risk of her displeasure; too much depended
on keeping her in a good humor.

"I should like my aunt to come," she said, in a steady voice; "she is
very kind to me and specially interested in the result of the
Scholarship."

"I know; I have heard from Mrs. Aylmer," said Sir John, in a pleasant
tone; "if you would really prefer her to have the invitation to your
mother, it shall be as you wish, Miss Aylmer."

"I think it would be right," said Florence. Her heart gave a heavy
throb, then seemed to stand still.

Sir John gave her one keen glance, and took down Mrs. Aylmer's address
in his pocket-book.

"I happen to know your aunt, Miss Aylmer, and shall be pleased to
extend hospitality to her on the auspicious event."

CHAPTER XV.

THE PUPIL TEACHER.

At the beginning of the autumn term there happened to come to the
school a girl of the name of Bertha Keys. She was between seventeen
and eighteen years of age, and came to Cherry Court School in the
capacity of pupil teacher. She was not a pleasant girl to look at, and
had Mrs. Clavering seen her before she engaged her she might have
hesitated to bring her into the midst of her young scholars.

But Bertha was clever and outwardly amiable. She performed her duties
with exactitude and despatch. She kept the younger girls in order, and
was apparently very unselfish and willing to oblige, and Mrs.
Clavering, after the first week or fortnight, ceased to feel
apprehensive when she looked at her face. For Bertha's face bore the
impress of a somewhat crooked mind. The small light blue eyes had a
sly gleam in them; they were incapable of looking one straight in the
face. Bertha had the fair complexion which often accompanies a certain
shade of red hair, and but for the expression in her eyes she might
have been a fairly good-looking girl. She had an upright trim figure,
and dressed herself neatly. Those watchful eyes, however, marred the
entire face. They were as clever as they were sharp and knowing.
Nothing escaped her mental vision. She could read character like a
book.

Now, Bertha Keys was very poor. In her whole future life she had
nothing to look forward to except what she could win by her own
individual exertions. Bertha's apparent lot in life was to be a
teacher--her own wish was to cringe to those in power, to obtain a
footing amongst those who were likely to aid her, and she had not been
a week in the school before she made up her mind that