friend as well as +daughter, his companion as well as child." + +"And if you don't get the Scholarship, what will happen?" said +Florence, in a low, growling sort of voice. + +"Why, then I am going to live with a lady whom I don't love; her name +is Helen Dartmoor; she is a Scotchwoman, and a cousin of my mother's. +She is not the least like my dear mother, and I never loved her, and I +know that the best in me will not be brought to the fore if I am with +her; and I shan't learn those things which would delight dear father; I +shall not know modern languages, nor be a good musical scholar, nor be +able to sing nicely, and I--I shall hate that life, and my nature may +be warped, and I--but, oh! I will win the Scholarship." + +Kitty sprang to her feet and went over to the window. "This makes me +restless," she said; "I didn't mean to express all my feelings; I am +very sorry for you, Mary, and for you, Florence, but, I mean to get the +Scholarship." + +"You have not yet seen the thing from my point of view," said Florence. +"Perhaps in reality this means more to me than even to you, Kitty, for +I--I in reality am horribly poor. I know, Kitty, that you are poor +too--I know perfectly well that your father is poor for his position; +but whatever happens, you are a lady, Kitty, and your father is a +gentleman, and at the end of three years, whether you win the +Scholarship or not, you will go out to him and lead the life of a lady. +I don't suppose, when all is said and done, that it will make any +difference in his affection whether you can speak French and read +German or not, and I am certain he won't kiss you less often because +you do not play charmingly and because you do not sing divinely. But +I--if I lose the Scholarship I lose all--yes, I lose all," said +Florence, rising to her feet and standing before the other two girls +with a solemn and yet frightened look on her face. "For I shall sink +in every sense of the word; I shall no longer be a lady, I shall go as +pupil teacher to a common, rough sort of school, and my mother, my dear +mother, will suffer, and I shall suffer, and all the good things of +life will be taken from me. So it is more to me than it is to you, +Kitty Sharston; and as to you, Mary Bateman, you are out of count +altogether, for why should you go to that new-fangled college and be +turned into a man when you are born a woman? No, no; I mean to get +this Scholarship, for it means not only all my future, but mother's +future too. It is more to me than to either of you." + +Florence swept up her papers, thrust them into her desk, and abruptly +left the room, slamming the door after her. + +Kitty looked at Mary, and Kitty's eyes were full of tears. "It is +quite dreadful," she said; "how she does feel it! I never knew +Florence was that intense sort of girl, and it does seem a great deal +to her. What is to be done, Mary? Are we to give it up?" + +"Give it up?" said Mary, with a laugh; "not quite. Kitty, for +goodness' sake, don't allow Florence's words to trouble you. You have +got to fight with all your might and main. You will fight honorably +and so will I, and if you mean to give it up there will be the greater +chance for me, but of course you won't give it up." + +"No, I shan't give it up," said Kitty, "but all the same, Florence's +words pain me." + +At that moment a clear ringing little voice was heard in the passage +outside, the door of the oak parlor was burst open, and Dolly Fairfax +rushed in. Dolly's eyes were shining and her cheeks were crimson. +"Here are two letters," she said, "both for you, Kitty Sharston; it +isn't fair that you should get all the letters." + +"Come and sit on my knee while I read them," said Kitty, stretching out +her arms to Dolly. + +Dolly sprang into Kitty's lap, twined her soft arms round her neck, and +laughed into her face. + +"I do so love you, Kitty," she said; "I do so hope you will win the +Scholarship. I don't want you to get it, ugly Mary, and I don't want +nasty Florence to get it; but I want you, sweet, dear, darling Kitty, +to get it. You shall--you shall!" + +"You are a very rude little thing, but I don't mind," said Mary, +laughing good-humoredly. "I know I am plain, and I don't care a bit; +I'll win the Scholarship if I never win anything else, so you may as +well make up your mind, Kitty Sharston." + +But Kitty never heard her, she was deep in her father's letter. Yes, +it had come, and it was a long letter closely written on foreign paper, +and Kitty took a very long time reading it, so long that little Dolly +slipped off her lap and wandered restlessly to the window and stood +there gazing out into the court, and then back again into the +softly-shaded room, with the slanting rays of the afternoon sun making +bars of light across the oak. + +At last Kitty finished; she heaved a long sigh and looked up. "I had +forgotten you were here, Mary," she said, "and as to you, Dolly--but +there, it is beautiful, good news. Father has arrived and has begun +his work, and he says he has every chance of going up into the hills +about the time that I shall have finished my education here. Oh, it is +such a relief to read his letter. If you are very good indeed, Mary, +and if you are very good, Dolly, you shall both hear some of my +letter--not the private part, of course--but the public part, which +speaks about father's wonderful interesting travels, and his sort of +public life, the life he gives to his country. Oh, dear! I never saw +anyone grander than dear, dear father!" + +"You have said that very often," said Dolly; "I have got a father too, +but I don't think he is specially grand. I suppose it was because your +father was a hero before Sebastopol. I shall never forget about +Sebastopol now and the trenches since you told me that wonderful story +about your father and Sir John Wallis, and the night they were both +nearly frozen," said Dolly Fairfax. "I suppose that is why you love +your father so much." + +"No, it isn't," answered Kitty stoutly; "I love him just because he is +my father and because, because, oh! I don't know why--I love him +because I do." + +"Well, read your other letter now; two have come--read the other." + +Kitty picked up the other letter and glanced at it. "This is a private +letter; it has come by hand," she said. "Oh, of course, it is from Sir +John Wallis. I wonder what he has got to say to me." + +Kitty opened the letter and read the following words: + + +"MY DEAR KITTY: I want you and Miss Florence Aylmer and Miss Mary +Bateman to spend to-morrow with me at Cherry Court Park. Mrs. +Clavering will accompany you, and I have written to her also on the +subject. My dear child, my reason in having you three girls is simply +that I want to study your characters. I say this quite frankly, and +you may tell both your companions that such is my intention in having +you to spend a long day with me. I will do all I can to make you +happy, and I think it but fair to put all three of you on your guard, +for please understand that the Scholarship is given, not only for +scholarly attainments and correct deportment, but also for those lofty +traits of character which are a greater possession to any woman than +either ladylike manners or great accomplishments. Pray do not be +anything but your natural selves to-morrow, for I shall never allude to +this matter again. From now until the date when the Scholarship is to +be decided, I will expect you three to spend one day a week at Cherry +Court Park. + + "Your affectionate friend, + "JOHN WALLIS." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +AT THE PARK. + +The news that the lucky three were to spend a whole day at Cherry Court +Park caused great excitement amongst the other girls of the school. + +"It's nothing short of delightful," said Alice Cunningham to her +sister; "I only wish I had such a chance." + +"Well, you have not, so there's no use in fretting about it," replied +Mabel. "They certainly are having a good time, but who will win? I +vote for Florence." + +"And I for Kitty," said Alice; "who has a chance beside Kitty? She is +the most brilliant of the three girls, and such a favorite with Sir +John." + +"But for that very reason she may have less chance of winning, because +Sir John is a wonderfully just man. Did you ever see anyone so +terribly in earnest as Florence? Her eyes have quite a strained look +at times, and she does not eat half as much as she did; then she gets +such long, long letters from that wonderful aunt of hers. She did not +get those letters at all last term, and her dress is so smart, and she +has such heaps of pocket-money; there is a great change in Florence. +Sometimes I feel that I want her to win, but at other times all my +sympathies are for Kitty." + +"No one seems to think of poor Mary Bateman," said Edith King, in a +thoughtful voice, "and yet in reality she is one of the nicest girls in +the school, and if she wins the Scholarship, for she has been telling +me all about it, she is to go to Girton." + +"Where in the name of wonder is Girton?" asked Alice Cunningham. + +"Oh, it is a College for Women which has been opened near Cambridge." + +"Then if I thought I had to go to a College for Women I should be +rather sorry to win the Scholarship," said Mabel Cunningham; "but +there, don't let us talk of it any more. We are to have something of a +half-holiday to-day, for Mrs. Clavering is to take the three lucky ones +to Cherry Court Park." + +Florence dressed herself with great care for this expedition. Kitty +had shown her Sir John's letter, and she had felt a queer tingling pain +at her heart as she read it; but then a sort of defiance, which was +growing more and more in her character day by day, arose to her aid, +and she determined that she would not give Sir John one loophole to +find out anything amiss in her conduct. + +"We are going to be spied upon, and it is perfectly horrid," she said, +under her breath, "but never mind, I am determined to stand the test." + +The day happened to be a lovely one, and Florence looked carefully +through her wardrobe. She finally decided to put on the light summer +silk which Mrs. Aylmer had provided for her. She looked very nice in +that silk, almost pretty, and as all its accompaniments were perfect, +the lace ruffles round the neck, the lace hanging over her hands, the +trimmings of every sort just as they ought to be, the hat which she was +to wear with the dress, specially chosen by the London dressmaker for +the purpose, no one could look more elegant than Florence did as she +stood in the hall of Cherry Court School just before she started for +Cherry Court Park. + +Kitty, on the other hand, had thought very little about her dress; she +had no fine clothes to wear, so she just put on a clean white muslin +dress, tied a colored sash round her waist, put her sailor hat on her +head, and ran downstairs, a light in her eyes and a pleased smile round +her lips. + +"I cannot be anything great," she whispered to her heart, as she +glanced for a moment at Florence, who looked something like a fashion +plate as she stood in the hall, "but at least I'll be myself. I'll +try--yes, I'll try very hard to forget all about the Scholarship +to-day. I want to make dear Sir John happy, and I hope, I do hope +he'll tell me something about father and the time they spent together +outside Sebastopol." + +Mary Bateman was the downright sort of girl who never under any +circumstances could trouble herself about dress. She wore her best +Sunday frock, that was all, and her best hat, and her gloves were a +little darned at the tips, but she looked like a lady and was not the +least self-conscious. + +Sir John's own carriage was to arrive to fetch the ladies to the Park. +Cherry Court Park was between two and three miles away from Cherry +Court School, and Mrs. Clavering and her three pupils greatly enjoyed +their drive to the splendid old place. Kitty had been there twice +before, once with her father and once without him, but neither Florence +nor Mary had ever seen the interior of the Park. Mary's exclamations +of rapture as they drove under the overhanging trees and down the long +winding avenue were frequent and enthusiastic. Florence, however, +scarcely spoke; she was not a girl to be much impressed by external +beauty; she was thinking all the time how she could keep the best and +most amiable part of her character to the fore. What did Sir John mean +to do? What sort of test was he going to apply to her? She felt that +she must be armed on every point. + +"My dear girls," said Mrs. Clavering, just as they were approaching the +house, "I see you are all a little nervous, thinking that a somewhat +strange test will be applied to you to-day, but I assure you, my dears, +that nothing of the kind is intended, and I beg of you, as you wish to +impress your kind host favorably, to be at any cost natural and true to +yourselves. Florence dear, I would specially beg of you to remember my +words. Don't set your heart too much on any earthly good thing, my +child, for often those who lose gain more than those who win." + +But Florence shook off the gentle hand; she could scarcely stand Mrs. +Clavering's words just then, and avoided meeting her eyes. + +Sir John stood on the steps of his magnificent old house to welcome his +guests. As the carriage drew up beside the porch he came down and +extended his hand to each. + +"Welcome, welcome," he said, "thrice welcome! What a lovely day we +have! Mrs. Clavering, I hope to have the privilege of taking you round +my gardens, which are just in their autumn prime, and as to you three +girls, will you amuse yourselves exactly as you please until +luncheon-time?" + +"Thank you so much," said Mary, in her blunt voice. She could never +act a part to save her life. "That is just what I should like best to +do," she added, smiling and dimpling. She had a jolly little face, +somewhat tanned with the sun, two round good-humored brown eyes, and a +wide mouth. Her teeth were white, however, and her smile pleasant. + +"Kitty, my dear," said Sir John, turning to Kitty Sharston, "you have +been here before and I depute to you the task of doing the honors. +Take the girls wherever you please. If, for instance," added Sir John, +"you three would like to have a row on the lake there is the boat all +moored and ready. Kitty, you know how to handle an oar?" + +"Rather," said Kitty; "I have rowed more or less since I could walk." + +"Well, then, that is all right; but if you require any assistance you +have but to call one of the gardeners, there are sure to be plenty +about. Now off you go, all three; forget the old man, and enjoy +yourselves as happy girls should." + +As Sir John spoke he gave his arm with old-fashioned courtesy to Mrs. +Clavering, and the two turned away. + +"Now, is not this just like dear Sir John?" said Kitty, beginning to +dance about. "Come, girls, I'll have greatest pleasure in taking you +about." + +"I am surprised to hear that you know all about Cherry Court Park," +said Florence, in a somewhat cross voice, but then she remembered +herself and made an effort to smile. + +"I have been here twice before," said Kitty. "What do you say to +having a row? Mary, what do you wish?" + +"If you will allow me to do exactly what I like," said Mary, "I don't +want anyone to guide me; I want to wander here, there, and everywhere +just at my own sweet will. I have brought my little sketch-book with +me, and mean to sketch some of these splendid old trees. Mother is so +fond of outdoor sketches, and I could seldom indulge her with anything +so fine as I could get in an old place like this. Just go off where +you please, girls, and don't bother about me." + +Off ran Mary on her sturdy legs, and Florence looked after her with a +laugh. + +"Poor Mary," she said, in a contemptuous tone. + +"Why poor?" asked Kitty; "I think Mary is such a downright, jolly, +sensible sort of girl." + +"Oh, very downright and sensible," said Florence. "Kitty, do you +really want to go in the boat?" + +"Not if you don't want to go," said Kitty, looking somewhat anxiously +at her companion. + +"But I see you do; I notice the expression in your eyes." + +"Well, it's very sweet in the boat, it does soothe one so; the last +time I was there it was with father; but never mind, I won't go if you +would rather not. Shall we sit under this tree and talk?" + +"Yes, let us," said Florence. "I feel very cross to-day; I don't +exactly know what is the matter." + +"I wish you would tell me some of your troubles, Flo." + +"How can I; you are my enemy." + +"Nonsense, nonsense! how can you regard me in that light? You make me +quite miserable when you talk as you do." + +"And I meant to be amiable to-day," said poor Florence, "but somehow +everything grates. It is Aunt Susan. Kitty, you cannot understand my +position. I have to be civil and pleasant to one whom I--but there, +don't talk of it." + +"I don't quite understand; I wonder if you feel for your Aunt Susan as +I feel for Helen Dartmoor." + +"The lady you are to live with if you lose the Scholarship?" + +"Yes," replied Kitty, sadly. + +"You had better make up your mind to like her then, Kitty, for you will +have to live with her." + +"Why do you say that?" + +"Only that I mean to get the Scholarship, and I think my will is +stronger than yours." + +"It is not a case of will," said Kitty, trembling a little as she spoke. + +"Isn't it? I rather fancy it is. But there, we are to be amiable +to-day, are we not? Look at Mary sitting under that tree and sketching +as if her life depended on it. I wonder if she is really doing it +hoping to please Sir John." + +"Not a bit of it; that would not be Mary's way. All the same," added +Kitty, in a thoughtful voice, "he will be delighted. Mary's sketches +are very spirited, and Sir John loves people to appreciate his place. +He will ask you what you think about it at lunch, Florry; you had +really better let me show you round a bit." + +"If that is the case, certainly," said Florence. She got up, and she +and Kitty began to wander through the different grounds. They had +nearly completed their peregrinations, having wandered over many acres +of cultivated and lovely land, when the luncheon bell summoned them +back to the house. + +"Oh, I am so hungry," said Kitty, "and Sir John has the most splendid +luncheons. I wonder where Mary is." + +The girls looked to right and left, but could not see a sign of Mary +Bateman anywhere. They approached the house. A great big colley came +up, wagging his tail slowly, and thrust his nose into Kitty's hand. + +"Dear old Watch, how sweet you are!" said the girl. + +She bent down, flinging her arms round the colley's neck, and pressed a +kiss on a white star on his forehead. + +Just then Sir John's voice was heard calling them. "Hey, little +women," he said, "I hope you had a pleasant time and enjoyed yourselves +as much as I meant you to." + +"Yes, I have enjoyed myself immensely," said Kitty. "Haven't you, too, +Florry!" + +"Yes," replied Florence, "I like the place and the gardens." + +In spite of herself she spoke in a stiff, constrained voice; she felt +that Sir John's eye was upon her. She wondered how Kitty could forget +all that hung upon this visit. + +Kitty's face was quite careless and happy, there was a wild-rose bloom +on her cheeks which did not visit them very often, and her large +pathetic grey eyes looked more beautiful than ever. + +Mrs. Clavering now came forward. + +"Come upstairs, dears," she said, "and wash your hands before lunch." + +The girls followed their mistress up the great central hall and +ascended the low oak stairs. They entered a bedroom magnificently +furnished. + +"What a great delightful place this is!" said Florence; "fancy any one +person owning it!" She heaved a quick sigh as she spoke. + +"It is a great responsibility having a place like this and so much +money," answered Mrs. Clavering. "Florence dear, I don't want to +preach--in fact, there is nothing I hate more, but I should like to say +one thing. Happiness in the world is far more evenly divided than +anyone has the least idea of. Riches are eagerly coveted by those who +are poor, but the rich have immense responsibilities. Remember, my +child, that we all have to give an account with regard to our +individual talents some day." + +Florence stirred restlessly and approached the window. + +"I wonder where Mary is," she said, and just as she uttered the words +the silver gong in the hall sounded, and the three ladies hurried down +to luncheon. + +Still no sign of Mary, but just as they were all wondering with regard +to her absence, the door was opened, and a girl, with a smudge on her +face and her hat pushed crooked on her head, entered the room. She +held her little sketch-book and came eagerly forward. + +"Oh, I am sorry I am late," she said; "I hope I kept no one waiting. I +forgot all about it--it was that wonderful old oak-tree." + +"What, the grenadier?" said Sir John, with a smile. "Have you been +sketching it, Miss Bateman?" + +"I have been trying to, but it is awfully difficult." + +"You must let me see your attempt." + +He went up to Mary, took her sketch-book, opened it, and a smile of +pleasure flitted across his face as he saw the very clever and spirited +sketch which the girl had made. + +"Ah!" he said, "I am delighted you like this sort of thing. Would you +like to take many views from my grounds?" + +"Certainly--better than anything in the world almost," said Mary. + +"Well, let me offer you my arm now into lunch. Ladies, will you follow +us, please?" + +Florence's brow contracted with a frown. Mrs. Clavering took Kitty's +hand, motioned to Florence to follow, and they went into the +dining-room. + +During the rest of the meal Sir John devoted himself to Mary; her +frank, commonplace face, her downright manners, her total absence of +all self-consciousness pleased him. He found her a truly intelligent +girl, and discovered in talking over her father that they knew some +mutual friends. + +To Kitty he hardly spoke, although he glanced at her once or twice. +Florence seemed not to receive the most remote share of his attention. + +"And yet," thought Florence to herself, "I am the only girl present +properly dressed for the occasion. Surely Sir John, a thorough +gentleman as he is, must notice that fact. I wonder what it can mean. +Why does he devote himself to Mary? Am I wrong from first to last? Do +girls who are real ladies think little or nothing about their dress? +Would Sir John have been more inclined to be pleasant to me if Aunt +Susan had never interfered?" + +As these thoughts came to the restless and unhappy girl's mind she only +played with her food, became _distrait_ and inattentive, and had to be +spoken to once or twice by Mrs. Clavering in order to recall her +wandering attention. + +Just as the meal came to an end Sir John turned to Kitty, then glanced +at Florence, laid his hand emphatically on the table, touched Mary on +her sleeve in order to ensure her attention, and spoke. + +"Now," he said, "I am just going to say a word before we go for our +afternoon expedition." + +"Afternoon expedition! Are we going to have anything very jolly this +afternoon?" said Kitty, her eyes sparkling. + +"I hope so, my little girl; I have ordered horses for us all. I +understand that you can all ride, and I thought we could ride to +Culner's Heath, where we may enjoy a gipsy tea." + +Even Florence almost forgot herself at this announcement. Could she +ride in her silk dress? Had Sir John thought of habits? It seemed +that Sir John had thought of everything. + +"You will find habits in your bedroom, ladies," he said, "and you can +choose your horses when they come up to the door--but one word first." + +Mrs. Clavering, who had half risen from the table, now paused, arrested +by an expression on her host's face. + +"Yes," she said. + +Sir John glanced at her and then smiled. + +"I am about to speak to the girls," he said, "on the matter which we +discussed this morning, my dear madam." + +Mrs. Clavering smiled, and bowed her head. + +"You know, my dear girls," continued Sir John, turning and addressing +the three, "that the Scholarship competition will take place in a +little over a month from now. Now, I mean that occasion to be a very +grand occasion, I mean it to be strongly impressed upon the mind of +every girl in Cherry Court School, and no pleasure which I can devise +shall be omitted on the auspicious day. The happy winner of the +Scholarship shall be truly crowned with laurels, bonfires are to be +lighted in her honor, and the whole country-side is to be invited to +attend the great function, which I propose to take place, not at the +school, but in this house. I intend to invite the entire school to be +my guests on the great day. They shall all come early in the morning +and stay at this house until the following day. I am already making +preparations for the delightful time. And now, there is one thing I +want to ask. You three girls who are called by your companions the +lucky three have it in your power to invite each one guest to witness +your triumph. You are to name the guest to me, and I myself will send +the invitation in proper style. I know who Kitty would like to have +with her, but, failing that person, Kitty, is there anyone else whom +you may think it perhaps not your pleasure, but your duty, to ask to be +present?" + +"There is only Helen Dartmoor," said Kitty, in a low voice, the crimson +flush rising to her face, "and though it will be very unpleasant to +have Helen here, if you think it right, Sir John, I--don't mind." + +"That is very valiantly answered, Kitty, and I wish I might say at once +that you need not have anyone present whom you do not wish to have +present, but I rather think it would please your father if Miss +Dartmoor received a proper invitation. I will ask her therefore, my +dear child, if there is no one else you would rather have?" + +"There is no one else that I can have, and I don't suppose I need see a +great deal of Helen." + +"Certainly not; she will only arrive at the Park the day before the +Scholarship competition takes place." + +"Then I suppose she must come," said Kitty. + +"It would be a kindness," said Sir John, slowly. "I happen to know +Miss Dartmoor; she has few pleasures." + +Kitty nodded. Sir John turned to Mary. + +"Now, then, Miss Bateman, whom am I to ask on your account?" + +"Oh, father, father! How delightful! how he will enjoy it!" said Mary, +her eyes sparkling, her face beaming. "He will so thoroughly +appreciate it all, and it will be so splendid of you, Sir John." + +"How very free and easy Mary Bateman is," thought Florry to herself. + +Sir John smiled, took down Mr. Bateman's address, and promised that the +invitation should reach him in good time. + +"I wonder if he will come. How he would love it!" thought Mary. + +Sir John glanced at her pleased face with marked approval. + +"And now, Miss Aylmer," he said, turning to Florence, "who will you +have present--the one you love best: your mother, for instance?" + +Now, Florence had sent one wild throbbing thought to the little Mummy +the moment Sir John had spoken of his plan. How the Mummy would enjoy +it, how she would revel in the good food and the lovely house! What a +red-letter day it would be to her all her life, for all the rest of her +years! How Sukey and Ann Pratt and the neighbors down at Dawlish would +respect her for evermore! And doubtless the Mummy's dress might be +managed, and--but what about Aunt Susan? Would Aunt Susan ever forgive +her? She dared not run the risk of her displeasure; too much depended +on keeping her in a good humor. + +"I should like my aunt to come," she said, in a steady voice; "she is +very kind to me and specially interested in the result of the +Scholarship." + +"I know; I have heard from Mrs. Aylmer," said Sir John, in a pleasant +tone; "if you would really prefer her to have the invitation to your +mother, it shall be as you wish, Miss Aylmer." + +"I think it would be right," said Florence. Her heart gave a heavy +throb, then seemed to stand still. + +Sir John gave her one keen glance, and took down Mrs. Aylmer's address +in his pocket-book. + +"I happen to know your aunt, Miss Aylmer, and shall be pleased to +extend hospitality to her on the auspicious event." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE PUPIL TEACHER. + +At the beginning of the autumn term there happened to come to the +school a girl of the name of Bertha Keys. She was between seventeen +and eighteen years of age, and came to Cherry Court School in the +capacity of pupil teacher. She was not a pleasant girl to look at, and +had Mrs. Clavering seen her before she engaged her she might have +hesitated to bring her into the midst of her young scholars. + +But Bertha was clever and outwardly amiable. She performed her duties +with exactitude and despatch. She kept the younger girls in order, and +was apparently very unselfish and willing to oblige, and Mrs. +Clavering, after the first week or fortnight, ceased to feel +apprehensive when she looked at her face. For Bertha's face bore the +impress of a somewhat crooked mind. The small light blue eyes had a +sly gleam in them; they were incapable of looking one straight in the +face. Bertha had the fair complexion which often accompanies a certain +shade of red hair, and but for the expression in her eyes she might +have been a fairly good-looking girl. She had an upright trim figure, +and dressed herself neatly. Those watchful eyes, however, marred the +entire face. They were as clever as they were sharp and knowing. +Nothing escaped her mental vision. She could read character like a +book. + +Now, Bertha Keys was very poor. In her whole future life she had +nothing to look forward to except what she could win by her own +individual exertions. Bertha's apparent lot in life was to be a +teacher--her own wish was to cringe to those in power, to obtain a +footing amongst those who were likely to aid her, and she had not been +a week in the school before she made up her mind that of all the girls +at Cherry Court School no one was so likely to help her in the future +as Florence Aylmer. If Florence won the Scholarship and became the +adopted heiress of a rich aunt, the opportunities in favor of Bertha's +advancement would be enormous. On the other hand, if Mary Bateman won +the Scholarship nothing at all would happen to further Bertha's +interest. The same might be said with regard to Kitty Sharston. +Bertha, therefore, who was extremely sharp herself and thoroughly well +educated, determined that she would not leave a stone unturned to help +Florence with regard to the Scholarship. Nothing was said on the +subject between Florence and Bertha for several weeks. Bertha never +failed, however, to propitiate Florence, helping her when she could +with her work, doing a thousand little nameless kindnesses for her, and +giving her, when the opportunity offered, many sympathetic glances. +She managed to glean from the younger girls something of Florence's +history, noted when those long letters came from Mrs. Aylmer the great, +observed how depressed Florence was when she received letters from +Dawlish, noted her feverish anxiety to deport herself well, to lead a +life of excellent conduct, and, above all things, to struggle through +the weighty themes which had to be mastered in order to win the great +Scholarship. + +One day about three weeks before the Scholarship examination was to +take place, and a week after the events related in the last chapter, +Florence was engaged in reading a long letter from her Aunt Susan. +Mrs. Aylmer had received her invitation to Cherry Court Park, and had +written to her niece on the subject. + +"I shall arrive the day before the Scholarship examination," she wrote, +"and, my dear girl, will bring with me a dress suitable for you to wear +on the great day. I have consulted my dressmaker, Madame le Rouge, and +she suggests white bengaline, simply made and suitable to a young girl. +Yours, my dear Florence, will be the simplest dress in the school, and +yet far and away the most elegant, for what we have to aim at now is +the extreme simplicity of graceful youth. Nothing costs more than +simplicity, my dear girl, as you will discover presently. But more of +that when we meet. One last word, dear Florence; of course, you will +not fail. Were I to see you dishonored, I should never hold up my head +again, and, as far as you are concerned, would wash my hands of you +forever." + +Florence's lips trembled as she read the last words. An unopened +letter from her mother lay on her lap. She flung down Mrs. Aylmer's +letter and took up her mother's. She had just broken the envelope and +was preparing to read it when Dolly Fairfax rushed into the room. + +"Florence, do come out for one moment," she said; "Edith wants to tell +you something." + +"Oh, I can't go; I am busy," said Florence, restlessly. + +"I wish you would come; it is something important; it is something +about to-night. Do come; Edith would come to you, but she is looking +after two or three of the little ones in the cherry orchard. You can +go back in five minutes." + +Uttering a hasty exclamation, and thrusting her mother's letter into +her pocket, Florence started up and followed Dolly. She forgot all +about her aunt's letter, which had fallen to the floor. + +She had scarcely left the room before Bertha Keys stepped forward, +picked up the letter, read it from end to end, and having done so laid +it back on Florence's desk. Florence returned presently, sat down by +her desk, and, taking her mother's letter out of her pocket, read it. + +The little Mummy was in trouble; she had contracted a bad cold, the +cold had resolved into a sharp attack of pleurisy. She was now on the +road to recovery, and Florence need not be the least bit anxious about +her, but she had run up a heavy doctor's bill, and had not the +slightest idea how she was to meet it. + +"I do wish, Florence, my darling," she said, "you could manage to let +me have some of that pocket-money which your Aunt Susan sends you every +week. If I could give the doctor even one pound I know he would wait +for the rest, and then there is the chemist, too, and I have to be a +little careful now that the weather is getting chilly, and must have +fires in the evening, and so on. Oh, I am quite well, my precious pet, +but a little help from you would see me round this tight corner." + +Florence ground her teeth and her eyes flashed. The little Mummy ill, +ill almost to the point of danger. Better now, it is true, but wanting +those comforts which Aunt Susan had in such abundance. + +"I cannot stand it," thought the girl. "What is to be done? By fair +means or foul, I must get that Scholarship. Oh, I fear nothing. I +believe I am sure to win if only I can beat Kitty on her own ground. +Her ground is history and literature. There is to be a horrible theme +written, and a great deal depends on how that theme is handled, and I +am no good at all at composition. I have no power with regard to +picturesque writing. I cannot see pictures like Kitty can. I believe +Sir John has set that theme on purpose, in order to give Kitty an +advantage; if so, it is horribly unfair of him." + +Florence muttered these words to herself; then she glanced again at her +mother's letter. She put her hand into her pocket and pulled out her +purse. That purse, owing to Aunt Susan's bounty, contained over two +pounds. Florence resolved to send that two pounds to her mother +immediately. She began to write, but had scarcely finished her letter +before Bertha Keys, equipped for a walk, briskly entered the room. + +"I am going to Hilchester," she said; "have you any message, Florence?" + +"Oh, I should be so much obliged if you would post a letter for me," +said Florence. + +"I will, with pleasure," replied Bertha. + +"Can you wait five minutes? I shall not be longer than that writing +it." + +"Yes," replied Bertha. She went and stood by the low window-ledge, and +Florence bent over her sheet of paper. She wrote rapidly, a burning +flush coming into each cheek. + +"Oh, darling little Mummy," she wrote, "I am sending you all the money +I have. Yes, you may be quite certain I will win the Scholarship by +fair means or foul. I feel nearly mad when I think of your sufferings; +but never mind, once the Scholarship is won and I am declared to the +world to be the Cherry Court Scholarship girl, once I am crowned queen +on the great day of the Scholarship competition, I shall, I perceive +well, be able to do exactly what I like with Aunt Susan, and then be +sure you shall not want. Please, dear Mummy, pay what is necessary of +this to the doctor, and get yourself what you can in the way of +nourishment. I am most, most anxious about you, my own darling little +Mummy, and I vow at any risk that you shall have my ten shillings a +week for the present. What do the girls at the school matter? What +matters anything if you are ill? Oh, do take care of yourself for my +sake, Mummy." + +Bertha Keys moved restlessly, and Florence, having addressed the +envelope and stamped it, went up to her. + +"Look here," she said, eagerly, "I wish I could come with you, but I +can't, for I have my lessons to prepare, and this is the night of the +conversazione. If you would be truly kind, would you do something for +me!" + +"Of course I'll be truly kind," said Bertha; "I take a great interest +in you, Miss Aylmer, but who would not who knew you well?" + +"What do you mean by that?" said Florence, who was keenly susceptible +to flattery. + +Bertha gave a little contemptuous sniff. + +"You are the only girl in the school whose friendship is worth +cultivating," she said; "you have go and courage, and some day you will +be very handsome; yes, I feel sure of it. I wish you would let me help +you to form your figure; you might draw your stays a little tighter, +and do your hair differently. I wish you would let me be your friend. +You are the only girl in the school whose friendship I care twopence +about." + +"What!" said Florence, trembling slightly and looking full into +Bertha's face, "do you think more about me than you do of Kitty +Sharston?" + +The pupil teacher gave a slight shrug of her shoulders. + +"Miss Sharston," she said; "oh, a nice little girl, very nice and very +amiable, but, my dear Miss Aylmer, you and she are not in the same +running at all. But there, I must be quick; I have to return home in +time to undress the little ones. Oh, what a lot is mine, and I pine +for so much, so much that I can never have." + +"Poor girl, I am sorry for you," said Florence; "but there, I won't +keep you any longer. See, this is what I want you to do. Will you +convert these two sovereigns into a postoffice order, and will you put +it into this letter, and then fasten the envelope and put the whole +into the post?" + +Florence gave some more directions with regard to the postoffice order. +In 1870 postal orders, much simpler things, were unknown. Bertha Keys +promised, took in all the directions quickly, and started off on her +mission. + +She walked down the road as briskly as possible. The distance between +Hilchester and Cherry Court School was between two and three miles. +The road was a lonely one. Bertha presently crossed a stile and found +herself in a shady lane. When she reached this point she looked behind +her and in front of her; there was no one in sight. Then taking +Florence's letter out of her pocket, she slowly and quietly read the +contents. Having read them, a smile flitted across her face. + +"Little Mummy," she said aloud, "you must do without your two pounds. +Bertha Keys wants this money a great deal more urgently than you do. +Florence must suppose that her letter has got lost in the post. Let +her suppose what she will, this money is mine." + +Having made these remarks under her breath, Bertha calmly tore poor +Florence's letter into a thousand tiny fragments. These she scattered +to the four winds, and then, humming a gay air to herself, proceeded on +her way to Hilchester. She transacted her business, went to a shop and +purchased out of one of Florence's sovereigns some gay ribbons and +laces for her own bedizenment, and then returned home. + +"Did you post my letter?" said Florence, who met her in one of the +corridors. + +"Yes, dear, I am glad to say it caught the evening post." + +"Then that's right, and mother will receive it early to-morrow," +thought the girl to herself. + +The feeling that her money would relieve her mother contrived to ease +her overburdened conscience, and she was more cheerful and +happy-looking that evening. + +The next day at an early hour, as Florence was standing in the oak +parlor alone for a wonder, for neither Mary Bateman nor Kitty Sharston +were present, Bertha Keys came into the room. + +"The subject of the composition is to be set this afternoon," she said. +"You are good at composition, are you not, Miss Aylmer?" + +"No, that is it--I am very bad indeed," replied Florence. + +"I am very sorry, for I believe a great deal turns on the way the +themes are done. They must be very good ones." + +"I must do my best," said Florence, in a gloomy voice; "there is not +the least doubt that I shall beat Kitty Sharston in mathematics and +arithmetic, and as to Mary Bateman, she has not a scrap of imagination +in her composition." + +"But the little Kitty has a great deal," said Miss Keys, in a +reflective tone. "I have read some of her themes; she has a poetical +mind. The programme for the great day is to be given out also this +afternoon, and I believe Sir John intends to read the three Scholarship +essays aloud, and the guests present are then to vote with regard to +the fortunate winner. Of course, the theme will not quite decide the +Scholarship, but it will go a very long way in that direction. I have +seen Sir John, and I know that all his tendencies, all his feelings are +in favor of Miss Sharston." + +"There is little doubt on that point," replied Florence; "if it were +not for Kitty Sharston this Scholarship would never have been offered. +I wish it never had been offered," she continued, with a burst of +confidence which she could scarcely repress. "Oh, Miss Keys, I have a +great weight on my mind; I am a miserable girl." + +"I see you are, but why don't you confide in me? I believe I could +sympathize with you; I also believe I could help you." + +"I will, I must win," said poor Florence. "Oh, I could scarcely sleep +last night with thinking of my mother. I am so truly, truly glad that +you were able to post that letter in time; but for your happening to go +to Hilchester she would not have had it this morning. Now she must be +feeling great relief." + +"I can post as many more letters to your mother as you like," said +Bertha Keys. "I will do anything in my power for you; I want you to +believe that. I want you to believe also that I am in a position to +give you serious and substantial help." + +"Thank you," said Florence. She gazed into Bertha's eyes, and felt a +strange thrill. + +Bertha had a rare power of magnetism, and could influence almost any +girl who had not sufficiently high principles to withstand her power. + +She now hastily left the oak parlor to attend to her studies, and +Florence sat down to begin her studies. Her head ached, and she felt +restless and miserable. She envied Kitty's serene face and Mary +Bateman's downright, sensible way of attacking her subjects. + +"I cannot think how you keep so calm about it," she said to Mary, in +the course of that morning; "suppose you lose?" + +"I have thought it all out," answered Mary, "and I cannot do more than +my best. If I succeed I shall be truly, truly glad. If I fail I shall +be no worse off than I was before. I wish you would feel as I do about +it, Florry, and not make yourself quite ill over the subject. The fact +is you are not half as nice as you were last term when everyone called +you Tommy." + +"Oh, I know, I know," answered Florence, "but I cannot go back now. +What do you think the theme for the Scholarship will be?" + +"I have not the slightest idea. That theme will be Kitty's strong +point; there is not the slightest doubt about that." + +Florence bent again over her French exercise. She was fairly good at +French, and her German was also passable, but as she read and worked +and struggled through a difficult piece of translation her thoughts +wandered again and again to the subject of the English theme. What +would it be? History, poetry, or anything literary? + +The more she thought, the less she liked the idea of this supreme test. + +Dinner passed, and the moment for the reassembling of the school for +afternoon work arrived. Just as all the girls were streaming into the +large schoolroom, Mrs. Clavering came hurriedly forward. + +"Before you begin your duties this afternoon, young ladies," she said, +"I have received a communication from Sir John, and as you are all +interested in the Scholarship, which may be offered another year to +some further girls of Cherry Court School, I may as well say that I +have just received a letter from him suggesting the theme for the +essay. I will repeat to you what he has said." + +Mrs. Clavering stood beside her desk and looked down the long +school-room. The room contained at this moment every girl in the +school, also the teachers. Florence glanced in the direction of Bertha +Keys. She was standing just where a ray of light from one of the +windows caught the reflection of her red hair, which surrounded her +pale face like a glory. She wore it, not in the fashion of the day, +but in an untidy and yet effective style. The girls of the day wore +their hair neatly plaited and smooth to their heads. + +One of Mrs. Clavering's special objections to Bertha was her untidy +head. She often longed to ask her to get a brush and smooth out those +rough locks. + +Nevertheless, that very roughness of her hair gave her face a look of +power, and several girls gazed at her now half fascinated. Bertha's +light blue eyes flashed one glance in Florence's direction, and were +then lowered. She liked best to keep her most secret thoughts to +herself. + +Mrs. Clavering glanced round the room, and then, opening Sir John's +letter, spread it out before her. + +"I will read you my friend's letter aloud," she said; "you will all +clearly understand what he says." She then proceeded to read: + + +"MY DEAR MRS. CLAVERING: After a great deal of reflection I have +resolved that the all-important essay which the lucky three are to +write shall be on the following subject--Heroism. This opens up a wide +field, and will test the capacities of each of the young competitors. +The essay is to be written under the following conditions: It is to be +the unaided work of the competitor; it is to contain not less than two +thousand words and not more than two thousand five hundred. It is to +be written without the aid of books of reference, and when finished is +to be unsigned and put into a blank envelope. The three envelopes +containing the essays are to be handed to you, who will not open them, +but will place them before me on the night of the Scholarship +competition. + +"Further particulars with regard to the competition I will let you know +in a few days, but I may as well say now that most of the examination +will be _viva voce_, and will consist of eight questions relating to +the study of the French language, eight questions on the study of the +German tongue, eight mathematical questions, eight arithmetical +questions, eight questions on English History, and eight on English +Literature. In addition, a piece of music will be played by each girl +and a song sung by each; but the final and most searching test of all +will be the essay, which in itself will contain, I doubt not, the +innermost heart of the competitor, for she cannot truly write on +Heroism without understanding something of what a hero or heroine +should be. Thus that innermost spirit which must guide her life will +come to the front. Her spelling and English composition will be +subjected to the best tests by means of those written words; her +handwriting will not go without comment; her style will be noted. She +can make her essay rich with reference, and thus prove the varied +quality of her reading. And the grace of her diction will to a certain +extent testify to her ladylike deportment and the entire breadth of her +education. + +"I need add no more. I have thought deeply over this matter, and trust +my subject will meet with universal approval. + + "Yours very truly, + "JOHN WALLIS." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +TEMPTATION + +Amongst the many duties which fell to the care of Bertha Keys was the +one of looking after the postbag. Every afternoon she took the girls' +letters and put them in that receptacle, hanging the key on a little +hook in the hall. Morning after morning it was she who received the +postbag, unlocked it, and brought the contents to Mrs. Clavering, who +always distributed the letters herself. Thus it was easy for Bertha to +abstract the letters which contained the Dawlish postmark. She did +this for a reason. It would never do for Florence to find out that her +mother had not received the letter with the postoffice order. + +Bertha knew well that if enquiries were made it could be quickly proved +that she had never obtained a postoffice order at all, and thus her own +ruin would be the result of her theft. She had taken the two +sovereigns in a momentary and strong impulse, and had since to a +certain extent regretted her foolhardy and wicked deed. Not that she +regretted it because she had stolen the money, but because she feared +the consequences. She now, therefore, had a double object for putting +Florence Aylmer into her power. If she could do that, if by means of +some underhand action on her part she could win the Scholarship for +Florence, Florence would help her in the future, and even if Bertha's +theft was known to her, would never dare to betray her. It is well +known that it is the first step which costs, and Bertha's first theft +was followed by the purloining of several letters from poor Mrs. Aylmer +to her daughter. + +At first Florence, relieved with regard to her mother's financial +condition, did not bother about this silence. She was very much +occupied and intensely anxious on her own account, but when more than a +week went by and she had no letter from Dawlish, she began to get +alarmed. What could be wrong? + +In these days it would be easy for a girl to satisfy her nervous +terrors by means of a telegram, but in 1870 a telegram cost a shilling, +and Florence was now saving every penny of her money to send to her +mother. She hoped soon to have another two pounds to transmit to her +by means of a post-office order. For Mrs. Aylmer the great was +thoroughly generous now to Florence, and never a letter arrived which +did not contain a money remittance. + +"She never guesses that it all goes to the little Mummy, that it helps +to cheer her life and to give her some of the comforts she needs," +thought the anxious girl; "but why, why does not Mummy write?" + +When ten days had gone by, Florence sat down one morning and wrote to +her mother: + + +"DARLING MUMMY: I cannot understand your silence. You have not even +acknowledged the post-office order which I sent to you. I meant to +wait until I could send you another postoffice order for two pounds, +but I won't delay any longer, but will send you a postoffice order for +one pound to-day. Darling, darling Mummy, I do wonder how you are. +Please write by return mail to your loving daughter, FLORENCE +AYLMER." + + +Having written and signed her letter, Florence addressed it, stamped +it, and laid it by her desk. She then took out some sheets of +manuscript paper on which she was vainly endeavoring to sketch out a +scheme for her essay on Heroism. The conditions which attached to this +essay were already neatly written out by Mrs. Clavering's directions, +and were placed opposite to her on her desk: "The essay must contain +not less than two thousand words. It must be the unaided work of the +competitor. It must further be written without reference to books." + +Florence, smart enough about most things, was altogether foiled when a +work which must so largely be a work of imagination was required of her. + +It was a half-holiday in the school, and Mary Bateman and Kitty +Sharston were not sharing the oak parlor with Florence. They were out +in the cherry orchard; their gay voices and merry laughter might have +been heard echoing away through the open window. + +Florence sighed heavily. As she did so she heard the handle of the +door turn and Bertha Keys came softly in. Bertha brought a basket with +her. It contained some stockings belonging to the little ones which +she was expected to darn. She sat down on the low window-ledge and, +threading her needle, proceeded to work busily. She did not glance in +Florence's direction, although Florence knew well that she was aware of +her presence, and in all probability was secretly watching her. + +The silence in the room was not broken for several minutes. Bertha +continued to draw her needle in and out of the little socks she was +darning. Once or twice she glanced out of the open window, and once or +twice she cast a long, sly glance in the direction of Florence's bent +head. The scratch of Florence's pen over the paper now and then +reached her ears. At last Florence stopped her work abruptly, leant +back in her chair, stretched out her arms behind her head, uttered a +profound yawn which ended in a sigh, and then, turning round, she spoke. + +"I wish to goodness, Bertha," she said, "you wouldn't sit there just +like a statue; you fidget me dreadfully." + +"Would you rather I went out of the room, dear?" said Bertha, gently. + +"No, no, of course not; only do you mind sitting so that I can see you? +I hate to have anyone at my back." + +Bertha very quietly moved her seat. The oak parlor had many windows, +and she now took one which exactly faced Florence. As she did so she +said, in a very quiet, insinuating sort of voice, "How does the essay +on Heroism proceed?" + +"Oh, it does not proceed a bit," said Florence; "I cannot master it. I +am not a heroine, and how can I write about one? I think it was a very +shabby trick on the part of Sir John Wallis to set us such a theme." + +"Don't worry about it if your head aches," said Bertha. "You can only +do work of that sort if you feel calm and in a good humor. Above all +things, for work of the imaginative order you must have confidence in +yourself." + +"Then if I wait for the day when I have confidence in my own power and +feel perfectly calm, the essay will never be written at all," said +Florence. + +"That would be bad," remarked Bertha; "you want to get that +Scholarship, don't you?" + +"I must get it; my whole life turns on it." + +Bertha smiled, sighed very gently, lowered her eyes once more, and +proceeded with her darning. + +"I don't believe you have a bit of sympathy for me," said Florence, in +an aggrieved voice. + +"Yes, but I have; I pity you terribly. I see plainly that you are +doomed to the most awful disappointment." + +"What do you mean? I tell you I will get the Scholarship." + +"You won't unless you write a decent essay." + +"Oh, Bertha, you drive me nearly mad; I tell you I will get it." + +"All the willing and the wishing in the world won't make the impossible +come to pass," retorted Bertha, and now she once more threaded her +darning-needle and took out another stocking from the basket. + +"Then what is to be done?" said Florence. "Do you know what will +happen if I fail?" + +"No; tell me," said Bertha, and now she put down her stocking and +looked full into the face of her young companion. + +"Aunt Susan will give me up. I have told you about Aunt Susan." + +"Ah, yes, have you not? I can picture her, the rich aunt with the +generous heart, the aunt who is devoted to the niece, and small wonder, +for you are a most attractive girl, Florence. The aunt who provides +all the pretty dresses, and the pocket-money, and the good things, and +who has promised to take you into society by and by, to make you a +great woman, who will leave you her riches eventually. It is a large +stake, my dear Florence, and worth sacrificing a great deal to win." + +"And you have not touched on the most important point of all," said +Florence. "It is this: I hate that rich aunt who all the time means so +much to me, and I love, I adore, I worship my mother. You would think +nothing of my mother, Bertha, for she is not beautiful, and she is not +great; she is perhaps what you would call commonplace, and she has +very, very little to live on, and that very little she owes to my aunt, +but all the same I would almost give my life for my mother, and if I +fail in the Scholarship my mother will suffer as much as I. Oh, dear! +oh, dear! I am an unhappy girl!" + +Bertha rose abruptly, walked over to Florence, and laid her hand on her +shoulder. + +"Now, look here," she said, "you can win that Scholarship if you like." + +"How so? What do you mean?" + +"Are you willing to make a great sacrifice to win it?" + +"A great sacrifice?" said Florence, wearily; "what can you mean?" + +"I will tell you presently, but first of all amuse yourself by reading +this." + +"Oh, I am in no mood to amuse myself; I must face my terrible position." + +"Ah, I see you have written a letter to your mother; shall I put it in +the postbag for you?" + +"No, thank you; I mean to walk into Hilchester myself presently. I +want to post that letter myself. I am anxious at not hearing from +mother; she has never acknowledged my last postoffice order. I mean to +send her another to-day, and I want to post the letter myself." + +"Then I will walk into Hilchester with you after tea. We shall have +plenty of time to get there and back before dark." + +"Thank you," said Florence; "that will do very well." + +"Now, then, read this. Put your essay away for the present. I can see +by the expression on your face that you have a terrible headache." + +"But why should I read that, Bertha? What is it?" + +Bertha had thrust into Florence's hand a small magazine. It was called +"The Flower of Youth," and had a gay little cover of bright pink. +There were one or two pictures inside, rather badly done, for +black-and-white drawings in cheap magazines were not a special feature +of the early seventies. The letterpress was also printed on poor +paper, and the whole get-up of the little three-penny weekly was +shabby. Nevertheless, Florence glanced over it with a momentary +awakening of interest in her eyes. + +"I never heard of 'The Flower of Youth' before," she said. "Is it a +well-known magazine?" + +"It is one of the first magazines of the day," said Bertha, in a proud +voice; "will you read this little paper?" + +Florence's eyes lighted upon a short essay. It was called "The +Contented Heart," and her first glance at it made her sigh. + +"My heart is so terribly discontented I don't want to read about the +contented heart just now," she said. + +"Oh, but I do wish you would; it is not long, Florence." + +Urged by a peculiar look in Bertha's eyes, Florence did read the short +essay. It was couched in plain language and was forcible and to a +certain extent clever. It occupied but a couple of pages, and having +once begun, Florence read on to the end without a pause. + +"Well," she said at last, "I should judge by that writing that the +author had not a contented mind. It seems to say a great deal about +things the other way round." + +"Ah, but how do you judge the writing? Is that good or bad?" + +"Good, I should say; it interested me immensely. I was full of worries +and it seemed to lift them and smooth them away. I forgot them for the +time being. Yes, I should say that essay was well written, but I +didn't think about the writing at all." + +"Ah, then it was well written," said Bertha. "But it is nearly tea +time; don't let us say anything more about it now. I will tell you +when we are walking to Hilchester." + +She caught up the little magazine, thrust it into her pocket, and left +the room without glancing at Florence again. + +"What a queer girl she is!" thought Florence to herself. She had run +up to her room to wash her hands, for tea, and presently joined her +companions in the tea-room. + +Half an hour later Florence and Bertha were on their way to Hilchester. +Both girls were feeling anxious. Florence had that weight of care ever +at her heart, and Bertha was wondering by what means she could smuggle +the letter to Mrs. Aylmer out of her daughter's hands. Think and think +as she would, however, she could see no way of preventing that +postoffice order being obtained, of its being slipped into the +envelope, and put into the post. She was noted for her ready wit, +however, and ingenuity, and she could only now trust to what she termed +a lucky chance. One thing, however, was more important than ever; she +must as quickly as possible get Florence into her power. + +"Well," she said, as the two girls strolled arm in arm down the shady +lane towards Hilchester, "you wonder, don't you, why I showed you 'The +Flower of Youth' this morning?" + +"I had forgotten all about it," said Florence, frowning. + +"I will tell you now. You admired that little paper on a contented +heart!" + +"It interested me," said Florence, "but why do you harp so about it? I +have so much to think of, it is rather bothering for you to go back +again and again to the same subject. The writer of that paper has not +a contented heart." + +"How clever of you to say that, for it is true." + +"True! Do you know the writer?" + +"I happen to know her." + +"You know a real live author! Are you joking, Bertha? You must be +joking." + +"I know her," said Bertha, casting down her eyes, and a modest +expression creeping over her face, "I know her well, for she--don't +start away from me, Flo--she happens to be your humble servant." + +"Now you must be joking! You are the author of 'The Contented Heart'?" + +"I am, dear. I got five shillings for that little essay; not much, you +will say, but better than nothing. The editor praised me and asked for +more. I write occasionally in 'The Flower of Youth,' and when I am +very hard up I am glad of the few shillings my writings bring me." + +"Then you are a real genius," said Florence "and I respect you." + +"I am glad you respect me; I always had a gift for writing." + +"I should like to read your essay, 'The Contented Heart,' again." + +"You shall, dear, you shall. I have always said that you could +understand me, Florence, but you must not reveal my secret. I would +not have it known in the school for worlds that I am an author. It +would be fatal." + +"But why? Are you not proud of the fact?" + +"Oh, yes, I am proud of it, but perhaps Mrs. Clavering might not +approve. People have strange ideas in these days. They think when a +girl puts herself into print she makes herself too public." + +"But they can't think that. Why, they would make you into a perfect +heroine; you are a great, great genius, Bertha." + +"I am glad you think I have a little talent," said Bertha, in a modest +voice. + +"But it is a great deal more. Have you ever written stories?" + +"A few; but I have never published any." + +"Some day you will write a great book, a book that will live. You will +be a second Currer Bell." + +"Ah, how I adore 'Jane Eyre,'" said Bertha, in a low, intense voice. +"Currer Bell has a great soul; she lifts the curtain, she reveals to +you her heart." + +"I wish I could read 'Jane Eyre' again," said Florence. "I read it +once when I was at home for the holidays, but Mrs. Clavering does not +approve of novels." + +"Mrs. Clavering is a little old-fashioned. Let us walk quickly, +Florence. Do you know that I write poetry, too?" + +"Oh, then you are a tremendous genius." + +"I have a little talent," replied Bertha once more; "but now, Florence, +I have a suggestion to offer." + +There was something in her tone which caused Florence's heart to beat; +she seemed to guess all of a sudden what was coming. + +Bertha turned and gazed at her. "Look here," she said, "I don't do +things without a reason. I am anxious to be your friend because--well, +because I do like you, and also because I think you may be useful to me +by and by." + +"I am sure I cannot imagine what you mean, for it is not in my power to +be useful to anyone. Your friendship for me must be disinterested, +Bertha." + +"That is as it may be," answered Bertha, in a dubious voice; "we will +say nothing on that point at present. You want to get the Scholarship?" + +"I must get it." + +"You shall, with my aid." + +"Now what do you mean?" + +"It all depends on yourself, Florence. How much are you prepared to +sacrifice to win the Scholarship?" + +"To sacrifice? to sacrifice?" Florence felt very uneasy. She tried to +wriggle away from her companion, who held her arm firmly. "To +sacrifice?" she repeated. + +"Yes, that's just about it--how much?" + +"Well, my time--my health even." + +"You must go a little further than that, Florence, if you mean to win." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I will be quite plain with you," said Bertha. "If you are not +prepared to sacrifice more than your time, more than your health, you +will fail, for Kitty Sharston has what you have not. She has the +imaginative mind and the noble heart." + +"Oh," said Florence. She colored, and tried to wriggle once again away +from her companion. + +"I must speak plainly," said Bertha. "At a moment like this there is +no good beating about the bush. Kitty will write an essay on Heroism +which will win her the Scholarship; she will do so because she is +animated by a very great and noble love. She will do so because she +has got poetry in her composition. You must face that fact. As to +Mary Bateman, she is out of the running. She is a good girl and might +even go ahead of you were the theme not the supreme and final test; but +that being the test, Kitty will win. You may as well put down your +oars at once, Florence; you may as well lower your colors, if you +cannot compete with Kitty on her own ground." + +"I know it; it is shockingly unfair." + +"But all the same, you can win if you will make the supreme sacrifice." + +"What is that?" + +"The sacrifice of your honor." + +"Oh, no; oh, no; oh, what do you mean?" + +"That is what I mean. You can think it all over. I will make my +suggestion, for I know you won't betray me. I will write your essay +for you. I can do it. I can write on noble things; I am well +educated; I am to a certain extent a practiced writer. I may not have +Kitty's talent, but I have--what she has not--the practiced pen. She +will struggle, but she cannot succeed against me. I will write the +essay on Heroism, and you shall accept it as your work. Now, think it +over; don't answer me at once." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE FALL. + +The remainder of that walk was taken in complete silence. Florence's +head felt as if it were going round. There was a buzzing noise in her +ears. Higher and yet higher over her moral nature did the waves of +temptation rise. She struggled, but each struggle was feebler than the +last. They reached Hilchester, and Bertha looked at her companion. + +"You are as white as a sheet," she said; "won't you go in and rest at +Mrs. Baker's shop? I shall call there presently for buns and things I +am bringing back for the conversazione to-night; she will gladly let +you rest. The postoffice is quite five minutes' walk from here. Let +me post your letter for you. Have you the money in your pocket for the +order?" + +"I think I will rest at Mrs. Baker's," said Florence. "You will be +sure to get the order all right, Bertha? Here is the letter; put the +order in, won't you, and then put the letter in the post?" + +"Yes, yes," said Bertha; "I'll be as quick as possible." + +She almost snatched the letter from Florence's hand, took the +sovereign, slipped it into her purse, and walked down the street with +rapid strides. In less than a quarter of an hour she had returned to +Florence. + +"It is all right," she said, briskly; "and now for my commissions here. +I hope you are more rested, Flo." + +"Oh, yes, I am quite rested," replied Florence; but there was a dead +sort of look on her face and the color had gone out of her eyes. + +Bertha walked briskly to the counter. She was in excellent spirits, +her carriage was perfectly upright, her well-poised head looked almost +queenly as it rested on her graceful shoulders. Her figure was +Bertha's strong point, and it never looked better than now. Even +Florence as she glanced at her was conscious of a dull admiration. + +How clever Bertha was, and really, when you come to consider her +carefully, how stylish and good-looking! + +"I shall never again as long as I live say that I dislike red hair," +thought Florence to herself. "Yes, Bertha certainly has a remarkable +face; no wonder she is able to write; and as to her eyes, I shall end +by liking her eyes. They do look as if they held a secret power." + +Bertha having given her orders now, waited until Mrs. Baker, the +confectioner's wife, had made up the cakes and biscuits and chocolate +creams which were necessary for the evening conversazione. Each girl +then carried a large parcel, and retraced her steps in the direction of +Cherry Court School. Their walk back was as silent as the latter part +of their walk to Hilchester. + +Just as they were entering the porch of the school Bertha laid her hand +on her companion's arm. + +"Well?" she said. + +"I cannot give you my answer to-night; I will to-morrow," said Florence. + +"All right, Flo; but let me tell you in advance I know what that answer +will be." + +Florence felt a shudder run all through her frame. She ran upstairs to +the dormitory. It was late, and time to dress for the evening +festivities. + +Kitty was in her cubicle. Mary Bateman in hers. Neither girl had +drawn her curtain, and when they saw Florence they each began to talk +to her. + +"Do you know, Florence," said Mary, "that that little genius Kitty has +absolutely written her essay, finished it all between tea and this +hour. She means to polish it to-morrow, but the rough draft is done. +I feel quite in despair when I look at her." + +"Oh, you need not; I don't suppose it is good a bit," said Kitty. + +"I dare not ask you what it is about," said Mary, "or I would love +beyond words to read it. When I look at your face and then think that +you were asked to write on Heroism, I feel that you were given a task +which neither Florence nor I can execute." + +"Speak for yourself, pray," said Florence, in a cross voice. She gave +a vindictive glance at Mary, avoided meeting Kitty's eyes, and vanished +into her own cubicle. Here she drew the turkey-red curtain, glanced +wildly round, and the next moment had dropped on her knees. + +"Oh, please, God, save me from myself," whispered the wretched girl. +"Help me out of this somehow. Give me the strength to write the essay +myself. Oh, please, God, I must--I must have the Scholarship. Please, +please give me the ability, the genius to write the essay myself." + +Her wild, distracted prayer was the reverse of soothing. She sprang +up, poured some water into her basin, and began to wash her face and +hands; then she dressed herself neatly and gracefully. There were no +lack of pretty dresses now for Florence Aylmer to bedeck herself in. +She took great pains with her toilet. There was a certain +satisfaction, as she donned her silken chains, in knowing that at least +she could look as well as Kitty, nicer even than Kitty, as far as dress +was concerned. + +Mrs. Aylmer the great had excellent taste, and every one of Florence's +frocks were suitable for Florence to wear. They were all girlish and +simple. The frock she chose to-night was of a very pale pink. It was +made of the simplest stuff, and was not trimmed at all. It gave grace +to her figure and added to her height. A little ruffle of lace +surrounded her girlish throat, and on her arm she slipped a gold +bangle, Mrs. Aylmer's latest present. She then ran downstairs to the +drawing-room. In her pretty shoes and silk stockings and well-fitting +dress Florence made quite a graceful figure. She dropped a curtsey at +the door as she was required to do, and then, going forward, took her +place beside Kitty Sharston and Mary Bateman. + +These three girls were, according to the rules of the competition, to +entertain their companions. Neither Kitty nor Mary were in the least +self-conscious, and to-night Florence also, in the pressure of a great +misery, contrived to forget herself. + +Mrs. Clavering looked at her with distinct approval. + +"How that girl has improved," she said, bending towards Sir John +Wallis, who invariably appeared on these occasions. "She will end in +being handsome." + +"Yes, she is a distinguished-looking girl," said Sir John, just +glancing at Florence, and then looking away again, "but Kitty is my +choice; give me the little wildflower Kitty. How sweet she is!" + +"Well, of course, she belongs to a totally different order of being," +said Mrs. Clavering, dropping her voice; "but what about the +Scholarship, Sir John?" + +"I dare not think of anyone else winning it," said Sir John; "but, of +course, I have to face the fact that either of the other girls may +succeed. Above all things, one must act fairly." + +"I just doubted whether you gave a fair subject for the essay," said +Mrs. Clavering. + +"What do you mean?" + +"Heroism," repeated the head mistress, speaking slowly and dropping her +voice. "With such a subject you appeal so distinctly to the heart. If +the heart does not respond, the essay on Heroism will never be done +justice to." + +"Ay, it is the supreme test, the supreme test," said Sir John, slowly. +Again his eyes wandered to Kitty. From her charming, bright, anxious +face he looked at Florence. It so happened that at that moment +Florence had raised her own dark eyes and fixed them on him. The +suffering she had lately lived through had added refinement to her +face, and the baronet caught himself looking at her again and again. + +"Yes, she has improved; there is something in her; but what is she so +unhappy about, I wonder?" he thought. + +Just then Mary Bateman skipped up, asked his opinion with regard to a +fresh sketch she was making, and carried him away to chat with her in a +corner. + +Next to Kitty, Sir John certainly liked plain little Mary best. + +Light refreshments were brought in on little trays, and the girls were +invited to partake. The three young hostesses acted with _aplomb_ and +much tact. Dull girls were drawn out of themselves, lively girls were +placed with suitable companions. Games were proposed, which were all +conducted in a spirited and lively manner, and finally the proceedings +ended with a gay dance. It was at this moment, just when the dance was +in full swing, that Sir John Wallis came up and offered his arm to +Florence. + +"Will you waltz with me?" he said. + +She looked up at him, colored with delight, and laid her hand on his +arm. The two led the dance, and right merry was the music which was +played to it. + +The dance had just come to an end when Sir John looked full at Florence +and spoke. + +"I heard from your aunt, Mrs. Aylmer, and she is much pleased to accept +my invitation. She will be my guest on the evening of the 29th, and I +hope I may persuade her to stay a few days longer. You must see a +great deal of her while she is at Cherry Court Park. You are a great +favorite with her, are you not?" + +"Of late I have been a favorite," said Florence, and now she looked +full at Sir John and her lip trembled. + +"There is something the matter with you, my dear," said Sir John. + +"Oh, I don't know--nothing." Then she added, as if the words were +wrung from her lips, "I hate Aunt Susan." + +"Oh, come, come," said Sir John, truly shocked; "let me tell you that +is a very unladylike way of speaking and scarcely fair to your aunt, +who is doing so much for you." + +"That is all you know, Sir John, but I dare not say any more." + +"But having said so much, I am afraid you must. I asked you three +girls what special friend or relation you would like to be present in +the hour of your triumph, and you selected Mrs. Aylmer. If you did not +like Mrs. Aylmer, why did you ask her to come? I would gladly have +received your own mother." + +"I will tell you," said Florence, in a hurried voice. "Mrs. Aylmer is +much interested in your Scholarship, Sir John, and she says if I win it +that she will adopt me. I shall be her--her heiress then. You +understand that it means a great deal to me, the Scholarship?" + +"Yes, I understand," said Sir John, gravely. His face looked troubled. +"Sit down here, my dear," he said. Florence seated herself on a chair +by his side. "I can understand, and I am sorry; it is scarcely fair +that your young mind should be strained to this extent. And if you +don't win the Scholarship?" + +"Ah, if I don't, Aunt Susan will not need you to ask me much to Cherry +Court Park. She will wash her hands of me." + +"Indeed, this is disturbing." + +"I ought not to have told you, and you must pretend that you do not +know." + +"I shall say nothing, of course; all the same, I am sorry." + +Sir John sat very thoughtful for a moment. After a long pause he spoke. + +"I ought not to give you any special advantage over the other girls," +he said, "but suppose I do this?" + +"What?" asked Florence, looking into his face. + +"Suppose I have Mrs. Aylmer as my guest and allow you to choose +another? What about your mother, Miss Aylmer?" + +"Oh, do you mean it?" said Florence; her face flushed, and then turned +pale. She had a wild, wild thought that even if she failed her mother +would not turn from her. She had a choking sensation in her throat, +which made her feel that even in the moment of absolute defeat the +little Mummy's kisses would be supporting, cheering, encouraging. +Tears brimmed into her eyes. "You are very good," she said. + +"Then I'll do it; give me your mother's address. She shall be your +guest; the other Mrs. Aylmer shall be mine. And now cheer up, my dear; +we can never do more than our best." + +Sir John turned aside, and soon afterwards the little party broke up. + +That night Florence hardly slept. At a very early hour she awoke. She +had prayed her prayer of the night before; she had asked God to help +her. As to not winning the Scholarship, that was absolutely and +completely out of the question. She must win it. The thought of +disgrace was too intolerable; she must, she would win it. She +determined to rise now and test her powers of composition. It was +between five and six in the morning. She rose very softly, got into +her clothes, and stole out of the dormitory. + +The light was just beginning to dawn, but there was not light enough to +work. Florence slipped softly down to the oak parlor; having secured a +candle and a box of matches, she lit the candle and placed it on her +desk, and, taking out a sheet of manuscript paper, she pressed her face +on her hands, once again uttered a wild, passionate prayer, and then, +dipping the pen in the ink, waited for inspiration. + +"Heroism," she said, under her breath. "What did it mean?" All that +it really meant rushed over her--self-denial, self-abnegation, the +noble courage which comes to those who think of others, not themselves. +"I cannot write," she said, passionately. She said the words aloud, +dashing down her pen and making a blot on the fair sheet of manuscript +paper. At that moment the door was opened and Bertha came in. + +"I thought I heard a noise," she said; "so it is you? What are you +doing there, Florence?" + +"Oh, nothing, nothing; but why have you come to tempt me?" said +Florence. She raised two haggard eyes to the pupil teacher's face. + +"Not to tempt you, but to help you, poor child. Of course, you will do +what I wish. There, Florence, I wrote your essay for you last night. +It came over me and I wrote it without much trouble. Here it is, dear; +you have only to copy it; put it in your desk for the present, there is +plenty of time, and go back to bed, dear, for you look worn out." + +Florence burst into tears. The next moment she had flung her arms +around Bertha's neck and laid her head on her shoulder. + +"There, there," said Bertha, "there, there, you are overcome, but it +will be all right now." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE GUESTS ARRIVE. + +It wanted three days to the Scholarship competition. The girls who +were called in the school the lucky three now scarcely spoke on the +subject--the other girls watched them anxiously. All lessons, except +those in connection with the Scholarship, were suspended so far as Mary +Bateman, Kitty Sharston, and Florence Aylmer were concerned. + +The trial essays, the essays which were to be the supreme test of +merit, were all written, and in sealed envelopes were handed in to Mrs. +Clavering. Meanwhile exercises on history, French, German, arithmetic, +were the order of the hour. The girls were busy all day long. The +three faces were somewhat pale, and lines which ought not to have +appeared round the young eyes and lips were beginning to make +themselves manifest. + +"I shall be truly thankful when the thing is over," said Mrs. Clavering +to Sir John; "this is bad for them, very bad. In particular I do not +like Florence Aylmer's expression. The girl thinks too much about this +matter. If she fails she will have an illness." + +"And if she succeeds Kitty will fail or have an illness," said Sir +John, restlessly. + +"Kitty will feel it, but she will not have an illness," said Mrs. +Clavering; "you have but to see the expression on the two faces to know +that. Kitty is anxious also and resolved, but there is a firm, steady, +fine sort of expression about her, quite the reverse of poor +Florence's." + +"Yes, I confess I do not understand that girl," said Sir John; "and +yet," he added, "I cannot help liking her; she has a good deal in her." + +"I pity her, poor child," said Mrs. Clavering; "she is placed in a very +false position. I once met her aunt, Mrs. Aylmer, of Aylmer's Court; +that was on the occasion when Florence was brought to my school, and I +confess I did not take to her." + +Sir John shrugged his shoulders. + +"It is invidious to speak of a lady who is soon to be one's guest," he +said, "but I also have met Mrs. Aylmer." + +On the morning of the same day Florence had received a letter from her +mother. Bertha Keys had gone away on the previous evening to visit a +sick cousin, and in consequence had not the charge of the postbag. She +was very unwilling to leave at this critical moment, but the cousin was +ill, required her services. Mrs. Clavering was willing to spare her +for one night, there was no help for it; she must go. "I must only +trust that no letter will come from Dawlish," she said to herself; "but +after all, even if it does, it cannot really matter. Florence must +sooner or later feel that she is in my power; perhaps the sooner the +better." + +Florence found the letter from her mother on the breakfast-table. She +stretched out her hand, caught it with a firm grip, thrust it into her +pocket, and then applied herself to her breakfast. + +"Why don't you read your letter? You know you are allowed to do so," +said Edith King, who was seated next to her. + +"Oh, it will do after breakfast," said Florence. + +"You don't look well, Flo; what is the matter with you?" + +"I am a little anxious, if you must know," said Florence, turning round +and glancing at her companion; "I have not heard from my mother for two +or three weeks; but there, of course, it is all right. She has not +even told me whether she has accepted Sir John Wallis's invitation. +Sir John told me he had written, but I cannot tell whether she is +coming or not." + +"It will be delightful for you if she does come, will it not?" said +Edith King. + +"Oh, yes, delightful," answered Florence. She did not speak any more, +but finished her breakfast somewhat hastily. At the first moment she +could find herself alone Florence rushed into the cherry orchard and +tore open her letter. It contained the following words: + + +"MY DARLING CHILD: + +"Such a wonderful, extraordinary, delightful thing has happened. It is +so unexpected that it quite puts out of my head a great deal which has +made me anxious up to the present. I have received a letter from no +less a person than Sir John Wallis, the distinguished owner of that +magnificent place, Cherry Court Park, and he has invited me, my +darling, to be present at the moment of your great triumph. He says, +which I regret very much, that your Aunt Susan will also be there, but +I am asked as your guest, my child. It is all most wonderful, +unexpected, and truly fascinating. The effect on the neighbors is +already so surprising that I have literally not been obliged to provide +myself with a single meal since the news came. The Pratts have invited +me each morning to breakfast, and Ann Pratt has assiduously catechized +me, so much so that I have found an ancient book on the 'baronial halls +of England, and have worked up some information for her benefit from +this volume. I never saw anyone so eager as the creature is to find +out Sir John's income and all about him. It is extraordinary, but +still quite human nature. + +"Sukey is wonderfully affected since the news came, and in fact right +and left your poor Mummy is quite an honored individual. + +"I feel like a heroine, my darling, and walk about Dawlish with my head +well up. I am also quite extravagant, and am wearing that dress which +I described to you as being turned for the fifth time. It is reckless +of me, but I cannot help it. For what do you think, dear?--Sir John +has sent me a check for my expenses. He says that he could not +possibly ask me to be present if I were put to any expense in the +matter, and he has absolutely sent me twenty pounds; so I shall be able +to buy a suitable costume to be present in when I see my darling +crowned with glory. + +"Oh, what a supreme moment it will be! I have already got the black +silk, and Miss Macgregor, in the Parade--you know what a fashionable +dressmaker she is--is making it up. I shall, of course, wear my +widow's bonnet, as it looks so _distingue_, and Mrs. Sweat, the +milliner in the High Street, is making up a new one, most stylish. + +"I can add no more now. My heart goes pit-a-pat. When you receive +this I shall be packing for my journey. It will be splendid to see +Susan in the moment of your triumph. Altogether, dear, I never felt +more elated in my life. This great and unexpected excitement has +perfectly restored my health. I say to myself--you know, Flo, I always +was a reckless little woman--I say to myself, 'Never mind, enjoy the +present, Mabel Aylmer, even if afterwards comes the deluge.' Good-bye, +my dearest; we shall soon meet and embrace. + + "Your most affectionate + "MOTHER." + + +Florence read the letter over once or twice. She then put it in her +pocket and paced thoughtfully up and down the cherry orchard. The +cherry trees were rapidly dropping their leaves now, and some of them +fell over Florence. She shook them off impatiently. + +"It was queer of mother never to mention those postoffice orders which +I sent her," thought the girl; "she has not even thanked me for them; +but there, I suppose it is all right, and she is very happy. It was +good of Sir John to send her that twenty pounds, and yet--and yet it +chokes me to think of it. He would not dare to send the money to +Kitty's cousin, Helen Dartmoor, nor would he dare to send it to Mary +Bateman's father. Oh, if I can only win this Scholarship I shall hold +my head high and exercise that pride, which, after all, no woman ought +to be without." + +Florence went back to the house, and soon afterwards Bertha Keys +entered the oak parlor. In the course of the morning she sat next to +Florence, who bent towards her and said, "I have had a long letter from +my mother." + +"Oh, indeed," said Bertha, changing color in spite of herself; "and +what did she say?" + +"She is coming to Cherry Court Park. Bertha, it is rather queer she +has said nothing at all about the postoffice orders. I wonder if she +got them safely." + +"Is it likely she didn't?" replied Bertha, in a calm voice; "of course +she did. She was too excited to think of them; to have an invitation +of that sort would absorb her very much." + +"It does absorb her very much indeed," replied Florence. "Doubtless +she forgot. Well, I shall soon see her and be able to ask her all +about the matter." + +Sir John Wallis had arranged that the three girls who were to compete +for the Scholarship were to arrive at Cherry Court Park early on the +morning of the great day. They were to sleep there that night, and +return to the school the following day. The rest of the school were to +arrive in the evening, but the Scholarship girls were to have the run +of the Hall, and were to be entertained as the honored guests during +the whole of the important day. + +No girls could possibly be more excited than these three when at last +the morning broke. Florence, who had scarcely slept at all the +previous night, felt that she would be almost glad, even if the worst +befell her, to have the terrible ordeal over. + +"By this time to-morrow I shall be the happiest girl in the world or +the most truly miserable," she thought to herself. But the greatness +of the ordeal now had a certain composing effect, and Kitty, Mary and +Florence started off in Sir John's carriage in apparently high spirits. + +"What do you think?" said Kitty, bending forward and touching Mary on +the sleeve; "Sir John has promised if I succeed to send a cable to +father. Isn't it perfectly splendid of him? He has not said anything +to father about the cable. What a surprise and delight it will be if +he gets it." + +"I wish you would not tell me," said Mary; "when I look into your eyes +and see all that this means to you I feel a perfect brute, and yet +nevertheless I mean to play my very best to-night, and to sing with all +my heart in my voice, and to answer each question as carefully as I +can, for my dear, dear old father will be present. Oh, how happy, how +delighted I shall be to meet him again!" + +"Yes, it will be splendid for you; and you, Florence, how glad you will +be to see your mother," said Kitty. "But, oh, dear! oh, dear! I wish +it hadn't been necessary to ask Helen Dartmoor to be present on the +great occasion." + +The girls went to the Hall in neat morning dresses, but the white +dresses they were to wear in the evening, which were by Sir John's +orders to be pure white, had already been sent on to the Hall. + +The day was a glorious one, and as they drove through the beautiful +scenery in Sir John's immense park a golden mist lay over everything. +At last they drew up before the great front entrance. A group of +ladies were standing in the hall. Sir John came down the steps. The +next moment a little figure was seen running briskly forward, and +Florence was clasped in the arms of the little Mummy. + +"My darling! my darling!" said little Mrs. Aylmer. Florence kissed her +with a quick passion, held her then at arm's length, looked into her +face, and crushed some moisture out of her own eyes. + +Meanwhile a very trim, staid-looking woman, with faded hair, pale blue +eyes, and a correct, old-maid sort of demeanor, had given Kitty a light +kiss on her forehead. "How do you do?" she said, in an accent which +was truly Scotch. "It was very kind of Sir John to invite me to the +Hall. I hope, for your own sake, you will win the Scholarship." + +Kitty answered as brightly as she could. + +"If not, of course, you are fully aware that you will be my guest for +the next two or three years. It is scarcely likely you will win the +Scholarship, and I have already been making all the arrangements I +could with regard to your instruction," said Miss Dartmoor. "Will you +come round the place now with me; I should like to have some +conversation with you. I have not seen you for some little time." + +Kitty gave a wild glance round. Would not Sir John help her? Helen +Dartmoor was the only person in the world that she truly disliked. She +felt a restless sensation rising up in her heart, but there was no +escape. Sir John had gone off with Mary Bateman and Mary's father. +Florence and her mother had already vanished inside the house. Kitty +had to submit to her fate. + +Helen Dartmoor walked with prim, small steps. She had a little +three-cornered shawl on her shoulders, and an old-fashioned bonnet was +tied under her chin. Her perfectly cold, serene face glanced now and +then at Kitty. + +"You are not improved, Catherine," she said. + +"Why do you say that?" replied Kitty. + +"You look anxious and excitable. I dislike a woman showing any +emotion. Of course, you are only a child yet, but I trust if I have +the care of you, which I fully expect to have--for it is scarcely +likely you will for a single moment win this ridiculous Scholarship--I +trust that I shall send you out to your father a well-mannered and +decorous woman. I have the greatest dislike to the manners of the +present day, and the new sort of girl who is growing up so rapidly in +our midst is thoroughly abhorrent to me." + +"Well, Helen," said Kitty, glancing full at her, "I know you won't mind +if I am frank. I certainly wish to win the Scholarship; I am +struggling with all my might and main to win it. It is of the utmost +importance to me, for I want to be as well educated as possible when I +go to dear father in India; but if I fail--yes, Helen, I will try my +very best to please you while I am under your roof." + +"Hoots, lass, you cannot do more, but do not speak in such exaggerated +phrases. Now let us walk down this avenue. What a beautiful view! +How soothing is nature in all her aspects!" + +Kitty could not help shuddering. "Oh, dear! oh, dear!" she whispered, +under her breath, "how am I to live if I lose the Scholarship!" + +Meanwhile little Mrs. Aylmer, clasping a firm hold of Florence's arm, +had carried her off right through the house and into one of the gardens +at the back. "Your Aunt Susan is not down yet," she said; "it is the +most merciful Providence, for I judge from her manner of last night +that she means to absorb you. Now, then, darling, tell me what are +your chances?" + +"Oh, I don't know, mother; I suppose they are pretty good, and I have +tried my best--I can't do any more." + +"Really, Florence, you look quite splendid; I would not know you for +the same girl. How your figure has changed; you have attained quite an +elegant shape, my love--small waist, rounded form, a little pale, paler +than I should wish, but your eyes have greatly improved; they have got +a sort of pathetic expression in them which is very becoming, very +becoming indeed." Mrs. Aylmer danced in front of Florence, examining +each feature critically, her own small eyes twinkling, and her round +face flushing in her excitement. + +"Oh, isn't it a magnificent place?" she said, "and such a dinner as +they had last night--course after course, if you'll believe me. I +should think there must have been fifteen courses if there was one. I +kept counting them, and then my poor head got so confused, for I was +seated not far from Sir John, and he talked to me in such a kind, +marked sort of way, and your Aunt Susan kept glittering her pale blue +eyes at me as if she was eaten up with jealousy. I tell you, my +darling, I did enjoy myself; I gave myself away, and talked in a frank, +pleasant, easy sort of style. I made several of the guests laugh, I +did really. Florence, my dear, my dress is beautiful; it quite stands +out with richness. I assure you, my love, you will have no cause to be +ashamed of your little Mummy to-night. I got Miss Macgregor to put a +yard and a half of train into the back--a yard and a half, Flo, and it +quite adds to my height. I have not had such a lovely dress since your +poor dear father's time--that I haven't. I thought I would like to +thank Sir John in private, and to tell him that I have made the money +for my expenses go so far that I was able to purchase the dress." + +"Oh, mother, please, please, mother, don't!" said Florence, in a tone +of agony. + +"Why not, my sweet child? If Sir John knows that I am thoroughly poor +he may give me another little _douceur_--there's no saying." + +"Oh, mother, mother, you don't know what agony this gives me!" + +"My poor child, but are not you glad that your little Mummy has got +some money? Dear me, Flo, I have been ill since you saw me last. I +was almost at death's door, and Dr. Hunt was so kind, coming in two or +three times a day. But there, I have not paid his bill yet; it is +fearful to think of it! Now, I should really like to take Sir John +into my confidence. I would not ask him for the money, but I should +just tell him exactly how I am placed, with so much a year--very, very +little; a scrimped, tightened widow: that's the only way in which I can +express my condition, scrimped and tightened, nothing else. A generous +cheque from him would set all right." + +"Mother, you must promise me here and now that you will say nothing on +the subject to Sir John. And, Mummy dear, that reminds me, you never +acknowledged my postoffice orders. I know I hadn't much to send you, +but what I did have I sent, and I promised that you should have ten +shillings a week, my pocket-money, until you had paid the doctor's +bill. I could do no more. Mummy dear, what is the matter? Why do you +look at me like that, Mummy?" + +"I may well ask you what is the matter?" said Mrs. Aylmer, now standing +stock still in front of her daughter and raising a round, agitated face +to Florence. "Postoffice orders, and from you, Flo! Oh, my dear, +darling, precious child, I have been wondering at never hearing from +you. I wrote to tell you all about my illness--not until it was over, +Flo; as I said to myself, 'No, the child shall not be disturbed; that +Scholarship she must win. I will not tell her that her mother is ill +until her mother is out of danger.' But when the danger was past I +told you--oh, my darling, I have not had any postoffice orders from you +nor any letters whatsoever--none whatsoever, Flo, and I have been so +astonished. I have tried not to feel hurt. I am very sensible about +most things. I was sure that you did not write because you were too +busy to write, but still, in the dead of night, I did shed one or two +tears--I did really, my own pet." + +"But, mother, this is too extraordinary for anything. I sent you two +postoffice orders, the first was for two pounds, the second for one. +Do you mean to say that you never got them?" + +"Never, my darling; I have been robbed. Who could have done it? Oh, +Flo, this is fearful; three pounds sent to me by my own darling, and I +never to receive the money! What can it mean, Florence--what can it +mean?" + +"Say no more, mother; I will see about this." + + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +TIT FOR TAT. + +The long, bewildering, beautiful day was over and the three candidates +for the coming competition were being dressed for the occasion. + +The dressing took place in one immense room where the girls were +afterwards to sleep, and the assistants at the dressing were no less +people than Miss Helen Dartmoor, Mrs. Aylmer the great, and Mrs. Aylmer +the less. + +Mrs. Aylmer the great and Mrs. Aylmer the less fussed round Florence, +fussed round her to such an extraordinary degree that she felt a mad +desire to thrust them both out of the room. + +The very beautiful dress which Aunt Susan had purchased for Florence in +London was, after all, not to be used on this occasion, for Sir John +had given forth his mandate that each of the three candidates was to be +dressed exactly alike, and as this was his supreme wish he further said +that he himself would purchase the dresses for the occasion. + +These were made in Greek style, and were long, flowing, and simple. +The material was the finest white cashmere edged with swansdown, and +each girl had clasped round her waist a belt of massive silver, also +Sir John's present. Their hair was unbound and hung down their backs, +being kept in its place on the head by a narrow fillet of silver. + +Nothing could be simpler and yet more graceful than the dress, the long +flowing sleeves falling away from the elbow and showing the young +molded arms distinctly. + +It so happened that no dress could suit Kitty better, and doubtless Sir +John had an eye to the appearance of his favorite in such a robe when +he ordered it. + +Florence also looked very well in her Greek costume; and even Mary +Bateman seemed to acquire added grace and dignity when she put on the +pretty classical robe. The girls wore sandals on their feet, and +altogether nothing could be choicer and prettier than the dresses which +Sir John had devised for them. + +Little Mrs. Aylmer almost hopped round Florence as she was being +attired in her festive robe. + +"I am sure," she said, "I can guess the reason why; I have been +wondering over it all day, and at last the solution has come to me. +Listen, my dear Miss Bateman; listen, Miss Sharston; Susan, you cannot +prevent my speaking. I see, Miss Dartmoor, you are thinking me a +little fool, but I have guessed at the solution. It is because in the +moment of triumph the brow of the young victor--victress, don't you +say? no, of course, victor--will be crowned with a laurel wreath. Ah, +how sweet! Florence dear, nothing could be more becoming to you." + +Miss Dartmoor was heard to give an indignant snort. She went up to +Kitty and looked at her with marked attention. + +"I hate the heathenish sort of dress," she exclaimed, "but if it comes +to that, I believe that Catherine Sharston will look just as well with +a chaplet of leaves round her head as anyone else in the room." + +"Oh, we are not disputing that point," said Mrs. Aylmer the less, +chirruping away as she spoke, and dancing up to a neighboring +looking-glass to take a side view of her own dress; "we are not +disputing that point. The one who wins the Scholarship will look +beautiful in her wreath of glory. Time will prove who that lucky +person will be." + +Here she winked at Florence, who turned away. + +Her head ached; there was a heavy, heavy feeling at her heart. She had +one great desire, which for the time being swallowed up all others, and +that was to see Bertha Keys for a moment alone. Bertha was to arrive +with the rest of the school in time for the great ceremony, which was +to take place in the great central hall of the old house. + +The hall had been decorated for the occasion, and in its dark recesses +gleamed now many fairy lamps. In the middle of the hall was a dais, on +which the judges were to sit, and before whom the young competitors +were to appear when the crucial moment came. + +A flood of light from many incandescent burners poured down upon this +dais, making it one of dazzling light. + +The rest of the girls of the school were to sit in a darker part of the +hall; they were to be dressed in their best. The guests were to occupy +a gallery to the left, except those guests who, by Sir John's special +invitation, were to sit upon the dais and give their votes in favor of +the essays. Desks were provided also in the middle of the hall for the +three young competitors, at which they were to sit to answer the +questions which were to be asked them by three professors specially +sent for from London by Sir John. + +There was not to be the slightest indication of who the successful +winner was to be until the crucial moment, and the examination from +first to last was expected to occupy about an hour and a half. + +While it was going on very soft music was to be played on a distant +organ; the competitors were then to go forward and to stand in front of +the judges while the three essays were read aloud by no less a person +than Sir John himself. + +The judges would retire, something like a jury at a court of justice, +on hearing the essays, to give their votes for the lucky winner of the +Scholarship, and then Sir John was to crown the successful girl with +glory. A chaplet of silver bay-leaves was to encircle her brow, and +the locket and chain were to be put round her neck. She was to receive +the purse which would contain the expenses for one year at Cherry Court +School, and the parchment scroll, which through all time would testify +to her ability and her triumph, was to be put into her hand. + +"Yes, nothing could be more perfect than the arrangements," said Miss +Dartmoor, who had heard all about the programme during the course of +the day; "but," she added, fixing her eyes now upon the elder Mrs. +Aylmer's face, "I disapprove of this sort of thing immensely. I don't +suppose for a single moment my cousin, Catherine Sharston, will get the +Scholarship; but seeds of envy and discontent will be sown in her +heart, and I shall have some trouble in bringing her into a proper +frame of mind when she joins me in Scotland." + +"I pity you," said Mrs. Aylmer, in reply to this speech, "but the girl +looks well-meaning and easily influenced." + +"Oh, am I?" thought Kitty, who overheard these words and who could not +help giving her little head a toss; "I doubt it. Oh, if it were not +for father I don't think I could go through with this evening." + +Meanwhile Florence had slipped out of the room. In her pretty Greek +dress she glided down the corridor, met a servant, and asked her if the +young ladies from school had yet come. + +"Yes, miss," was the reply, "and they are all unrobing in the green +bedroom at the end of this corridor." + +"I should be so much obliged if you would do something for me," said +Florence. + +"Of course I will, miss," was the reply. The girl gave Florence a +long, admiring look. She could not help being struck with the elegant +dress and the eager, passionate, quivering face. "What is it you want, +miss?--I'll do anything you wish." + +"I want you to go into the green bedroom and ask if Miss Keys is there. +If she is, say that I, Florence Aylmer, would like to see her for a few +moments." + +The servant tripped off at once, and a moment later Bertha joined +Florence in the corridor. + +"Is there anywhere where we can be alone?" said Florence, clasping +Bertha's hand. + +"Oh, my dear Flo, how lovely you look! What a charming, charming robe!" + +"Don't talk about my dress now, and don't say anything about my looks; +I want to speak to you," said Florence. + +For a wild moment Bertha Keys felt inclined to say, "It is impossible; +I am engaged with my pupils, and cannot give you any of my time," but a +glance into Florence's face showed her, as she vulgarly expressed it, +"the fat was in the fire," and she had better face the position at +once. Accordingly she said coolly, "I can give you two or three +minutes, although I cannot imagine what you want to say now. I shall +come to see you when it is all over. There is not the slightest doubt +that you will win the Scholarship, so rest assured on that head." + +"If I thought for a moment there was a doubt do you think I would have +acted as I did?" said Florence; "but now that things have come to a +crisis I wonder if I greatly care. I----" + +"Oh, nonsense, Florence, how would you stand the disgrace? and the +clergy school, you know--don't forget, Florence, what it means. Hold +up your head, pluck up your courage. What is it you want to say to me?" + +"Something--but I must see you alone." + +"Let us come along this corridor; there are a great many bedrooms: we +will open one on the chance of its being empty." + +Bertha seized Florence's hand and began to fly down the corridor with +her. She knocked at a door, there was no reply, she opened it. + +"There, it is unoccupied," she said; "we will stay here for a minute or +two. Come now, what is it?" + +"It is this," said Florence; she turned and faced Bertha. + +"Bertha Keys," she said, "my mother has told me, and I heard that of +you this morning which----" + +"That of me, indeed," said Bertha, turning very pale; "what can you +have heard of me?" + +"I have heard that which shows me your true character. My mother never +received those post-office orders. I gave you three sovereigns to +change into postoffice orders for my mother, and she--she never had +them; she never got any of my letters, she thought me cold, heartless, +unfeeling--she, my mother, the one I love best in the world. You, you +held back the letters, you kept the money--dare you deny it?" + +"Oh, dear, what a fuss!" said Bertha. "But you can act just as you +please, Florence; you can go down and tell all about me. Of course, +having done so, my career will be ruined." + +"What do you mean? What did you do?--speak, speak! Oh, this is +driving me mad!" + +"Calm yourself, my dear, and stay quiet; I won't attempt to conceal the +truth from you. I took the money; I wanted it very badly. Whether I +wanted it more badly than your mother is a matter of not the smallest +importance to me. I wanted it, and I took it. Let that suffice." + +"And what do you think I shall do; do you think I will submit to this +sort of thing?" + +"You can please yourself. Of course, if you tell about me, I can tell +about you. Tit for tat--you quite understand." + +"Oh, I quite understand," said Florence. + +She sank down on the nearest chair, her face had turned quite grey. + +Miss Keys regarded her for a moment silently, then she went up and laid +her hand on her shoulder. + +"Come, Flo," she said, suddenly dropping on her knees by the unhappy +girl's side, "come, cheer up; don't look so miserable. You and I are +in the same boat and we must sink or swim together. If you support me +I'll support you. I can help you again and again, and think what I am +doing for you to-night." + +"Oh, I hate myself, I hate myself! I don't think I can go through with +it," said Florence. + +"Then what do you mean to do?" + +"Tell Sir John all before he begins. It is Kitty's Scholarship--not +mine; and how--how am I to take it?" + +"Now this is utter folly," said Bertha, seriously alarmed at last, for +if Florence were to develop a conscience, and a conscience of such a +sensitive order, at this hour, all would indeed be lost as far as she +was concerned. + +"Come," she said, "think what it means. You love your mother; think of +her position if you lose; and it was only three pounds, and I +promise--there, I promise I'll save it out of my salary; you shall have +it back. Oh, don't tell on me; I shall be ruined for ever; +don't--don't--don't!" + +Bertha clasped her hands, the tears rose to her eyes--a bell was heard +in the distance. It was the bell which was to summon the guests, the +girls of the school, and the three competitors to the great hall. + +"There, I must be going," said Florence, "but I am miserable. My head +aches, I doubt if I can go through with this." + +"You will feel quite different when you get downstairs," said Bertha, +"and now cheer up; only just remember one thing. If you fail me I will +fail you, and _vice versa_." + +Florence did not dare to look back at Bertha; she left the room. There +was a noise in her ears and a swimming before her eyes. + +Bertha stood for a moment, looking after her retreating form. + +"I am almost sorry I did not tell her at the time," she said to +herself; "when she has accepted the Scholarship I shall be safe; but +she has had a shock. There is no saying what a girl of that +temperament may do under pressure; but there, I believe the excitement +will carry her through, and I don't believe for a moment she has the +moral courage to stand the public disgrace which would be hers if she +told now. Yes, she is in for it; she must go through with it." + +Bertha patted her red hair and drew herself up to her full height, and +presently accompanied the pupils down to the great hall, where they +took their seats in the places allotted to them; excellent seats from +the point of view, for they could see every single thing and were +themselves to a certain extent in shadow. + +The different guests had assembled, all beautifully dressed. Mrs. +Aylmer the great and Mrs. Aylmer the less found themselves side by +side. Mrs. Aylmer the great was in a magnificent robe of violet +brocade, open at the throat, displaying a quantity of rich lace. On +her head glittered diamonds, and her light eyes flashed as she glanced +from time to time at Mrs. Aylmer the less. + +"Really," she said to herself, "the one drawback in adopting Florence +is that most unpleasant little woman. Where did she get that splendid +silk from? But what airs she does put on; how vulgar she is!" + +Mrs. Aylmer the great did not look particularly happy. She was most +anxious to force herself into what she termed county society, and she +found up to the present that, although she was the owner of a +magnificent place like Aylmer Court, she was not taken much notice of +by those people who were, as she expressed it, really in the swim. It +was a great feather in her cap to be invited to Cherry Court Park, and +if Sir John would only favor her with a little attention she might get +more invitations in consequence. + +If her niece was the lucky winner of the Scholarship all would +undoubtedly go well with Mrs. Aylmer. She would be the aunt, +practically the adopted mother, of the heroine, the girl on whom all +eyes were fixed, Sir John's special _protegee_, the Cherry Court School +Scholarship girl. She could talk about Florence and her great +abilities from time to time, and gently insinuate little hints with +regard to the girl's unfortunate position and her great kindness in +adopting her. Thus people would think her a most good-natured woman as +well as a very rich one, the aunt of a girl of undoubted genius--yes, a +great deal might follow in the train of such consequences. + +Mrs. Aylmer the less on this occasion had many wild and exciting +thoughts with regard to Miss Pratt and the other neighbors at Dawlish, +also with regard to Sukey; but still, her thought above all other +thoughts was the consciousness that soon her beloved child would be +done honor to, and her eyes, silly enough in expression, were now so +full of love that many people thought her a good-natured and +pleasant-looking woman, and in reality gave her far kinder thoughts +than they did to Mrs. Aylmer the great, whose cold face would never +shine with any human feeling, and whose motives could be easily read by +the proud county folk. + +As Florence slowly entered the room, accompanied by Kitty and Mary, a +little buzz of applause greeted the three graceful girls as, in their +Greek costumes, they glided slowly forward and took their places at the +little desks placed for them. Florence for one wild moment glanced at +her mother, and the love and longing and delight in the little Mummy's +face did more to reconcile her present evil plight than anything else. + +"There," she whispered under her breath, "in for a penny, in for a +pound. I cannot break the heart of the little Mummy--I can't--I won't." + +A peculiar expression stole round her lips, her eyes grew feverishly +bright, she looked handsome, and Mrs. Aylmer the great felt justly very +proud of her. + +"She is tall, her figure is improving every day; she will be a very +good-looking girl by and by--what is more, a stylish one," thought Aunt +Susan. + +But most of the guests scarcely looked at Florence, for their eyes were +attracted by the sweet expression, the inimitable grace of Kitty +Sharston. + +Florence's cheeks were deeply flushed, her eyes so bright that they +looked dark as night; but Kitty, equally excited, her heart beating, +every nerve highly strung, only showed her excitement by a dewy look in +the great big grey eyes, and a wild-rose bloom on the delicate cheeks. + +Mary's downright appearance did not attract comment one way or the +other. All three were pronounced nice-looking, ladylike girls, and now +the guests bent forward to listen to the _viva voce_ examination, which +immediately began. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +"THE HILLS FOR EVER." + +The examination began and was continued amidst a profound silence on +the part of all the spectators. Necks were craned forward and ears +were at attention point. When Florence answered a question correctly +Mrs. Aylmer the less nodded her little head until the plumes which she +wore in her hair quivered all over. Mrs. Aylmer the great bridled and +glanced with her cold eyes at the proudest of the county folk, as much +as to say, "There's genius for you." + +Mary Bateman's father, who sat very near Mrs. Aylmer the less, smiled +also when Florence made a correct answer, and looked with sympathy at +little Mrs. Aylmer; and when his own child Mary scored a point, as he +expressed it, a gratified flush rose to his old cheeks, and he dropped +his eyes, not caring to look at the girl whom he loved best in the +world. + +But when to question after question Kitty Sharston gave a correct +reply, the _furore_ and excitement in the breasts of several of the +spectators rose to the highest pitch, for Kitty's soft voice, her +gentle answers, her correct and lady-like utterances impressed everyone +favorably. Then, too, it was an open secret that she was Sir John's +favorite; it had been whispered by more than one visitor to another +that it was on account of Kitty Sharston that this great fuss had been +made, that the Scholarship had been opened to the competition of the +school, that the girls were here, that they themselves were here--it +was all on account of this slim little girl with the big eyes and the +sweet pathetic face; and reminiscences of Sir John and Kitty's father +together side by side, shoulder to shoulder, in the trenches before +Sebastopol arose in the memory of one or two visitors present. + +It was undoubtedly the wish of the guests who were assembled at Cherry +Court Park that night that Kitty should be the successful winner. And +now there were strong, more than strong hopes that such would be the +case, for although Florence's answers were full of spirit and +invariably correct, there seemed to those who listened to be a +background of substantial knowledge behind Kitty's grave remarks. + +Miss Helen Dartmoor sat bolt upright, her lips firmly compressed, and a +disapproving expression in her eyes; but Miss Helen Dartmoor did not +count. It was Sir John, whose eyes followed his favorite with keener +and keener appreciation and admiration; it was Mrs. Clavering; it was +also most of the girls themselves, for beyond doubt Kitty was the +favorite. If she won the Scholarship it would give universal +satisfaction. + +And now most of the examination had come to an end. The questions on +history had all been answered and duly marked by the patient professors +who had come to Cherry Court Park for the great occasion. The girls +one by one had approached the piano and played each her trial piece and +had sung her trial song, and still it seemed to everyone that Kitty led +the van; for her music, although not quite so showy and brilliant as +Florence's, was marked with true musical expression, and her song, a +sweet old English ballad, came purely and freely from her young lips. + +Mary also acquitted herself extremely well in the musical examination, +and old Mr. Bateman raised his head and listened with real pleasure as +the wild warbling notes of "Annie Laurie" sounded through the old hall. + +But at last the supreme test of all arrived. The three girls, Sir John +leading the way, approached the central dais. There they stood side by +side, their soft Greek draperies falling round their slim young +figures. Sir John then stepped to the front and addressed the crowd of +eager spectators. + +"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "I need not tell you with what intense +pleasure I have listened to the spirited answers our three young +friends have made to the different questions put to them. The +Scholarship, however, has yet to be won--the supreme test is now to be +given--the trial essays are now to be read. In order that fair play +should above all things be exercised on this important occasion, I have +asked my three young friends not to sign their names to the essays they +have written. The essays are in three blank envelopes, which now lie +before me on the table." Here Sir John touched three envelopes with +his hand. "I will proceed to read them aloud, taking them up +haphazard, and having no idea myself who the writer of each essay is. +I have selected as the subject of the test essay the great and +wonderful subject of Heroism, for I feel that such a theme will give +scope for the real mind, the real heart, the real soul of the young +writer. I will say no more now. After I have read the essays we will +retire into the outer hall for two or three minutes, and on our return +I shall have the pleasure of declaring on whose head I am to place the +crown of bay-leaves." + +Sir John paused for a moment, the girls stood close together, they +faced the crowd standing at one side of the dais. Florence glanced +across the hall. Once again she met her mother's eyes--she saw no one +in that intense moment of her young life except the little Mummy, and +the love in her mother's eyes once again made her say to herself, +"Nothing, nothing, nothing will make me break her heart; I will go +through with it--yes, I will go through with it." + +Kitty Sharston's clear eyes also gazed across the hall, but she saw no +one present--only, far, far away, a lonely man with an iron-grey head, +and a face which was the dearest face in all the world to her. She saw +this man, and felt that for his sake no effort could be too great. If +she won the Scholarship all would indeed be well; but if she failed she +could at least be good, she could at least submit. Oh, yes; oh, yes; +it would be fearfully hard, but God could give her strength. + +As to Mary Bateman, she looked at her father and her father looked at +her, and then she held herself erect and said to herself, "I can but +fail, and in any case I have done my best." + +Just then, the murmurs of applause having died away, Sir John took up +the first of the envelopes, opened it, unfolded the sheet of paper +which lay within, and commenced to read. + +The essay on Heroism which he first read happened to be written by Mary +Bateman. It was practical, written in good English, the spelling all +correct, and also contained some fairly well-chosen allusions to great +heroes of history. The essay was thoughtful, and, although there was +little originality in it, the guests listened with marked attention. +The reading of the essay occupied exactly ten minutes, for Sir John +read it slowly, pausing often to give full weight to the words which he +read. He had a beautiful, mellow, perfectly-trained voice, and Mary's +somewhat lame utterances could not have sounded to better advantage. + +When he had finished the guests applauded, but without any intense +enthusiasm. He laid the paper down before him on the table, and then +proceeded to read the second essay. This had altogether a different +note. The allusions to history were far less numerous, but the heart +of the young writer made itself felt. It was the work of an immature +mind, but here and there was a delicate touch which pointed to the +possibility of future genius. Here and there was a graceful allusion +which caused Sir John's own voice to falter, and above all things, +through each word there breathed a lofty and noble spirit. + +"Only the daughter of a soldier could have written those words," +thought Sir John; "surely this must be Kitty's work, and surely no +other essay could approach hers." + +So he thought, and as he came to the last words his voice rang out +clear and full, and when he ceased the applause was great, and Kitty's +eyes shone, although she dared not meet anyone, for it was part of the +code of honor amongst the three girls that the judges should not guess +who had written each individual essay. + +Then at last it came to be Florence's turn. Florence had copied Bertha +Keys' paper, scarcely taking in its meaning. She had copied it in hot +haste, with hot rage, defiance, determination in her heart. She +scarcely knew herself what the words meant, she had not taken in their +true significance. The essay was a little longer than the others, and +began in quite a different way. + +Sir John paused for a moment, glanced down the page, then adjusted his +glasses, drew himself up very erect and began to read. He had not read +one sentence before he perceived that he had now quite different metal +to deal with. Although disappointment stormed at his heart, he was too +true a gentleman and too brave a soldier to allow such a feeling to +influence him even for a moment. Yes, he would do the spirited words +with which he had now to deal every justice. So he read on, the fire +in the paper communicating itself to him, and the guests who listened +soon forgot all about the Scholarship and all about the three young +candidates. They were interested in the words themselves; the words +rang out; they were not remarkable so much for the heart element as for +the strong, proud, intellectual touch. + +The essay was rich in metaphor and still richer in quotation. From the +Greeks, from the Romans, from the English, from America, from +Australia, from all parts of the globe did the young writer cull +incident and quotation. She used a brief and telling argument, and she +brought it to a successful and logical conclusion. Finally she quoted +some words from Tennyson, aptly and splendidly chosen, and when Sir +John's voice ceased the entire hall rose up in a body and cheers and +acclamations ascended to the roof. + +Florence's face was white as death. + +Sir John laid down the paper. + +"We will now," he said, turning to his fellow-judges, "retire for a few +moments to decide on the winner of the Scholarship." + +Sir John and the other judges immediately left the hall, and the girls, +still standing in that strained and painful position, waited with +lowered eyes for the result. Amongst the three, however, all doubt was +over. Mary Bateman knew that her poor and lame words had not the +slightest chance. Kitty would not have taken the Scholarship even if +it had been offered to her. Could Mary have written that brilliant +essay? Could it by any possibility be the work of Florence? But +whoever had written it deserved the Scholarship, deserved it by every +rule which had been laid upon the young competitors. + +So she thought, and Florence, who did not dare to meet Bertha's eyes, +who did not dare at this moment even to look at her mother, wished with +all her heart that the ground might open and swallow her up. + +Could she take this undeserved honor? The words were crowding to her +lips, "Oh, don't, for heaven's sake, give it to me; I could never have +written it," but she did not speak the words. + +Just then there was a pause amongst the crowd of spectators, and Sir +John and the other judges returned. The judges sat down in their seats +and Sir John came slowly forward. His face was very white. + +"The examination for the Cherry Court School Scholarship is over," he +began. "With one accord we have adjudged the prize. The three young +competitors have all done admirably. The questions have been so +universally well answered that there would have been a difficulty in +giving the prize to any one when all three so very nearly had earned +it, were it not for the trial essay; but the trial essay has removed +all doubt. The Scholarship, by every test of learning, of high +endeavor, of noble thought, belongs to the girl whose motto on her +paper has been 'The Hills for Ever.' She has indeed gone to the hills +for her breezy thoughts, for her noble and winged words. May she to +the longest day she lives retain all that she now feels, and go on +truly from strength to strength. The names of the competitors are not +attached to the essays, therefore I must request the girl who has +adopted the motto, 'The Hills for Ever,' to come forward, for she is +the winner of the Scholarship." + +Sir John paused and looked down the room. He did not dare to glance at +Kitty, for he knew only too well that, clever and sweet as she was, she +had not written those words. + +There was a dead silence. Mary Bateman looked at Florence--Kitty also +looked at her. They felt sure she had written the splendid essay, and +they wondered at her silence. She remained quite still for a moment. + +"Miss Bateman, is this your essay?" said Sir John, holding up the paper +to Mary. + +Mary shook her head and fell back. + +"Catherine Sharston, is this yours?" again said Sir John. + +Kitty bent her head low in denial. + +"Then Miss Aylmer--what is the matter, Miss Aylmer?" + +"Oh, nothing, nothing," said Florence. She gave one wild glance in the +direction of Bertha Keys, but Bertha was too wise to meet Florence's +eyes just then. + +"She feels it, but she must go through with it," thought the pupil +teacher. "I did not know that I had such genius, but I shall never +doubt my own power in the future. Is she indeed mean enough to take my +work and claim it as her own? Of course she is; it would be fatal to +me if she did otherwise." + +As Florence slowly, very slowly, as if each step was weighted with +lead, crept forward to the front of the dais without any of that look +of triumph and pleasure which ought to have marked her face at such a +moment, Bertha Keys threw back her own head and allowed her watchful +light blue eyes to follow the girl, while a smile of sardonic import +curled her lips. + +When Florence got opposite Sir John she suddenly, as if overpowered by +intense emotion, fell on her knees. She could not have done anything +which would more completely bring down the house. Cheers, +acclamations, hurrahs, every sort of congratulation filled the air. +When they had subsided for a moment and Mrs. Aylmer the less had +released the hand of Mrs. Aylmer the great, which she had clutched +frantically in her intense agitation, Sir John took Florence's hand and +with a slight motion raised her to her feet. + +"Stand up, Florence Aylmer," he said; "you have done splendidly; I +congratulate you. The Scholarship is yours, nobly won, splendidly won. +Take your honors, my dear." + +As he spoke he stepped to the table and brought back a small crown of +filigree silver. It was a simple wreath in the form of bay-leaves. He +laid it on Florence's dark head. + +"This is yours," he said; "wear it with dignity; keep the great, the +good, the true always before you. And this also is yours," he said. +He slipped a thin gold chain with the ruby locket attached round +Florence's neck. He then placed the purse which contained the +Scholarship money for the ensuing year, and the parchment scroll, in +her hand. "And now, young people," he said, "let us all cheer three +times the winner of the Scholarship." + +The girls cheered as lustily as schoolboys, the band in the corner +burst forth with the gay strains of "See the Conquering Hero Comes," +and after a brief signal from Sir John there was suddenly heard outside +the report of a small cannon, which was the intimation that the +bonfires were to be lit. + +"Florence, Florence, come here!" said her mother, and Florence ran +across the hall and buried her face in her mother's lap. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE STING OF THE SERPENT. + +The day was over, the long, exciting, exhausting evening had come to an +end. The girls had danced to their hearts' content, had played and +romped, and congratulated Florence with all the heartiness of which +their frank natures were capable. They had wandered through the +grounds in groups to watch the bonfires, they had partaken of the most +delicious supper the heart of girl could conceive, and at last, worn +out and intensely happy, they had retired to rest. + +Three long dormitories had been fitted up for their occupation, but the +lucky three had each a very small room to herself. Florence was glad +of that. Yes, if she could be glad of anything on that awful, terrible +evening, it was the knowledge that she might be alone, all alone for +some hours. During those hours she could think, could collect her +thoughts, could face the position which she had in future to occupy. + +In the pleasure and delight of the evening no one had specially noticed +how little Florence spoke. Mrs. Aylmer the less, as the mother of the +heroine, minced about with her head in the air, so elated, so excited, +so carried out of herself, that not the grandest county lady present +had power to awe her. + +"Yes, I am the mother of the dear child. Oh, I always knew that she +was specially gifted," Mrs. Aylmer was heard to say. "She could learn +from the time she was a baby in the most marvellous way, but even I was +astonished at her essay; it wrung tears from my eyes." + +"It was a very noble work," said the Countess of Archester, slightly +bowing her own queenly head, and giving Mrs. Aylmer a half-quizzical, +half-pitying glance. "How the girl wrote it, how that woman's daughter +could have written such an essay, is a puzzle to me," said the Countess +afterwards to her husband. + +But Mrs. Aylmer was unconscious that any such remarks were uttered. +She was thinking of her own dazzling future, of what Dawlish would mean +to her in the time to come, of what Sukey would say, what Ann Pratt +would say, what other neighbors would say. All was indeed well; she +was the mother of a genius, a girl who had achieved such high honor +that her name in future would always be remembered in the neighborhood +of Cherry Court School. Yes, it was a proud moment for Mrs. Aylmer, +quite the proudest in her life. It is true that Florence had said very +little to her mother, that Florence had scarcely responded to Mrs. +Aylmer when she had flung her arms round her neck, and pressed up close +to her, and looked into her eyes, and said, "My darling! oh, my +darling, my sweet, precious daughter, how proud your Mummy is of you!" + +Florence had turned away just then, and Mrs. Aylmer had felt that her +daughter's hand trembled as it lay for a moment in hers. + +But Mrs. Aylmer the great was even more remarkable in her conduct than +Mrs. Aylmer the less. She had called Florence to her, and before all +the assembled guests had kissed her solemnly. + +"You are my daughter henceforth," she said, "my adopted daughter. Not +a word, Mabel; this girl belongs to me in the future." + +And just then the queerest pang of jealousy had rushed through the +heart of Mrs. Aylmer the less, for was it possible that Susan really +meant to take her child from her altogether? Was Florence henceforward +to be considered by the world as the daughter of Mrs. Aylmer the great? +Was she, her real mother, the mother who had nursed her as a baby, who +had put up with her childish troubles, to have nothing whatever to do +with her in the future? Notwithstanding that crown of glory which +seemed to quiver over the forehead of the little widow, she did not +like this aspect of the question. She felt she could scarcely stand +it. If Susan meant to have the child, then indeed the Scholarship +would present a very serious drawback to the mind of Mrs. Aylmer. + +Mrs. Aylmer the great, however, now pushed herself quite into the +forefront of the county society. It was impossible to suppress her; +she was past suppressing. Sir John himself took her into the great +hall where supper was laid. She sat by his side during that auspicious +meal, and when he talked of Florence she boldly told him that a golden +future lay before the girl. + +"It is a pity," was his reply, "that being the case, that Miss Aylmer +should have got the Scholarship, for whether she got it or not, being +your niece, she would of course have been well educated. The +Scholarship money would have done more good to a poorer girl"--and here +Sir John had quickly to suppress a sigh, for was he not thinking of +Kitty--Kitty, who had never looked sweeter than during this evening of +defeat, who had never, never been nearer to his heart? + +Mrs. Aylmer the great looked at him in some astonishment. + +"I am surprised," she said; "it almost sounds as if you----" + +"As if I grudged the Scholarship to your niece; far from that," he +answered; "she is a remarkable girl; any girl who could write that +essay possesses genius. She will be heard of in the future." + +Then the heart of Mrs. Aylmer the great swelled within her, and she +absolutely loved her niece Florence. + +But now the day was over and Florence was alone in her room. The door +was closed; her mother's last kiss and blessing had been given. Mrs. +Aylmer the great had solemnly embraced Florence also, had given her to +understand that there was no request which she would not grant, and +then the tired girl had been left alone. + +She went to the door of her room and locked it, then she stood for a +moment in the centre of the floor. There was a large mirror fastened +to one of the walls, and Florence could see her own reflection in it. +She glanced at it for a moment in a puzzled way, a solitary young +figure, tall and well proportioned, a head of dark hair, eyes very +bright, a face somewhat pale now from excessive emotion, pathetic lines +round the mouth. On the head shone the silver crown of bay-leaves, the +Greek dress fell away from the graceful figure, on the neck gleamed the +wonderful locket with its dazzling ruby. The light from a large lamp +fell upon this ruby and caused it to gleam brightly. Florence went +nearer to the mirror and looked into it. The fire from the heart of +the ruby seemed to leap out. She hastily unfastened the gold chain +from her neck and held the locket in her hand. The ruby with its heart +of fire seemed now to the excited girl to possess an evil eye which +could see through her. She felt that she hated it, she trembled a +little, she hastily unlocked a drawer and thrust in the ruby locket and +chain. She then removed the silver wreath of bay-leaves and put it +also in the drawer with the ruby. Then she clasped her hands above her +head and looked earnestly into her own face. Well she knew in that +moment of bitter triumph what had happened to her. + +"I am made for life," she said at last slowly, aloud; "all the good +things of life can in the future be mine--all the wealth, all the +glory, to a great extent also the love." + +But when Florence thought of the love she paused; for she remembered +her mother. Did anyone in all the world love her as the little Mummy +loved her? In the future she knew well that she should see very little +of her mother. Aunt Susan would not permit it for a moment; she might +see her occasionally, but never again would they meet as child and +mother. There would be a gulf between them, the gulf which ever and +always separates the rich from the poor. For Florence henceforth would +belong to the rich ones of the earth. Mrs. Aylmer the great was so +pleased, so elated, so triumphant at her marked and brilliant success +that there was nothing she would not do for her. Yes, Florence's +future life was secure, she was fortunate, the world lay at her feet, +her fortune was made. + +She sat down on a low chair. + +"It is all before me," she muttered, "the riches, the honor, the glory. +I shall also, if I am dressed well, be beautiful. Mine is the sort of +face that requires good decoration; mine is the figure which needs the +best clothes. I shall have everything, everything. I ought to be +happy; I wonder I am not. I ought to be very happy. Oh, I wish this +fire did not burn in my heart, and that horrid, scorching, intolerable +feeling, I wish it did not consume me. Oh, I suppose I shall get over +it in time; and if life lasted forever I should be the happiest girl in +the world; but of course it won't--nothing lasts forever, for age comes +even to the youngest, and then--then there is illness and--and perhaps +death. And I may not even live to be old. Rich and lucky and +fortunate as I am, I may die. I should not like to die a bit--not a +bit; I should not be prepared for the other world. Oh, I must shut +away the thought, for there is no going back now." + +Just at this point in her meditations there came a knock at her door. +Florence started when she heard the sound. She wished that she had +thought of putting out the candle. She could not bear to feel that +anyone was coming to see her to-night. Her mother?--she dared not meet +her mother alone; she would be prepared in the morning, but she could +not meet her mother's searching glance just now. + +She did not reply at all to the first knock, but the light from the +candle streamed out under the door, and the knock was repeated, and now +it was more insistent, and a voice said: + +"It is only me, Florence; it is only me; let me come in." + +Florence shuddered and turned very pale. She knew the voice: it was +the voice of Bertha Keys. If there was anyone in all the wide world +whom she would most dread to meet on that unhappy night it was Bertha +Keys, the girl who knew her secret. There was no help for it, however. + +With a shudder Florence arose, crossed the room, unlocked the door, and +flung it open. + +"I am so tired, Bertha," she said; "must you see me to-night?" + +"I am sorry you are tired," replied Bertha, "but I must see you +to-night." + +Bertha slowly entered the room. When Florence shut the door Bertha +turned the key in the lock. + +"What are you doing that for?" said Florence. + +"Because I do not wish to be interrupted; I want to see you alone." + +"But I wish you would not lock the door; it is quite unnecessary--no +one will come here at present." + +"I make certainty sure--that is all," said Bertha. "Don't fuss about +the lock. Now, then, Florence, I want to have a straight talk with +you; you understand?" + +"I suppose I do; but I don't think I can comprehend anything to-night." + +"Oh, yes, you can, you certainly can; you must pull yourself together. +You went through that ordeal very well, let me tell you. How do you +feel now?" + +"Miserable," said Florence. + +Bertha went up close to her, sat down by her, and, suddenly putting her +hand under Florence's chin, raised her face, and looked into her eyes. + +"Bah!" she said, "it was a pity I did it for you; you are not worth it." + +"What do you mean?" said Florence, turning pale. + +"Because you are not; I don't believe you'll go through with it even +now. Bah! such glory, such honor, such a proud moment, and to say you +are miserable! May I ask what you are miserable about?" + +"Because I have sacrificed my honor; because I am the meanest, most +horrid girl on God's earth," said Florence, with passion. "Because the +Scholarship so won turns to dust and ashes in my mouth. +Because--because of Kitty, little Kitty, who wanted really what I have +so basely taken from her. Oh, I hate myself and I hate you, Bertha. +Why did I ever meet you?" + +Florence was past tears, a dry sob rose in her throat, it half choked +her for a moment, then she stood up and wrung her hands. + +"Go away, please, Bertha; leave me now; I cannot have you." + +"You can put things right, of course, according to your idea of right," +said Bertha, in a sulky voice; "you can go to Sir John and tell him +what has happened; you can do that if you please." + +"I cannot--you know I cannot." + +"I certainly do know you cannot," said Bertha. "Well, now, my dear, we +will leave off heroics; it is all very fine for you to talk of your +conscience, but I don't think that little monitor within is of a very +active turn of mind. If he were he would have absolutely at the first +idea shunted off the evil proposal which I happened to make to you. +You would never have yielded to the temptation. Think just for a +moment: would Kitty Sharston have done this thing?" + +"Of course not; why do you ask?" + +"Think again, would Mary Bateman have done this thing?" + +"Again, why do you ask?" + +"My dear Florence, I ask in order to reassure you that, sensitive and +keen as you think your little inward monitor, it is at best but a poor +weakling. Now, the conscience of Kitty and the conscience of Mary +would have risen up in hot protest, and the temptation would not have +been a temptation to them, but it was to you because of the poor health +of your little monitor. Believe me, the monitor is in a bad way, and +if you will struggle through the remorse of the next couple of days it +will simply die." + +"And then I shall be lost," said Florence, with a frightened look in +her face. + +"Oh, you will live a very comfortable life if you take care of your +health; you have a good sixty years before you. You can do a good deal +in sixty years, and now for goodness' sake stop talking about the +matter. It is done and cannot be undone. I want to say something to +you myself." + +"But at the end of sixty years I shall die all the same," said +Florence. "Oh, Bertha, I go mad when I think of dying. Oh, Bertha! +Bertha!" + +Even Bertha felt a momentary sense of terror when she looked into +Florence's eyes. She backed away from her and stood by the table. + +"Come, come, my dear," she said, "you'll get over all this," but still +she avoided looking at Florence's eyes. + +"What do you want with me?" said Florence at last, restlessly; "I must +sleep. I wish you would go away." + +"I will when I have made my request." + +"What is that?" + +"I want you to give me twenty pounds." + +"Twenty pounds! Why, you know I have not got it." + +"Practically you have, and I want it. I want it early to-morrow +morning." + +"Now, Bertha, you must be mad." + +"Not at all; I am abundantly sane. That essay which so excited the +spectators to-night was worth twenty pounds. I mean you to buy it from +me, and those are my terms." + +"You know I cannot. I cannot imagine what you mean by coming to me in +this fashion." + +"Without twenty pounds I shall be undone," said Bertha; "I need it to +pay some debts. If the debts are not paid I shall be exposed, and if I +go under, you, my pretty Florence, go under, too--understand that, +please. Twenty pounds is cheap at the price, is it not?" + +"But I have not got it, Bertha; I would give it you, but I cannot. You +might as well ask me for my right hand." + +"I tell you the great Mrs. Aylmer will do anything for her pretty and +gifted niece. Ask her for the money to-morrow." + +"For you?" + +"By no means--for yourself." + +"Bertha, I simply cannot." + +"All right," said Bertha. "I give you until to-morrow at noon to +decide. If by that time I have twenty pounds in my hand all right, +your secret is respected and no catastrophe will happen, and your +frightful deceit will never be found out. Only one person will know +it, and that is I. But if you do not give me the twenty pounds I shall +myself go to Mrs. Clavering and tell her everything. I shall be sorry; +the consequences will be very disagreeable for me; I cannot even say if +I shall quite escape the punishment of the law, but I expect I shall. +In any case, you will be done for, my pretty Florence; your career will +be over. Think of that; think of the little Mummy, as you call her, +without the great Scholarship to back you up--think what it means." + +"I do, I do; the only one I do think of at the present moment is my +mother," said Florence. "When I think of her it gives me agony. But, +Bertha, I cannot get that twenty pounds." + +"You can; make an excuse to your Aunt Susan to obtain it. Now, my +dear, you know why I have come to you; I will not trouble you any +further. The twenty pounds at noon to-morrow, or you know the +consequences." Bertha waved her hand with a light air, kissed the slim +little figure in its Greek dress, then she opened the door and went out. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE VOICE OF GOD. + +After Bertha had left her, Florence sat in a stunned attitude. She was +just rising slowly from her chair when there came a knock a second time +at the door. This time Florence had not even a moment to say "Come +in." The door was softly opened, and the fair, sweet face of Kitty +peeped round it. + +"Ah! I thought you were not in bed," she said; "I came to see you just +for a minute to wish you good-night." + +"I wish you had not come," said Florence. She looked so pale and +frightened that Kitty glanced at her aghast. + +"I came," said Kitty Sharston, "because I thought you ought to know +that Mary and I"--she paused to swallow something in her throat. Kitty +had suffered that night and had hidden her suffering; she did not want +Florence to think that she had gone through any great time of sorrow. +She looked at Florence attentively. "Mary Bateman and I agreed that I +could come and tell you, Flo, how pleased--yes, how pleased we are that +you have got the Scholarship, for you won it so nobly, Florence--no one +could grudge it to you for a minute." + +"Do you really mean that?" said Florence, eagerly. She went up to +Kitty and seized both her hands. + +"Why, how hot your hands feel, and, oh, please do not squeeze me quite +so tightly," said Kitty, starting back a step. + +Florence snatched away her hand. "If you knew me," said Florence; "if +you knew me!" + +"I do know you," said Kitty. "Oh, Flo--Tommy, dear--let me call you by +the old name just for once--we are all so proud of you, we are really. +I thought perhaps you would be a little uncomfortable thinking of me +and of Mary, but we don't mind--we don't really. You see, we hadn't a +chance, not a chance against genius like yours. We never guessed that +you had such great genius, and it took us slightly by surprise; but of +course we are glad, awfully glad, and perhaps Sir John will offer the +Scholarship another year, and perhaps I will try then and--and succeed. +But no one else had a chance with you, Florence, and we are glad for +you, very glad." + +"But you--what will you do? I know this means a great deal to you." + +"I shall go away with Helen Dartmoor; I don't feel unhappy, not at all. +I am sure Sir John will be my friend, and perhaps I may try for the +Scholarship even though I am staying with Helen Dartmoor; I just came +to tell you. Good-night, Florence, good-night. Mary and I love you; +we'll always love you; we'll always be proud of you. Good-night, +Florence." + +Kitty ran up to her companion, kissed her hastily, and ran to the door. +She had reached it, had opened the door and gone out, when Florence +called her. Florence spoke her name faintly. + +"Kitty, Kitty, come back." + +But Kitty did not hear. She shut the door and ran down the passage, +her steps sounding fainter, until Florence could hear them no longer. +Then Florence Aylmer fell on her knees, and the tears which all this +time had lain like a dead weight against her eyeballs, were loosened, +and she sobbed as she had never sobbed before in all her life. +Exhausted by her tears, she threw herself on her bed and, dressed as +she was, sank into heavy slumber. + +It was very early in the morning when she awoke. It was not yet five +o'clock. Florence struck a light and saw by the little clock on the +mantelpiece that the hands pointed to a quarter to five. + +"There is time," she thought, eagerly. She sat up on her elbow and +reflected. Her eyes were bright, her face paler than ever. Presently +she got out of bed and fell on her knees; she pressed her face against +the side of the bed, and it is doubtful whether many words came to her, +but when she rose at last she seemed to hear an inward voice, and the +voice was saying, "Refuse the Evil and choose the Good." + +The voice kept on saying, "Refuse the Evil and choose the Good," and +Florence felt more and more frightened, and more and more intensely +anxious to do something in great haste before she had time for +reflection. + +She lit the candles and put them on the writing-table at the foot of +the bed, and then she sat by the writing-table and pulled out a sheet +of paper and began to write. She wrote rapidly, with scarcely a pause. +Whenever she stopped the voice kept saying louder and clearer, louder +and clearer, "Refuse the Evil and choose the Good." + +Florence went on writing. At last she had finished. She folded up the +sheet of paper and put it into an envelope. Then she hastily opened +the drawer which contained the silver wreath and the ruby locket and +the purse of gold and the parchment scroll. She collected them +hastily, scarcely glancing at them, wrapped up in tissue-paper, then in +brown, tied the little parcel with string, slipped the note inside the +string and laid it on the table. + +The voice which kept speaking to her was now quieter; it ceased to say, +"Refuse the Evil," but once again through the silent room she seemed to +hear the echo of the words, calm, great, all knowing, "_Choose the +Good, choose the Good_," and then she hastily, very hastily got into +her clothes, for it seemed to her that there was nothing else worth +while in all the world but the following, the obeying of this voice. +To choose the Good was greater than to choose Happiness, greater than +to choose Ambition, greater than to choose Wealth. It was the only +thing. + +So she dressed herself in her everyday clothes, and, taking the little +parcel, she softly unfastened the door, and then she slipped down +through the silent house and entered Sir John Wallis's study, and laid +the packet which contained all the symbols of her success and her +letter of confession on his desk. Having done this, she turned away, +came upstairs softly, and, going down another corridor, opened the door +of her mother's room and went in. + +Mrs. Aylmer was lying sound asleep; it was not yet six o'clock. She +was very tired and she was sleeping heavily; she was enjoying pleasant +dreams in her sleep, dreams of Florence, her dear, her darling, the +success Florence had won, the happy future which lay before her. + +Mrs. Aylmer's dreams were all one glow of great bliss, and in the midst +of them she felt a cold, small hand laid upon her own, and, opening her +eyes, she saw Florence bending over her. + +"Mummy," said Florence, "I want you to get up at once." + +"My dear, dear child, what can be the matter?" said Mrs. Aylmer the +less. She started up in bed, rubbed her sleepy eyes and stared at her +daughter. "What is it, Flo?" + +"I cannot tell you just yet, mother, but I want you, if ever, ever in +the whole course of your life you really loved me, to stand by me now. +Something fearful has happened, mother dear, and I cannot tell you at +present, but I want you to help me. I want to go back to Dawlish with +you; I want to go back by the very first train this morning with you +alone, Mummy; I will tell you on the way home what has happened, and +then--but I cannot say any more; only come, mother, come. No one else +would stand by me--but you will, won't you?" + +"You frighten me dreadfully, Florence," said Mrs. Aylmer; "I cannot +imagine what you are talking about. Have you lost your reason, my poor +darling? Has this great, great triumph turned your brain? Oh, my +child, my child!" + +"No, mother," said poor Florence, "I am quite sane; I have not lost my +reason. On the contrary, I think I have got it back again; I never +felt saner than I do now, but--but you must help me, and there is no +time to lose. I have done what I could; you must come away with me, +mother, and we must go at once. I have looked up the trains. I'll go +myself and wake up one of the servants and get a trap ordered, and we +will go. Have you got a little money--that's the main thing?" + +"I have got five pounds left out of Sir John's cheque." + +"Then that will be splendid. I only want just enough to get back to +Dawlish, to the little old house and to you. Oh, come, Mummy! oh, +come!" + +Florence's words were very brave and very insistent, and Mrs. Aylmer +roused herself. She got out of bed, feeling a dull wonder stealing +over her. Florence now took the command, and hastened her mother into +her clothes, and herself packed her mother's things. + +"Oh, my dear child, my best dress! don't let it get crushed," said the +little widow. + +Florence's trembling hands smoothed out the rich folds, she placed the +dress in the top of the trunk, and before half-past six that morning +Mrs. Aylmer was dressed and her things packed. + +Then Florence went down again through the house and awoke one of the +servants, and got her to wake a groom, who put a horse to a trap and +brought it round to a side door, and so it came to pass that before +seven o'clock that morning Mrs. Aylmer and Florence had left Cherry +Court Park forever. + +When they got into the train poor Mrs. Aylmer turned to Florence and +begged for an explanation. + +"I guess something dreadful has happened, but I can't imagine what it +is," she said. "What does this mean, Florence?" + +"It means, Mummy," said Florence, "that I have done that which no one +but a mother would forgive. Listen, and I will tell you." + +And then she told the whole story, from the very beginning, and Mrs. +Aylmer listened with a cold feeling at her heart, and at first a great +anger there; but when the story was finished, and Florence timidly took +her mother's hands and looked into her eyes and said, "Are you a true +enough mother to love me through it all?" then little Mrs. Aylmer's +heart melted, and she flung her arms round Florence's neck and +whispered through her sobs, "Oh, my child! oh, my child! I had a +dreadful feeling last night when your Aunt Susan said that you were my +daughter no longer; but this--this gives you to me forever." + +"Of course it does, Mummy; Aunt Susan will never speak to me again. +Oh, Mummy, what it is to have you! What should I do without you now?" + + * * * * * + +The rest of this story can be told in a few words. It would be +impossible to depict the astonishment, the consternation, the amazement +which Sir John felt when he read poor Florence's confession. After +thinking matters over a short time, he sent for Mrs. Clavering, and he +and that good woman had a long conference together. The upshot of it +was that the guests were allowed to depart without knowing what had +really happened, Sir John saying that he would write to them afterwards. + +Bertha Keys was sent for, severely reprimanded, and dismissed from her +post with ignominy. She never returned to Cherry Court School, leaving +Cherry Court Park for a distant part of the country that very day. +This history has nothing further to do with her. Whether she succeeded +in the future or whether she failed, whether she turned from the evil +of her ways or not, must all be matters of conjecture. + +The main fact which concerns us is the following: Kitty won the +Scholarship, after all, for the very next day Sir John visited Cherry +Court School and told the bare outline of poor Florence's sin and +confession. To Kitty was given the purse of gold, and the ruby locket, +the crown of bay-leaves and the parchment scroll. They were given to a +very sad Kitty, for the thought of Florence's sin completely +overpowered both her and Mary Bateman, and indeed every girl in the +school. + +Sir John returned to his own house a sadder and a wiser man. + +"After all, did I do right to offer this great temptation?" he said to +himself, and this thought so affected him, and occurred to him so +often, that a week later he went down to Dawlish and had an interview +with Mrs. Aylmer and Florence, and the result was that Florence was +sent to a good school and had a chance of educating herself. She was +not too proud to take this help from Sir John, for it relieved her from +all claims on her Aunt Susan in the future. + +As to Mrs. Aylmer the great, never from the day when Sir John, in a few +words, told her what her niece had done, has that worthy woman +mentioned the name, Florence Aylmer. She still gives Mrs. Aylmer her +fifty pounds a year, but, as she herself declared it, "I have washed my +hands of that wicked girl once and forever." + + + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Bunch of Cherries, by L. T. Meade + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BUNCH OF CHERRIES *** + +***** This file should be named 28564.txt or 28564.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/5/6/28564/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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