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 lette