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 wond