ed it very badly. Whether I
wanted it more badly than your mother is a matter of not the smallest
importance to me. I wanted it, and I took it. Let that suffice."

"And what do you think I shall do; do you think I will submit to this
sort of thing?"

"You can please yourself. Of course, if you tell about me, I can tell
about you. Tit for tat--you quite understand."

"Oh, I quite understand," said Florence.

She sank down on the nearest chair, her face had turned quite grey.

Miss Keys regarded her for a moment silently, then she went up and laid
her hand on her shoulder.

"Come, Flo," she said, suddenly dropping on her knees by the unhappy
girl's side, "come, cheer up; don't look so miserable. You and I are
in the same boat and we must sink or swim together. If you support me
I'll support you. I can help you again and again, and think what I am
doing for you to-night."

"Oh, I hate myself, I hate myself! I don't think I can go through with
it," said Florence.

"Then what do you mean to do?"

"Tell Sir John all before he begins. It is Kitty's Scholarship--not
mine; and how--how am I to take it?"

"Now this is utter folly," said Bertha, seriously alarmed at last, for
if Florence were to develop a conscience, and a conscience of such a
sensitive order, at this hour, all would indeed be lost as far as she
was concerned.

"Come," she said, "think what it means. You love your mother; think of
her position if you lose; and it was only three pounds, and I
promise--there, I promise I'll save it out of my salary; you shall have
it back. Oh, don't tell on me; I shall be ruined for ever;
don't--don't--don't!"

Bertha clasped her hands, the tears rose to her eyes--a bell was heard
in the distance. It was the bell which was to summon the guests, the
girls of the school, and the three competitors to the great hall.

"There, I must be going," said Florence, "but I am miserable. My head
aches, I doubt if I can go through with this."

"You will feel quite different when you get downstairs," said Bertha,
"and now cheer up; only just remember one thing. If you fail me I will
fail you, and _vice versa_."

Florence did not dare to look back at Bertha; she left the room. There
was a noise in her ears and a swimming before her eyes.

Bertha stood for a moment, looking after her retreating form.

"I am almost sorry I did not tell her at the time," she said to
herself; "when she has accepted the Scholarship