Kitty answered as brightly as she could.

"If not, of course, you are fully aware that you will be my guest for
the next two or three years. It is scarcely likely you will win the
Scholarship, and I have already been making all the arrangements I
could with regard to your instruction," said Miss Dartmoor. "Will you
come round the place now with me; I should like to have some
conversation with you. I have not seen you for some little time."

Kitty gave a wild glance round. Would not Sir John help her? Helen
Dartmoor was the only person in the world that she truly disliked. She
felt a restless sensation rising up in her heart, but there was no
escape. Sir John had gone off with Mary Bateman and Mary's father.
Florence and her mother had already vanished inside the house. Kitty
had to submit to her fate.

Helen Dartmoor walked with prim, small steps. She had a little
three-cornered shawl on her shoulders, and an old-fashioned bonnet was
tied under her chin. Her perfectly cold, serene face glanced now and
then at Kitty.

"You are not improved, Catherine," she said.

"Why do you say that?" replied Kitty.

"You look anxious and excitable. I dislike a woman showing any
emotion. Of course, you are only a child yet, but I trust if I have
the care of you, which I fully expect to have--for it is scarcely
likely you will for a single moment win this ridiculous Scholarship--I
trust that I shall send you out to your father a well-mannered and
decorous woman. I have the greatest dislike to the manners of the
present day, and the new sort of girl who is growing up so rapidly in
our midst is thoroughly abhorrent to me."

"Well, Helen," said Kitty, glancing full at her, "I know you won't mind
if I am frank. I certainly wish to win the Scholarship; I am
struggling with all my might and main to win it. It is of the utmost
importance to me, for I want to be as well educated as possible when I
go to dear father in India; but if I fail--yes, Helen, I will try my
very best to please you while I am under your roof."

"Hoots, lass, you cannot do more, but do not speak in such exaggerated
phrases. Now let us walk down this avenue. What a beautiful view!
How soothing is nature in all her aspects!"

Kitty could not help shuddering. "Oh, dear! oh, dear!" she whispered,
under her breath, "how am I to live if I lose the Scholarship!"

Meanwhile little Mrs. Aylmer, clasping a firm hold of Florence's arm,
had carried her