THE TIME OF ROSES

CONTENTS


CHAPTER PAGE

I. Home at Last 5

II. The Little Mummy's Arrangements 13

III. A Startling Meeting 19

IV. An Evil Genius 28

V. Maurice Trevor 33

VI. Mrs. Aylmer's Strategy 41

VII. The Chains Begin to Fret 48

VIII. Bertha's Quandary 56

IX. A Tempting Offer 63

X. The Little Mummy's Curiosity 69

XI. Florence's Good Angel 72

XII. Alone in London 80

XIII. A Weary Wait 88

XIV. A Blunt Question 92

XV. Edith Franks 99

XVI. On the Brink of an Abyss 106

XVII. Nearer and Nearer 116

XVIII. A Vestige of Hope 121

XIX. In the Balance 128

XX. Rose View 133

XXI. An Awkward Position 137

XXII. The Story Accepted 144

XXIII. Bertha's Joy 151

XXIV. Trevor Asks Bertha's Advice 156

XXV. Trevor's Resolve 162

XXVI. At Aylmer's Court 169

XXVII. Bertha's Secret 174

XXVIII. A Smiling World 178

XXIX. Almost Betrayed 187

XXX. The Telegram 194

XXXI. Bertha Writes the Essay 199

XXXII. Trevor and Florence 206

XXXIII. A Tete-a-Tete 215

XXXIV. Maurice Rebels 221

XXXV. The Essay Arouses Criticism 225

XXXVI. A Letter from Home 230

XXXVII. Trevor Proposes to Florence 236

XXXVIII. At the Reception 241

XXXIX. An Admirable Arrangement 252

XL. Is It "Yes" or "No"? 259

XLI. The Little Mummy in London 271

XLII. Bertha Keys Defeated 281

XLIII. Mrs. Aylmer's Will 290

XLIV. Bertha Changes Her Tone 298

XLV. "All the Roses Are Dead" 309

XLVI. A Denouement 313

XLVII. Finis 324




THE TIME OF ROSES.




CHAPTER I.

HOME AT LAST.


It was on a summer's evening early in the month of August that the
little Mummy was once again seen on the platform at Dawlish.

She looked now very much like she did when we saw her of yore--slightly
broadened, it is true, by the added years, but she still wore somewhat
rusty widow's black, and her face still had that half-anxious,
half-comical expression, which made people turn to look at her with
something between a smile and a sigh. She was commonplace and plain, and
yet in one sense she was neither commonplace nor plain. She had a
character, and that character had developed during the last few years,
and rather for the better.

There were very few passengers on the platform, and the little woman
paced up and down, thinking to herself.

"She is coming home at last. I don't know whether I am glad or sorry. I
wonder what sort of girl Miss Sharston is. She has been very kind to
Florence; but it was rash of Florence to invite her. Still, I suppose
we shall be able to manage all right."

Just then the signal announcing the approaching train was lowered, and a
moment or two later the said train drew up at the platform and one or
two passengers alighted. Amongst these was a tall, well-set-up,
dark-eyed girl, and accompanying her was another girl, who was not so
tall and was very slender, with an ethereal sort of face, and large,
speaking grey eyes.

The tall girl rushed up to where the little Mummy was standing.

"Here I am, Mummy," she said, "and this is Kitty, and we are both tired
and hungry, and glad to see you again. Is there any sort of trap for our
luggage, or can the porter take it and shall we walk to the cottage?"

"The cottage is just as small as ever it was, Florence," replied the
little Mummy. "Oh, I am so glad to see you, Miss Sharston."