to a thousand tiny fragments. These she scattered
to the four winds, and then, humming a gay air to herself, proceeded on
her way to Hilchester. She transacted her business, went to a shop and
purchased out of one of Florence's sovereigns some gay ribbons and
laces for her own bedizenment, and then returned home.

"Did you post my letter?" said Florence, who met her in one of the
corridors.

"Yes, dear, I am glad to say it caught the evening post."

"Then that's right, and mother will receive it early to-morrow,"
thought the girl to herself.

The feeling that her money would relieve her mother contrived to ease
her overburdened conscience, and she was more cheerful and
happy-looking that evening.

The next day at an early hour, as Florence was standing in the oak
parlor alone for a wonder, for neither Mary Bateman nor Kitty Sharston
were present, Bertha Keys came into the room.

"The subject of the composition is to be set this afternoon," she said.
"You are good at composition, are you not, Miss Aylmer?"

"No, that is it--I am very bad indeed," replied Florence.

"I am very sorry, for I believe a great deal turns on the way the
themes are done. They must be very good ones."

"I must do my best," said Florence, in a gloomy voice; "there is not
the least doubt that I shall beat Kitty Sharston in mathematics and
arithmetic, and as to Mary Bateman, she has not a scrap of imagination
in her composition."

"But the little Kitty has a great deal," said Miss Keys, in a
reflective tone. "I have read some of her themes; she has a poetical
mind. The programme for the great day is to be given out also this
afternoon, and I believe Sir John intends to read the three Scholarship
essays aloud, and the guests present are then to vote with regard to
the fortunate winner. Of course, the theme will not quite decide the
Scholarship, but it will go a very long way in that direction. I have
seen Sir John, and I know that all his tendencies, all his feelings are
in favor of Miss Sharston."

"There is little doubt on that point," replied Florence; "if it were
not for Kitty Sharston this Scholarship would never have been offered.
I wish it never had been offered," she continued, with a burst of
confidence which she could scarcely repress. "Oh, Miss Keys, I have a
great weight on my mind; I am a miserable girl."

"I see you are, but why don't you confide in me? I believe I could
sympathize with you; I also believe I coul