one thing," said Kitty, looking
earnestly into his face.

"What is that, my dear?" asked Sir John, smiling down into the eager
little face.

"You won't favor me more than the other girls? You'll be quite, quite
fair, and give the chance to those girls who are really in your opinion
the best?"

"I will, Kitty, I will," said Sir John; "do you think I could do
anything else as regards your father's daughter? And now, child, the
time is up, and I am going into the oak parlor. You will all follow me
in a moment."

Kitty never forgot the hour which was spent in the oak parlor with her
companions of the Upper school. She did not know how she answered the
questions put with great animation by Sir John. She only knew that her
heart was beating wildly, and she was thinking all the time of that
cablegram which would comfort her father when he reached Malta, and
resolving as surely girl never resolved before not to disappoint him,
to give him if she could, if it were any way within her power, that
supreme pleasure. And so when the hour was over and the brief
examination was made, and the names of the successful competitors
called out, and Kitty Sharston's name appeared at the head of the list,
she could only look at Sir John, and think of the cablegram, and not
feel at all elated, although her companions clustered around her and
shook her hand and wished her joy.

The two other successful competitors were Florence Aylmer and Mary
Bateman.

Mrs. Clavering then read out certain rules which Sir John had made with
regard to the Scholarship, and soon afterwards the proceedings of the
evening broke up; the guests departed to their homes, carrying their
baskets of cherries with them; and Kitty, Florence and Mary were
surrounded by their companions, who wished them joy and cheered them
three times three, and took them up to their dormitory in triumph.

CHAPTER IX.

THE LITTLE MUMMY.

It was a week afterwards when Kitty stood at the gate of Cherry Court
School to wish Florence Aylmer good-bye, for Florence had obtained the
darling wish of her heart, and was on her way to Dawlish to spend a
week with her mother. She was to travel third-class, and the journey
was a long one, and the day happened to be specially hot, but nothing
could damp Florence's delight, and Kitty, as she watched her, could not
help for a moment a slight pang of envy coming over her.

"Have a good time, Florry, and tell me all about it when you