Part 4 (2/2)
”How can I tell?” answered Kitty, raising her brows almost with impatience; then she added, before Florence could utter a word: ”I am afraid I don't greatly care. All you and I want is that she should not come into our lives.”
”But she has come into my life once more,” said poor Florence, clasping and unclasping her strong white hands as she spoke. ”I believe she is my evil genius. I quite dread her, and she has a power over me, and it has not lessened, although I have not seen her for six years. Do you know where she is staying?”
”No.”
”She is living with Aunt Susan Aylmer as her companion.”
Kitty was so much startled by the news that she sprang to her feet.
”Never!” she cried.
”It is the case; she has been with Aunt Susan for years.”
”But how did she get the post? From the little I have seen of your aunt, she is one of the most particular, fastidious women in the world.”
”Trust Bertha to manage that,” replied Florence, in a bitter tone; ”but anyhow, she is very much afraid of me: she does not want me to see Aunt Susan, nor tell her what I know.”
”And what will you do, Flo?”
”I am undecided at the present moment.”
”I think you ought to tell her,” said Kitty gravely.
”She won't see me, and I do dread making Bertha a greater enemy than she is at present.”
”All the same, I think you ought to tell her,” replied Kitty. She looked grave and earnest as she spoke.
”If I were you I would,” replied Florence, with some bitterness; ”if I were you I would never do a crooked thing, or think a crooked thought; but I am not made that way. I am different, quite different. She frightens me.”
”Well, don't think any more of her just now. Take your tea and let us go out for a walk.”
CHAPTER V.
MAURICE TREVOR.
Florence's head ached sufficiently badly to make her inclined to follow Kitty's advice. The girls had just finished their tea when Mrs. Aylmer, with flushed cheeks, and wearing her very best turned-for-the-twentieth-time dress, entered the little room where they were seated.
”Well, well, girls,” she said: ”well, well, where do you think I have been?”
”I know, Mummy,” said Florence.
”You know!” replied Mrs. Aylmer. ”Who told you?”
”Sukey.”
”I begged of her not; but really that woman can keep nothing to herself, and she is always agog to be first in the field. Your aunt is going to send me a trunk full of old clothes. I dare say some of them may be made to fit you, Flo.”
”I do not think so, mother,” answered Florence.
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