rence.

"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, a