"Mr Timmins' letter has arrived, Florence. I must say that I consider both you and your sister have treated me shamefully--shamefully!" Florence, who was half way through her toilet, and looked very sweet and pretty with her rich hair hanging about her neck and shoulders, and in a neat white embroidered dressing-gown, sank into a choir and looked full at Mrs Fortescue. "I thought you would be sorry," she said; "but I don't think, after all, you are as much to be pitied as we are." "Now what in the world do you mean by that?" "Why, didn't he tell you?" said Florence. "You said you had heard from him." "Yes; I have. You are to stay with me till the twentieth of January, and then I have nothing further to do with you." "But surely, surely," said Florence; "you would not wish to have anything to do with me after then, would you?" "What in the world do you mean?" Florence coloured. "I see he has not told you," she said. "He ought to. It was not right of him to leave it to me. But I will tell you: I don't really mind." "Oh--do speak out, child! You keep me so frightfully in suspense I can scarcely endure myself." "Well," said Florence, "you would not care to keep us for nothing, would you?" "Nothing! nothing! What does the girl mean? Why, surely you are rich? I gave Major Reid to understand yesterday that your yearly income must run into four figures. We were divided as to the amount, but I thought fifteen hundred a year each. Florence, what are you alluding to?" Florence turned very white. "It is awful only to be cared for because one has money," she said. "Well, there is one person who cares for me quite independently of that. And now I will tell you the truth. I have not any money--that is, I have a few pounds. Mr Timmins gave me ten pounds yesterday, and I shall have a few more pounds before all our affairs are wound up, but something quite inconsiderable. I am as poor as a church mouse, and so is Brenda. Our money was spent on our education. Now it is finished, all used up. We are penniless. Now--now--you know all about us." Florence stood up as she spoke and extended her arms wide as though to emphasise her own words. "We are penniless," she repeated. "Now you know." Mrs Fortescue was absolutely silent for a minute. Then she uttered a violent ejaculation and, turning round on her heel, left the room. She slammed--absolutely slammed the door after her. Florence sat very still after she had gone. "She would like me to leave at once," thought the girl. "But Michael-- dear Michael: he at least will be true to his word. Oh, what am I to do! I hate beyond everything in the world staying here--staying on with her when she can look at me like that. Is it my fault that I am poor! I think that I am very cruelly treated."