ty's desk, and returned to
her own.

Her cheeks were redder than ever and her heart was beating wildly, but
she knew what she wanted to know. Florence folded up her own sheet of
paper, put it into its envelope, and laid it in her desk. She felt
pretty certain now of being elected as one of the lucky three, and no
one need ever know that she had peeped at Kitty's answers. After all,
but for this ridiculous and sudden prohibition on the part of Sir John
Wallis, Kitty would have helped her with her English History all the
afternoon. Now, of course, she could not ask her, but never mind, she
knew what she wanted to know.

Her heart felt a little uncomfortable, and, notwithstanding the hope
that she might spend a week at Dawlish with her mother, to whom she was
devotedly attached, and the further hope of taking an honorable place
in the coming competition, she felt a queer sense of depression.

She was just preparing to leave the school-room when the door opened
and Mademoiselle Le Brun looked in. She did not see Florence at first,
then she glanced at her and spoke hurriedly.

"I thought Kitty Sharston was here; I want her," she said.

"No," said Florence; "what is it; what do you want?"

"I have to give her a shilling back out of the change."

"A shilling out of the change; what do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing, my dear; I ought not to tell you; I owe her a shilling,
that's all."

"By the way, mademoiselle," said Florence, "I have not thanked you yet
for getting me that lovely ribbon. How was it you managed to get it so
cheaply?"

Mademoiselle looked very knowing.

"I am glad you like it," she said; "it was not particularly cheap."

She left the room, although Florence called after her to stay.

Florence walked quickly to the window. She looked out. The sun was
still high in the heavens, for on this midsummer day it would take a
long time before the evening arrived. Florence's heart beat harder
than ever, for suddenly her eyes were opened, and she knew how she had
got the cherry-colored ribbon. Kitty had given it to her, and Florence
had stolen some of Kitty's knowledge and applied it to herself.

She hated herself for it, but not enough to retract what she had done.
She went up to her room, threw herself on the bed, and burst out crying.

Yes, she would stick to it now, but, all the same, she hated herself.
It was very unpleasant to be lowered in her own eyes, but she would go
through with the matter