delivered to her."

"But what is the name of the young lady, miss?"

Bertha had not thought of that. She looked back again at the house. Mrs.
Aylmer was getting impatient, and was waving her hand to her to come
back.

"Her name is Miss Florence Aylmer; see that the parcel is put into her
hands: there is no message."

Thomas, not greatly caring whom the message was for, promised to see it
safely delivered, and the mare, not brooking any further delay, raced
down the avenue.

"I do trust things will go right," thought Bertha to herself; "it is
extremely dangerous. Florence certainly was mad when she came to this
part of the country."

There was no help for it, however. Bertha was learning once more that
the way of the transgressors is hard. She had to stifle all her
feelings of anxiety, help Mrs. Aylmer into her pretty pony carriage, and
take the reins.

Meanwhile Thomas and the spirited mare went as fast as possible to the
railway station. The mare did not like the trains, which were coming and
going at this moment in considerable numbers, Hamslade being a large
junction. She did not like to stand still with so many huge and terrible
monsters rushing by. Thomas did not dare to leave her, so he called to a
porter who stood near.

"I have come for some things from town; they must have arrived by the
last train. Are there any packages for Mrs. Aylmer of Aylmer's Court?"

"I'll go and see," said the man.

He presently returned with the pheasants and fruit, which had arrived in
due course. Thomas saw them deposited in the dogcart, and was just
turning the mare's head towards home when he suddenly remembered the
parcel. He drew up the animal again almost on its haunches. It reared in
a state of fright. What was to be done? The porter had already
disappeared into the station, and Thomas knew better than to return home
without obeying Bertha's orders. Miss Keys was a power in the
establishment. She could dismiss or she could engage just as she
pleased. Thomas would not oppose her for worlds. He looked around him,
and just at that moment saw Maurice Trevor crossing a field in a
leisurely fashion. Maurice drew up when he saw Thomas.

"Hallo," he said, "what are you doing here, Thomas?"

"I came for some parcels from town, sir. I wonder, sir, if you would
either hold the mare for a minute or do a commission for Miss Keys?"

"I will do the commission; what is it?"

"It is not much, sir; it is just to deliver this p