is offered by Sir John Wallis, the owner of
Cherry Court Park."

"Sir John Wallis! The owner of Cherry Court Park! Why, I know him,"
said Mrs. Aylmer. "I was staying in the same house with him last
year--a most charming man, delightful, good-looking, most agreeable
manners, and such a brave soldier! Do you mean to tell me, Florence,
that you know him?"

"He is the patron of our school; I thought you were aware of that
fact," said Florence.

"Your manners, my dear, are simply odious, but I listen to your words
with interest. Ah! here comes the tea. Put it on that table, waiter!"

The waiter appeared, carrying the tray waiter-fashion on his hand. It
contained three very small cups of weak tea, and about five tiny wafers
of the thinnest bread and butter. There was a little sky-blue milk in
a jug, and a few lumps of sugar in a little silver basin. Mrs. Aylmer
glanced at the meal as if she were about to give her sister-in-law and
her niece a royal feast. "This is most exciting," she said; "we will
enjoy our tea when you, Florence, have explained yourself. So you know
Sir John Wallis. When you see him again pray remember me to him."

"Oh, I don't know him personally," said Florence; "there is a girl at
the school he is very fond of, but I just go in with the others. He is
giving the Scholarship, however."

"Go on, my dear; you interest me immensely. With judicious dress and a
little attention to manners, you might be more presentable than I
thought you were at first, Florence. Take this chair near me; now go
on. What has dear Sir John done?"

"He is offering a Scholarship to the girls of Cherry Court School, and
the girl who wins the Scholarship is to receive a free education for
three years," said Florence. "I am trying for the Scholarship, and if
I win it I shall remain at Cherry Court School for three years at Sir
John's expense. I shall be known as the Cherry Court Scholarship girl,
and be much respected by my companions; so you, Aunt Susan, will have
nothing to say to my subsequent education. I shall be very pleased to
wash my hands of you. I think, Mummy, that is about all, and we had
better go now. There will be a better tea for us at home, and I for
one am rather hungry."

Mrs. Aylmer the great was quite silent for a moment, then she spoke in
a changed voice.

"Florence," she said, "you need much correction; you are a very
bombastic, disagreeable, silly, ignorant girl, but I will own it