lity," said Sir John.

"I quite agree with you, and to work for such a prize would be an
immense stimulus; but then, you know, the feast comes on so soon, and
there are only three weeks in which to prepare."

"We can manage it by means of a sort of preliminary canter," said the
baronet, in a musing tone; "I am sure we can work the thing up. Now,
let us put our heads together and get some idea into shape before
to-night. That child must be saved; her father's feelings must be
respected. She must stay here and be under your wing, and I will go
and have a chat with Sharston and see if I cannot make life endurable
to the poor little girl, even though he is away in India."

"Well, it is very nice your being a friend of Major Sharston's. If you
will stay here for about half an hour while I am attending to something
else, I will come back and we will see what scheme we can draw up."

"Good," said Sir John, "and don't hurry back, for I am going to put on
my considering-cap. This thing must be managed by hook or by crook."

CHAPTER IV.

SIR JOHN'S GREAT SCHEME.

It was in this way that the great prize which caused such excitement in
Cherry Court School was started.

It was called the Scholarship prize, and was a new and daring idea of
the early seventies. Girls were not accustomed to big prizes in those
days, and scholarships were only in vogue in the few public schools
which were then in existence.

Sir John and Mrs. Clavering between them drew up a scheme which put
every other idea into the shade, for there was a great honor to be
conferred as well as a very big money prize, and the girls were
stimulated to try their very best. It was arranged that the prize was
to be competed for between this day in early June and the day when the
Cherry Feast was held by the entire Upper school, but that after that
date the competitors were only to number three. The three girls who
came out in the first list at the time of the Cherry Feast were to
compete for the great prize itself in the following October, and Mrs.
Clavering had made private arrangements with Sir John to keep Kitty at
the school, in case she came out one of the first three, until October,
when the prize itself was to be won.

There were three tests which were to qualify for the prize. First and
above all, good conduct; an unselfish, brave, noble character would
rank very high indeed. Second would come neat appearance and admirable
deportment, whi