ourt 169

XXVII. Bertha's Secret 174

XXVIII. A Smiling World 178

XXIX. Almost Betrayed 187

XXX. The Telegram 194

XXXI. Bertha Writes the Essay 199

XXXII. Trevor and Florence 206

XXXIII. A Tete-a-Tete 215

XXXIV. Maurice Rebels 221

XXXV. The Essay Arouses Criticism 225

XXXVI. A Letter from Home 230

XXXVII. Trevor Proposes to Florence 236

XXXVIII. At the Reception 241

XXXIX. An Admirable Arrangement 252

XL. Is It "Yes" or "No"? 259

XLI. The Little Mummy in London 271

XLII. Bertha Keys Defeated 281

XLIII. Mrs. Aylmer's Will 290

XLIV. Bertha Changes Her Tone 298

XLV. "All the Roses Are Dead" 309

XLVI. A Denouement 313

XLVII. Finis 324

THE TIME OF ROSES.

CHAPTER I.

HOME AT LAST.

It was on a summer's evening early in the month of August that the
little Mummy was once again seen on the platform at Dawlish.

She looked now very much like she did when we saw her of yore--slightly
broadened, it is true, by the added years, but she still wore somewhat
rusty widow's black, and her face still had that half-anxious,
half-comical expression, which made people turn to look at her with
something between a smile and a sigh. She was commonplace and plain, and
yet in one sense she was neither commonplace nor plain. She had a
character, and that character had developed during the last few years,
and rather for the better.

There were very few passengers on the platform, and the little woman
paced up and down, thinking to herself.

"She is coming home at last. I don't know whether I am glad or sorry. I
wonder what sort of girl Miss Sharston is. She has been very kind to
Florence; but it was rash of Florence to invite her. Still, I suppose
we shall be able to manage all right."

Just then the signal announcing the approaching train was lowered, and a
moment or two later the said train drew up at the platform and one or
two passengers alighted. Amongst these was a tall, well-set-up,
dark-eyed girl,