sed round the young
girl, Mrs. Aylmer thought that her cup of bliss was running over.

At last the trying-on was completed, the old dresses discarded and put
away, and Florence came downstairs in her travelling serge, wondering
if a fairy wand had been passed over her, and if she were indeed the
same girl who had arrived at Dawlish a week ago.

"And here's a letter from your aunt; it arrived a quarter of an hour
ago," said Mrs. Aylmer. "I have not opened it yet. I wonder what she
says."

"Read it to me, mother; we may as well go in for the whole thing. Aunt
Susan evidently intends to turn me out properly. Do I look much nicer
in this serge, mother?"

"You look most elegant, dear, you really do. You will have a very fine
figure some day, and your face now in that very pretty setting-off has
a very distinguished appearance. You have an intellectual forehead,
Flo; be thankful that you inherit it from your poor dear father."

"Well, read the letter now, mother," said Florence.

Mrs. Aylmer opened the envelope, and took out the thick sheet of paper
which it contained.

Mrs. Aylmer the great generally wrote few words. It was only on the
occasion of her last letter that she had indulged in a long
correspondence. Now she said briefly:

"MY DEAR MABEL: I believe that Florence's box of clothes will arrive on
Thursday evening, so that she will be able to return to Cherry Court
School dressed as my niece. I wish her in future to speak of herself
as my niece, as I am very well known in many circles as Mrs. Aylmer, of
Aylmer Hall. If Florence plays her cards well and obtains the
Scholarship she will have a good deal to say of Aylmer Hall in the
future.

"I enclose herewith a five-pound note, and please ask Florence to
exchange her third-class ticket for a first-class one, and telegraph to
the station-master at Hilchester to have a carriage waiting for her, in
order to take her back to the school as my niece ought to arrive. Tell
her from me that during the next term I will allow her as pocket-money
two pounds a month, so that she may show her companions she is really
the niece of a wealthy woman. As to you, Mabel, I hope you will not
interfere in any way with the dear child, but allow her to pursue her
studies as my niece ought. If she fails to get the Scholarship all
these good things will cease, but doubtless she has too much spirit and
too much ability to fail."

"There," said Mrs. Aylmer, when she ha