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You must come with me, as I cannot possibly go alone." As Mrs. Aylmer spoke the jingle of bells was heard, and Bertha, raising her eyes, saw the pretty ponies which drew Mrs. Aylmer's own special little carriage trotting down the avenue. Bertha had always to drive Mrs. Aylmer in this little carriage, and, much as she as a rule enjoyed doing so, it was by no means her wish to do so now.

Lady Aylmer and Belinda and the carriage and the horses used, as I have said, to go off without her. This would take place soon after luncheon. Most of us know how the events of the day drag themselves on tediously in such a country house as Aylmer Park a country house in which people neither read, nor flirt, nor gamble, nor smoke, nor have resort to the excitement of any special amusement.

About an hour later, when the pain had somehow become stupefied, he lit a cigarette, ashamed of his emotion even to himself, and rang. The servant brought him a letter the English post. He had thought so much of her, felt her so deeply the last few days that he fancied it must somehow have reached her. He read: 'My Dear Aylmer, 'I'm glad you are in Paris; it seems nearer home.

"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?"

'Of course I don't know, continued Sir Anthony, 'what has taken place just now between you and her, or what between her and your mother; but I suppose the whole thing might fall through without any further trouble to you, or without anything unhandsome on your part? But Captain Aylmer still said nothing.

'I'm sure he does not, said Clara. Belton sat silent, with his eyes fixed upon the table, and with a dark frown upon his brow. He did long to quarrel with Captain Aylmer; but was still anxious, if it might be possible, to save himself from what he knew would be a transgression.

Aylmer, "and quite in the old style crabs and a water-cress salad. I thought you would appreciate that; we so often had crabs for supper when when you were here last, Flo. You remember them, don't you?" "Nothing could be more appetising," replied Florence. "Would you like to come upstairs now, Kitty?" Mrs. Aylmer had given up her wee bed-room to the two girls.

'C'est ca.... When does Aylmer return to the front? 'He goes before the Board tomorrow and will know then. That evening, when Bruce came in, Edith was struck by his paleness and depression; and she began to think Madame Frabelle was right; he must be really ill. Then, if he was, could she, later, be so cruel as to leave him? She was in doubt again....

The door was closed; her mother's last kiss and blessing had been given. Mrs. Aylmer the great had solemnly embraced Florence also, had given her to understand that there was no request which she would not grant, and then the tired girl had been left alone. She went to the door of her room and locked it, then she stood for a moment in the centre of the floor.

The necessity of not striking her colours was forced upon her by the warfare to which she was subjected. She was unhappy, feeling that her present position in life was bad, and unworthy of her. She could have brought herself almost to run away from Aylmer Park, as a boy runs away from school, were it not that she had no place to which to run.