"Oh, come, come," said Sir John, truly shocked; "let me tell you that is a very unladylike way of speaking and scarcely fair to your aunt, who is doing so much for you." "That is all you know, Sir John, but I dare not say any more." "But having said so much, I am afraid you must. I asked you three girls what special friend or relation you would like to be present in the hour of your triumph, and you selected Mrs. Aylmer. If you did not like Mrs. Aylmer, why did you ask her to come? I would gladly have received your own mother." "I will tell you," said Florence, in a hurried voice. "Mrs. Aylmer is much interested in your Scholarship, Sir John, and she says if I win it that she will adopt me. I shall be her--her heiress then. You understand that it means a great deal to me, the Scholarship?" "Yes, I understand," said Sir John, gravely. His face looked troubled. "Sit down here, my dear," he said. Florence seated herself on a chair by his side. "I can understand, and I am sorry; it is scarcely fair that your young mind should be strained to this extent. And if you don't win the Scholarship?" "Ah, if I don't, Aunt Susan will not need you to ask me much to Cherry Court Park. She will wash her hands of me." "Indeed, this is disturbing." "I ought not to have told you, and you must pretend that you do not know." "I shall say nothing, of course; all the same, I am sorry." Sir John sat very thoughtful for a moment. After a long pause he spoke. "I ought not to give you any special advantage over the other girls," he said, "but suppose I do this?" "What?" asked Florence, looking into his face. "Suppose I have Mrs. Aylmer as my guest and allow you to choose another? What about your mother, Miss Aylmer?" "Oh, do you mean it?" said Florence; her face flushed, and then turned pale. She had a wild, wild thought that even if she failed her mother would not turn from her. She had a choking sensation in her throat, which made her feel that even in the moment of absolute defeat the little Mummy's kisses would be supporting, cheering, encouraging. Tears brimmed into her eyes. "You are very good," she said. "Then I'll do it; give me your mother's address. She shall be your guest; the other Mrs. Aylmer shall be mine. And now cheer up, my dear; we can never do more than our best." Sir John turned aside, and soon afterwards the little party broke up. That night Florence hardly slept. At a very early hour she awoke. She had prayed her prayer of the night before; she had asked God to help her. As to not winning the Scholarship, that was absolutely and completely out of the question. She must win it. The thought of disgrace was too intolerable; she must, she would win it. She determined to rise now and test her powers of composition. It was between five and six in the morning. She rose very softly, got into her clothes, and stole out of the dormitory.