I shall be safe; but
she has had a shock. There is no saying what a girl of that
temperament may do under pressure; but there, I believe the excitement
will carry her through, and I don't believe for a moment she has the
moral courage to stand the public disgrace which would be hers if she
told now. Yes, she is in for it; she must go through with it."

Bertha patted her red hair and drew herself up to her full height, and
presently accompanied the pupils down to the great hall, where they
took their seats in the places allotted to them; excellent seats from
the point of view, for they could see every single thing and were
themselves to a certain extent in shadow.

The different guests had assembled, all beautifully dressed. Mrs.
Aylmer the great and Mrs. Aylmer the less found themselves side by
side. Mrs. Aylmer the great was in a magnificent robe of violet
brocade, open at the throat, displaying a quantity of rich lace. On
her head glittered diamonds, and her light eyes flashed as she glanced
from time to time at Mrs. Aylmer the less.

"Really," she said to herself, "the one drawback in adopting Florence
is that most unpleasant little woman. Where did she get that splendid
silk from? But what airs she does put on; how vulgar she is!"

Mrs. Aylmer the great did not look particularly happy. She was most
anxious to force herself into what she termed county society, and she
found up to the present that, although she was the owner of a
magnificent place like Aylmer Court, she was not taken much notice of
by those people who were, as she expressed it, really in the swim. It
was a great feather in her cap to be invited to Cherry Court Park, and
if Sir John would only favor her with a little attention she might get
more invitations in consequence.

If her niece was the lucky winner of the Scholarship all would
undoubtedly go well with Mrs. Aylmer. She would be the aunt,
practically the adopted mother, of the heroine, the girl on whom all
eyes were fixed, Sir John's special _protegee_, the Cherry Court School
Scholarship girl. She could talk about Florence and her great
abilities from time to time, and gently insinuate little hints with
regard to the girl's unfortunate position and her great kindness in
adopting her. Thus people would think her a most good-natured woman as
well as a very rich one, the aunt of a girl of undoubted genius--yes, a
great deal might follow in the train of such consequences.

Mrs. A