"And what do you think I shall do; do you think I will submit to this sort of thing?"
"You can please yourself. Of course, if you tell about me, I can tell about you. Tit for tat—you quite understand."
"Oh, I quite understand," said Florence.
She sank down on the nearest chair, her face had turned quite grey.
Miss Keys regarded her for a moment silently, then she went up and laid her hand on her shoulder.
"Come, Flo," she said, suddenly dropping on her knees by the unhappy girl's side, "come, cheer up; don't look so miserable. You and I are in the same boat and we must sink or swim together. If you support me I'll support you. I can help you again and again, and think what I am doing for you to-night."
"Oh, I hate myself, I hate myself! I don't think I can go through with it," said Florence.
"Then what do you mean to do?"
"Tell Sir John all before he begins. It is Kitty's Scholarship—not mine; and how—how am I to take it?"
"Now this is utter folly," said Bertha, seriously alarmed at last, for if Florence were to develop a conscience, and a conscience of such a sensitive order, at this hour, all would indeed be lost as far as she was concerned.