Part 11 (2/2)

Kitty was very much excited, but she was too gentle and n.o.ble a girl, too absolutely unselfish, not to notice that her companion was distrait and anxious. No one could be much more worried than poor Florence was that evening.

All during the long day which had followed she had kept saying to herself: ”Shall I or shall I not? Shall I take that fifty pounds from Bertha and put myself in her power for ever, or shall I return her the money, fight my way to fortune with the weapons which G.o.d has given me, and not descend to her temptations?”

One moment Florence had almost made up her mind to choose the right path, but the next instant the thought of the struggle which lay before her and the terrible adventures which any girl must meet who fights the world without money rose to weaken her resolve. It would be so easy to accept that fifty pounds, and Bertha would scarcely dare to ask her to repay it. She would at least have plenty of time to collect the money bit by bit, and so return it to Bertha; but Florence knew well that if once she took that money she would lower herself forever in the moral scale.

”I should sink again to that sort of awful thing I was just before my great temptation at Cherry Court School,” she thought. ”I have managed to rise above that level now, and am I going to sink again?”

So she wavered all day long, the pendulum of her mind now swinging to one side, now to another. The result was that she felt quite worn out when night came.

”What is it?” said Kitty. ”What is worrying you?”

”Oh, never mind,” answered Florence. The tears rose to her eyes, she pressed her hands for a moment to her face, then she said abruptly: ”Don't ask me.”

”I will ask you. I have seen all day that you are wretched; you must tell me what has gone wrong with you.”

”I am tempted, that is all,” said Florence.

”Then do not yield to the temptation,” was Kitty's answer; ”if it is something you would rather not say to me----”

”No, Kitty, I must not tell you, but I am tempted strongly,” answered Florence.

”The only thing to do, however hard the temptation, is not to yield to it,” said Kitty.

Florence looked for a moment at her companion. Kitty, too, had known what it was to want for money. Kitty had been poor. It is true that, since the day she took the prize which Florence through deceit had lost, her kind friend, Sir John Wallis, had never ceased to shower small benefits upon her. She was not only his pet, but almost his idol. In his heart of hearts he felt that he would like to adopt her, but he did not dare even to suggest such a thing, knowing how pa.s.sionately she was attached to her father.

Now Colonel Sharston was returning to England, having been appointed to an excellent home post, and Kitty's money troubles were quite at an end.

”She will want for nothing in the future,” thought Florence to herself as she looked at the graceful figure and bright beautiful face of the young girl who was standing a short distance away. ”She will want for nothing: she will never know the real heartache of those who have to earn their daily bread. How can she understand?”

”Why are you looking at me like that, Flo?” said Kitty.

”Oh, I don't know; I don't know. I--sometimes I envy you. You have rich and powerful friends.”

”Then it is money: I thought as much,” said Kitty. ”Listen to me, Florence. I am sure I can guess what is troubling you. That dreadful Bertha wants to bribe you to be silent: she has offered you money.”

Florence's face turned quite pale.

”Give it back to her; you shall, you must! I know father will help you when he comes back. I will speak to him. You must not yield, Flo; you must not.”

Florence stood irresolute.

”It is not too late,” said Kitty. ”We are both leaving here early in the morning. Has she sent you any money now?”

”Yes,” said Florence. Her voice scarcely rose to a whisper. The word trembled on her lips.

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