Part 12 (1/2)

”Then we will return it to her. You must not take it.”

”It is too late: I have taken it.”

”It is not too late. What is the time? It is only half-past ten. I am quite certain that Miss Keys is not in bed yet. Come, Flo, put on your hat; your mother won't mind. We will take the latchkey and let ourselves in. We will go to the hotel and return the money.”

”Oh, I dare not.”

”Then I dare,” said Kitty. ”You have told me nothing, remember; but I will not let you sink or yield to this temptation.”

Florence colored crimson.

”You have a great power over me,” she said; ”I feel as if you were my good angel, and Bertha were my bad.”

”Then for heaven's sake, Florence, yield to the entreaties of your good angel. Come, come; the hotel won't be shut up. Where is the money?”

”In my pocket.”

”Then come immediately.”

Florence was inspired by Kitty, whose voice was strong, and her face brave and bright, as befitted one who lived for the right and rejected the wrong.

”I am glad,” she said to herself; ”I did not ask her counsel: she has forced it upon me. She is my good angel.”

A moment later the two girls left the cottage. They walked quickly in the direction of the big hotel. There were lights in many rooms, servants walking about, and the hall-door was open. They walked up the steps, and Kitty entered the hall. Florence followed her, pale and trembling.

”Can I see Miss Keys?” asked Kitty of the hall porter.

”I will enquire if Miss Keys is up still,” replied the man. ”What name shall I say?”

”Miss Sharston. I want to see her for a moment about something important.”

”Will you come in, Miss?”

”No; perhaps she would see me here. Say also that Miss Florence Aylmer is with me.”

The man withdrew. A moment later, Bertha, in her evening dress, looking pretty and excited, ran downstairs.

”What is it? What's the matter?” she said. ”Is that you, Florence?

Kitty, what is the matter?”

”We don't want to stay; we don't want you to tell Mrs. Aylmer, and we don't want to get you into trouble of any sort,” said Kitty, speaking rapidly and drawing Bertha aside as she spoke. ”But we want to give you this back, and to let you know that what you suggested was impossible--quite impossible.”

As she spoke, she thrust the little packet which contained the fifty pounds into Bertha's hand, and then took Florence's.

”Come, Flo; I think that is all,” she said.

Bertha was too stunned to say a word. Before she had recovered from her astonishment, the two girls had walked down the steps and gone out into the night.