hall be pleased to do
everything I can to promote your comfort while at Aylmer's Court. Have
you been here long?"

"Only a few moments," answered Kitty, taking her cue, "and Mr. Trevor
has most kindly offered to show me round the place. I am so tired of
sitting still that it is delightful to move about again."

"Then I won't keep you. Dinner is at half-past seven, and the
dressing-gong sounds at seven. Mrs. Aylmer's maid will help you to
dress, Miss Sharston--that is, unless you have brought your own."

"Oh, I don't keep a maid," said Kitty merrily; "I hate maids, and in any
case I am not rich enough to afford one."

Miss Keys raised her brows in a somewhat supercilious way.

CHAPTER XXVII.

BERTHA'S SECRET.

The two young people walked about, talking of nothing in particular,
until at last it was time for them both to return to the house. Kitty
went up to her own room, managed to dress before Mrs. Aylmer's maid
appeared, and then proceeded to the drawing-room. There she found Bertha
alone. She went straight up to her.

"Do you wish it known?" she said.

"Wish what known? I do not understand," replied Bertha.

Bertha was looking her very best in a black lace dress with some Gloire
de Dijon roses in her belt. She raised her eyes and fixed them
insolently on Kitty.

"Do I wish what known?" she repeated.

"Why, that I met you, that I knew you, you understand. You must
understand. I thought, as you were here, that it would injure you if I
spoke of it."

Bertha suddenly took hold of Kitty's hands and drew her into the recess
by the window.

"Keep it a secret," she said; "pretend you never knew me. Don't tell
your father; don't tell Sir John."

"But Sir John remembers you--he must remember you. You know what
happened at Cherry Court School. How can he possibly forget?"

"I shall be ruined if it is known. Mrs. Aylmer must not know. Get Sir
John to keep it a secret; you must--you shall."

"I have asked him not to speak of it; but I must understand how you came
to be here. I will say nothing to-night. To-morrow I will speak to you,"
said Kitty.

Just then other people entered the drawing-room, and the two girls
immediately separated.

Sir John, having taken his cue from Kitty, treated Miss Keys as a
stranger. She was very daring and determined, and she looked better than
she had ever looked in her life before. Her eyes were shining and her
clear complexion grew white and almost dazzling. No circ