be _viva voce_, and will consist of eight questions relating to
the study of the French language, eight questions on the study of the
German tongue, eight mathematical questions, eight arithmetical
questions, eight questions on English History, and eight on English
Literature. In addition, a piece of music will be played by each girl
and a song sung by each; but the final and most searching test of all
will be the essay, which in itself will contain, I doubt not, the
innermost heart of the competitor, for she cannot truly write on
Heroism without understanding something of what a hero or heroine
should be. Thus that innermost spirit which must guide her life will
come to the front. Her spelling and English composition will be
subjected to the best tests by means of those written words; her
handwriting will not go without comment; her style will be noted. She
can make her essay rich with reference, and thus prove the varied
quality of her reading. And the grace of her diction will to a certain
extent testify to her ladylike deportment and the entire breadth of her
education.

"I need add no more. I have thought deeply over this matter, and trust
my subject will meet with universal approval.

"Yours very truly,
"JOHN WALLIS."

CHAPTER XVI.

TEMPTATION

Amongst the many duties which fell to the care of Bertha Keys was the
one of looking after the postbag. Every afternoon she took the girls'
letters and put them in that receptacle, hanging the key on a little
hook in the hall. Morning after morning it was she who received the
postbag, unlocked it, and brought the contents to Mrs. Clavering, who
always distributed the letters herself. Thus it was easy for Bertha to
abstract the letters which contained the Dawlish postmark. She did
this for a reason. It would never do for Florence to find out that her
mother had not received the letter with the postoffice order.

Bertha knew well that if enquiries were made it could be quickly proved
that she had never obtained a postoffice order at all, and thus her own
ruin would be the result of her theft. She had taken the two
sovereigns in a momentary and strong impulse, and had since to a
certain extent regretted her foolhardy and wicked deed. Not that she
regretted it because she had stolen the money, but because she feared
the consequences. She now, therefore, had a double object for putting
Florence Aylmer into her power. If she could do that, if b