"I am not at all sure about that," said Florence; "I was coming to you, Mrs. Clavering, to speak about it." "Why, what can be wrong?" said the baronet; "I thought that you were one of the most promising pupils and had a very good chance." "But what," said Florence, her face suddenly blazing into color, and her eyes fixing themselves first on Sir John's face and then on that of Mrs. Clavering, "what if you don't want me to win the prize!" "Don't want you--what nonsense!" said Mrs. Clavering, but she colored faintly as she spoke. Sir John gave Florence a very keen glance. "I may as well speak out now that I am about it," continued the girl. "There is a rumor in the school--I cannot tell you who started it, but there is a rumor--that you, Sir John, want Kitty to get the prize." "It is perfectly true that I should like her to get it," said Sir John, instantly, "but the prize shall be bestowed upon the girl who comes out best in deportment, best in conduct, and best in learning, whether she is Kitty Sharston or another. Now, that is all, Florence Aylmer. I have spoken. Don't, I beg of you, say a word of what you have just said to me to Kitty herself. You have all equal chances. If Kitty fails she fails. I shall be disappointed, but I shall honor the girl who wins the great prize all the same." "Thank you," replied Florence. She entered the hall; a moment later Mrs. Clavering followed her. "My dear," she said, "what is wrong with you? I would not know you with that expression on your face." "Things seem very hard," said Florence. "At first, when the prize was mentioned, it seemed quite too delicious, for you know, dear Mrs. Clavering, that I am poor, too, and if I were to win the prize it would be only too delightful; but if you do not wish me to take it"--tears filled her eyes; one of them rolled down her cheeks. "I do heartily wish you to have it if you really win it, Florence. The competition is an open one, rest assured of that; and now, my dear, cease to think unkind thoughts of Kitty, and, above all things, don't breathe a word of what you have just said to me to her." "That I promise," said Florence, but she went upstairs feeling discontented and depressed. She sat down to write a letter to her mother. "Dear mother," she wrote, "we are trying for an extraordinary prize here, quite a valuable Scholarship, such as are given to men at the Universities, and I am going to have a big try for it, but I should like to talk things over with you. I wonder if Aunt Susan would rise to the occasion, and let me have a third-class return ticket to Dawlish, and if you, Mummy, could secure a tiny room for me next yourself. I want to spend a week with you during the coming holidays. I have a good deal to say and am rather anxious and miserable. Try and arrange it with Aunt Susan. It won't cost very much really, and I promise to return at the end of a week. "Your loving daughter, "FLORENCE."