there is not a loophole of escape.
Mr. Edwards knew what he was about. Mrs. Aylmer gave her money,
as she thought, back to God: a very queer way of doing
charity--to leave those nearest to her to starve.

"However, my dear Florence, to come to the point, I, who have
spent the last five years of my life absolutely devoted to this
woman, serving her hand and foot, day and night, at all times
and all seasons, have not even had a ten-pound note left to me
for my pains. It is true that I shall receive my salary, which
happens to be a very good one, up to the end of the present
quarter. After that, as far as I am concerned, I might as well
never have known Aylmer's Court nor its mistress. Fortunately I
was able to feather my nest to a very small extent while with
her, and have a few hundred pounds with which to face the
world.

"Now, Florence, I hope you are somewhat prepared for what is
about to follow. It is this: I shall be obliged in the future
to use my talent for my own aggrandisement. I find that it is a
very marketable commodity. A few months' use of it has placed
you in great comfort; it has also brought you fame, and,
further, a very excellent husband. What the said future husband
will say when the _denouement_ is revealed to him--as of course
revealed it will be--is more than I can say. But you must face
the fact that I can no longer supply you with stories or
essays. I _myself_ will write my own stories, and send them
_myself_ to the different papers, and the golden sovereigns, my
dear, will roll into _my_ pocket, and not into _yours_. You
will naturally say: 'How will you do this, and face the shame
of your actions in the past?' But the fact is, I am not at all
ashamed, nor do I mind confessing exactly what I have done. My
talent is my own, and it is my opinion that the world will
crowd after me all the more because I have done this daring
thing, and you, my poor little understudy for the time being,
will be my understudy no longer. I take the part of leading
lady once for all _myself_. I am coming up to London to-morrow,
and will call to see you, as, on consideration, I think that
fourth story which you are preparing for the _Argonaut_ might
as well appear with my name to it.

"Yours very sincerely,

"BERTHA KEYS."