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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rebel of the School, by Mrs. L. T. Meade
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Rebel of the School
+
+Author: Mrs. L. T. Meade
+
+Release Date: May 16, 2005 [EBook #15839]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REBEL OF THE SCHOOL ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Irma Špehar and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+_The Rebel of the School_
+
+BY
+
+MRS. L.T. MEADE
+
+AUTHOR OF
+
+"MISS NONENTITY," "THE SCHOOL FAVORITE," "MERRY GIRLS OF ENGLAND,"
+"LITTLE MOTHER TO THE OTHERS," ETC.
+
+CHICAGO
+
+M.A. DONOHUE & COMPANY
+
+
+
+
+MRS. L.T. MEADE SERIES
+
+
+BAD LITTLE HANNAH
+A BUNCH OF CHERRIES
+CHILDREN'S PILGRIMAGE
+DADDY'S GIRL
+DEB AND THE DUCHESS
+FRANCIS KANE'S FORTUNE
+A GAY CHARMER
+A GIRL OF THE PEOPLE
+A GIRL IN TEN THOUSAND
+THE GIRLS OF ST. WODES
+GIRLS OF THE TRUE BLUE
+GOOD LUCK
+THE HEART OF GOLD
+THE HONORABLE MISS
+LIGHT OF THE MORNING
+LITTLE MOTHER TO OTHERS
+MERRY GIRLS OF ENGLAND
+MISS NONENTITY
+A MODERN TOMBOY
+OUT OF FASHION
+PALACE BEAUTIFUL
+POLLY, A NEW-FASHIONED GIRL
+REBELS OF THE SCHOOL
+SCHOOL FAVORITE
+A SWEET GIRL GRADUATE
+THE TIME OF ROSES
+A VERY NAUGHTY GIRL
+WILD KITTY
+WORLD OF GIRLS
+THE YOUNG MUTINEER
+
+List Price $1.00 Each
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+CHAPTER                                                     PAGE
+I. Sent to Coventry!                                          5
+
+II. High Life and Low Life                                   17
+
+III. The Wild Irish Girl                                     26
+
+IV. The Home-Sick and the Rebellious                         34
+
+V. Wit and Genius: the Plan Propounded                       58
+
+VI. The Poor Tired One                                       72
+
+VII. The Queen and Her Secret Society                        79
+
+VIII. The Box from Dublin and Its Treasures                  93
+
+IX. Conscience and Difficulties                             106
+
+X. The Wild Irish Girl's Society Is Started                 112
+
+XI. The Blouse and the Robbery                              126
+
+XII. Tom Hopkins and His Way with Aunt Church               136
+
+XIII. Aunt Church at Dinner, and the Consequences
+Thereof                                                     150
+
+XIV. Ruth Resigns the Premiership                           171
+
+XV. The Scholarship: Trouble Is Brewing                     177
+
+XVI. Kathleen Takes Ruth to Town                            192
+
+XVII. Miss Katie O'Flynn and Her Niece                      204
+
+XVIII. Susy Hopkins Persuades Aunt Church                   220
+
+XIX. Ruth's Troubles and Susy's Preparations                230
+
+XX. The Governors of the School Examine Ruth                242
+
+XXI. The Society Meets at Mrs. Church's Cottage             253
+
+XXII. Ruth's Hard Choice: She Consults Her Grandfather      263
+
+XXIII. Ruth Will Not Betray Kathleen                        275
+
+XXIV. Kathleen and Grandfather Craven                       281
+
+XXV. Kathleen Has a Good Time in London                     294
+
+XXVI. The Right Side of the Ledger                          308
+
+XXVII. After the Fun Comes the Deluge                       314
+
+XXVIII. Who Was the Ringleader?                             321
+
+XXIX. End of the Great Rebellion                            334
+
+
+THE REBEL OF THE SCHOOL
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+SENT TO COVENTRY!
+
+
+The school was situated in the suburbs of the popular town of
+Merrifield, and was known as the Great Shirley School. It had been
+endowed some hundred years ago by a rich and eccentric individual who
+bore the name of Charles Shirley, but was now managed by a Board of
+Governors. By the express order of the founder, the governors were
+women; and very admirably did they fulfil their trust. There was no
+recent improvement in education, no better methods, no sanitary
+requirements which were not introduced into the Great Shirley School.
+The number of pupils was limited to four hundred, one hundred of which
+were foundationers and were not required to pay any fees; the remaining
+three hundred paid small fees in order to be allowed to secure an
+admirable and up-to-date education under the auspices of the great
+school.
+
+There came a day in early autumn, shortly after the girls had
+reassembled after their summer vacation, when they streamed out of the
+building in groups of twenties and thirties and forties. They stood
+about and talked as girls will.
+
+The Great Shirley School, well as it was managed, had perhaps a larger
+share than many schools of those temptations which make school a
+world--a world for the training either for good or evil of those who go
+to it. There were the girls who attended the school in the ordinary way,
+and there were the girls who were drafted on to the foundation from
+lower schools. These latter were looked down upon by the least noble and
+the meanest of their fellow-scholars.
+
+There was a slight rain falling, and two or three girls standing in a
+group raised their umbrellas, but they still stood beside the gates.
+
+"She's quite the very prettiest girl I ever saw," cried Alice Tennant;
+"but of course we can have nothing to do with her. She entered a week
+ago. She doesn't pay any of the fees; she has no pretence to being a
+lady. Oh, here she comes! Did you ever see such a face?"
+
+A slight, shabbily dressed little girl, with her satchel of books slung
+on her arm, now appeared. She looked to right and left of her as though
+she were slightly alarmed. Her face was beautiful in the truest sense of
+the world; it did not at all match with the shabby, faded clothes which
+she wore. She had large deep-violet eyes, jet-black hair, and a sweet,
+fresh complexion. Her expression was bewitching, and when she smiled a
+dimple came in her cheek.
+
+"Look--look!" cried Mary Denny. "Isn't she all that I have said?"
+
+"Yes, and more. What a pity we can't know her!" said Alice Tennant.
+
+"But can't we? I really don't see why we should make the poor child
+miserable," said Mary Denny.
+
+"It is not to be thought of. We must worship the beautiful new star
+from afar. Perhaps she will do something to raise herself into our set;
+but as it is, she must go with Kate Rourke and Hannah Johnson and Clara
+Sawyer, and all the rest of the foundationers."
+
+"Well, we have seen her now," said Mary, "so I suppose we needn't stand
+talking about her any longer. Will you come home and have tea with me,
+Alice? Mother said I might ask you."
+
+"I wish I could come," said Alice; "but we are expecting Kathleen."
+
+"Oh, the Irish girl! Is it really arranged that she is to come?"
+
+"Yes, of course it is. She comes to-night. I have never seen her. We are
+all pleased, and expect that she will be a very great acquisition."
+
+"Irish girls always are," said Mary. "They're so gay and full of life,
+and are so ridiculously witty. Don't you remember that time when we had
+Norah Mahoney at the school? What fun that was!"
+
+"But she got into terrible scrapes, and was practically dismissed," said
+Alice. "I only hope Kathleen won't be in that style."
+
+"But do you know anything about her? The Irish are always so terribly
+poor."
+
+"She is not poor at all. She has got an uncle and aunt in Chicago, and
+they are as rich as can be; and her uncle is coming to see her at
+Christmas. And besides that, her father has an awfully old castle in the
+south-west of Ireland. He is never troubled on account of the Land
+League or anything else, and Kathleen will have lots and lots of money.
+I know she is paying mother well for giving her a home while she is
+being educated at the Shirley School."
+
+"I can't imagine why she comes to our school if she is so rich," said
+Mary. "It seems almost unfair. The Great Shirley School is not meant for
+rich girls: a girl of the kind you have just described ought not to
+become a member of the school."
+
+"Oh, that is all very fine; but it seems her mother was educated here,
+and swore a sort of vow that when Kathleen was old enough she should
+come to this school and to no other. Her mother's name is Mrs. O'Hara,
+and she wrote to Miss Ravenscroft and asked if there was a vacancy for
+Kathleen, and if she knew of any one who would be nice to her and with
+whom she could live. Miss Ravenscroft thought of mother; she knew that
+mother would like to have a boarder who would pay her well. So the whole
+thing was settled; mother has been corresponding with Mrs. O'Hara, and
+Kathleen comes to-day. I really can't stay another moment, Mary. I must
+rush home; there are no end of things to be attended to."
+
+"All right," said Mary. "I will watch for you and the beautiful Irish
+heiress--"
+
+"I don't know that she is an heiress."
+
+"Well, whatever she is--the bewitching Irish girl--to-morrow morning.
+Ta-ta for the present."
+
+Mary turned to the left, and Alice continued her walk. She walked
+quickly. She was a well-made, rather pretty girl of fifteen. Her hair,
+very light in colour, hung down her back. She had a determined walk and
+a good carriage. As she hurried her steps she saw Ruth Craven, the
+pretty foundation girl, walking in front of her. Ruth walked slowly and
+as if she were tired. Once she pressed her hand to her side, and Alice,
+passing her, hesitated and looked back. The face that met hers was so
+appealing and loving that she could not resist saying a word.
+
+"Are you awfully tired, Ruth Craven?" she said.
+
+"I shall get used to it," replied Ruth. "I have had a cold for the last
+few days. Thank you so much, Miss Tennant!"
+
+"Don't thank me," said Alice, frowning; "and don't say 'Miss Tennant,'
+It isn't good form in our school. I hope you will be better to-morrow. I
+am sure, at least, that you will like the school very much."
+
+"Thank you," said the girl again.
+
+The girls parted at the next corner. When Ruth found herself alone she
+paused and looked behind her. Tears rose to her eyes; she took out her
+handkerchief to wipe them away. She paused as if troubled by some
+thought; then her face grew bright, and she stepped along more briskly.
+
+"I am a coward, and I ought to be ashamed of myself," she thought. "Now,
+when I go in and grandfather sees me, he will think he has done quite
+wrong to let me go to the Shirley School. I must not let him think that.
+And granny will be still more vexed. I have had my heart's desire, and
+because things are not quite so pleasant as I hoped they would have
+been, it is no reason why I should be discontented."
+
+The next moment she had lifted the latch at a small cottage and entered.
+It was a little better than a workman's house, but not much; there were
+two rooms downstairs and two rooms upstairs, and that was all. To the
+front of the little house was the tiny parlour, at the back an equally
+tiny kitchen. Upstairs was a bedroom for Ruth and a bedroom for her
+grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. Craven did not keep any servants. The moment
+Ruth entered now her grandmother put her head out of the kitchen door.
+
+"Ruthie," she said, "the butcher has disappointed us to-day. Here is a
+shilling; go to the shop and bring in some sausages. Be as quick as you
+can, child, or your grandfather won't have his supper in time."
+
+Ruth took the money without a word. She went down a small lane, turned
+to her right, and found herself in a mean little street full of small
+shops. She entered one that she knew, and asked for a pound and a half
+of pork sausages. As the woman was wrapping them up in a piece of torn
+newspaper, she looked at Ruth and said:
+
+"Is it true, Miss Craven, that you are a scholar at the Great Shirley
+School?"
+
+"I am," replied Ruth. "I went there for the first time to-day."
+
+"So your grandparents are going to educate you, miss, as if you were a
+lady."
+
+"I am a lady, Mrs. Plowden. My grandparents cannot make me anything but
+what I am."
+
+Mrs. Plowden smiled. She handed Ruth her sausages without a word, and
+the young girl left the shop. Her grandmother was waiting for her in the
+porch.
+
+"What a time you have been, child!" she said. "I do hope this new school
+and the scholars and all this fuss and excitement of your new life won't
+turn your head. Whatever happens, you have got to be a little servant to
+me and a little messenger to your grandfather. You have got to make
+yourself useful, and not to have ideas beyond your station."
+
+"Here are the sausages, granny," answered Ruth in a gentle tone.
+
+The old lady took them from her and disappeared into the kitchen.
+
+"Ruth--Ruth!" said a somewhat querulous but very deep voice which
+evidently issued from the parlor.
+
+"Yes, granddad; coming in a moment or two," Ruth replied. She ran up
+the tiny stairs, and entered her own little bedroom, which was so wee
+that she could scarcely turn round in it, but was extremely neat.
+
+Ruth removed her hat, brushed out her black hair, saw that her dress,
+shabby as it was, was in apple-pie order, put on a neat white apron, and
+ran downstairs. She first of all entered the parlor. A handsome old man,
+with a decided look of Ruth herself, was seated by the fire. He was
+holding out his thin, knuckly hands to the blaze. As Ruth came in he
+turned and smiled at her.
+
+"Ah, deary!" he said, "I have been missing you all day. And how did you
+like your school? And how is everything?"
+
+"I will tell you after supper, grandfather. I must go and help granny
+now."
+
+"That's right; that's a good girl. Oh! far be it from me to be
+impatient; I wouldn't be for all the world. Your granny has missed you
+too to-day."
+
+Ruth smiled at him and went into the kitchen. There were eager voices
+and sounds of people hurrying about, and then a fragrant smell of fried
+sausages. A moment later Ruth appeared, holding a brightly trimmed lamp
+in her hand; she laid it on a little centre-table, drew down the blinds,
+pulled the red curtains across the windows, poked up the fire, and then
+proceeded to lay the cloth for supper. Her pile of books, which she had
+brought in her satchel, lay on a chair.
+
+"I can have a look at your books while I am waiting, can't I, little
+woman?" said the old man.
+
+Ruth brought him over the pack of books somewhat unwillingly. He gave a
+sigh of contentment, drew the lamp a little nearer, and was lost for the
+time being.
+
+"Now, child," said old Mrs. Craven, "you heat that plate by the fire.
+Have you got the pepper and salt handy? Sausages ain't worth touching
+unless you eat them piping hot. Your grandfather wants his beer. Dear,
+dear! What a worry that is! I never knew that the cask was empty. What
+is to be done?"
+
+"I can go round to the shop and bring in a quart," said Ruth.
+
+"But you--a member of the Shirley School! No, you mustn't. I'll do it."
+
+"Nonsense, granny! I'll leave school to-morrow if you don't let me work
+for you just the same as ever."
+
+Mrs. Craven sank into her chair.
+
+"You are a good child," she said. "All day I have been so fretting that
+we were taking you out of your station; and that is a sad mistake--sad
+and terrible. But you are a good child. Yes, go for it, dear; it won't
+do you any harm."
+
+Ruth wrapped an old shawl round her head, picked up a jug, and went off
+to the nearest public-house. They were accustomed to see her there, for
+old Mr. Craven more often than not had his little cask of beer empty.
+She went to a side entrance, where a woman she knew served her with what
+she required.
+
+"There, Ruth Craven," she said--"there it is. But, all the same, I'm
+surprised to see you here to-night."
+
+"But why so?" asked Ruth.
+
+"Isn't it true that you are one of the Shirley scholars now?"
+
+"I am; I joined the school to-day."
+
+"And yet you come to fetch beer for your old grandfather!"
+
+"I do," said Ruth, with spirit. "And I shall fetch it for him as long as
+he wants it. Thank you very much."
+
+She took the jug and walked carefully back to the cottage.
+
+"She's the handsomest, most spirited, best little thing I ever met,"
+thought the landlady of the "Lion," and she began to consider in her own
+mind if one of her men could not call round in the morning and leave the
+necessary beer at the Cravens'.
+
+Supper was served, and was eaten with considerable relish by all three.
+
+"Now," said old granny when the meal had come to an end, "you stay and
+talk to your grandfather--he is all agog to hear what you have got to
+say--and I will wash up. Now then, child, don't you worry. It isn't
+everybody who has got loving grandparents like us."
+
+"And it isn't many old bodies who have got such a dear little
+granddaughter," said the old man, smiling at Ruth.
+
+Mrs. Craven carried the supper things into the kitchen, and Ruth sat
+close to her grandfather.
+
+"Now, tell me, child, tell me," he said. "What did they do? What class
+did they put you into?"
+
+"I am in the third remove; a very good class indeed--at least they all
+said so, grandfather."
+
+"I don't understand your modern names; but tell me what you have got to
+learn, dear. What sort of lessons are they going to put into that smart
+little head of yours?"
+
+"Oh, all the best things, grandfather--French, German, English in all
+its branches, music, and Latin if I like. I am determined to take up
+Latin; I want to get to the heart of things."
+
+"Quite right--quite right, too. And you are ever so pleased at having
+got in?"
+
+"It does seem a grand thing for me, doesn't it, grandfather?"
+
+"Most of the girls are ladies, aren't they?"
+
+"It is a big school--between three and four hundred girls. I don't
+suppose they are all ladies."
+
+"Well, you are, anyhow, my little Ruth."
+
+"Am I, granddad? That is the question."
+
+"What do you think yourself?"
+
+"I think so; but what does the world say?"
+
+"Ruth, I never told you, but your mother was a lady. You know what your
+father was. I saved and stinted and toiled and got him a commission in
+the army. He died, poor fellow, shortly after you were born. But he was
+a commissioned officer in the Punjab Infantry. Your mother was a
+governess, but she was a lady by birth; her father was a clergyman. Your
+parents met in India; they fell in love, and married. Your mother died
+at your birth, and you came home to us. Yes, child, by birth you are a
+lady, as good as any of them--as good as the best."
+
+"They are dead," said Ruth. "I don't remember them. I have a picture of
+my father upstairs; it is taken with his uniform on. He looks very
+handsome. And I have a little water-color sketch of my mother, and she
+looks fair and sweet and interesting. But I never knew them. Those I
+knew and know and love are you, grandfather, and granny."
+
+"Well, dear, when I had the power and the brains and the strength, I
+kept a shop--a grocer's shop, dear; and my wife, she was the daughter of
+a harness-maker. Your grandparents were both in trade; there's no way
+out of it."
+
+"But a gentleman and lady for all that," said the girl.
+
+She pressed close to the old man, took one of his weather-beaten hands
+between both of her own, and stroked it.
+
+"That is as people think, Ruthie; but we weren't in the position, and
+never expect to be, of those who are high up in the world."
+
+"I am glad you told me about my father and mother," said the girl. "I
+love both their memories. I am glad to think that my father served the
+Queen, and that my mother was the daughter of a clergyman. But I am more
+glad to think that there never was such an honorable man as you,
+granddad, and that you made the grocery trade one of the best in the
+world."
+
+"It was a bad trade, my darling. I had several severe losses. It was
+very unfortunate my lending that money."
+
+"What money?"
+
+"Oh, I will tell you another time; it doesn't really matter. There was a
+little bit of ingratitude there, but it doesn't matter. Only I made no
+fortune by grocery--barely enough to put my boy into the army and to
+educate him for it, and enough to keep us with a pittance now that we
+are old. But I have nothing to leave you, sweetest. You just have your
+pension from the Government, which don't count for nothing at all."
+
+Ruth rose to her feet.
+
+"I am glad I got into the school," she said. "I hope to do wonders
+there. I mean to take every scrap of good the place opens out to me. I
+mean to work as hard as ever I can. You shall be desperately proud of
+me; and so shall granny, although she doesn't hold with much learning."
+
+"But I do, little girl; I love it more than anything. I have got such a
+lovely scheme in my head. I will work alongside of you, Ruth--you and I
+at the same things. You can lend me the books when you don't want them."
+
+"What a splendid idea!" said Ruth, clapping her hands.
+
+"You look quite happy, my dear."
+
+"And so I am. I am about the happiest girl on earth. And now, may I
+begin to look through my lessons for to-morrow?"
+
+The old man arranged the lamp where its light would be most comfortable
+for the keen young eyes, and Ruth sat down to the table, got out her
+books, and worked for an hour or two. Mrs. Craven came in, looked at her
+proudly, wagged her head, and returned to the kitchen. After a time she
+came to the door and beckoned to the old man to follow her. But the old
+man had taken up one of Ruth's books and was absorbed in its contents;
+he was muttering words over under his breath.
+
+"Coming, wife--coming presently," he said.
+
+Ruth's head was bent over her books. Mr. Craven rose and went on tiptoe
+into the kitchen.
+
+"We mustn't disturb her, Susan," he said. "We must let her have her own
+way. She must work just as long as she likes. She is going to be a great
+power in the land, is that child, with her beauty and her talent;
+there's nothing she can't aspire to."
+
+"Now don't you be a silly old man," said Mrs. Craven. "And what on earth
+were you whispering about to yourself when I came in?"
+
+"I am going to work with her. It will be a wonderful stimulation, and a
+great interest to me. I always was keen for book-learning."
+
+Mrs. Craven suppressed a sigh.
+
+"If I even had fifty pounds," she said, "I wouldn't let that child spend
+every hour at school. I'd dress up smart, and take her out, and get her
+the very best husband I could. Why, old man, what does a woman want
+with all that learning?"
+
+"If a woman has brains she's bound to use them," replied the old man, as
+he sat down by the kitchen fire.
+
+Meanwhile Ruth went on with her lessons. After a time, however, she
+uttered a sigh. She flung down her books and looked across the room.
+
+"If he only knew," she said under her breath--"if he only knew that I
+was practically sent to Coventry--that none of the nice girls will speak
+to me. But never mind; I won't tell him. Nothing would induce me to
+trouble him on the subject."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+HIGH LIFE AND LOW LIFE.
+
+
+Amongst the many girls who attended the Great Shirley School was one who
+was known by the name of Cassandra Weldon. She was rapidly approaching
+the proud position of head girl in the school. She had entered the
+Shirley School when quite a little child, had gone steadily up through
+the different classes and the various removes, until she found herself
+nearly at the head of the sixth form. She was about to try for a
+sixty-pound scholarship, renewable for three years; if she got it she
+would go to Holloway College, and eventually support herself and her
+mother. Mrs. Weldon was the widow of a man who in his time had a very
+successful school for boys, and she herself had been a teacher long ago
+in the Great Shirley School. Cassandra and her mother, therefore, were
+from the very first surrounded by scholarship; they belonged, so to
+speak, to the scholastic world.
+
+Mrs. Weldon could scarcely talk of anything else. Evening after evening
+she would question her daughter eagerly with regard to this
+accomplishment and the other, to this change or that, to this chance
+which Cassandra might have and to the other. The girl was extremely
+clever, with a sort of all-round talent which was most remarkable; for
+in addition to many excellent accomplishments, she was distinctly
+musical. Her musical talent very nearly amounted to genius. If in the
+future she could not play in public, she resolved at least to earn her
+living as a music teacher. Mrs. Weldon hoped that Cassandra would do
+more than this; and, to tell the truth, the girl shared her mother's
+dreams. Besides music, she had worked very hard at botany, at French and
+German, and at English literature. She would be seventeen on her next
+birthday, and it was against the rules for any girl to remain at the
+Great Shirley School after that time. Cassandra had, however, two more
+terms of school-life before her, and these terms she regarded as the
+most valuable of her whole education.
+
+In appearance Cassandra was a tall, well-made girl, graceful in her
+movements, and very self-possessed in manner. Her face was full of
+intelligence, but was rather plain than otherwise, for her mouth was too
+wide and her nose the reverse of classical. She had bright intelligent
+brown eyes, however, a nice voice, and a pleasant way. Cassandra was
+looked up to by all her fellow-students, and this not because she was
+rich, nor because she was beautiful, but simply because she was good and
+honorable and trustworthy; she possessed a large amount of sympathy for
+nearly every one, her tact was unfailing, and she was never
+self-assertive.
+
+Now Cassandra, who had many friends in the school, had amongst them, of
+course, her greatest friend. This girl was called Florence Archer.
+Florence was pretty and clever, but she had neither Cassandra's depth
+nor power of intellect. She was naturally vain and frivolous, except in
+the presence of her dearest friend. She was easily influenced by others,
+and it was her habit to follow the one who gave her the last advice. Her
+passionate love for Cassandra was perhaps her best and strongest
+quality; but of late she had exhibited a sense of almost unwarrantable
+jealousy when any other girl showed a preference for her special friend.
+Florence was a very nice girl, but jealousy was her bane. She thought a
+good deal of herself, for her father was a rich man, and only took
+advantage of the Great Shirley education because it was incomparably the
+best in the place. There was no rule against any one attending the
+school, and he had long ago secured a niche in it for his favorite
+daughter. Florence loved it and hated it at the same time. She was fond
+of her own companions, but she could not bear the foundation girls.
+These girls made a large percentage in the school. In all respects they
+were supposed to be Florence's equals, but as a matter of fact they were
+kept in a very subordinate position by the paying girls. On every
+possible occasion they were avoided, and there must be something very
+special about any one of them if she was taken up by the aristocrats--as
+they termed themselves--of the school.
+
+But Cassandra as a rule was perfectly sweet and pleasant to the
+foundation girls, and this trait in her friend's character annoyed
+Florence more than anything else.
+
+On the morning after Ruth Craven had been admitted to the school
+Cassandra was one of the first arrivals. She was standing in the wide
+courtyard waiting for the school doors to be opened. She looked, as
+usual, bright and capable. A stream of girls were surrounding her, each
+smiling and trying to draw her attention. Cassandra was a girl of few
+words, and after nodding to her companions, she gave them to understand
+that she did not intend to enter into any special conversation. Her neat
+satchel of school-books was slung on her arm. She wore a very dark-blue
+serge dress, and her white sailor-hat looked correct and pretty on her
+shining brown hair. Cassandra, with her face beaming as the sun, made a
+sort of figure-head for the smaller girls. Presently three foundation
+girls entered the gates side by side and glanced up at her. This trio
+formed perhaps the most objectionable set in the school. One was called
+Kate Rourke; she was a girl of fifteen years of age, showily dressed,
+with flashing eyes, long earrings in her ears, false jewellery round her
+neck, and a smart, rather shabby hat, trimmed with a lot of flowers,
+placed at the back of her head. Hanging on Kate's arm might have been
+seen Hannah Johnson, in all respects that young lady's double. Clara
+Sawyer, a fair-haired little girl about fourteen, with a heavy fringe
+right down to her eyebrows, completed the trio.
+
+They glanced at Cassandra, and then nodded to one another and joked and
+laughed.
+
+"I have no doubt," said Kate, "that Cassie will take her up."
+
+She said the word "Cassie" in a loud voice. Cassandra heard her, but she
+took not the slightest notice.
+
+"She is safe to," continued Kate. "Now, such a girl oughtn't to be on
+the foundation at all. If you only knew the snubbing she gave me
+yesterday. I quite hate her, with all her pretty face and her mincing
+ways."
+
+"Never mind, Kitty," said Hannah Johnson. "She may snub you as much as
+she likes, but you have got me to cling on to."
+
+"And you've got me, too, Kitty," said Clara Sawyer. She snuggled close
+up to Kate and slipped her hand through her arm.
+
+"Nasty thing!" said Hannah. "I feel every word you say, Kate. Do you
+know, I offered to walk home with her yesterday, and she said, 'No, I
+thank you; I prefer to walk home alone,'"
+
+As Hannah made this speech she adopted the mincing tones which she
+supposed Ruth Craven had used. The two other girls burst out laughing.
+
+"Oh, do say what you are laughing about!" said another girl, running up
+to the group at this moment. Her name was Rosy Myers. "You always have a
+joke among you three, and I want to share it. Do say--do say! I've got a
+lot of toffee in my pocket."
+
+"Hand it out, Rosy, and perhaps we'll tell you," said Kate.
+
+Rose produced a packet of sticky sweetmeat, and a moment later the four
+were sucking peppermint toffee and making themselves thoroughly
+objectionable to their neighbors.
+
+"But what about the girl--the person you are laughing about?" asked
+Rose.
+
+"Oh, it's that stupid, tiresome Ruth Craven," answered Hannah. "Why,
+she's nobody. The governors and the mistress ought not to allow such a
+girl in the school. It's all very well to be on the foundation, but
+there are limits. Why, her old grandfather kept nothing better than a
+huckster's shop. It doesn't seem right that a girl of that sort should
+belong to this school, and then take airs."
+
+"But the question is," said Cassandra suddenly, "does she take airs?"
+
+The girls all stopped talking, and gazed up at Cassandra with
+astonishment in their faces.
+
+"I have overheard you," said Miss Weldon calmly. "I presume you are
+alluding to Miss Craven?"
+
+"We are talking about Ruth Craven," said Kate Rourke; "and you will
+excuse me, Cassie, but I never saw a girl more chock-full of pride. She
+is so conceited that she is intolerable."
+
+"I heard of her yesterday, but have not had an opportunity to form any
+estimate of her character," continued Cassandra. "I should prefer that
+you did not call me Cassie, if you please, Kate. I will watch her and
+find out if I agree with you. I only noticed yesterday that she is
+remarkably pretty. I will ask her to walk home with me to-day and have
+tea. I should like to introduce her to mother."
+
+"Well, I never!" said Hannah. "And you really mean that you would
+introduce that girl to Mrs. Weldon?"
+
+"I think so. Yes, I am almost certain. Here she comes. I like her face.
+Don't let her hear you giggling, please, Kate; it is very unkind to make
+a new girl feel uncomfortable."
+
+Kate smothered a laugh and turned away. The doors of the school were now
+thrown open, and the girls disappeared by their special entrances.
+
+It was just at that moment that Ruth in her shabby dress, but with her
+sweet and most beautiful face, joined the group of girls who were going
+into the school. She was without a companion. The other girls went in
+by twos, each clinging to her special crony. Cassandra now changed her
+position, and found herself within a yard or two of Ruth Craven. She was
+examining Ruth with great care, but not at all from the unkind point of
+view; hers was a sympathetic aspect. That little old serge dress made
+something come up in Cassandra's throat, and she longed beyond words to
+give her a better dress. Ruth's hat, too, left much to be desired. It
+was an old black sailor-hat, which had been burnt to a dull brown. But,
+notwithstanding the hat and the dress, there was the face. The face was
+most lovely, and the back of the shabby frock was covered by hair as
+black as jet, and curling and rippling in the sunshine.
+
+"What wouldn't every other girl in the school give to have such a face
+as that, and such hair as that?" thought Cassandra. "I must speak to
+her."
+
+She was just bending forward, meaning to touch Ruth on her shoulder,
+when there came a commotion near the entrance, and the excited face of
+Alice Tennant came into view. Alice was accompanied by a tall, showily
+dressed girl. The girl had a very vivid color in her cheeks, intensely
+bright and roguish dark-blue eyes, light chestnut hair touched with
+gold--hair which was a mass of waves and tendrils and fluffiness, and on
+which a little dark-blue velvet cap was placed.
+
+"I am not going to be shy," cried the new-comer in a hearty, clear, loud
+voice with a considerable amount of brogue in it. "Leave off clutching
+me by the arm, Alice, my honey, for see my new companions I will. Ah,
+what a crowd of girls!--colleens we call them in Ireland. Oh, glory! how
+am I ever to get the names of half of them round my tongue? Ah, and
+isn't that one a beauty?"
+
+"Hush, Kathleen--do hush!" said Alice. "They will hear you."
+
+"And what do I care if they do, darling? It doesn't matter to me. I mean
+to talk to that girl; she's won my heart entirely."
+
+Before Alice could prevent her, the Irish girl had sprung forward,
+pushed a couple of Great Shirley girls out of their places, and had
+taken Ruth Craven by the arm.
+
+"It's a kiss I'm going to give you, my beauty," she said. "Oh, it's
+right glad I am to see you! My name is Kathleen O'Hara, and I hail from
+the ould country. Ah, though! it's lonely I'm likely to be, isn't it,
+deary? You don't deny me the pleasure of your society when I tell you
+that in all this vast crowd I stand solitary--solitary but for her; and,
+bedad! I'm not certain that I take to her at all. Let me tuck my hand
+inside your arm, sweetest."
+
+A titter was heard from the surrounding girls. Ruth turned very red,
+then she looked into Kathleen's eyes.
+
+"You mean kindly," she said, "but perhaps you had better not. You, too,
+are a stranger."
+
+"Are you a stranger?" asked Kathleen. "Then that clinches the matter.
+Ah, yes; it's lonely I am. I have come from my dear mountain home to be
+civilised; but civilisation will never suit Kathleen O'Hara. She isn't
+meant to have it. She's meant to dance on the tops of the mountains, and
+to gather flowers in the bogs. She's made to dance and joke and laugh,
+and to have a gay time. Ah! my people at home made a fine mistake when
+they sent me to be civilised. But I like you, honey. I like the shape of
+your face, and the way you are made, and the wonderful look in your eyes
+when you glance round at me. It is you and me will be the finest of
+friends, sha'n't we?"
+
+Before Ruth could reply the girls had entered the great hall, which
+presently became quite full.
+
+"Don't let go of me, darling, for the life of you. It's lost I'd be in a
+place of this sort. Let me clutch on to you until they put me into the
+lowest place in the school."
+
+"But why so?" asked Ruth, glancing at her tall companion in some
+astonishment. "Don't you know anything?"
+
+"I? Never a bit, darling. I don't suppose they'll keep me here. I have
+no learning, and I never want to have any, and what's more--"
+
+"Hush, girls! No talking," called the indignant voice of a form-room
+mistress.
+
+Kathleen's dark-blue eyes grew round with laughter. She suddenly dropped
+a curtsy.
+
+"Mum's the word, ma'am," she said, and then she glanced round at her
+numerous companions.
+
+The girls had all been watching her. Their faces broke into smiles, the
+smiles became titters, and the titters roars. The mistress had again to
+come forward and ask what was wrong.
+
+"It's only me, miss," said Kathleen, "so don't blame any of the other
+innocent lambs. I'm fresh from old Ireland. Oh, miss, it's a beautiful
+country! Were you never there? If you could only behold her purple
+mountains, and let yourself go on the bosom of her rushing streams! Were
+you ever in the old country, miss, if I might venture to ask a civil
+question?"
+
+"No," said Miss Atherton in a very suppressing tone. "I don't understand
+impertinent questions, and I expect the schoolgirls to be orderly.--Ah,
+Ruth Craven! Will you take this young lady under your wing?"
+
+"Didn't I say we were to be mates, dear?" said Kathleen O'Hara; and as
+they passed from the great hall, Kathleen's hand was still fondly linked
+on Ruth's arm.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+THE WILD IRISH GIRL.
+
+
+Lessons went on in their usual orderly fashion. At eleven o'clock there
+was a break for a quarter of an hour. The girls streamed into the
+playground. The playground was very large, and was asphalted, and in
+consequence quite dry and pleasant to walk on. There was a field just
+beyond, and into this field the girls now strolled by twos and twos.
+Kathleen O'Hara clung to Ruth Craven's arm; she kept talking to her and
+asking her questions.
+
+"You needn't reply unless you like, pet," she said. "All I want is just
+to look into your face. I adore beauty; I worship it more than anything
+else on earth. I was brought up in the midst of it. I never saw anything
+uglier than poor old Towser when he broke his leg and cut his upper jaw;
+but although he was ugly, he was the darling of my heart. He died, and I
+cried a lot. I can't quite get over it. Yes, I suppose I am uncivilised,
+and I never want to be anything else. Do you think I want to copy those
+nimby-pimby girls over there, or that lot, or that?"
+
+"You had better not point, please, Miss O'Hara," said Ruth. "They won't
+like it."
+
+"What do I care whether they like it or not?" said Kathleen. "I wasn't
+brought here to curry favor with them. What would my darling father say
+if I told him that I was going to curry favor with the girls of the
+Great Shirley School? And what would mother say? No, no; I may pick up
+a few smatterings, or I may not, but there is one thing certain: I mean
+to make a friend of you, Ruth--yes, a great big bosom friend. You will
+be fond of me, won't you?"
+
+"I like you now," said Ruth. "I know you are kind, and you are very
+pretty."
+
+"Why, then, darling," said Kathleen, "is it the Blarney Stone you have
+kissed? You have a sweet little voice of your own, although it hasn't
+the dear touch of the brogue that I miss so in all the other girls."
+
+"But you like Miss Tennant don't you?" said Ruth.
+
+"Oh, yes. Poor little Alice! She's very reserved and very, very formal,
+but she's a good soul, and I won't worry her. But you are the one my
+heart has gone out to. Ah! that is the way of Irish hearts. They go
+straight out to their kindred spirits. You are a kindred spirit of mine,
+Ruth Craven, and you can't get away from me, not even if you will."
+
+The fifteen minutes for recreation came to an end, and the girls
+returned to the schoolroom. Ruth was in a high class for her age, and
+was already absorbed in her work. Kathleen drummed with her fingers on
+her desk and looked round her. Kathleen was in a low class; she was with
+girls a great deal smaller and younger than herself.
+
+"How old are you, Miss O'Hara?" the English teacher, Miss Dove, had
+said.
+
+"I am fifteen, bless your heart, darling!" replied Kathleen.
+
+"Don't talk exactly like that," said Miss Dove, who, in spite of
+herself, was attracted by the sweet voice and sweeter eyes. "Say, 'I am
+fifteen, Miss Dove.'"
+
+Kathleen made a grimace. Her grimace was so comical that all the small
+girls in the class burst out laughing. She was silent.
+
+"Speak, dear," said Miss Dove in a persuasive tone.
+
+"Yes, darling, I'm trying to."
+
+"You mustn't use affectionate words in school."
+
+"Oh, my heart! How am I to bear it?" said Kathleen, and she clasped a
+white hand over that organ.
+
+Miss Dove paused for a moment, and then decided that she would let the
+question in dispute go by for the present. She began to question
+Kathleen as to her acquirements, and found that she must leave her with
+the younger children for the time being. She then went on to attend to
+other duties.
+
+Kathleen sat bolt-upright in the centre of the class. It seemed absurd
+to see this tall, well-grown girl surrounded by tiny tots. One of the
+tiny tots looked towards her. Presently she thrust out a moist little
+hand, and out of the moisture produced a half-melted peppermint drop.
+Just for a second Kathleen's bright eyes fell upon the sweetmeat with
+disgust; then she took it up gingerly and popped it into her mouth.
+
+"It's golloptious," she said, turning to the child, and then she drummed
+her fingers once more on the edge of the desk. Presently she stooped
+down and whispered to this small girl:
+
+"I hate school; don't you?"
+
+"Y--es," was the timid reply.
+
+"Let's go out."
+
+"But I--I can't."
+
+"I must, then. I have nothing to do; the lessons are deadly stupid.
+Forgive me, girls; you are all blameless;" and the next moment she had
+left the room.
+
+Half a moment later she was in the fresh air outside. Her cheeks were
+hot, her hair in disorder, and her hand, where she had touched the
+peppermint, was sticky."
+
+"What would father say if he could see me now?" she thought. "If Aunty
+O'Flynn was to look at her Kathleen! Oh, why did they send me across the
+cold sea to a place of this sort--a detestable place? Oh, the fresh air
+is reviving. I was born free, and Britons never, never will be slaves. I
+can't stay in that horrid room. Oh, how long the morning is!"
+
+Just then a teacher came out and beckoned to Kathleen.
+
+"What are you doing outside, Miss O'Hara? Come in immediately and return
+to your class."
+
+"I can't dear," replied Kathleen in a gentle tone. "You are young,
+aren't you? You don't look more than twenty. Do you ever feel your heart
+beat wild, dear, and your spirits all in a sort of throb? And did you,
+when you were like that, submit to being tied up in steel chains all
+round every bit of you? Answer me: did you?"
+
+"I can't answer you, Miss O'Hara. You are a very naughty, rebellious
+girl. You have come to school to be disciplined. Go back immediately."
+
+For a minute Kathleen thought of rebelling, but then she said to
+herself, "It isn't worth the fuss," and returned to her place once again
+in the centre of the class.
+
+"I have been called back," she said in a whisper to her little
+peppermint companion. "I was naughty to go out, and I am called back. I
+am in disgrace. Isn't it a lark?"
+
+The little girl felt quite excited. Never was there such and big and
+fascinating inmate of the lower fifth before. It was worth coming to
+school now to be in the vicinity of one so handsome and so gay.
+
+The weary morning came to an end at last. The girls seldom returned for
+afternoon school, generally doing their preparations at home. Alice
+Tennant, however, sometimes preferred the quiet school to the noisy life
+she lived with her brothers at home. She looked now eagerly for
+Kathleen, who had shunned her from the instant they had entered the
+school; she stood just by the gate waiting for her. Kathleen, on her
+part, was looking for Ruth Craven. Ruth had been monopolised by
+Cassandra Weldon.
+
+"You must come home with me," she said.
+
+"But my grandparents will be expecting me," said Ruth.
+
+"Never mind; we will go round by your cottage and ask them. I know all
+about you, and I want to know you better. You will, won't you?"
+
+"Thank you very much," said Ruth.
+
+"We will go on at once without waiting for the others," said Cassandra,
+and they walked on quickly, while Kathleen searched in vain for her
+chosen friend.
+
+"Come, Kathleen; I am waiting," said Alice in a slightly cross voice.
+"Mother said we were to be home early to-day."
+
+"All right," said Kathleen; "but I can't find Miss Craven anywhere.
+
+"You can't wait for her now. Indeed, she has gone. I saw her walking
+down the road with Cassandra Weldon."
+
+"And who is she?"
+
+"The head girl of the school; and such a splendid creature! I am glad
+she is taking up Ruth. It isn't possible for every one to notice her;
+although, for my part, I have no patience with that sort of false pride.
+Of course, a lot of the foundation girls are very common; but when one
+sees a perfect lady like Ruth one ought to recognize her."
+
+"Of course," said Kathleen, fidgeting a little as she walked.
+
+"And how did you get on?" asked Alice, noticing the dejected tone of
+her voice.
+
+"I got on abominably," said Kathleen.
+
+"What class are you in?"
+
+"I don't know. I am with a lot of babies; I suppose I am to be a sort of
+caretaker to them. There wasn't anything to learn. I am going to write
+to father. I can't stay in that horrid school."
+
+"Oh, yes, you can. You will get to like it very much after a time. You
+have never been at school before, and of course you find it irksome."
+
+"Is it irksome?" cried Kathleen. "Is it that she calls it? Oh, glory!
+It's purgatory, my dear, that's what it is--purgatory--and I haven't
+done anything to deserve it."
+
+"But you want to learn; you don't want to be always ignorant."
+
+"Bedad, then, darling, I don't want to learn at all. What do I want to
+know your sort of things for? I could beat you, every one of you, and
+the teachers, too, in some accomplishments. Put me on a horse, darling,
+and see what I can do; and put me in a boat, pet, and find out where I
+can take you. And set me swimming in the cold sea; I can turn
+somersaults and dive and dance on the waves, and do every mortal thing
+as though I were a fish, not a girl. And give me a gun and see me bring
+down a bird on the wing. Ah! those things ought to be counted in the
+education of a woman. I can do all those things, and I can mix whisky
+punch, and I can sing songs to the dear old dad, and I can comfort my
+mother when her rheumatics are bad. And I can love, love, love! Oh, no,
+Alice, I am not ignorant in the true sense; but I hate French, and I
+hate arithmetic, and I hate all your horrid school work. And I never
+could spell properly; and what does it matter?"
+
+"Everything," replied Alice. "You can't go about the world if you are
+stupid and ignorant."
+
+"Can't I?" exclaimed Kathleen, and she flashed her eyes at Alice and
+made her feel, as she said afterwards, quite uncanny.
+
+The Tennants were, after all, not a large family. They consisted of Mrs.
+Tennant, Alice, and two young brothers. These brothers were schoolboys
+of the unruly type. Alice considered them very badly trained. Kathleen,
+however, was much taken by their schoolboyish ways.
+
+As the two girls now entered the house they heard a whistle proceeding
+from the attic; a cat-call at the same time came from the basement.
+
+"Oh, dear!" cried Alice, "there are those dreadful boys again. Whatever
+you do, Kathleen, you must not encourage them in their larks."
+
+"But why shouldn't I? I like them both. I call David a broth of a boy. I
+am glad you have got brothers, Alice. I haven't any; but then I have
+lots of boy cousins, which comes to much the same thing."
+
+The girls by this time had reached the large bedroom which they shared
+on the first floor.
+
+"You are welcome to my brothers if you don't toss all your things about
+in my room," cried Alice. "If we are to sleep together we must be
+orderly."
+
+"Orderly, is it?" cried Kathleen. "I don't know the meaning of the word.
+Well, all right, I'm ready."
+
+She pushed her fingers through her tangled golden hair, and, without
+glancing at herself in the glass, marched out of the room.
+
+"I wish mother hadn't asked her to come," said Alice to herself. "The
+house was bad enough before, but now she will make things past bearing."
+
+Alice went downstairs to the sound of a cracked gong. The Tennants had
+their meals in a sitting-room on the second floor. It was barely
+furnished, and had kamptulicon instead of a carpet on the floor. Mrs.
+Tennant, looking careworn and anxious, was seated at the head of the
+table; her dress was somewhat faded. Alice entered and took her seat at
+the foot. Kathleen was nowhere to be seen.
+
+"I have only soup and fish for dinner to-day," said Mrs. Tennant. "I do
+trust Kathleen will be satisfied."
+
+Alice frowned at her mother in some displeasure.
+
+"We ought to have meat--" she was beginning, when there came a bang and
+a scuffle, a girlish laugh, and Kathleen, leaning fondly on both the
+boys, appeared. Mrs. Tennant pointed to a seat, and she sat down. The
+Irish girl had a healthy appetite, and was indifferent to what she ate.
+She demanded two plates of soup, and when she had finished the second
+she looked at Mrs. Tennant and said emphatically:
+
+"I have fallen in love."
+
+"My dear Kathleen!"
+
+"I have--with a girl, so it doesn't matter. She's the prettiest,
+sweetest, bonniest thing I ever saw in my life. I am going to hunt round
+for her immediately after dinner. I thought I'd say so, for I mean to do
+it."
+
+"Oh, Kathleen!" said Alice in a distressed voice, "you really mustn't.
+You must come back to the school with me. I promised Miss Dove that I'd
+see you through your tasks.--You know, mother," continued Alice,
+"Kathleen is not very advanced for her age, and Miss Dove wants to get
+her into a proper class as quickly as possible; therefore she is to be
+coached a little, and I have undertaken to do it.--You will come with
+me, Kathleen? I must get back to the school again by half-past two. You
+will be sure to come, dear?"
+
+"I think not, dear," replied Kathleen in her most aggravating tone.
+
+"But you must.--Mustn't she, mother?"
+
+"You ought to, Kathleen," said Mrs. Tennant. "You have been sent here to
+learn. Alice can teach you; she can help you very much. She means to be
+very kind to you. You certainly ought to do what she suggests."
+
+"But I am afraid," said Kathleen, "that I am not going to do what I
+ought. I don't wish to be good at all to-day. I couldn't live if I
+wasn't really naughty sometimes. I mean to be terribly naughty all the
+afternoon. If you will let me have my fling, I do assure you, Mrs.
+Tennant, that I will work off the steam, and will be all right
+to-morrow. I must do something desperate, and if Alice opposes me I'll
+have to do something worse."
+
+"You are a clipper!" said David Tennant, smiling into her face.
+
+"All right, my boy; I expect I am," said Kathleen; and then she added,
+springing to her feet, "I have eaten enough, and for what we have
+received--Good-bye, Mrs. Tennant; I'm off."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+THE HOME-SICK AND THE REBELLIOUS.
+
+
+Kathleen O'Hara ran up to an untidy room. She banged-to the door, and
+standing by it for a moment, drew the bolt. Thus she had secured herself
+against intrusion. She then flung herself on the bed, put her two arms
+under her head, and gazed out of the window. Her heart was beating
+wildly; she had a strange medley of feelings within. She was
+desperately, madly lonely. She was homesick in the most intense sense of
+the word.
+
+Kathleen had never left Carrigrohane Castle before. This romantic abode
+was situated in the extreme south-west of Ireland. It was a mile away
+from the sea, and stood on a rocky eminence which overlooked a very wide
+expanse of moor and wood, rushing streams and purple mountains, and deep
+dark-blue sea. In the whole world there could scarcely be found a more
+lovely view than that which since her birth had presented itself before
+Kathleen's young eyes. Her father, Squire O'Hara, was, as landlords in
+Ireland go, very well off. His tenantry adored him. He got in his rents
+with tolerable regularity. He was a good landlord, firm but also kind
+and indulgent. A real case of distress was never turned away from his
+doors, but where rent could be paid he insisted on the cottars giving
+him his due. He kept a rather wild establishment, however. His wife was
+an Irishwoman from a neighboring county, and had some of the most
+careless attributes of her race. The house got along anyhow. There were
+always shoals of visitors, mostly relatives. There were heavy feasts in
+the old hall, and sittings up very late at night, and no end of hunting
+and fishing and shooting in their seasons. In the summer a pretty white
+yacht made a great "divartisement," as the Squire was fond of saying;
+and in all things Kathleen O'Hara was free as the air she breathed. She
+was educated in a sort of fashion by an Irish governess, but in reality
+she was allowed to pursue her lessons exactly as she liked best herself.
+
+It was just before she was fifteen that Kathleen's aunt, a maiden lady
+from Dublin, who rejoiced in the truly Irish name of O'Flynn, came to
+see them, remarked on Kathleen's wild, unkempt appearance, declared that
+the girl would be a downright beauty when she was eighteen, said that no
+one would tolerate such a want of knowledge in the present day, and
+advised that she should go to school. Mrs. O'Hara took Miss O'Flynn's
+hint very much to heart. Kathleen was consulted, and of course tabooed
+the entire scheme; in the end, however, the elder ladies carried the
+day. Miss O'Flynn took her niece to Dublin with her, and gave her an
+expensive and very unnecessary wardrobe; and Mrs. O'Hara, having heard a
+great deal of Mrs. Tennant, who had Irish relatives, decided that
+Kathleen should go to the Great Shirley School, where she herself had
+been educated long ago. Everything was arranged in a great hurry. It
+seemed to Kathleen now, as she lay on her bed, kicking her feet
+impatiently, and ruffled her beautiful hair, that the thing had come to
+pass in a flash. It seemed only yesterday that she was at home in the
+old house, petted by the servants, adored by her father, worshipped by
+all her relatives--the young queen of the castle, free as the air,
+followed by her dogs, riding on her pony--and now she was here in this
+hideous, poor, fifth-class house, going to that ugly school.
+
+"I can't stand it," she thought. "There's only one way out. I must have
+a real desperate burst of naughtiness. What shall I do that will most
+aggravate them? For do that thing I will, and as quickly as possible."
+
+Kathleen thought rapidly. She had no brothers of her own, but their loss
+was made up for by the adoration of about twenty young cousins who were
+always loafing about the place and following Kathleen wherever she
+turned.
+
+"What would most aggravate Pat if he were here," thought the girl, "or
+dear old Michael? Ah, well! Michael--" The girl's face slightly changed.
+"I was never _very_ naughty with Michael," she said to herself. "He is
+different from the others. I wouldn't like to see that sort of sorry
+look in his dear dark-blue eyes. Oh, I mustn't think of Michael now.
+When I was going away he said, 'Bedad, you'll come back a princess, and
+I'll be proud to see you.' No, I mustn't think of Michael. Pat, the imp,
+would help me, and so would Rory, and so would Ted. But what shall it
+be?"
+
+She thought excitedly. There came a rattle at the handle of the door.
+
+"Let me in, please, Kathleen; let me in," called Alice's voice.
+
+"Presently, darling," replied Kathleen in her most nonchalant tone.
+
+"But I am in a hurry. I must be back at school by half-past two. Let me
+in immediately."
+
+"What a nuisance it all is!" thought Kathleen. "But, after all, my
+naughtiness needn't make that stupid old Alice late for her darling
+lessons."
+
+She scrambled off the bed, drew back the bolt, and returned to her old
+position. Alice came quickly in. She glanced at Kathleen with disgust.
+
+"I wish you wouldn't lie on the bed in your muddy boots."
+
+No answer.
+
+"I must ask you not to lock the door. It is my room as well as yours."
+
+No answer. Kathleen's eyes were fixed on the window; they were brimful
+of mischief. After a time she said:
+
+"Darling."
+
+"I wish you wouldn't talk to me in that silly way."
+
+"Faith! honey, then."
+
+"I do wish--"
+
+Kathleen suddenly sprang upright on her bed.
+
+"Don't you like the sky when it looks as it does now? I wish you could
+see it from Carrigrohane. You don't know the sort of expression it has
+when it seems to be kissing the sea. We have a ghost at Carrigrohane.
+Oh, wisha, then, if you only could see it! I can tell the boys about it.
+Sha'n't I make them creep?"
+
+"It is very silly to talk about ghosts. Nobody believes in them," said
+Alice.
+
+"I'll ask father if I may have you at Carrigrohane in the summer, and
+then see if you don't believe. She wears white."
+
+"I am going out now, Kathleen; aren't you coming with me?"
+
+"No, thank you, my love."
+
+"You ought to, Kathleen. I am busy preparing for my scholarship
+examination or I would stay and argue with you. It is an awful pity to
+have gone to the expense of coming here if you don't mean to do your
+utmost."
+
+"Thank you, darling, but it is rather a waste of breath for you to talk
+so long to me. I mean to be naughty this afternoon."
+
+"I can't help you," said Alice. "I am very sorry you ever came."
+
+"Thank you so much, dear."
+
+Alice ran downstairs.
+
+"Mother," she said, rushing into her mother's presence, "we shall have
+no end of trouble with that terrible girl. She is lying now on the bed
+with her outdoor boots on, and she won't come to school, or do a single
+thing I want her to."
+
+"The money her father pays will be very welcome, Alice. We must bear
+with some discomforts on account of that."
+
+"I suppose so," said Alice, shrugging her shoulders. "How horrid it is
+to be poor, and to have such a girl as that in the house! Well, I can't
+stay another minute. You had better keep a sort of general eye on her,
+mother, for there's no saying what she will do. She has declared her
+intention of being naughty. She knows no fear, is not guided by any sort
+of principle, and would, in short, do anything."
+
+"Well, go to school, Alice, and be quick home, for I have a great deal I
+want you to help me with."
+
+Alice made no reply, and Mrs. Tennant, after thinking for a minute, went
+upstairs. She knocked at the door of the room which she had given up to
+the two girls. There was no answer. She opened it and went in. The bird
+had flown. There were evident signs of a stampede through the window,
+for it stood wide open, and there were marks of not too clean boots on
+the drugget, and a torn piece of ivy just without. The window was twenty
+feet from the ground, and Kathleen must have let herself down by the
+sturdy arm of the old ivy. Mrs. Tennant looked out, half expecting to
+see a mangled body on the ground; but there was no one in view. She
+returned to her darning and her anxious thoughts.
+
+She was a widow with two sons and a daughter, and something under two
+hundred and fifty pounds a year on which to live. To educate the boys,
+to do something for Alice, and to put bread-and-butter into all their
+mouths was a difficult problem to solve in these expensive days. She had
+on purpose moved close to the Great Shirley School in order to avail
+herself of its cheap education for Alice. The boys went to another
+foundation school near by; and altogether the family managed to scrape
+along. But the advent of Kathleen on the scene was a great relief, for
+her father paid three guineas a week for Mrs. Tennant's motherly care
+and for Kathleen's board and lodging.
+
+"Poor child!" thought the good woman. "What a wild, undisciplined,
+handsome creature she is! I must do what I can for her."
+
+She sat on for some time darning and thinking. Her heart was full; she
+felt depressed. She had been working in various ways ever since six
+o'clock that morning, and the darning of the boys' rough socks hurt her
+eyes and made her fingers ache.
+
+Meanwhile Kathleen was running along the road. She ran until she was
+completely out of breath. She then came to a stile, against which she
+leant. By-and-by she saw a girl walking leisurely up the road; she was a
+shabbily dressed and rather vulgar girl. Kathleen saw at once that she
+was one of the Great Shirley girls, so she went forward and spoke to
+her.
+
+"You go to our school, don't you?" she said.
+
+"Yes, miss," answered the girl, dropping a little curtsy when she saw
+Kathleen. She was a very fresh foundation girl, and recognized something
+in Kathleen which caused her to be more subservient than was necessary.
+
+"Then, if you please," continued Kathleen, "can you tell me where that
+sweetly pretty girl, Ruth Craven, lives?"
+
+"She isn't a lady," said the girl, whose name was Susan Hopkins. "She is
+no more a lady than I am."
+
+"Indeed she is," said Kathleen. "She is a great deal more of a lady than
+you are."
+
+The girl flushed.
+
+"You are a Great Shirley girl yourself," she said. "I saw you there
+to-day. You are in an awfully low class. Do you like sitting with the
+little kids? I saw you towering up in the middle of them like a
+mountain."
+
+Kathleen's eyes flashed.
+
+"What is your name?" she asked.
+
+"Susan Hopkins. I used to be a Board School girl, but now I am on the
+foundation at Great Shirley. It is a big rise for me. Are you a poor
+girl? Are you on the foundation?"
+
+"I don't know what it means by being on the foundation, but I don't
+think I am poor. I think, on the contrary, that I am very rich. Did you
+ever hear of a girl who lived in a castle--a great beautiful castle--on
+the top of a high hill? If you ever did, I am that girl."
+
+"Oh, my!" said Susy Hopkins. "That does sound romantic."
+
+Her momentary dislike to Kathleen had vanished. The desire to go to the
+town on a message for her mother had completely left her. She stood
+still, as though fascinated.
+
+"I live there," said Kathleen--"that is, I do when I am at home. I come
+from the land of the mountain and the stream; of the shamrock; of the
+deep, deep blue sea."
+
+"Ireland? Are you Irish?" said the girl.
+
+"I am proud to say that I am."
+
+"We don't think anything of the Irish here."
+
+"Oh, don't you?"
+
+"But don't be angry, please," continued Susy, "for I am sure you are
+very nice."
+
+"I am nice when I like. To-day I am nasty. I am wicked to-day--quite
+wicked; I could hate any one who opposes me. I want some one to help me;
+if some one will help me, I will be nice to that person. Will you?"
+
+"Oh, my word, yes! How handsome you look when you flash your eyes!"
+said Susy Hopkins.
+
+"Then I want to find that dear little girl, who is so beautiful that I
+love her and can't get her out of my head. I want to find Ruth Craven.
+She went away with a horrid, stiff, pokery girl called Cassandra Weldon.
+You have such strange names in your country. That horrid, prim Cassandra
+chose to correct me when I came into school, and she has taken my
+darling away--the only one I love in the whole of England. I want to
+find her. I will give you--- I will give you an Irish diamond set in a
+brooch if you will help me."
+
+This sounded a very grand offer indeed to Susy Hopkins, who lived in the
+most modest way, and had not a jewel of any sort in her possession.
+
+"I will help you. I will, and I can. I know where Miss Weldon lives. I
+can take you to her house."
+
+"But I want Ruth."
+
+"If she has taken Ruth home, she will be at Cassandra's house," said
+Susy.
+
+"And you can take me there?"
+
+"This blessed minute."
+
+"All right; come along."
+
+"When will you give me the diamond set in the brooch?"
+
+"It isn't a real diamond, you know. It is an Irish diamond set in
+silver--real silver. My old nurse had it made for me, and I wear it
+sometimes. I will bring it to you to school to-morrow."
+
+"Oh, thank you--thank you, Miss--I forgot your name."
+
+"O'Hara--Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+"O'Hara is rather a difficult name to say. May I call you Kathleen?"
+
+"Just as you please, Susan. It is more handy for me to say Susan than
+Hopkins. As long as I am in England I must consort, I see, with all
+kinds of people; and if you will make yourself useful to me, I will be
+good to you."
+
+Susy turned and led the way in the direction of Cassandra Weldon's home.
+They had to walk across a very wide field, then down a narrow lane, then
+up a steep hill, and then into a valley. At the bottom of the valley was
+a straight road, and at each side of the road were neat little
+houses--small and very proper-looking. Each house consisted of two
+stories, with a hall door in the middle and a sitting room on each side.
+There were three windows overhead, and one or two attics in the roof.
+The houses were very compact; they were new, and were called by
+ambitious names. For instance, the house where the Weldons lived went by
+the ambitious name of Sans Souci. All through the walk Susy chatted for
+the benefit of her companion. She told Kathleen so much about her life
+that she was interested in spite of herself! and by the time they
+arrived outside Sans Souci, Kathleen's hand was lying affectionately on
+her companion's arm.
+
+"I had best not go in, miss," she said. "Cassandra Weldon would never
+take the very least notice of me; and none of us foundation girls like
+her at all."
+
+"Well, it is extremely unfair," said Kathleen. "From all you have been
+telling me, the foundation girls must be particularly clever. I tell you
+what it is: I think I shall take to you."
+
+"Oh, would you, indeed, miss?" said Susy, her eyes sparkling. "There are
+a hundred of us, you know, in the school."
+
+"That is a great number. And Ruth Craven is really one?"
+
+"She is, miss. She isn't a bit better than the rest of us."
+
+"And I love her already."
+
+"She is no better than the rest of us," repeated Susan Hopkins.
+
+"I have a great mind to take to you all, to make a fuss about you, and
+to show the others how badly they behave."
+
+"You'd be a queen amongst us; there's no doubt about that."
+
+"It would be lovely, and it would be a tremendous bit of naughtiness,"
+thought Kathleen.
+
+"Do you think you will, miss? Because, if you do, I will tell the
+others. We could meet you and talk over things."
+
+"Well, I will decide to-morrow. I will enclose a letter with your
+brooch. Good-bye now; I must go in and kiss my darling Ruth."
+
+Susy Hopkins stood for a minute to watch Kathleen as she went up the
+little narrow path of Sans Souci. When Kathleen reached the porch she
+waved her hand, and Susy, putting wings to her feet, ran as fast as she
+could in the opposite direction. She felt very much elated and really
+pleased. In the whole course of her life she had never met a girl of the
+Kathleen O'Hara type before. Her beauty, her daring and wild manner, the
+flash in her bright dark eyes, the glints of gold in her lovely hair,
+all fascinated Susy.
+
+"What a queen she'd make!" she thought. "We must make her our queen.
+We'd have quite a party of our own in the school if she took us up. And
+she will; I'm sure she will. This is a lark. This is worth a great
+deal."
+
+Meanwhile Kathleen rang the bell at Sans Souci in a very smart,
+imperative manner. A little maid, neatly dressed, came to the door.
+
+"Please," said Kathleen, "will you say that Miss O'Hara has called and
+would be glad to see Miss Ruth Craven for a few minutes?"
+
+The girl withdrew. Presently she returned.
+
+"Mrs. Weldon will be pleased if you will go in, miss. She is sitting in
+the drawing-room. The two young ladies are out in the garden."
+
+"Thank you," said Kathleen.
+
+After a brief hesitation she entered the house, and was conducted across
+the narrow hall into a very sweet and charmingly furnished room. The
+room had a bay-window with French doors; these opened on to a little
+flower-lawn. At one side of the house was a tiny conservatory full of
+bright flowers. Compared to the house where the Tennants lived, this
+tiny place looked like a paradise to Kathleen. She gave a quick glance
+round her, then came up to Mrs. Weldon.
+
+"I am one of the new girls at the Great Shirley School," she said. "My
+name is Kathleen O'Hara. I am Irish. I have only just crossed the cold
+sea. I am lonely, too. I want Ruth Craven. May I sit down a minute while
+your servant fetches her? I like Ruth Craven. She is very pretty, isn't
+she? She is the sort of girl that you'd take a fancy to when you're
+lonely and far from home. May I sit here until she comes?"
+
+"Of course, my dear," said Mrs. Weldon, speaking with kindness, and
+looking with eyes full of interest at the handsome, striking-looking
+girl. "I quite understand your being lonely. I was very lonely indeed
+when I came home from India and left my dear father and mother behind
+me."
+
+"How old were you when you came home?"
+
+"A great deal younger than you are: only seven years old. But that is a
+long time ago. I should like to be kind to you, Miss O'Hara. Cassandra
+has been telling me about you. You are living at the Tennants', are you
+not? Alice Tennant and Cassandra are great friends."
+
+"But I don't like either of them," said Kathleen in her blunt way.
+
+Mrs. Weldon looked a little startled.
+
+"Do you know my daughter?" she asked.
+
+"She is much too interfering, and she is frightfully stuck-up. Please
+forgive me, but I am always very plain-spoken; I always tell the truth.
+I don't want her. I like you, and wish that I lived with you, and that
+you'd have Ruth Craven instead of your own daughter in the house. Then
+I'd be perfectly happy. I always did say what I thought. Will you
+forgive me?"
+
+"I will, dear, because at the present moment you don't know my girl at
+all. There never was a more splendid girl in all the world, but she
+requires to be known. Ah! here she comes, and your little friend, Miss
+Craven, with her."
+
+Ruth, looking very pretty, with a delicate flush on each cheek, now
+entered the room in the company of Cassandra. Kathleen sprang up the
+minute she saw Ruth, rushed across the room, and flung one arm with
+considerable violence round her neck.
+
+"You have come," she said. "I have been hunting the place for you. How
+dared you go away and hide yourself? Don't you know that you belong to
+me? The moment I saw you I knew that you were my affinity. Don't you
+know what an affinity means? Well, you are mine. We were twin souls
+before birth; now we have met again and we cannot part. I am ever so
+happy when I am with you. Don't mind those others; let them stare all
+they like. I am going to take you foundation girls up. I have made up
+my mind. We will have a rollicking good time--a splendid time. We will
+be as naughty as we like, and we will let the others see what we are
+made of. It will be war to the knife between the foundation girls and
+the good, proper, paying girls. Let the ladies look after themselves. We
+of the foundation will lead our own life, and be as happy as the day is
+long. Aren't you glad to see me, dear, sweet, pretty Ruth? Don't you
+know for yourself that you are my affinity--my chosen friend, my
+beloved? Through the ages we have been one, and now we have met in the
+flesh."
+
+"I think," said Cassandra, at last managing to get herself heard, "that
+you have said enough for the present, Miss O'Hara. Ruth Craven has come
+to spend the day with me. I know that you are an Irish girl, and you
+must be lonely. I shall be very pleased if you will join Ruth and me in
+our walk. We are going for a walk across the common.--We shall be in to
+tea, dear mother. Will you have it ready for us not later than five
+o'clock? And I am sure you will join me, mother darling, in asking Miss
+O'Hara to stay, too."
+
+"But Miss O'Hara doesn't want to join either you or your 'mother
+darling,'" said Kathleen in her rudest tone. "It is Ruth I want. I have
+come here for her. She must return with me at once."
+
+"But I can't. I am ever so sorry, Miss O'Hara."
+
+"You mean that you won't come when I have called for you?"
+
+"I am with Miss Weldon at present."
+
+"Be sensible, dear," said Mrs. Weldon at that moment. "You don't quite
+understand our manners in this country. However attached we may be to a
+person, we don't enter a strange house and snatch that person out of it.
+It isn't our way; and I don't think--you will forgive me for saying
+it--that your way is as nice as ours. Be persuaded, dear, and join
+Cassandra and Ruth, and have a happy time."
+
+Kathleen's face had turned crimson. She looked from Mrs. Weldon to
+Cassandra, and then she looked at Ruth. Suddenly her eyes brimmed up
+with tears.
+
+"I don't think I can ever change my way," she said. "I am sorry if I am
+rude and not understood. Perhaps, after all, I am mistaken, about Ruth;
+perhaps she is not my real proper affinity. I am a very unhappy girl. I
+wish I could go back to mother and to my dad. I shouldn't be lonely if I
+were in the midst of the mountains, and if I could see the streams and
+the blue sea. I don't know why Aunt Katie O'Flynn sent me to this horrid
+place. I wish I was back in the old country. They don't talk as you talk
+in the old country and they don't look as you look. If you put your
+heart at the feet of a body in old Ireland, that body doesn't kick it
+away. I will go. I don't want your tea. I don't want anything that you
+have to offer me. I don't like any of you. I am sorry if you think me
+rude, but I can't help myself. Good-bye."
+
+"No, no; stay. Stay and visit with me, and tell me about the old country
+and the sea and the mountains," said Mrs. Weldon.
+
+But Kathleen shook her head fiercely, and the next moment left the room.
+
+"Poor, strange little girl," thought the good woman. "I see she is about
+to heap unhappiness on herself and others. What is to be done for her?"
+
+"I like her," said Ruth. "She is very impulsive, but she is------"
+
+"Oh, yes," said Cassandra, "she has a good heart, of course; but I
+foresee that she is up to all sorts of mischief. She doesn't understand
+our ways. Why did she leave her own country?"
+
+Ruth was silent. She looked wistful.
+
+"Come along, Ruthie; we will be late. I have no end of schemes in my
+head. I mean to help you. You will win that scholarship."
+
+Ruth smiled. Presently she and Cassandra were crossing the common
+arm-in-arm. In the interest of their own conversation they forgot
+Kathleen.
+
+When that young lady left the house she ran back to the Tennants'.
+
+"I will write to dad to-night and tell him that I can't stay," she
+thought. "Oh, dear, my heart is in my mouth! I shall have a broken heart
+if this sort of thing goes on."
+
+She entered the house. There sat Mrs. Tennant with a great basket of
+stockings before her. The remains of a rough-looking tea were on the
+table. The boys had disappeared.
+
+"Come in, Kathleen," called Mrs. Tennant, "and have your tea. I want
+Maria to clear the tea-things away, as I have some cutting out to do; so
+be quick, dear."
+
+Kathleen entered. The untidy table did not trouble her in the least; she
+was accustomed to things of that sort at home. She sat down, helped
+herself to a thick slice of bread-and-butter, and ate it, while burning
+thoughts filled her mind.
+
+"Have some tea. You haven't touched any," said Mrs. Tennant.
+
+"I'd rather have cold water, please," Kathleen replied.
+
+She went to the sideboard, filled a glass, and drank it off.
+
+"Mrs. Tennant," she said when she had finished, "what possessed you to
+live in England? You had all the world to choose from. Why did you come
+to a horrible place like this?"
+
+"But I like it," said Mrs. Tennant.
+
+"You don't look as if you did. I never saw such a worn-out poor body.
+Are you awfully old?"
+
+"You would think me so," replied Mrs. Tennant, with a smile; "but as a
+matter of fact I am not forty yet."
+
+"Not forty!" said Kathleen. "But forty's an awful age, isn't it? I mean,
+you want crutches when you are forty, don't you?"
+
+"Not as a rule, my dear. I trust when I am forty I shall not want a
+crutch. I shall be forty in two years, and that by some people is
+considered young."
+
+"Then I suppose it is mending those horrid stockings that makes you so
+old."
+
+"Mending stockings doesn't help to keep you young, certainly."
+
+"Shall I help you? I used to cobble for old nurse when I was at home."
+
+"But I shouldn't like you to cobble these."
+
+"Oh, I can darn, you know."
+
+"Then do, Kathleen. I should take it very kindly if you would. Here is
+worsted, and here is a needle. Will you sit by me and tell me about your
+home?"
+
+Kathleen certainly would not have believed her own ears had she been
+told an hour ago that she would end her first fit of desperate
+naughtiness by darning stockings for the Tennant boys. She did not darn
+well; but then, Mrs. Tennant was not particular. She certainly--although
+she said she would not--did cobble these stockings to an extraordinary
+extent; but her work and the chat with Mrs. Tennant did her good, and
+she went upstairs to dress for supper in a happier frame of mind.
+
+"I will stay here for a little," she said finally to Mrs. Tennant,
+"because I think it will help you. You look so terribly tired; and I
+don't think you ought to have this horrible work to do. I'd like to do
+it for you, but I don't suppose I shall have time. I will stay for a bit
+and see what I can make of the foundation girls."
+
+"The foundation girls?"
+
+"Oh, yes; don't ask me to explain. There are a hundred of them at the
+Great Shirley School, and I am going--No, I can't explain. I will stop
+here instead of running away. I meant to run away when my affinity would
+have nothing to do with me."
+
+"Really, Kathleen, you are a most extraordinary girl."
+
+"Of course I am," said Kathleen. "Did you ever suppose that I was
+anything else? I am very remarkable, and I am very naughty. I always
+was, and I always will be. I am up to no end of mischief. I wish you
+could have seen me and Rory together at home. Oh, what didn't we do? Do
+you know that once we walked across a little bridge of metal which is
+put between two of the stables? It is just a narrow iron rod, six feet
+in length. If we had either of us fallen we'd have been dashed to pieces
+on the cobble-stones forty feet below. Mother saw me when I was half-way
+across, and she gave a shriek. It nearly finished me, but I steadied
+myself and got across. Oh, it was jolly! I am going to set some of the
+foundation girls at that sort of thing. I expect I shall have great fun
+with them. It is principally because my affinity won't have anything to
+do with me; she is attaching herself to another, and that other is
+little better than a monster. Your Alice won't like me; and, to be frank
+with you, I don't like her. I like you, because you are poor and
+worried and seem old for your age--although your age is a great one--and
+because you have to cobble those horrid socks. There! good-bye for the
+present. Don't hate me too much; I can't help the way I am made. Oh; I
+hear Alice. What a detestable voice she has! Now then, I'm off."
+
+Kathleen ran up to her room, and again she locked the door. She heard
+Alice's step, and she felt a certain vindictiveness as she turned the
+key in the lock. Alice presently took the handle of the door and shook
+it.
+
+"Let me in at once, Kathleen," she said. "I really can't put up with
+this sort of thing any longer. I want to get into my room; I want to
+tidy myself. I am going to supper to-night with Cassandra Weldon."
+
+"Then you don't get in," whispered Kathleen to herself. Aloud she said:
+
+"I am sorry, darling, but I am specially busy, and I really must have my
+share of the room to myself."
+
+"Do open the door, Kathleen," now almost pleaded poor Alice. "If you
+want your share of the room, I want mine. Don't you understand?"
+
+"I am not interfering, dearest," called back Kathleen, "and I am keeping
+religiously to my own half. I have the straight window, and you have the
+bay. I am not touching your beautiful half; I am only in mine."
+
+"Let me in," called Alice again, "and don't be silly."
+
+"Sorry, dear; don't think I am silly."
+
+There was a silence. Alice went on her knees and peered through the
+keyhole: Kathleen was seated by her dressing-table, and there was a
+sound of the furious scratching of a pen quite audible. "This is
+intolerable," thought Alice. "She is the most awful girl I ever heard
+of. I shall be late. Mary Addersley and Rhoda Pierpont are to call for
+me shortly, and I shan't be ready. I don't want to appeal to mother or
+to be rude to the poor wild thing the first day. Stay, I will tempt
+her.--Kathleen!"
+
+"Yes, darling."
+
+"Wouldn't you like to come with me to Cassandra Weldon's? She is so
+nice, and so is her mother. She plays beautifully, and they will sing."
+
+"Irish songs?" called out Kathleen.
+
+"I don't know. Perhaps they will if you ask them."
+
+"Thanks," replied Kathleen; "I am not going." Again there was silence,
+and the scratching of the pen continued. Alice was now obliged to go
+downstairs to acquaint her mother.
+
+"What is it, dear? Why, my dear Alice, how excited you look!"
+
+"I have cause to be, mother. I have come in rather late, very much
+fagged out from a day of hard examination work and that imp--that horrid
+girl--has locked me out of my bedroom. I was so looking forward to a
+nice little supper with Cassandra and the other girls! Kathleen won't
+let me in; she really is intolerable. I can't stay in the room with her
+any longer; she is past bearing. Can't you give me an attic to myself at
+the top of the house?"
+
+"You know I haven't a corner."
+
+"Can't I share your bed, mummy? I shall be so miserable with that
+dreadful Kathleen."
+
+"You know quite well, Alice, that that is the only really good bedroom
+in the house, and I can't afford to give it to one girl by herself. I
+think Kathleen will be all right when we really get to know her; but she
+is very undisciplined. Still, three guineas a week makes an immense
+difference to me, Alice. I can't help telling you so, my child."
+
+"In my opinion, it is hardly earned," said Alice. "I suppose I must
+stay down here and give up my supper. I can't go like this, all untidy,
+and my hair so messy, and my collar--oh, mother, it is nearly black! It
+is really too trying."
+
+"I will go up and see if I can persuade her," said Mrs. Tennant.
+
+She went upstairs, turned the handle of the door, and spoke. The moment
+her voice penetrated to Kathleen's ears, she jumped to her feet, crossed
+the room, and bent down at the other side of the keyhole.
+
+"Don't tire your dear voice," she said. "What is it you want?"
+
+"I want you to open the door, Kathleen. Poor Alice wants to get in to
+get her clothes. It is her room as much as yours. Let her in at once, my
+dear."
+
+"I am very sorry, darling Mrs. Tennant, but I am privately engaged in my
+own half of the room. I am not interfering with Alice's."
+
+"But you see, Kathleen, she can't get to her half."
+
+"The door is in my half, you know," said Kathleen very meekly, "so I
+don't see that she has any cause to complain. I am awfully sorry; I will
+be as quick as I can."
+
+"You annoy me very much. You make me very uncomfortable by going on in
+this extremely silly way, Kathleen."
+
+"I will darn some more socks for you, darling, tired pet," whispered
+Kathleen coaxingly. "I really am awfully sorry, but there is no help for
+it. I must finish my own private affairs in my own half of the room."
+
+She retreated from the door, and the scratching of the pen continued.
+
+Alice downstairs felt like a caged lion. Mrs. Tennant admitted that
+Kathleen's conduct was very bad.
+
+"It won't happen again, Alice," she said, "for I shall remove the key
+from the lock. She won't shut you out another time. Make the best of it,
+darling. If we don't worry her too much she is sure to capitulate."
+
+"Not she. She is a perfect horror," said Alice.
+
+Mrs. Weldon's supper party was to begin at eight o'clock. It was now
+seven, and the girls were to call for Alice at half-past. If Kathleen
+would only be quick she might still have time.
+
+The boys came in. They stared open-eyed at Alice when they saw her still
+sitting in her rough school things, a very cross expression on her face.
+David came up to her at once; he was the favorite, and people said he
+had a way with him. Whatever they meant by that, most people did what
+David Tennant liked. He stood in front of his sister now and said:
+
+"What's the matter? And where's the little Irish beauty?"
+
+"For goodness' sake don't speak about her," said Alice. "She's driving
+me nearly mad."
+
+"Your sister is naturally much annoyed, David," said his mother.
+"Kathleen is evidently a very tiresome girl. She has locked the door of
+their mutual bedroom, and declines to open it; she says that as the door
+happens to be in her half of the room, she has perfect control over it."
+
+David whistled. Ben burst out laughing.
+
+"Well, now that is Irish," David said.
+
+"If you take her part I shall hate you all the rest of my life," said
+Alice, speaking with great passion.
+
+"But can't you wait just for once?" asked David. "Any one could tell
+she is just trying it on. She'll get tired of sitting there by herself
+if only you have patience."
+
+"But I am due at Cassandra's for supper" and Mary Addersley and Rhoda
+Pierpont are to call for me at half-past seven."
+
+"Oh, that's it, is it?" said David.--"Ben, leave off teasing." For Ben
+was whistling and jumping about, and making the most expressive faces at
+poor Alice,--"I will see what I can do," he said, and he ran upstairs.
+David was very musical; indeed, the soul of music dwelt in his eyes, in
+his voice, in his very step. He might in some respects have been an
+Irish boy himself. He bent down now and whistled very softly, and in the
+most flute-like manner, "Garry Owen" through the keyhole. There was a
+restless sound in the room, and then a cross voice said:
+
+"Go away."
+
+David stopped whistling "Garry Owen," and proceeded to execute a most
+exquisite performance of "St. Patrick's Day in the Morning." Kathleen
+trembled. Her eyes filled with tears. David was now whistling right into
+her room "The Wearing of the Green." Kathleen flung down her pen, making
+a splash on the paper.
+
+"Go away," she called out. "What are you doing there?"
+
+"The outside of this door doesn't belong to you," called David, "and if
+I like to whistle through the keyhole you can't prevent me;" and he
+began "Garry Owen" again.
+
+Kathleen rushed to the door and flung it open. The tears were still wet
+on her cheeks.
+
+"Can't you guess what you are doing?" she said. "You are stabbing
+me--stabbing me. Oh! oh! oh!" and she burst into violent sobs. David
+took her hand.
+
+"Come, little Irish colleen," he said. "Come along downstairs. I am
+going to be chummy with you. Don't be so lonely. Give Alice her room;
+one-half of it is hers, and she wants to dress to go out."
+
+"Let her take it all," sobbed Kathleen. "I am most miserable. Oh, Garry
+Owen, Garry Owen! Oh, Land of the Shamrock! Oh, my broken heart!"
+
+She laid her head on David's shoulder and went on sobbing. David felt
+quite bashful. There was nothing for it but to take out his big and not
+too clean handkerchief and wipe her tears away.
+
+"Whisper," he said in her ear. "There are stables at the back of the
+house; they are old, worn-out stables. There is a loft over one, and I
+keep apples and nuts there. It's the jolliest place. Will you and I go
+there for an hour or two after supper?"
+
+"Do you mean it?" said Kathleen, her eyes filling with laughter, and the
+tears still wet on her cheeks.
+
+"Yes, colleen, I mean it, for I want you to tell me all you can about
+your land of the shamrock."
+
+"Why, then, that I will," she replied. "Wisha, then, David, it's a broth
+of a boy, you are!" and she kissed him on his forehead. David took her
+hand and led her into the dining-room. Alice was still there, looking
+more stormy than ever.
+
+"It's too late now," she said; "the girls have come and gone. I can't go
+at all now."
+
+"But why, darling?" said Kathleen. "Oh! I wish I had let you in.--She
+must go, David, the poor dear. It would be cruel to disappoint
+her.--What dress will you wear?" said Kathleen.
+
+"Let me alone," said Alice.
+
+She rushed upstairs, but Kathleen was even quicker.
+
+"I'm not going to be nasty to you any more," she said. "I have found a
+friend, and I shall have more friends to-morrow. Kathleen O'Hara would
+have died long ago but for her friends. I shall be happy when I have got
+a creelful of them here. Now then, let me help you. No, that isn't the
+shoe you want; here it is. And gloves--here's a pair, and they're neatly
+mended. Which hat did you say--the one with the blue scarf round it?
+Isn't it a pretty one? You put that on. Aunt Katie O'Flynn is going to
+send me a box of clothes from Dublin, and I will give you some of them.
+You mustn't say no; I will give you some if you are nice. I am ever so
+sorry that I kept you out of your part of the room; I won't do it any
+more. Now you are dressed; that's fine. You won't hate me forever, will
+you?"
+
+Alice growled something in reply. She had not Kathleen's passionate,
+quick, impulsive nature--furious with rage one minute, sweet and gentle
+and affectionate the next. She hated Kathleen for having humiliated and
+annoyed her; and she went off to Cassandra's house knowing that she
+would be late, and determined not to say one good word for Kathleen.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+WIT AND GENIUS: THE PLAN PROPOUNDED.
+
+
+While Kathleen was locked in Alice's room, she was writing to her
+father:
+
+     "MY DARLING DADDY.--If ever there was a cold, dreary,
+     abominable land, it is this where they wave the British flag.
+     The ugliness of it would make you sick. The people are as ugly
+     as the country, and they're so stiff and stuck-up. If you
+     suppose for a moment that your wild Irish girl can stand much
+     of this sort of thing, you are fine and mistaken, and you can
+     tell the mother so. I mean to write to Aunt Katie O'Flynn
+     to-morrow and give her a fine piece of my mind. Early in the
+     day, dad, I did not think that I could stay at all; but I have
+     got a plan in my head now, and if I succeed I may at least put
+     up with one term of this detestable school. I won't tell you
+     the plan, for you mightn't approve; in fact, I can guess in
+     advance that you wouldn't approve. Anyhow, it is going to
+     occupy the time and thoughts of your Kathleen. Now I want a
+     good bit of money; not a pound or even five pounds, but more
+     than that. Can you send me a ten-pound note, daddy mine, and
+     say nothing whatever about it to the mother or the retainers
+     at Carrigrohane? And can you let me have it as quick as quick
+     can be? Maybe I will want more before the term is up, or maybe
+     I won't. Anyhow, we will let that lie in the future. Oh, my
+     broth of an old dad, wouldn't I like to hug you this blessed
+     minute? How is everybody at home? How are the mountains? How
+     is the sea? How is the trout-stream? Are those young cousins
+     of mine behaving themselves, the spalpeens? And how are you,
+     my heart of hearts--missing your Kathleen, I doubt not? Well,
+     no more for the present. They're rattling at the door like
+     anything, and there's a detestable boy now whistling 'Garry
+     Owen' right into my heart. You can't imagine what I am
+     feeling. Oh, the omadhaun! he is changing it now into 'St.
+     Patrick's Day,' Wisha, then, daddy! I must stop, for it's more
+     than the heart of woman can stand. Your affectionate daughter,
+
+     "KATHLEEN."
+
+This letter was posted by Kathleen herself. After supper she went with
+David into the old loft over the tumble-down stables. It was not a very
+safe place of refuge, for the rafters were rotten and might tumble down
+at any time. Still, the sense of danger made it all, the more
+interesting to the children. There they sat side by side, and Kathleen
+told David about her old life. She was very outspoken and affectionate,
+and very fierce and very wild. To look at her, one would have said there
+never was any one less reserved; but Kathleen in her heart of hearts was
+intensely reserved. Her real feelings she never told; her real hopes she
+never breathed. She talked with high spirits all the time; and although
+she liked David and was much comforted by his words and his actions, he
+did not get at the real Kathleen at all.
+
+When Alice came back that evening Kathleen was sound asleep in her
+little bed, dreaming of Carrigrohane and the old home. She was murmuring
+some loving words as Alice entered the room.
+
+"Oh, daddy mine, my heart is sore for you," she was saying in a tone
+which caused Alice to pause and look at her attentively.
+
+"She is the most awful girl I ever heard of," thought Alice. "I am sure
+she will get us into trouble. I know that those three guineas a week
+that mother gets for having her are not worth all the mischief she will
+drag us into. But still, she does look pretty when she is asleep."
+
+Kathleen had very long and very thick eyelashes and nobly arched brows.
+Her forehead was broad and full and beautifully white. The mischievous,
+dare-devil expression of her face when awake was softened in her sleep.
+Alice, who had determined to come very noisily into the room and bang
+her things about, to take rude possession of her own half of the
+room--which, after all, was the better half--was softened by the look
+on the girl's face. She knelt for a moment at her bedside and prayed
+that God would keep her from quite hating Kathleen. This was a great
+deal from Alice, who had made up her mind never to be friends with the
+Irish girl. Then she got into bed and fell asleep.
+
+The next morning, quite early, Kathleen was up. She was accustomed to
+getting up almost at cock-crow at Carrigrohane, and when Alice opened
+her eyes, it was to see an empty bed and an empty room.
+
+"I wonder if she's up to mischief?" she thought.
+
+She got up and went to the window. Kathleen was walking across the
+common. She had no hat on, and no jacket. She was stepping along
+leisurely, looking up sometimes at the sky, and sometimes pausing as
+though she was thinking hard.
+
+"She will catch cold and be ill; that will be the next trouble," thought
+the indignant Alice. She sleepily proceeded with her dressing. It was
+only half-past seven. The Great Shirley School met at nine. Alice was
+seldom downstairs until past eight. When she came down this morning she
+saw, to her amazement, Kathleen helping the very untidy maid-of-all-work
+to lay the breakfast things. She was dashing about, putting plates and
+cups and saucers anyhow upon the board.
+
+"Now then, Maria," she said, "shall I run down to the kitchen and bring
+up the hot bacon and the porridge? I will, with a heart and a half. Oh,
+you poor girl, how tired you look!"
+
+Maria, whom Alice never noticed, looked with adoring eyes at beautiful
+Kathleen.
+
+"It isn't right, miss. I ought to be doing my own work," she said. "I am
+ever so much obliged to you, miss."
+
+"Wisha, then, it is I who like to help you," said Kathleen, "for you
+look fair beat."
+
+She dashed past Alice, and appeared the next moment in the kitchen.
+
+"Where's the bacon, cook? And where's the bread, and where's the butter,
+and all the rest of the breakfast? See, woman--see! Give me a tray and I
+will fill it up and take the things upstairs with my own hands. You
+think it is beneath me, perhaps; but I am a lady from a castle, and at
+Carrigrohane Castle we often do this sort of thing when the hands of the
+poor maids are full to overflowing."
+
+The cook, a sandy-haired and sour-looking woman, began by scowling at
+Kathleen; but soon the girl's pretty face and merry eyes appeased her.
+She and Kathleen had almost a quarrel as to who was to carry up the
+tray, but Kathleen won the day; and when Mrs. Tennant made her
+appearance, feeling tired and overdone, she was amazed to see Kathleen
+acting parlor-maid.
+
+"I love it," she said. "If I can help you, you dear, tired, worn one, I
+shall be only too glad."
+
+"I am sure, mother," said Alice, "it is very good of Kathleen to wish to
+do the household work; but as she has been sent here to gain some
+information of another sort, do you think it ought to be allowed?"
+
+"And who will prevent it, darling? That is the question," said Kathleen
+in her softest voice.
+
+Alice was silent.
+
+"I tell you what," said Kathleen. "When I see you beginning to help your
+poor, exhausted mother, and running messages for that overworked
+slavey--I think you call her Maria--then perhaps I'll do less. And when
+there's some one else to mend the boys' socks, perhaps I won't offer;
+but until there is, the less you say about such things the better, Miss
+Alice Tennant."
+
+Ben kicked David under the table, and David kicked him back to stay
+quiet. Altogether the breakfast was a noisy one.
+
+Kathleen went to school quite prepared to carry out her promise to Susy
+Hopkins. She had neatly packed the little Irish diamond brooch in a box,
+and had slipped under it a tiny note:
+
+     "Get as many foundation girls as you can to meet me, at
+     whatever place you like to appoint, this evening. I have a
+     plan to propose.--KATHLEEN O'HARA.
+
+     "_P.S._--You can name the place by pinning a note under my
+     desk. Be sure you all come. The plan is gloryious."
+
+The thought of the note and the plan and the little brooch kept Kathleen
+in a fairly good humor on her walk to school. There she saw Ruth Craven.
+She was decidedly angry with Ruth for having, as she said to herself,
+"snubbed her" the day before. But beauty always had a curious effect on
+the Irish girl, and when she observed Ruth's really exquisite little
+face, clear cut as a cameo, with eyes full of expression, and watched
+the lips ready to break into the gentlest smiles, Kathleen said to
+herself:
+
+"It is all over with me. She is the only decent-looking colleen I have
+met in this God-forsaken country. Make up to her I will."
+
+She dashed, therefore, almost rudely through a great mass of incoming
+girls, and seized Ruth by her shoulder.
+
+"Ruth," she said, "go and talk to Susy Hopkins during recess. She will
+have something to say, and I want you so badly. You won't refuse me,
+will you, Ruth?"
+
+"But I don't know what you want," said Ruth.
+
+"Go and talk to Susy Hopkins; she will know. Oh, there she is!"
+
+"Kathleen, Kathleen!" called out Alice. "The school-bell has just rung,
+and they are opening the doors. Come do come."
+
+"In a jiff," replied Kathleen.
+
+She ran up to Susy.
+
+"This is what I promised," she said; "and there is a note inside. Read
+it, and give me the answer where I have asked you."
+
+Susy Hopkins, a most ordinary little girl, who had no position of any
+sort in the school, colored high with delight. Some of the paying girls
+looked at her in astonishment. Susy walked into the school with her head
+high in the air; she quite adored Kathleen, for she was making her a
+person of great distinction.
+
+"We are going to have a glorious time," whispered Susy to Kate Rourke as
+they made their way to their respective classes.
+
+Susy was small, rather stupid, and absolutely unimportant. Kate was big,
+black-eyed, impudent. She was jealous of the paying girls of the school;
+but she treated Susy as some one beneath contempt.
+
+"Don't drag my sleeve," she replied crossly. "And what you do mean by a
+glorious time? I don't understand you."
+
+"You will presently," said Susy. "And when all is said and done, you
+will have to remember that you owe it to me. But I have no time to talk
+now; only meet me, and bring as many of the foundationers as you can
+collect into the left-hand corner of the playground, just behind the
+Botanical Laboratory, at recess."
+
+Kate made no answer, unless a toss of her head could have been taken as
+a reply. Her first impulse was to take no notice of Susy's
+remarks--little Susy Hopkins, the daughter of a small stationer in the
+town, a girl who had scarcely scraped through in her examination. It was
+intolerable that she should put on such airs.
+
+The work of the school began, and all the girls were busy. Kate was
+clever, and she meant to try for one of the big scholarships. She would
+get her forty pounds a year when the time came, and go to Holloway
+College or some other college. She was not a lady by birth; she had not
+a single instinct of a true lady within her; but she was intensely
+ambitious. She did not care so much for beauty as for style; she made
+style her idol. The look that Cassandra wore as she walked quietly
+across the room, the set of her dress, the still more wonderful set of
+her head as it was placed on her queenly young shoulders--these were the
+things that burnt into Kate's soul and made her restless and
+dissatisfied. She would willingly have given all her father's
+wealth--and he was quite well-to-do for his class--- to have Cassandra's
+face, Cassandra's voice, Cassandra's figure. Cassandra was not at all a
+pretty girl, but her appearance appealed to all the wild ambitions in
+Kate's soul. She had a jealous contempt of Ruth Craven, who, although a
+foundation girl, managed to look like a lady; but her envy was centered
+round Cassandra. As to the Irish girl, she had scarcely noticed her up
+to the present.
+
+Work went on that morning with much verve and vigor. It was a pleasant
+morning: the windows were open; the schoolrooms were all well
+ventilated; the teachers, the best of their kind, were stimulating in
+their lectures and in their conversation. There was a look of business
+and animation throughout the whole place: it was like a hive of bees. At
+last the moment of recess arrived. Kate just raised her head, looked
+over the shoulders of her companions, and saw Susy Hopkins darting
+restlessly about, catching one girl by the sleeve, another by the arm,
+whispering in the ear of a third, flinging her arm round the neck of a
+fourth; and as she spoke to the girls they looked interested,
+astonished, and cordial. They moved away to that lonely part of the
+playground which was situated at the back of the Botanical Laboratory.
+Kate had made up her mind not to take the least notice of Susy. She was
+pacing up and down alone; for, most provoking, all her chosen friends
+had gone off with that young lady. Suddenly she saw Ruth Craven going
+very quietly by. By all the laws of the foundationers, Ruth ought to
+speak to her companions in misfortune. Kate rushed up to her.
+
+"What are they all doing there?" she said. "Do you happen to know Susy
+Hopkins?"
+
+"No," replied Ruth gently. "She came up to me just now and asked me to
+join her and some other girls at the back of the Laboratory. I don't
+know that I want to."
+
+"I am curious," said Kate. "Of course, I am no friend of Susy's; she is
+a most contemptible little wretch; but I may as well know what it is all
+about. Come with me, won't you?"
+
+Ruth hesitated.
+
+"Come along; we may as well know. There is probably some mischief on
+foot, and it is only fair that we should be forewarned."
+
+"I don't want to know," said Ruth; but as Kate slipped her hand through
+her arm and pulled her along, she said resignedly, "Well, if I must I
+must."
+
+As they strolled across the big playground, Ruth turned and glanced at
+Cassandra; but Cassandra was busy making friends with Florence, who was
+very angry with her for her desertion of the day before, and took no
+notice of Ruth. The Irish girl was nowhere in sight. Ruth sighed and
+continued her walk with Kate.
+
+The most lonely and most dreary part of the playground was that little
+portion which was situated at the back of the Laboratory. Nothing grew
+there; the ground was innocent of grass, and much worn by the tramping
+of young feet. There were swings and garden-seats and preparations for
+tennis and other games in the rest of the big playground, but nothing
+had ever been done at the back of the Laboratory. When the two girls
+arrived they found five other girls waiting for them. Their names were,
+of course, Susy Hopkins, who considered herself on this delightful
+occasion quite the leader; a gentle and refined-looking girl of the name
+of Mary Rand; Rosy Myers, who was pretty and frivolous, with dark eyes
+and fair hair; Clara Sawyer, who was renowned for her vulgar taste in
+dress; and Hannah Johnson, a heavy-looking girl with a scowling brow and
+a very pronounced jaw. Hannah Johnson was about the plainest girl in the
+school. When Susy saw Kate Rourke and Ruth Craven she uttered a little
+scream of delight.
+
+"Now we are complete," she said. "Listen to me, all you girls, for I
+haven't too long in which to tell you; that horrid bell will ring us
+back to lessons and dullness in less than no time. The most wonderful,
+delightful chance is offered to us. I met her yesterday, and she decided
+to do it. She is a brick of bricks. She will make the most tremendous
+difference in our lives. You know, although you pretend not to feel it,
+but you all must know how we foundationers are sat upon and objected to
+in the school. We bear it as meekly as we can for the sake of our
+so-called advantages; but if we can be snubbed, we are, and if we can be
+neglected, we are--although it isn't the teachers we have to complain
+of, but the girls. Sometimes things are past bearing, and yet we are
+powerless. There are three hundred paying girls, and there are one
+hundred foundationers. What chance has one hundred against three?"
+
+"What is the good of bringing all that up, Susy?" said Mary Rand. "We
+are foundationers, and we ought to be thankful."
+
+"The education is splendid; we ought not to forget that," said Ruth
+Craven.
+
+Susy turned on Ruth as though she would like to eat her.
+
+"It is all very fine for you," she said. "Just because you happen to be
+pretty, they take you up. I wonder one of your fine friends doesn't pay
+for you, and so save your position out and out."
+
+"I wouldn't allow her to," replied Ruth, her eyes flashing fire. "I had
+much rather be a foundationer. I mean to prove that I am every bit as
+good as a paying girl. I mean to make you all respect me, so there!"
+
+"That'll do, Spitfire," said Kate Rourke. "The time is passing, and we
+must get to the bottom of Susy Hopkins's remarkable address.--What's up,
+Susy? What's up?"
+
+"This," said Susy. "You know the Irish girl who has come to live with
+the Tennants?"
+
+"Can't say I do," said Kate.
+
+"Well, you will soon. She's a regular out-and-out beauty."
+
+"I know her," cried Ruth Craven. "She is most lovely."
+
+"She's better," said Susy; "she's bewitching. See; she gave me this."
+Here she pointed proudly to the Irish diamond brooch, which she had
+stuck in the bosom of her dress. The diamond had been polished, and
+flashed brightly; the silver setting was also as good as was to be
+found. The girls crowded round to admire, and "Oh, my!" "Oh, dear!" "Did
+you ever?" and "Well, I never!" sounded on all sides.
+
+"You will be so set up now, Susan Hopkins, that we won't be able to bear
+you in the same class," said Clara Sawyer.
+
+"Go on," exclaimed Hannah Johnson--"go on and tell us what you want.
+Your horrid brooch doesn't interest us. What have you got to say?"
+
+"You are mad with jealousy, and you know it," answered Susy. "Well, I am
+coming to the great news. The Irish girl's name is Kathleen O'Hara, and
+she comes from a castle over in the wild west of Ireland. Her father is
+very rich, and he keeps dogs and horses and carriages and--oh,
+everything that rich people keep. Compared to the other girls in the
+school, she is ten times a lady; and she has a true lady's heart. And
+she has taken a dislike, as far as I can see, to Alice Tennant."
+
+"And I'm sure I'm not surprised," said Rosy Myers.
+
+"Stuck-up thing!" said Clara Sawyer.
+
+"Dirt beneath our feet!" exclaimed Hannah Johnson.
+
+"Well; she doesn't like her either, though she doesn't use that kind of
+language," continued Susy. "Anyhow, she wants to befriend _us_--Oh, do
+let me speak!"--as Kate interrupted with a hasty exclamation. "She
+thinks that we are just as good as herself. There is no false pride
+about a real lady, girls; and the end of it is that she has a plan to
+propose--something for our benefit and for her benefit. See for
+yourselves; this is her letter. It is in her own beautiful Irish,
+handwriting. You can read it, only don't tear it all to bits."
+
+The girls did read the letter. They pressed close together, and one
+peeped over the shoulder of her companion, another stood on tiptoe,
+while a third tried to snatch the letter from the hand of her fellow;
+but all managed to read the words: "Get as many foundation girls as you
+can to meet me, at whatever place you like to appoint, this evening. I
+have a plan to propose." This letter and the end of the postscript
+excited the girls; there was no doubt whatever of that. "The plan is
+_gloryious_." They laughed at the word, smiled into each others' faces,
+and stood very close together consulting.
+
+"The old quarry," whispered Rosy.
+
+"That's the place!" exclaimed Mary.
+
+"Let us meet her, we seven by ourselves," was Kate's final suggestion.
+"We will then know what she wants, and if there is anything in it. We
+can form a committee, and get other girls to join by degrees. Hurrah! I
+do say this is fun."
+
+Susy was now quite petted by her companions. The conference hastily
+ended, and on entering the school Susy pinned a piece of paper under
+Kathleen's desk, on which she wrote: "The old quarry; nine o'clock this
+evening. Will meet you at a quarter to nine outside Mrs. Tennant's
+house."
+
+When Kathleen received the communication her eyes flashed with delighted
+fire. She thrust the letter into her pocket and proceeded with her work.
+The Irish girl looked quite happy that day; she had something to
+interest her at last. Her lessons, too, were by no means distasteful.
+She had a great deal of quick wit and ready perception. Hitherto she had
+been taught anyhow, but now she was all keen to receive real
+instruction. Her intuitions were rapid indeed; she could come to
+startlingly quick conclusions, and as a rule her guesses were correct
+rather than otherwise. Kathleen had a passion for music; she had never
+been properly taught, but the soul of music was in her as much as it was
+in David Tennant. She had a beautiful melodious voice, which had, of
+course, not yet come to maturity. Just before the end of the morning she
+took her first lesson in music. Her mistress was a very amiable and
+clever woman of the name of Agnes Spicer. Miss Spicer put a sheet of
+music before her.
+
+"Play that," she said.
+
+Kathleen frowned. Her delicate white fingers trembled for an instant on
+the keys. She played one or two bars perforce and very badly; then she
+dashed the sheet of music in an impetuous way to the floor.
+
+"I can't," she said; "it isn't my style. May I play you something
+different?"
+
+Miss Spicer was about to refuse, but looking at the girl, whose cheeks
+were flushed and eyes full of fire, she changed her mind.
+
+"Just this once," she said; "but you must begin to practice properly.
+What I call amateur music can't be allowed here."
+
+"Will this be allowed?" said Kathleen.
+
+She dashed into heavy chords, played lightly a delicate movement, and
+then broke into an Irish air, "The Harp that once through Tara's Halls."
+From one Irish melody to another her light fingers wandered. She played
+with perfect correctness--with fire, with spirit. Soon she forgot
+herself. When she stopped, tears were running down her cheeks.
+
+"What is music, after all," she said, looking full into the face of her
+teacher, "when you are far from the land you love? How can you stand
+music then? No, I don't mean to learn _music_ at the Great Shirley
+School; I can't. When I am back again at home I shall play 'The Harp
+that once through Tara's Halls,' but I can't do it justice here. You
+will excuse me; I can't. I am sorry if I am rude, but it isn't in me.
+Some time, if you have a headache and feel very bad, as my dear father
+does sometimes, I shall play to you; but I can't learn as the other
+girls learn--it isn't in me."
+
+Again she put her fingers on the keys of the piano and brought forth a
+few sobbing, broken-hearted notes. Then she started up.
+
+"I expect you will punish me for this, Miss Spicer, but I am sorry--I
+can't help myself."
+
+Strange to say, Miss Spicer did not punish her. On the contrary, she
+took her hand and pressed it.
+
+"I won't ask you to do any more to-day," she said. "I see you are not
+like others. I will talk the matter over with you to-morrow."
+
+"And you will find me unchanged," said Kathleen. "Thank you, all the
+same, for your forbearance."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+THE POOR TIRED ONE.
+
+
+Mrs. Tennant spent the afternoon out shopping. She told the girls at
+dinner that she would be home for tea, that she expected to be rather
+tired, and hoped that they would be as good as possible. The boys were
+always out during the afternoon, and as a rule never returned until
+after tea; but Alice and Kathleen were expected to be in for this meal.
+When Mrs. Tennant walked down the street, Kathleen went to the window
+and looked after her.
+
+"What are you going to do this afternoon?" said Alice, who was lying
+back in an easy-chair with an open novel in her hand.
+
+"I don't know," replied Kathleen. "What a dull hole this is! How can you
+have grown up and kept well in a place like this?"
+
+"Opinions differ with regard to its dullness," said Alice. "I think our
+home a very pleasant, entertaining place. I wouldn't live in your wild
+castle for all you could give me."
+
+"Nobody asked you, my dear," said Kathleen, with a saucy nod of her
+head.
+
+She left the room and went up to what she called her half of the bedroom
+on the next floor. She knelt down by the window and looked across over
+the ugly landscape. There were houses everywhere--not a scrap of real
+country, as she expressed it, to be found. She took out of her pocket
+the letter which the foundation girls had sent her, and opened and read
+it.
+
+"The old quarry! I wonder where the old quarry is," she thought. "It
+must be a good way from here. We have such a place at home, too. I did
+not suppose one was to be found in this horrid part of the world. I am
+rather glad there is an old quarry; it was quite nice of little Susy to
+suggest it, and she will meet me, the little colleen. That is good. What
+fun! I shall probably have to return through the bedroom window, so I
+may as well explore and make all in readiness. Dear, dear! I should like
+David to help me. It isn't the naughtiness that I care about, but it is
+the fun of being naughty; it is the fun of having a sort of dangerous
+thing to do. That is the real joy of it. It is the ecstacy of shocking
+the prim Alice! Oh! there is her step. She's coming up, the creature!
+Now then, I had best be as mum as I can unless I want to distract the
+poor thing entirely."
+
+Alice entered the room.
+
+"Do you greatly object to shutting the window?" she said to Kathleen. "I
+have a slight cold, and the draught will make it worse."
+
+"Why, then, of course, darling," said Kathleen in a hearty voice, as she
+brought down the window with a bang. "Would you like me to shut the
+ventilator in the grate?" she then asked.
+
+"No. How silly you are!"
+
+"Is it silly? I thought you had a cold. You are afraid of the draughts.
+Why are you going out?"
+
+"I want to see a school friend."
+
+"You will be back in time for tea, won't you?"
+
+"Can't say."
+
+"But your mother, the poor tired one, asked you to be back."
+
+"I do wish, Kathleen, that you wouldn't call mother by that ridiculous
+name. She is no more tired than--than other women are."
+
+"If that is the case," said Kathleen, "I heartily hope that I shall not
+live to be a woman. I wouldn't like us all to be as fagged as she
+is--poor, dear, gentle soul! She's overworked, and that's the truth."
+
+Kathleen saw that she was annoying Alice, and proceeded with great gusto
+to expand her theory with regard to Mrs. Tennant.
+
+"She's in the condition when she might drop any time," she said. "We
+have had old Irishwomen overworked like that, and all of a sudden they
+went out like snuffs: that is what happens. What are you putting on your
+best hat for?"
+
+"That is no affair of yours."
+
+"Oh, hoity-toity, how grand we are! Do you know, Alice, you haven't got
+at all nice manners. You think you have, but you haven't. We are never
+rude like that in Ireland. We tell a few lies now and then, but they are
+only _polite_ lies--the kind that make other people happy. Alice, I
+should like to know which is best--to be horribly cross, or to tell nice
+polite lies. Which is the most wicked? I should like to know."
+
+"Then I will tell you," said Alice. "What you call a nice lie is just a
+very great and awful sin; and if you don't believe me, go to church and
+listen when the commandments are read."
+
+"In future," said Kathleen very calmly, "now that I really know your
+views, I will always tell you _home truths_. You can't blame me, can
+you?"
+
+Alice deigned no answer. She went downstairs and let herself out of the
+house.
+
+"And that is the sort of girl I have exchanged for daddy and the mother
+and the boys," thought the Irish girl. "Oh, dear! oh, dear!"
+
+Kathleen flew downstairs. It was nearly three o'clock; tea was to be on
+the table at half-past four. Quick as thought she dashed into the
+kitchen.
+
+"Maria," she said, "and cook, is there anything nice and tasty for tea
+this evening?"
+
+"Nice and tasty, miss!" said cook. "And what should there be nice and
+tasty? There's bread, and there's butter--Dorset, second-class
+Dorset--and there's jam (if there's any left); and that's about all."
+
+"That sort of tea isn't very nourishing, cook, is it? I ask because I
+want to know," said Kathleen.
+
+"It's the kind we always have at Myrtle Lodge," replied cook. "I don't
+hold with it, but then it's the way of the missis."
+
+"I have got some money in my pocket," said Kathleen. "I want to have a
+beautiful, nice tea. Can't you think of something to buy? Here's five
+shillings. Would that get her a nice tea?"
+
+"A nice tea!" cried Maria. "It would get a beautiful meal; and the poor
+missis, she would like it."
+
+"Then go out, Maria; do, like a darling. I will open the door for you if
+anybody calls. Do run round the corner and bring in--Oh! I know what.
+We'll have sausages--they are delicious--and a little tin of
+sardines--won't they be good?--and some water-cress, and some
+shrimps--oh, yes, shrimps! Be quick! And we will put out the best
+tea-things, and a clean cloth; and it will rest the poor tired one so
+tremendously when she comes in and sees a good meal on the table."
+
+Both cook and Maria were quite excited. Perhaps they had an eye to the
+reversion of the tea, the sausages, the sardines, the shrimps, and the
+water-cress.
+
+Maria went out, and Kathleen stood in the hall. Two or three people
+arrived during Maria's absence, and Kathleen went promptly to the door
+and said, "Not at home, ma'am," in a determined voice, and with rather a
+scowling face, to these arrivals. Some of the visitors left rather
+important messages, but Kathleen did not remember them for more than a
+moment after they were delivered. Maria presently came back and the
+tea-table was laid. Kathleen gave Maria sixpence for the washing of an
+extra cloth, and the well-spread table looked quite fresh and
+wonderfully like a school-feast.
+
+When Mrs. Tennant returned (she came in looking very hot and tired), it
+was to see the room tidy, Kathleen seated in her own special chair
+cobbling the boys' socks as hard as she could, and an appetizing tea on
+the table.
+
+"What does this mean?" said Mrs. Tennant.
+
+"It means," said Kathleen, jumping up, "that you are to plant yourself
+just here, and you are not to stir. Oh, I know you are _dead_ tired. I
+will take off your shoes, poor dear; I have brought your slippers down
+on purpose, and you are to have your tea at this little table. Now what
+will you have? Hot sausages?--They are done to a turn, aren't they,
+Maria?"
+
+"That they are, miss."
+
+"A nice hot sausage on toast, and a lovely cup of tea with cream in it."
+
+"But--but," said Mrs. Tennant, "what will Alice say?"
+
+"Maria and I don't care twopence what Alice says. This is my tea, and
+Maria fetched it. Now then, dear tired one, eat and rest."
+
+Mrs. Tennant looked at Kathleen with loving eyes.
+
+"Did you buy these things?" she said.
+
+"That she did, ma'am," cried Maria. "I never did see a more thoughtful
+young lady."
+
+"My dear child," said Mrs. Tennant, "you are too good."
+
+Kathleen laughed.
+
+"If there is one thing I am, it is not that," she said. "I am not a bit
+good. I am as wild and naughty and----Oh, but don't let us talk about
+me. I am so hungry. You know I didn't much like your dinner to-day. I am
+not fond of those watery stews. Of course, I can eat anything, but I
+don't specially like them; so if you don't mind I will have a sausage,
+too, and a plateful of shrimps afterwards, and some sardines. And isn't
+this water-cress nice? The leaves are not quite so brown as I should
+like. Oh, we did have such lovely water-cress in the stream at home!
+Mrs. Tennant, you must come back with me to Carrigrohane some day, and
+then you will have a real rest."
+
+Mrs. Tennant, feeling very much like a naughty child herself, enjoyed
+her tea. She and Kathleen laughed over the shrimps, exclaimed at the fun
+of eating the water-cress, enjoyed the sausages, and each drank four
+cups of tea. It was when the meal had come to an end that Kathleen said
+calmly:
+
+"Three or four, or perhaps five, ladies called while Maria was out."
+
+"Who were they, dear?"
+
+"I don't know. They left messages, and I have forgotten them. One lady
+was dressed in what I should call a very loud style. She was quite old.
+Her face was all over wrinkles. She was stout, and she wore a short
+jacket and a big--very big--picture-hat."
+
+"You don't mean," said Mrs. Tennant, "that Mrs. Dalzell has called? She
+is one of my most important friends. She promised to help me with regard
+to David's future. What did she say--can't you remember?"
+
+"I am ever so sorry, but I can't. I kept staring at her hat all the
+time. I don't remember anything about her except that she was old and
+had wrinkles and a big picture-hat--the sort of hat that Ruth Craven
+would look pretty in."
+
+Mrs. Tennant began to find the remembrance of her delightful tea a
+little depressing, for, question Kathleen as she might, she did not
+remember anything about the ladies except a few fugitive descriptions.
+As far as Mrs. Tennant could make out, people who were of the greatest
+importance to her had left messages, and yet none of the messages could
+be attended to.
+
+"I can't even imagine who the other ladies can be," she said. "But as to
+Mrs. Dalzell, she must not be neglected; I must go out and see her at
+once."
+
+"Then you will be more tired than ever, and I have not done a scrap of
+good."
+
+"You meant very kindly, my dear child, and have given me a delicious and
+strengthening tea. Only don't do it again, darling, for it is my place
+to give you tea, not yours to give it to me."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+THE QUEEN AND HER SECRET SOCIETY.
+
+
+Mrs. Tennant had not been out more than a minute or two before David and
+Ben came in. Kathleen saw them from the window; she tapped on the window
+with her knuckles, nodded to them, kissed her hand, and looked radiant
+with delight. Some boys at the opposite side of the street saw her and
+burst out laughing. David's face grew red.
+
+"I wish the little Irish girl wouldn't make us figures of fun," said
+Ben, speaking in an annoyed tone.
+
+The next instant David had opened the door with his latchkey, and
+Kathleen was waiting for them in the hall.
+
+"Sausages," she said, bringing out the word with great gusto, "and
+shrimps, and water-cress, and sardines, besides bread-and-butter galore,
+and nice hot tea. Maria is making fresh tea now in the kitchen. Come
+along in--do; you must be ravenous."
+
+The boys stared at her. Ben forgot his anger; he was schoolboy enough to
+thoroughly enjoy the delicious meal which Kathleen had prepared.
+
+When it came to an end David jumped up impatiently.
+
+"Where are you going, Dave?" asked Kathleen in an interested voice. She
+wanted him to help her. She had hoped that he and she would go away to
+the old loft together, and talk as they had done the night before. But
+David was firm.
+
+"I am going to the church," he said, "to practice on the organ. I only
+get the chance three times a week, and I must not neglect it."
+
+"David hopes to be no end of a swell some day," remarked Ben. "He thinks
+he can make the instrument speak."
+
+"And so can I," said Kathleen. "May I come with you, Dave?"
+
+"Some day," he replied, looking at her kindly, "but not to-day. I'll be
+back as soon as I can."
+
+David did not notice her disappointed face; he went out immediately,
+without even going upstairs first. Ben and Kathleen were now alone.
+Kathleen looked at him attentively.
+
+"I wonder--" she said slowly.
+
+"What are you staring at me for?" said Ben.
+
+"I have been wondering what sort you are. I have got cousins at home,
+and they do anything in the world I like. I wonder if you would."
+
+Ben had been very cross with Kathleen when she had knocked to him and
+David from the dining-room window, but he was not cross now. He was only
+thirteen, and up to the present no pretty girl had ever taken the
+slightest notice of him. He was a plain, sandy-haired boy, with a
+freckled face, a wide mouth, and good-humored blue eyes.
+
+"You make me laugh whenever I look at you," was Kathleen's next candid
+remark.
+
+"I didn't know that I was so comical," was his answer.
+
+"Perhaps you don't like it."
+
+"I can't say I do."
+
+"Well, this is the Palace of Home Truths," said Kathleen, laughing. "I
+asked your darling, saintly sister just now which was the most
+wicked--to tell a polite lie, or a frightfully rude home truth. She said
+that a polite lie was an awful sin, so in this house I must cleave to
+the home truths. I could tell you, you know, that you have quite a
+fascinating smile, and a very taking voice, and a delightful and
+polished manner; but I prefer to tell you that you are comical, which
+means that I feel inclined to burst out laughing whenever I look at
+you."
+
+"Thank you," said Ben, who could be very sulky when he liked. "Then I
+will take my objectionable presence out of your sight. I have got my
+lessons to do."
+
+Kathleen raised her brows and gave a slow smile. Ben got as far as the
+door.
+
+"Benny," she said then in a most seductive whisper.
+
+He turned.
+
+"I am so glad you are in."
+
+"I should not have thought so."
+
+"But I am. It is awfully lonely for a girl like me, who has got dozens
+of cousins at home, and uncles and aunts and all the rest of the goodly
+fry, to be stranded. I like David. I am quite smitten with David; and I
+like you, too. You can be a _great_ friend of mine."
+
+"Oh, I don't mind," said Ben.
+
+He thought it would be very good fun to tell the other fellows about
+the charming Irish girl who liked him so much.
+
+"I wonder if you'd help me, Ben."
+
+"What can I do?" asked Ben.
+
+"Sit down, and let's be cozy. I will sit in the tired one's chair, and
+you can sit on that little stool at my feet. Now isn't that nice?"
+
+"Who do you mean by the tired one?"
+
+"Your mother, silly boy, of course."
+
+"It is a very ridiculous name to call her."
+
+"It belongs to the Palace of Home Truths. Your mother is tired, and
+you--you lazy omadhauns--"
+
+"Well, go on," said Ben. "I see by your manner that you want me to do
+something. I suppose it's something a little bit--a little bit not quite
+good."
+
+"It is perfectly good. I'll love you ever so much if you will do it."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"I am going out this evening. I may not be in until late. If the others
+are in bed, will you come and unlock the door for me when I throw gravel
+up at your window? You must tell me which is your window."
+
+"I sleep in the north attic. It doesn't look out on to the street; and I
+can't--I can't possibly do it."
+
+"You can come down and wait for me in the hall."
+
+"How can I?"
+
+"When the tired one goes to bed, you can come down. She goes to bed at
+ten, I know, and I shall not be in until about half-past ten. I don't
+want Dave to know--well, because I don't. I don't want Alice to know,
+because I dislike Alice very much."
+
+"Really, Kathleen, you ought not to speak like that."
+
+"Well, I do, and I can't help myself. Will you do what I want? Here, do
+you think you'd like this in your possession?"
+
+As Kathleen spoke she held out a golden sovereign in the palm of her
+little hand.
+
+"I don't want to be bribed."
+
+"It isn't bribery really; it is paying you for giving me a great
+convenience. I must go out on important business. I want to help those
+who are down-trodden and distressed. Will you do what I want, Ben--will
+you, dear Ben? You know I like you so much. Will you--will you?"
+
+Of course, Ben fought against Kathleen's rather wicked suggestion; of
+course in the end he yielded. When he finally got up to his attic to
+thumb over his well-worn lesson-books he had Kathleen's golden sovereign
+in his pocket. He took it out and looked at it; he turned it round and
+round and examined it all over. He rubbed it lovingly against his
+freckled cheek, held it until it got warm in the palm of his hand, and
+then put it back in his pocket and jingled it against a couple of
+pennies which were its only companions.
+
+"A whole sovereign," he said to himself--"a whole sovereign, and I never
+had so much as five shillings of my own in the whole course of my life.
+Well, she is a little witch. I suppose Dave would beat me black and blue
+for doing a thing of this sort. But how could I--how could I withstand
+her?"
+
+Supper at the Tennants' generally consisted of cold pudding, cold meat,
+bread-and-butter, and a little jam when there happened to be any in the
+house. It was not a particularly tempting meal, and those who ate it
+required to have good, vigorous appetites. Kathleen, although she had
+been brought up in a considerable amount of wasteful splendor, was
+indifferent to what she ate. She soon jumped up and walked across the
+little passage into the drawing-room. Ben, looking very red and
+shamefaced, would not meet her eyes. Ben's face annoyed Kathleen. It did
+not occur to her for a minute that he would not be faithful to her, but
+she was afraid that others might notice his extraordinary and perturbed
+expression. Once, too, he jingled the sovereign in his pocket; she heard
+him, and wondered why David did not ask him where he had got the money.
+But no remark was made, and the meal came safely to an end. Kathleen
+took up the first book she could find and pretended to read.
+
+"I shall feign sleepiness at a quarter to nine," she said to herself,
+"and go upstairs. I shall be awfully polite and sweet to dear Alice. She
+never comes to bed before ten, so I shall be quite safe getting out of
+the house. I can drop from the window, but I should prefer going by the
+back door; and I don't think Maria will betray me."
+
+Just then Alice strolled into the room. She looked rather nice; she wore
+a very pretty pink muslin blouse, which suited her well. Her hair was
+neatly arranged; her face was calm. She stood before Kathleen.
+
+"I wish--" she said suddenly.
+
+Kathleen raised her head.
+
+"And I wish you wouldn't stand between me and the lamp. Don't you see
+that I am reading?"
+
+"I want you to stop reading. I have something to say."
+
+"Indeed!"
+
+Kathleen longed to be very rude, but she thought of her delightful plan
+so close at hand, and refrained.
+
+"I must humor her if I can by any possibility keep my temper," was her
+thought. Then aloud: "What is it you want? I hope you will be very
+quick, for I am rather sleepy and intend to go to bed soon."
+
+"I hope you won't do it again, that's all."
+
+"Do what again?" asked Kathleen.
+
+"Spend your money on buying food for us. We are not so poor as all that.
+My mother is paid by your father to give you your meals; your father
+doesn't expect you to buy them over again."
+
+"Dad always likes me to do what I wish," replied Kathleen calmly.
+
+"Well, don't do it again. It's extremely displeasing both to David and
+me."
+
+Kathleen laughed.
+
+"Dave gobbled up his sausage and his sardines," she said.
+
+"Don't do it again, that's all."
+
+Kathleen nodded her head, and again buried herself in her book.
+
+"And there is another thing," continued Alice, dropping into a chair by
+Kathleen's side. "You are very low down in the school. Two of the
+mistresses spoke to me about you to-day. They don't like to see a great
+overgrown girl like you in a class with little children; it does neither
+you nor the school credit. They fear that during this term you may be
+forced to continue in your present low position; but they earnestly hope
+that you will work very hard, so as to be removed into a higher form.
+You ought, after Christmas, to get into a class at least two removes
+higher up in the school. That is what I came to say. I suppose you have
+a certain sense of honor, and you don't want your father's money to be
+thrown away."
+
+"Bedad, then! he has plenty of money, and I don't much care," replied
+Kathleen.
+
+She lay back in her chair and whistled "Garry Owen" in a most insolent
+manner.
+
+"If you have really made up your mind not to improve yourself in the
+very least, mother had better write to Squire O'Hara and suggest that
+you don't come back after Christmas."
+
+"And Squire O'Hara will decide that point for himself," replied
+Kathleen. "There are other houses where I can be entertained and fussed
+over, and regarded as I ought to be regarded, besides the home of Alice
+Tennant. The fact is this, Alice: you aggravate me; you don't understand
+me; I am at my worst in your presence. Perhaps I am a bit wild
+sometimes, but your way would never drive me to work or anything else. I
+have no real dislike to learning, and if another girl spoke to me as you
+have done I might be very glad."
+
+"What do you mean?" said poor Alice. "I really and truly, Kathleen, do
+want to help you. You and I could work every evening together; I could,
+and would, see you through your lessons. Thus you would very quickly get
+to the head of your class, and get your removes without trouble at
+Christmas."
+
+"I suppose you mean to be kind," said Kathleen. "I will think it over.
+Let me alone now."
+
+She gave a portentous yawn. Ben heard her, came and sat down on an
+ottoman not far off, and began kicking his legs.
+
+"Benny," said his sister, "if you have done your lessons, you had better
+go to bed."
+
+"I don't want to go so early. You always treat me as if I were a baby."
+
+"Well, please yourself. I am going upstairs to fetch my books. I have a
+good hour and a half of hard work to get through before bedtime."
+
+The moment Kathleen and Ben were alone, Ben rushed up to her side and
+began to whisper.
+
+"It is all as right as possible," he said. "I am going up to bed as
+usual, and when mother and Alice and Dave are safe in their rooms I'll
+slip down again. I'll be in the hall. Don't ring when you come back;
+just walk up the steps and scratch against the door with your knuckles,
+and I'll hear you and let you in in a trice. I am awfully pleased about
+that sovereign; it will make me one of the greatest toffs in the school.
+I'll have more money than any of the other fellows. I'm so excited I can
+scarcely think of anything else. I know I'm doing wrong, but you did
+offer me such a tremendous temptation. Now I hear Alice's step. It will
+be all right, Kathleen; don't you fear."
+
+Kathleen smiled to herself. The rest of her programme was carried out to
+a nicety. At a quarter to nine she complained of fatigue, bade Mrs.
+Tennant an affectionate good-night, nodded to Alice, and left the room.
+
+"Be sure you don't lock the door," called Alice after her. "I sha'n't be
+up for quite an hour, and you will be sound asleep by that time."
+
+"I won't lock it," replied Kathleen gently.
+
+When Kathleen had gone upstairs, Mrs. Tennant turned and spoke to her
+daughter.
+
+"You know, Alice," she said, "the child is very lovable and
+kind-hearted--a little barbarian in some senses of the word, but a fine
+nature--of that I am certain."
+
+"I am so busy to-night, mother," replied Alice. "Can't we defer talking
+of the charms of Kathleen's character until after I have done my
+lessons?"
+
+"Of course, dear," said her mother.
+
+She drew her basket of mending towards her, put stitch after stitch
+into the shabby garments, and thought all the time of Kathleen with her
+bright face and beautiful, merry eyes.
+
+Meanwhile that young lady, having arranged a bolster in her bed to look
+as like a human being as possible, put on her hat and jacket and ran
+downstairs. There was no one in the hall, and she was absolutely daring
+enough to go out by that door. Mrs. Tennant raised her head when she
+heard the door gently shut.
+
+"Can that be the post?" she said; but as no one replied, she forgot the
+circumstance and went on with her mending.
+
+A few doors down the street Susy Hopkins was waiting for Kathleen.
+
+"Oh, there you are!" she said. "We are so excited! There will be about
+eight of us waiting for you in the old quarry. You are good to come. You
+don't know what this means in our lives. You are good--you are
+wonderfully good."
+
+"Where's the quarry?" asked Kathleen. "You have chosen such a funny
+place. I should not have imagined that a quarry--a dear, romantic
+quarry--could be found anywhere in this neighborhood."
+
+"Yes, but there is, and a good big one, too. It is about half a mile
+away, just at the back of Colliers' Buildings. It is the safest place
+you can possibly imagine, for no one will ever look for us there. Now do
+be quick; we will find the others before us. You can't think how excited
+we are."
+
+"Oh, I'm willing to be quick," replied Kathleen. "I am doing all this
+for you, you know, because I am sorry for the foundationers, and think
+it so very ridiculous that there should be distinctions made. Why, you
+are quite as good as the others. They are none of them much to boast
+of."
+
+"What fun this is!" cried Susy again. "I assure you the paying girls
+think no end of themselves. They are under the supposition that there
+never were such fine ladies to be found in the land before. Oh, we will
+take it out of them, sha'n't we?"
+
+Kathleen made no reply. Presently they reached the opening that led into
+the quarry. They had to go down a narrow sloping path, and then by a
+doorway cut in the solid rock. After they had passed through they found
+themselves in a large circular cavern open to the sky. There was no moon
+and the night was dark; but one girl had brought a lantern. She opened
+it and placed it on the ground; a bright shaft of light now fell on
+several young figures all huddled together. Susy gave a sharp whistle;
+the girls started to their feet.
+
+"Here we are, girls. See, this is our queen," and she presented Kathleen
+to the assembled girls.
+
+"Does the queen mind our looking at her face in turns?" said Kate
+Rourke. "I have not specially noticed you before," she continued, "but
+after we have each had a good stare we will know what sort of girl you
+are."
+
+For reply Kathleen herself lifted the lantern and flung the full light
+upon her radiant and lovely face and figure. The intense light made her
+golden hair shine, and brought out the delicate perfection of each
+feature; the merry eyes framed in their dark lashes, the gleaming white
+teeth, the rosy lips were all apparent. But beyond the mere beauty of
+feature Kathleen had to a remarkable degree the far more fascinating
+beauty of expression: her face was capable of almost every shade of
+emotion, being sorrowful and pathetic one moment, and brimful of
+irrepressible mirth and roguery the next.
+
+There was a silence amongst the girls until Mary Rand shouted:
+
+"Hip! hip! hurrah!"
+
+The whole eight immediately broke into a ringing cheer.
+
+"Welcome, Queen Kathleen," they said--"welcome;" and they held out their
+hands and clasped the hands of the Irish girl.
+
+"I am glad," said Kathleen.
+
+"What about?" said Clara Sawyer.
+
+"Why, you have crowned me queen yourselves. Now I can do what I like
+with you all."
+
+"You certainly can," said Susy Hopkins.--"We are devoted to our queen,
+aren't we, girls?"
+
+"We have fallen in love with her on the spot," said Rosy Myers.
+
+"I never saw any one quite so lovely before as the queen," said Mary
+Rand.
+
+"It isn't only that she's lovely, she is so genteel," said Susy Hopkins.
+
+"Aristocratic!" cried Kate.--"Hannah Johnson, you haven't given your
+opinion yet.--And, Ruth Craven, you haven't given yours."
+
+"I reserve my opinion," said Ruth.
+
+"And I say there's a great deal of humbug and balder-dash in the world,"
+said Hannah Johnson.
+
+Ruth's remark was unexpected, but the girls pooh-poohed Hannah's. Who
+was Hannah Johnson that she dared to speak so rudely to one so charming
+and beautiful as Kathleen O'Hara? There was a disconcerting pause, and
+then Kathleen said:
+
+"Hannah, doubtless you are right. There is plenty of humbug in the
+world; but I don't think I am one. Now the question is: Shall I be on
+the side of the foundationers, or shall I be on the side of the paying
+girls in the Great Shirley School?"
+
+"Indeed, darling," said Rosy Myers, "you shall be on our side. Those
+horrid, stuck-up paying girls don't want you; and we do. Nothing will
+induce us to give you up. It is a chance to get a girl like you, so
+lovely and so sweet and so rich, to be one of us."
+
+"Well, I think I can give you a good time, and I can show those others
+with their snobbish ways--"
+
+"Hear, hear!" cried the excited girls.
+
+"I can show the others what I think of them. They won't snub me, but
+perhaps I shall snub them. Well, girls, as we have decided to band
+together, we must draw up rules; and when they are drawn up we must obey
+them. I, of course, will be your head; as you have made me queen, that
+is the natural thing to expect."
+
+"Of course," said Susy.
+
+Kathleen clapped her hands.
+
+"This is going to be a real good secret society," she said. "What fun it
+all will be!"
+
+The girls laughed, and clustered with more and more friendliness round
+Kathleen.
+
+"You are our queen," said Kate. "There are eight of us here, and we all
+swear allegiance to you.--Don't we, girls?"
+
+"Certainly," said Susy.
+
+"Unquestionably," remarked Mary.
+
+"With all my heart," said Rose.
+
+"And mine," echoed Clara.
+
+"And mine," said Kate.
+
+"I will join the others, although I don't approve," said Hannah Johnson,
+with a somewhat unwilling nod.
+
+"And I am neutral. I don't think I ought to join at all," said Ruth.
+
+"Oh, yes, you will, Ruth. I want you to be my Prime Minister, I want you
+to be with me in all things."
+
+"I don't know that I can."
+
+"And why should she be your Prime Minister?" said Kate in an ugly voice.
+"She's no better than the others, and she's very new. Some of us have
+been at the school for some time. Ruth Craven has only just joined.
+
+"The queen must have her way," said Kathleen, stamping her foot. "The
+queen must have her way in all particulars, and she wishes to elect Ruth
+Craven as her Prime Minister--that is, if Ruth will consent."
+
+They were headstrong and big girls, most of them older than Kathleen,
+but they submitted, for her ways were masterful and her tone full of
+delicate sympathy.
+
+"I will think it over and let you know," said Ruth. "Of course, I shall
+not betray you; but you must please understand that I have friends
+amongst the paying girls of the school. Cassandra Weldon is my friend,
+and there are others. I will not join nor advocate any plan that annoys
+or worries them."
+
+The girls looked dubious, and one or two began to speak in discontented
+voices.
+
+"We must meet again in a couple of days," said Kathleen finally. "By
+then I shall have drawn up the rules. We can't always meet at night, but
+we will when it is possible, for this place is so romantic, and so
+correct for a secret society. Those who are present to-night will be in
+my Cabinet. I should like if possible to have all the foundation girls
+on my side, but that must be decided at our next meeting. I am willing
+to purchase a badge for each girl who joins me; it will be made of
+silver, and can be worn beneath the dress in the form of a locket."
+
+"Oh, lovely, delicious! There never was such a queen," cried Susy
+Hopkins.
+
+The little meeting broke up amidst universal applause.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+THE BOX FROM DUBLIN AND ITS TREASURES.
+
+
+Kathleen returned quite safely to Myrtle Lodge. Ben was sitting up for
+her; he opened the door. The hall was quite dark. He held out his hand
+and drew her in.
+
+"Am not I splendid?" he said. "I have been standing here for
+half-an-hour, all drenched with perspiration. If mother came down" what
+wouldn't she say? And as to Alice, she'd be even worse. But a sov.'s
+worth doing something for. I say! I do feel happy! I never had all that
+lot of bullion in the whole course of my life before. Are you right now,
+Kathleen--can you slip upstairs without making any noise? Don't forget
+that the step just before you reach the upper landing gives a great
+creak like the report of a pistol; hop over it on to the landing itself,
+and you are safe. Alice is in bed, snoring like anything; I listened
+outside the keyhole."
+
+"Thanks," said Kathleen. "I'm awfully obliged to you, Ben. See if I
+don't do something for you. You are a broth of a boy. What do you say to
+Carrigrohane in the summer, and a gun all to yourself? I'll teach you
+how to shoot rabbits and to bring down a bird on the wing."
+
+She brushed her lips against his cheek, and ran lightly upstairs. She
+escaped the treacherous second step, and entered her bedroom without
+waking Alice. The bolster carefully manipulated had done its work; it
+had never occurred to Alice that the form in the bed was anything but
+the living form of Kathleen O'Hara. She had shaded the light from what
+she supposed to be the sleeping girl, and got into bed herself feeling
+tired and sulky. She had dropped asleep immediately.
+
+Kathleen's first step, therefore, towards the formation of a secret
+society in the Great Shirley School was marked with success. The idea
+which she had formulated in the old quarry spread like wildfire amongst
+the foundationers; but Kathleen was determined not to have another
+meeting for nearly a week. She wished to hear from her father; she
+wanted to have money in hand.
+
+"They are all poor," she thought. "If I appear just as poor as they are,
+I shall never be able to keep my exalted position as queen. We cannot
+have our next meeting until I have drawn up the rules, and I should like
+Ruth Craven to help me. She has got sense. I don't want the thing to be
+riotous, nor to do harm in any way. I just want us to have a bit of fun,
+and to teach the horrid paying girls of the school a lesson."
+
+The thought of her secret society kept Kathleen in a fairly good humor,
+and she worked at her lessons so well that Alice began to have hopes of
+her. About a week after her arrival at Myrtle Lodge the box which Aunt
+Katie O'Flynn was sending from Dublin arrived. It came when the girls
+were at school. When they returned to early dinner they saw it standing
+in the front hall.
+
+"Whatever is this, and why is it put here?" said Alice, springing
+forward to look at the address:
+
+"Miss Kathleen O'Hara, care of Mrs. Tennant, Myrtle Lodge."
+
+"Golloptious!" cried Kathleen. "It's my own. It's my clothes--my sort
+of a kind of a treasure. Oh, what delicious fun! Now you will see how
+smart I can be. Maybe there will be something here to fit you, Alice.
+Wouldn't you like it? We are going to tea to-night to Mrs. Weldon's, and
+Ruth Craven is to be there. The darling girl--I will give her something.
+I should love to make her look just as beautiful as she can look. I am
+not a bit a stingy sort of girl; you know that, Alice. I want to be
+quite generous with my lovely things."
+
+"Well, do stop talking," said Alice. "I never came across such an
+inveterate chatterbox. I suppose you'd like to have the box taken up to
+our room; but I don't think you'll have any time to open it at present.
+You have promised to come back with me to the school this afternoon, in
+order that Miss Spicer may give you a special lesson in music."
+
+"Arrah, then, my dear!" cried Kathleen, "it isn't me you'll see at
+school again to-day. It's gloating and fussing over my clothes I will
+be--portioning out those I mean to give to others, and trying on the
+ones that will suit me. You can go to your horrid, stupid lessons if you
+like, but it won't be Kathleen O'Hara who will accompany you. Perhaps
+the poor tired one would like to have a pleasant afternoon in my
+bedroom. Oh, glory be to goodness! we will have a time. Isn't it worth
+anything to see that blessed trunk? My eyes can almost pierce through
+the deal and see the lovely garments folded away inside."
+
+Alice took no notice; she marched on to her room. Kathleen followed her.
+
+"The boys shall bring it up for me immediately after dinner," she said.
+"I sha'n't be going out again until I go to Mrs. Weldon's. I expect
+people will open their eyes when they see me to-night."
+
+"You must please yourself, of course," said Alice. "For my part, I am
+extremely sorry that the trunk has come. You were settling down a
+little, and were not quite so objectionable as at first."
+
+"Thanks _awfully_, darling," said Kathleen, dropping a mock curtsy.
+
+"Not quite so objectionable," continued Alice in a calm voice. "But now,
+with all these silly gewgaws, you will be worse titan ever. But please
+clearly understand that I do not want any of your ornaments."
+
+"Don't trouble yourself, darling; they were not made for you. I force my
+treasures on nobody."
+
+"I wouldn't wear them if you were to give them. I hope I have some
+proper pride."
+
+"Pride of the _most_ proper sort," said Kathleen, dancing before her.
+
+"And I do hope, also, that you won't make yourself a merry-andrew or a
+figure of fun at the Weldons' to-night. It will be in extremely bad
+taste. We are not going to have a large party--just one or two of the
+mistresses and little Ruth Craven, who, although she is a foundationer,
+seems to be a very nice sort of child. It would be in the worst taste
+possible to wear anything but the simplest clothes."
+
+"All right," said Kathleen. "If I am a chatterbox, you are about the
+greatest preacher, with the most long-winded sermons, that ever entered
+a house. You are a perfect plague to me, and that is the truth, Alice
+Tennant."
+
+Alice poured some water into her basin, washed her hands, and went
+downstairs.
+
+"Mother," she said, "I am obliged to be out the whole afternoon. The
+scholarship examination takes place in six weeks now, and if I am to
+have any chance of getting through I must not idle a single moment. I
+grieve to say that a box of finery has arrived for Kathleen--most
+unsuitable, for she has plenty of clothes. I do trust, mother, you will
+keep her in tow a little this afternoon, and not allow her to make a
+show of herself."
+
+"You are not very kind to Kathleen," said Mrs. Tennant. "Why shouldn't
+the child enjoy her pretty things? I like to see girls nicely dressed.
+It is a great trial to me to be obliged to deny you the ribbons and
+frills and laces which most girls of your age possess."
+
+"Thanks, mother," answered Alice; "but if you were as Rich as Croesus, I
+should not wish, while I am a schoolgirl, to dress any better than I
+do."
+
+"You certainly have a great deal of sense, dear; but don't be too hard
+on the little girl. Ah! here she comes. Now we must sit down to dinner
+at once."
+
+During dinner Kathleen's eyes sparkled so brightly, and she looked so
+merry and mysterious, that both the boys gazed at her in wonder.
+
+"Don't mind me," she said, whispering to David as she bent towards him.
+"It's in real downright delight I am. I am expecting to have the most
+wonderful joy all the afternoon that was ever given a girl. Ah, then,
+it's illegant myself will be when you see me next, boys. And do look at
+her! I declare she's getting crosser each minute."
+
+"Hush, Kathleen!" said David. "You must not say unkind things."
+
+"Don't trouble to reprove her, David," called out Alice in a calm and
+lofty tone. "I assure you she doesn't annoy me in the least. Sometimes I
+think there is a little gnat flying about and trying to sting me, but
+that's all."
+
+"And a charming metaphor, too," said Kathleen.
+
+She ate her meal soberly, but occasionally a bubble of laughter came to
+the surface, and her merry eyes glanced from Mrs. Tennant's face to
+Alice's, and from Alice's to those of the boys. The moment the meal came
+to an end Kathleen jumped up.
+
+"Now, then, my angels, you come with me," she said, and she caught David
+by the one hand and Ben by the other, and led her willing slaves into
+the hall.
+
+"Did you ever see anything like it?" said Alice to her mother. "She will
+ruin the boys in addition to all her other mischief. Mother, must we
+keep her long? It is really most disturbing."
+
+"If you would only take poor little Kathleen as she is, you would find
+her quite agreeable, Alice," was her mother's answer.
+
+"Oh dear, mother! you seem to be just as much infatuated as the others.
+But never mind. I am off now, and I need not be back in the house until
+it is time to dress to go to Mrs. Weldon's. I declare that girl is
+causing me to hate my home. I don't think its fair, whatever you may say
+to the contrary."
+
+Mrs. Tennant sighed. Alice had always been a little difficult; she was
+more than difficult at the present moment. But very soon afterwards the
+welcome bang of the hall door was heard, and the house was free.
+
+"Now for a jolly time," said Kathleen. "Tired one, where are you?"
+
+"Kathleen, you ought not to call me by that name. You ought to be more
+respectful."
+
+"Arrah, then, darling, I can't; 'tain't in me. I am so fond of you--oh,
+worra, worra! there's nothing I wouldn't do for you; but I must be as
+I'm made. You do look tired, and tired you will go on looking until I
+take you to Carrigrohane to rest you and to feed you with good milk and
+good fruit and good eggs and good cream.--Now then, boys, lift up that
+trunk. Be aisy with it, so that you won't hurt it. Take it up to my
+bedroom and put it on the floor. Maybe there's something in it for you,
+or maybe there isn't--Mrs. Tennant, acushla! you will come along
+upstairs with me at once. You can bring your mending basket, and I will
+pop you into the arm-chair by the window, and we can consult together
+over the garments. It's fine I'll look when I have them on. Aunt Katie
+O'Flynn is a woman who has real taste, and I know she is going to dress
+me up as no other girl ever was dressed before in the Great Shirley
+School."
+
+Mrs. Tennant could not help laughing. The boys were also in the highest
+good-humor; Kathleen's mirth was contagious. They went upstairs to the
+bedroom, and then Ben saucily perched himself on the foot of one of the
+beds; while David, having brought up a hammer and screwdriver, proceeded
+to lift the lid of the box, which was firmly nailed down. Under the lid
+was a lot of tissue-paper. Kathleen went on her knees, lifted it up,
+uttered a shout, and turned to the boys.
+
+"You make off now," she said.
+
+"No, indeed I won't," said Ben. "I want to see the fun."
+
+"Go, both of you. There will be something nice for you when you come
+back to tea," said Kathleen.
+
+They looked regretful, but saw nothing for it but to go. Kathleen in a
+breathless sort of way, scarcely uttering a word, spread out her
+treasures on the bed. Was there ever such a box? Skirts, bodices,
+blouses, shirts; an evening dress, an afternoon dress, a morning
+dress--they seemed simply endless. Then there were frills and ribbons
+and veils; there were two great, big, very stylish-looking hats, with
+long plumes; and there was a little toque made of crimson velvet, which
+Kathleen declared was quite too sweet for anything. There were also
+dozens of handkerchiefs, dozens of pairs of stockings, and some sweet
+little slippers all embroidered and fit for the most bewitching feet in
+the world. Kathleen's cheeks got redder and redder.
+
+"Here's a cargo for you," she said. "Here's something to delight the
+heart. Now, my dear Mrs. Tennant, let us come and examine everything. Do
+you think I am utterly selfish, Mrs. Tennant? Do you think I want all
+these things for myself?"
+
+"I am sure you don't, dear."
+
+"It quite makes me ache with longing to give some of them away. I don't
+want so many frocks: there are a good dozen here all told. Aunt Katie
+O'Flynn's the one for extravagance, bless her! and for having a thing
+done in style, bless her! I should like you to see her. It's
+splendacious she is entirely when she's dressed up in her best--velvet
+and feathers and laces and jewels. Why, nothing holds her in bounds;
+there's nothing she stops at. I have seen her give hundreds of pounds
+for one little glittering gem. Ah! and here's a ring. Look, Mrs.
+Tennant."
+
+Kathleen had now opened a small box which was lying at the bottom of the
+great trunk. There were several treasures in it: a necklet of glittering
+white stones, another of blue, another of red, and this little ring--a
+little ring which contained a solitary diamond of the purest water.
+
+"Now I shall look stylish," said Kathleen, and she slipped the ring on
+the third finger of her left hand.
+
+"My wedding finger too, bedad!" she said.
+
+When the contents of the trunk had been finally explored, Kathleen
+began to sort her finery. Mrs. Tennant gave advice.
+
+"Some of these things are a little too fine for everyday use," she said.
+"But some of these blouses are very suitable, and so are these white and
+gray and pink shirts. And this blue bodice is quite nice for the
+evening, and so is the skirt belonging to it; but this and this and
+this--I wouldn't wear these until I went home if I were you, my love."
+
+Kathleen glanced at her. A slight frown came between her brows.
+
+"Don't you see," she said impatiently, "that I want to give away some of
+these things? Do you see this dozen of blouses, all exactly alike, in
+this box? These are for the secret society."
+
+"The what, Kathleen?"
+
+"Oh, you musn't tell--it is the most profound secret--but I have joined
+one. Being an Irish girl, it is quite natural. I sent a line to Aunt
+Katie to get a dozen of the very prettiest blouses she could. Of course
+there are a lot more members, but our Cabinet has risen to something
+like a dozen, so I thought I'd have them handy. Aren't they just sweet?"
+
+As she spoke she took out of the box the palest blue cashmere blouse,
+most exquisitely trimmed with blue embroidery flecked with pink silk.
+The blouse had real lace round the neck and cuffs, and must have cost a
+great deal of money.
+
+"Don't you think Alice would look very nice in one of these?" said
+Kathleen, gazing with a very earnest face at Mrs. Tennant.
+
+"Pink is more Alice's color. She is too pale for blue," was Mrs.
+Tennant's reply.
+
+"Well, then, look here. Isn't this a perfect duck? See for yourself.
+It's a sort of cross between a coral and a rose--oh, so exquisite! And
+see how it is made, with all these teeny tucks and the embroidery let in
+between. And the sleeves--aren't they just illegant entirely? Don't you
+think we might make her wear it?"
+
+"I am sorry, Kathleen, but you are not getting on very well with Alice.
+I wish it were different. Could you not do something to propitiate her?"
+
+"Wisha, then, darling!" said Kathleen, pausing a moment to consider;
+"that's just what I can't do. Alice's ways are not my ways, and if I
+copied her it's kilt I'd be entirely. She never likes to see a smile on
+my face, and she can't abide to watch me if I dance a step, and she
+wouldn't take a joke out of me if it was to save her life. To please
+Alice I'd have to be the primmest of the prim, and always stooping over
+my horrid lessons, and the end of it there'd be no more of poor Kathleen
+O'Hara--- it's dead and in her grave she'd be, the creature. Indeed, I'm
+glad I'm not made on Alice's pattern, even if she is your daughter. I
+can't aspire to anything so fine and high up even for your sake,
+darling, and you are one of the sweetest women on God's earth. I
+couldn't do it--not by no means."
+
+Mrs. Tennant could not help laughing as Kathleen described the sort of
+girl she would be if she adopted Alice's role.
+
+"But the question is now," said the girl, "what are we to do to make her
+have some of these pretty things? Mightn't I give the blouse to you
+first, and you could give it to her? She'd look so sweet in this pink
+blouse when she went to tea at her chosen friends. She'd be almost
+pretty if she was nicely dressed. I've got this white one for little
+Ruth Craven, and I want Alice to have this so badly. Can't you manage
+it, dear Mrs. Tennant?"
+
+Mrs. Tennant felt tempted. The blouse was very dainty and pretty, and
+unlike anything she could afford to buy for her only daughter. Kathleen
+threw her arms round her neck and kissed her.
+
+"You will--you will, dear Mrs. Tennant," she said. "It is yours
+entirely. You tell her you got it at a cheap sale. Say you went to a
+jumble sale and bought it; you paid one-and-twopence-halfpenny for it.
+That's the right figure, isn't it, for the best things at a jumble sale?
+Tell her it's _quite_ new, and was thrown in promiscuous like."
+
+"But, my darling child, I can't tell her what isn't true. She would wear
+it if she didn't know it came from you. She would not only wear it, but
+she would delight in it; but nothing would induce her to take it if she
+thought you had given it."
+
+"Then don't let's tell her. Besides, it wouldn't be true, for I have
+given it to you, dear. And now, see, here is something for your sweet
+self. I wrote to Aunt Katie, and Aunt Katie is so clever. See! come to
+the glass."
+
+Kathleen had opened a cardboard box, and out of it she took a black
+velvet bonnet with nodding plumes and a little pink strip of velvet
+fastened under the brim. This she put with trembling fingers on Mrs.
+Tennant's head. Mrs. Tennant was in reality not at all old, and she
+looked quite young and pretty in the new toque.
+
+"You are charming, that's what you are," said Kathleen. "And I can't
+take it back, for you know perfectly well that it is a wee bit too old
+for me. You will have to wear it."
+
+"But what will Alice say?"
+
+"Never mind. Don't tell her; just be mum. Say, 'it is mine, and I mean
+to wear it.' Oh, I'd manage Alice if I happened to be her mother."
+
+"I don't think you would, dear."
+
+"Indeed, but I would. And now I must consider whom I am to give the
+other things to."
+
+When Kathleen had finally parcelled out her treasures there was not such
+a great deal left for herself, for this girl and the other who had taken
+her fancy were all allotted a treasure out of that famous box. And there
+was a thick albert chain made of solid silver for Ben, and a keyless
+silver watch for David; and what could boys possibly want more? Kathleen
+had remembered all her friends, and Aunt Katie O'Flynn was more than
+willing to carry out her request.
+
+Finally, at the very bottom of the trunk was a little parcel which she
+refrained from opening while Mrs. Tennant was present. It contained the
+badges of the new society. Kathleen had decided that they were to call
+themselves "The Wild Irish Girls," and this title was neatly engraved on
+the little badges, which were of the shape of hearts. Below the name was
+the device--a harp with a bit of shamrock trailing round it. The badges
+were small and exceedingly neat, and there were about sixty of them in
+all.
+
+"Now then, I can go ahead," thought Kathleen. "What with the finery for
+my dear, darling chosen ones, and the badges for all the members, I
+shall do."
+
+She was utterly reckless with regard to expense. Her father was rich,
+and he did not mind what he spent on his only child. The box seemed to
+fill up every crevice of her heart, as she expressed it, and it was a
+very happy girl who dressed to go to the Weldons' that evening.
+Kathleen was intensely affectionate, and would have done anything in the
+world to please Mrs. Tennant; but when it came to wearing a very quiet
+gray dress with a little lace round the collar and cuffs, she begun to
+demur.
+
+"It can't be done," she thought. "Half of them will be in gray and half
+of them in brown, and a few old dowdies will perhaps be in black. But I
+must be gay; it isn't fair to Aunt Katie to be anything else."
+
+She made a wild and scarcely judicious selection. She put on crimson
+silk stockings, and tucked into her bag a pair of crimson satin shoes.
+Her dress consisted of a black velvet skirt over a crimson petticoat,
+and her bodice was of crimson silk very much embroidered and with
+elbow-sleeves. Round her neck she wore innumerable beads of every
+possible color, and twisted through her lovely hair were some more
+beads, which shone as the light fell on them. Altogether it was a very
+bizarre and fascinating little figure that appeared that evening at the
+Weldons' hall door. Over her showy dress she wore a long opera-cloak, so
+that at first her splendors were not fully visible. This gaily dressed
+little person entered a room full of sober people. The effect was
+somewhat the same as though a gorgeous butterfly had flown into the
+room. She lit up the dullness and made a centre of attraction--all eyes
+were fastened upon her; for Kathleen in her well-made dress,
+notwithstanding the gayety of its color, looked simply radiant. The
+mischief in her dark eyes, too, but added to her charm. She glanced with
+almost maliciousness at Alice, who, in the dowdiest of pale-gray
+dresses, with her hair rather untidy and her face destitute of color,
+was standing near one of the windows. And as Alice glanced at Kathleen
+she felt that she almost hated the Irish girl.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+CONSCIENCE AND DIFFICULTIES.
+
+
+All the people who knew her were beginning to make a fuss over Ruth
+Craven. She who had hardly ever been noticed during the early part of
+her life, who was just her grandfather's darling and her grandmother's
+idol, was now petted and made much of and fussed over by every one. It
+was quite an extraordinary thing for the paying girls of the Great
+Shirley School to be so interested and excited about a foundationer.
+Cassandra Weldon was not the only girl who had taken Ruth up; some of
+the best and nicest girls of the school began to patronize her. The fact
+was that she was very modest and a perfect lady, and it was impossible
+to feel anything but good-will towards her. The rest of the foundation
+girls at first determined that they would leave her with her fine
+friends, but when Kathleen insisted on Ruth's joining the secret society
+of the Wild Irish Girls, they were obliged to submit.
+
+"We'd do anything in the world for our queen," said Susy Hopkins,
+talking to another foundation girl one day as they strolled along the
+road. "It is to-night we are to meet again, and she says she will bring
+the rules all drawn up, and she will read them to us. There are about
+thirty of us now, and more and more offer to join every day. The
+difficulty is that we have got to keep the thing from the knowledge of
+the teachers and the paying girls of the school. Kathleen is certain
+that it would be suppressed if it were known; and it must not be known,
+for it is the biggest lark and the greatest fun we ever had in all our
+lives."
+
+"Yes," said Rosy Myers; "I feel now quite honored at being a foundation
+girl."
+
+"She does promise us wonderful things," said Kate Rourke. "She says when
+the summer comes we shall have all sorts of nice excursions. Of course,
+we can't do anything special in the daytime, unless sometimes on
+Saturday, when we have a whole holiday; but at least; she says, the
+nights are our own and we can do as we like. It really is grand. I
+suppose it is wicked, but then that makes it rather more fascinating."
+
+"We are in the queen's Cabinet, bless her, the duck!" said Susy Hopkins.
+"There are a dozen of us now, and there is talk of a sort of livery or
+badge for the members of the Cabinet; but we'll know all about it when
+we meet sharp at nine to-night. We are the twelve members of the
+Cabinet, and there are about twenty girls who are our sort of standing
+army. It is really most exciting."
+
+The girls talked a little longer and then parted. As Susy Hopkins was
+running home helter-skelter--for she wanted to get her lessons done in
+order to be fully in time for the meeting that evening--she met Ruth
+Craven. Ruth was walking slowly by with her usual demure and sweet
+expression.
+
+"Hullo!" called out Susy. "We'll meet to-night, sha'n't we?"
+
+"I don't know," said Ruth.
+
+"Aren't you coming? Why, you are sort of Prime Minister to the queen."
+
+"You don't think it right really, do you," said Ruth--"not from the
+bottom of your heart, I mean?"
+
+"Right or wrong, I mean to enjoy myself," said Susy Hopkins. "I suppose,
+if you come to analyse it, it is wrong, and not right. But, dear me,
+Ruth! what fun should we poor girls have if we were too particular on
+these points?"
+
+"It always seems to me that it is worth while to do right," said Ruth.
+
+"So you say, but I don't quite agree with you. You will come to-night,
+in any case, won't you?"
+
+"Yes, I will come to-night; but I am not happy about it, and I wish
+Kathleen--Oh, I know it is very fascinating, and Kathleen is just
+delightful, but I should not like our teachers to know."
+
+"Of course not," said Susy, staring at her. "They'd soon put a stop to
+it."
+
+"Are you certain? I know so little about the school."
+
+"Certain? I'm convinced. Why, they'd be furious. I expect we'd be
+expelled."
+
+"Then that proves it. I didn't know there was any strict rule about it."
+
+"Why, what are you made of, Ruth Craven?"
+
+"I thought," said Ruth, "that when we were not in school we were our own
+mistresses."
+
+"To a certain extent, of course; but we have what is called the school
+character to keep up. We have, as it were, to uphold the spirit of the
+school. Now the spirit of the school is quite against secrecy in any
+form. Oh dear, why will you drag all this out of me? I'd made up my mind
+not to think of it, and now you have forced me to say it. Of course you
+will come to-night. You have to think of Kathleen as well as the school,
+and she's gone to a fearful lot of expense. You could not by any
+possibility forsake her, could you?"
+
+"No, of course not," said Ruth very slowly.
+
+She bade Susy good-bye and walked on; her attitude was that of one who
+was thinking hard.
+
+"Ruth is very pretty," said Susy to herself, "but I don't know that I
+quite admire her. She is the sort of girl that everybody loves, and I am
+not one to admire a universal favorite. She is frightfully, tiresomely
+good, and she's just _too_ pretty; and she's not a bit vain, and she's
+not a bit puffed up. Oh, she is just right in every way, and yet I feel
+that I hate her. She has got the sort of conscience that will worry our
+queen to distraction. Still, once she joins she'll have to obey our
+rules, and I expect our queen will make them somewhat stringent."
+
+A clock from a neighboring church struck the half-hour. Susy looked up,
+uttered an exclamation, put wings to her feet, and ran the rest of the
+way home. Susy's home was in the High Street of the little town of
+Merrifield. Her mother kept a fairly flourishing stationer's shop, in
+one part of which was a post-office. Some ladies were buying stamps as
+Susy dashed through the shop on her way to the family rooms at the back.
+Mrs. Hopkins was selling stationery to a couple of boys; she looked up
+as her daughter entered. Susy went into the parlor, where tea was laid
+on the table. It consisted of a stale loaf, some indifferent butter, and
+a little jam. The tea, in a pewter teapot, was weak; the milk was
+sky-blue, and the jug that held it was cracked.
+
+Susy poured out a cup of tea, drank it off at a gulp, snatched a piece
+of bread-and-butter from the plate, and sat down to prepare her lessons
+at another table. She had two hours' hard work before her, and it was
+already nearly six o'clock. The quarry was a little distance away, and
+she must tidy herself and do all sorts of things. Just then her mother
+came in.
+
+"Oh, Susy," she said, "I am so glad you have come! I want you to attend
+to the shop for the next hour. I am sent for in a hurry to my sister's;
+she has a bad cold, and wants me to call in. I think little Peter is not
+well; your aunt is afraid he is catching measles. Run into the shop the
+moment you have finished your tea, like a good child. You can take one
+of your lesson-books with you if you like. There won't be many customers
+at this hour."
+
+"Oh, mother, I did really want to work hard at my lessons. They are very
+difficult, you know, and you promised that when I went to the Great
+Shirley School you'd never interfere with my lesson hours."
+
+"I did say so, and of course I don't mean to interfere; but this is a
+special case."
+
+"Can't Tommy go and stand in the shop? If any special customers come in
+I will attend to them."
+
+"No, Tommy can't. He has a headache and is lying down upstairs. You must
+oblige me this time, Susy. You can sit up a little longer to-night to
+finish your lessons if you are much interrupted while I am away."
+
+"You are sure you will not be more than an hour, mother?"
+
+"Oh, certain."
+
+"And I suppose in any case I may shut up the shop at seven o'clock,
+mayn't I?"
+
+"Shut the shop at seven o'clock!" said Mrs. Hopkins. "You forget that
+this is Wednesday. We always keep the shop, except the post-office part,
+open until past nine on Wednesdays; such a lot of people come in for
+odds and ends on this special night. But I will be back long before
+nine. Don't on any account shut the shop until I appear."
+
+Susy, feeling cross and miserable, all her bright hopes dashed to the
+ground, took a couple of books and went into the shop and sat behind the
+counter. The days were getting short and cold, and as the shop door was
+opened there was a thorough draught where she was sitting. Her feet
+grew icy cold; she could scarcely follow the meaning of her somewhat
+difficult lessons. No customers appeared.
+
+"How stupid I am!" thought the little girl. "This will never do."
+
+She roused herself, and bending forward, propped her book open before
+her. Presently she heard the clock outside strike seven.
+
+"Mother will be back now, thank goodness!" she thought. "If I work
+desperately hard, and stop my ears so that I needn't hear a sound, I may
+have done by nine o'clock."
+
+Just at that moment two ladies came in to ask for a special sort of
+stationery. Susy, who was never in the least interested in the shop, did
+not know where to find it. She rummaged about, making a great mess
+amongst her mother's neat stores; and finally she was obliged to say
+that she did not know where it was.
+
+"Never mind," said one of the ladies, kindly; "I will come in again next
+time I am passing. It doesn't matter this evening."
+
+Susy felt vexed; she knew her mother would blame her for sending the
+ladies away without completing a purchase. And they had scarcely left
+before she found the box which contained the stationery. She pushed it
+out of sight on the shelf, and sat down again to her book. Her mother
+ought to be coming in now. Susy would have to do a lot of exercises;
+these she could not by any possibility do in the shop. She had also some
+mathematical work to get through or she would never be able to keep her
+place in class. Why didn't Mrs. Hopkins return? Half-an-hour went by;
+three-quarters. It was now a quarter to eight. Susy felt quite
+distracted. With the exception of the two ladies, there had been no
+customer in the shop up to the present. The fact was, they did not
+begin to appear until soon after eight on Wednesday evenings. Then the
+schoolgirls and schoolboys and many other people of the poorer class
+used to drop in for penn'orths and ha'p'orths of stationery, for pens,
+for ink, for sealing-wax, &c.
+
+"Mother must be in soon. I know what I will do," said Susy. "I will open
+the door of the parlor and sit there. If any one appears I can dash out
+at once."
+
+No sooner had the thought come to her than she resolved to act on it.
+She turned on the gas in the parlor--it was already brightly lighted in
+the shop--and sat down to her work.
+
+"An hour and a quarter before the meeting of the Wild Irish Girls," she
+said to herself. "Strange, is it not, that I should call myself a Wild
+Irish Girl when I am a Cockney through and through? Well, whatever
+happens, I shall be at the meeting."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+THE WILD IRISH GIRLS' SOCIETY IS STARTED.
+
+
+While Susy sat in the parlor a tramp happened to pass the brightly
+lighted shop. He was weather-beaten and slipshod, and altogether made a
+most disreputable appearance. A hand was thrust into each of his
+pockets, and these pockets were destitute of coin. The tramp was hungry
+and penniless. The little shop with its gay light and tempting articles
+of stationery, and books and sealing-wax displayed in the window, were
+quite to the man's taste. He could not see the parlor beyond, nor the
+peep-hole where Susy was supposed to be able to watch the shop; he only
+noticed that no one was within. The tramp was in the humor to do
+something desperate; he entered the shop under the pretense of begging;
+made straight for the till, pulled it open, and took out a handful of
+money. He had no time to count his spoils, but leaving the till-drawer
+still open, he dashed out of the shop.
+
+Now it so happened that Susy, just when the tramp stole in, had gone
+upstairs to fetch a fresh exercise-book. She noticed nothing amiss on
+her return, and went tranquilly on with her work. Eight o'clock struck.
+Susy was in despair.
+
+"I can't possibly fail Kathleen," she said to herself. "She started this
+splendid idea in order to help me and give me pleasure. I must be at the
+quarry whatever happens to-night. Something very unusual is detaining
+mother. I know what I'll do: I'll shut up the shop at half-past eight,
+leave a little note for mother, and then go to the quarry as fast as I
+can. I will tell mother that I am due at an important meeting, and she
+is sure not to question me; mother is always very kind, and gives me as
+much liberty as she can."
+
+Susy made a great struggle to keep her mind centered on her books, but
+with all her efforts her thoughts would wander. They wandered to
+Kathleen and the Wild Irish Girls' Society; they wandered to her other
+schoolfellows; they wandered to the hardship of having to take care of
+the shop when she wished to be otherwise employed; and finally they
+settled themselves on Ruth Craven. She could not help wondering what
+Ruth would do--whether she would continue to be a valuable aid to the
+queen of the new society, or whether she would give them up altogether.
+
+"I'd almost like her not to stay with us," thought Susy; "for then
+perhaps Kathleen would make me her Prime Minister. I'd like that.
+Kathleen is the dearest, truest, greatest lady I ever came across. She
+doesn't think anything of birth, nor of those sort of tiresome
+distinctions; she thinks of you for what you are worth yourself. And she
+is so splendid to look at, and has such a gallant sort of way. I do
+admire her just!"
+
+The shop-bell rang. Susy was out in a moment. A woman had called for a
+penn'orth of paper and an envelope. She put down her penny on the
+counter, and Susy supplied her from a special box.
+
+"I was in such a taking," said the woman. "I just remembered at the last
+moment that all the shops were shut. I don't know what I should have
+done if I hadn't recalled that Mrs. Hopkins kept hers open until nine
+o'clock. I am obliged to you, little girl. I have to send this letter to
+my son in India, and I'd miss the mail if it wasn't posted to-night. You
+couldn't now, I suppose, oblige me with a stamp."
+
+"Of course I can," said Susy, cheerfully. "Mother always keeps a supply
+of stamps in the till."
+
+She turned to the till as she spoke, and for the first time noticed that
+the drawer was open.
+
+"How careless of me not to have shut it!" she thought.
+
+It did not occur to her to examine its contents, or to suppose for a
+single moment that any one had taken money out of it. She provided the
+woman with a stamp, and then, shut the drawer of the till. It was now
+half-past eight, and Susy determined to take the bull by the horns and
+to close the shop without further ado. She sent for the little maid in
+the kitchen to put up the shutters, and in a minute or two the shop was
+in darkness and Susy was racing through the remainder of her lessons. It
+would take her a quarter of an hour, running most of the way, to reach
+the old quarry, and she must have three or four minutes to dress. She
+stood up, therefore, at her work, in order, as she expressed it, to save
+time. She was so occupied when her mother came in.
+
+"Why have you shut the shop?" said Mrs. Hopkins in an annoyed voice. "It
+is only a very little past half-past eight, and I saw two poor women
+outside. They wanted a penn'orth of paper each. They said, 'We thought
+you always kept open until nine o'clock,' Now it will spread all over
+the place that I shut at half-past eight. Why did you do it, Susy? It's
+hard enough to make ends meet without adding any more difficulties."
+
+Mrs. Hopkins stood, looking very pale and perplexed, in the parlor. Susy
+glanced at her mother, and could not help reflecting that the poor woman
+was fit to drop.
+
+"Do sit down, mother," she said. "I was so distracted; I have to be a
+good way from here at nine o'clock, I couldn't think whatever kept you.
+I was obliged to shut the shop. I am sorry."
+
+"Well, never mind. You didn't tell me that you were going out. I wish
+you wouldn't go out so much in the evening, Susy; it does make it so
+hard for me. There's no one now to help me with a bit of mending, and
+all your things are getting so racketed through."
+
+"What kept you, mother?" said Susy, ignoring her mother's speech.
+
+"Oh, it was your aunt. She's in such a taking about little Peter; she's
+quite certain he's in for measles or something worse. I'm persuaded that
+it's nothing but a cold. I never saw such a muddle-headed woman as your
+aunt Bessie. She hadn't a thing handy in the place. I had to stay and
+see the doctor, and then to fetch the medicine myself, and then put the
+child to bed. I assure you I haven't sat down since I left."
+
+"And I suppose she never thought of giving you as much as a cup of tea?"
+said Susy.
+
+"No," answered her mother; then catching sight of the teapot, she added,
+"You might have had the tea-things removed, Susy. I will make myself a
+fresh cup."
+
+Susy stood still for a moment. Temptation tugged at her heart. Her
+mother certainly required if ever a mother did require a daughter. But
+the Wild Irish Girls--surely they were pining for her in the distance!
+
+"I wish I could help you, mother. I would if I hadn't promised to go
+out. If you will give me the latchkey I can let myself in. You needn't
+wait up; I promise to lock up carefully."
+
+"Very well, dear," said Mrs. Hopkins.
+
+She did not reproach Susy; that was not her way. She put a little kettle
+on the gas-stove, fetched a clean cup and saucer, and presently sat down
+to her belated meal.
+
+Susy dashed upstairs. She put on her hat and jacket, snatched up a pair
+of gloves, and the next moment was out of the house.
+
+"Free at last," she thought. "But, oh, what an evening I have had! I
+must say it is horrid to be poor. Now, if I was rich like Kathleen,
+wouldn't I have a gay time of it? Poor dear mother should drive in a
+carriage, and I'd ride on my pony by her side; and Tom should be a
+public school boy. There'd be no horrid shop then, and no horrid women
+coming in for ha'p'orths and penn'orths of paper."
+
+But as she ran through the autumn night-air she felt that, after all,
+there was something good in life. Her pulses, which had been languid
+enough in the stuffy little parlor at the back of the shop, now galloped
+fiercely. She arrived two or three minutes after nine, but still in
+fairly good time to see a number of dark heads surrounding a bright
+light. This light was caused by two lamps which had been placed on the
+ground in the old quarry; Kathleen had brought them herself in a hamper.
+She had managed to buy them that day, and had smuggled them off without
+any one being the wiser. A large bottle of crystalline oil accompanied
+the lamps. Kathleen, who had dressed lamps for pleasure at home, knew
+quite well how to manage them, and when Susy appeared they stood at each
+end of a wide patch of light. Kathleen herself was in the midst of the
+light, and the other girls clustered round the edge.
+
+"Isn't it scrumptious?" said Kate Rourke.--"Oh, is that you, Susy
+Hopkins? You are late."
+
+"Yes, I know I am. It's a wonder I could come at all," said Susy.
+
+"Ruth Craven hasn't come yet," said another voice.
+
+"Yes, here she is," cried a third, and Ruth came and stood at the edge
+of the patch of light.
+
+Kathleen flung off her hat, and the light from the lamps lit up her
+brilliant hair. Her cheeks were flaming with color, and her very
+dark-blue eyes looked as black as night. She faced her companions.
+
+"Well," she said, "here we are, and we call ourselves the Wild Irish
+Girls. I really wonder if you English girls who are assembled here in
+the old quarry to-night have the least idea what it means to be a wild
+Irish girl. If you don't know, I'd like to tell you."
+
+"Yes, do tell us," cried several.
+
+"The principal thing that it means," continued Kathleen, raising her
+voice to a slightly theatrical pitch, and extending her arm so that the
+lamplight fell all over it--"the chief thing that it means is to be
+free--yes, free as the air, free as the mountain streams, free as the
+dear, darling, glorious, everlasting mountains themselves. Oh, to know
+freedom and then to be torn away from it! Girls, I will tell you the
+truth. I feel in your dull old England as though I were in prison. Yes,
+that's about it. I don't like England. I want you girls to join me in
+loving Ireland."
+
+"But we can't hate England," said Kate Rourke; "that is quite
+impossible. If Ireland is your native land, England is ours, and we
+cannot help loving her very, very much."
+
+"You have never known Ireland," continued Kathleen. "You are not cramped
+up in that favored spot; you are allowed to get up when you like and to
+go to bed when you like, to eat what you like, to read what books you
+like, to row on the lake, to shoot in the bogs, to gallop on your pony
+over the moors, and--and--oh, to live the life of the _free_."
+
+It was Ruth Craven who now interrupted the eager words of the queen of
+the new society.
+
+"Can't you tell us, Kathleen," she said, "how to get Ireland into
+England--how to introduce what is good of Ireland into England? That is
+the use of the society as far as I am concerned. With the exception of
+yourself we are all English girls."
+
+"Yes," said Susy suddenly; "and we have very bad times most of us. I
+wish you knew what a dull evening I have just been living
+through--taking care of a tiny, very dull little shop. Mother was out
+looking after a sick child, and I had to mind the shop. Poor women came
+in for penn'orths of paper. I can tell you there wasn't much freedom
+about that; it was all horrid."
+
+"Well, we have shops in Ireland too," continued Kathleen, "and I
+suppose people have to mind them. But what I want to say now is this. I
+have been sent over to this country to learn. My aunt Katie
+O'Flynn--she's the finest figure of a woman you ever laid eyes
+on--thought that I ought to have learning; mother thought so too, but
+the dad didn't much care. However, I needn't worry you about that. I
+have been sent here, and here I am. When I came to your wonderful school
+and looked all around me, I said to myself, 'If I'm not to have
+companions, why, I'll die; the heart of Kathleen O'Hara will be broken.
+Now, who amongst the schoolgirls will suit me? I saw that very dull
+Cassandra Weldon, and I noticed a few companions of hers who were much
+the same sort. Then I observed dear, pretty little Ruth Craven, and some
+one said to me, 'You won't take much notice of Ruth, for she's only a
+foundation girl.' That made me mad. Oh yes, it did--Give me your hand,
+Ruth.--That made my whole heart go out to Ruth. Then I was told that a
+lot of the girls were foundation girls, and they weren't as rich as the
+others, and they were somewhat snubbed. So I thought, 'My time has come.
+I am an Irish girl, and the heritage of every Irish girl, handed down to
+her from a long line of ancestors, is to help the oppressed,' So now I
+am going to help all of you, and we are going to found this society, and
+we are going to have a good time."
+
+Kathleen's somewhat incoherent speech was received with shouts of
+applause.
+
+"We must make a few rules," she continued when her young companions had
+ceased to shout--"just a few big rules which will be quite easy for all
+of us to obey."
+
+"Certainly," said Kate. "And I have brought a note-book with me, and if
+you will dictate them, Kathleen, I will jot them down."
+
+"That is easy enough," said Kathleen. "Well, I am queen."
+
+"Certainly you are!" "Who else could be?" "Of course you are queen!"
+"Darling!" "Dear!" "Sweet!" "Duck!" fell from various pairs of lips.
+
+"Thank you," said Kathleen, looking round at them, her dark-blue eyes
+becoming dewy with a sudden emotion. "I think," she added, "I love you
+all already, and there is nothing on earth I wouldn't do for you."
+
+"Hear her, the dear! She is bringing a fine change into our lives, cried
+a mass of girls who stood a little out of the line of light.
+
+"Well," said Kathleen, "I am queen, and I have my Cabinet. Now the girls
+of my Cabinet are the following: Ruth Craven is my Prime Minister; Kate
+Rourke comes next in importance; then follow Susy Hopkins, Clara Sawyer,
+Hannah Johnson, Rosy Myers, and Mary Rand. Now all of you girls whom I
+have named are expected to uphold order--such order as is alone
+necessary for the Wild Irish Girls. You are expected on all occasions to
+uphold the authority of me, your queen. You are never under any
+circumstances to breathe a word against dear old Ireland. The other
+girls who join the society will be looked after by you; you will
+instruct them in our rules, and you will help them to be good members of
+a most important society. I believe there are a great many girls willing
+to join. If so, will they hold up their hands?"
+
+Immediately a great show of hands was visible.
+
+"Now, Kate Rourke," cried Kathleen, "please take down the names of the
+girls who intend to become members of the Wild Irish Girls."
+
+The girls came forward one by one, and Kate took down their names; and
+it was quickly discovered that, out of the hundred foundationers who
+belonged to the Great Shirley School, sixty had joined Kathleen's
+society.
+
+"We shall soon get the remaining forty," said Mary Rand. "They will be
+all agog to come on. Their positions are not so very pleasant as it is,
+poor things!"
+
+"Perhaps sixty are about as many as we can manage for the present," said
+Kathleen. "Now, girls, I intend to present you each with a tiny badge. I
+have a bag full of them here. Will you each come forward and accept the
+badge of membership?"
+
+Kathleen's badges were very much admired, the eager girls bending down
+towards the light of the lamps in order to examine them more thoroughly.
+She had strung narrow green ribbon through each of the little silver
+hearts, and the girls could therefore slip them over their heads at
+once.
+
+"You must hide them," said Kathleen. "The thing about these badges is
+that you will always feel them pressing against your hearts, and nobody
+else will know anything about them. They belong to Ireland and to me--to
+the home of the free and to Kathleen O'Hara. They seal you as my loving
+friends and followers for ever and ever."
+
+Girls are easily impressed, and Kathleen's words were so fervent that
+some of them felt quite choky about the throat. They received their
+badges with hands that very nearly trembled. Kathleen next handed a
+slightly handsomer badge, but with exactly the same device, to the
+members of her Cabinet. Finally, she took the box of pale-blue cashmere
+blouses and opened it in the light of the lamps. The enthusiasm, which
+had been extremely keen before the appearance of the blouses, now rose
+to fever-height. Whom were these exquisite creations meant for? Kathleen
+smiled as she handed one to Mary Rand, another to Ruth Craven, another
+to Kate Rourke, and finally to each member of her Cabinet.
+
+"I wish I could give you all a blouse apiece," she said to the other
+girls of the society, "but I am afraid that is not within my means. I
+chose these sweet blouses on purpose, because I know you could wear them
+at any time, girls," she added, turning to the members of her Cabinet.
+"Outsiders won't know. They will wonder at the beauty of your dress, but
+they won't know what it means; but _we_ will know," she shouted aloud to
+her companions--"we will know that these girls belong to us and to old
+Ireland, and in particular to me, and they will be faithful to me as
+their queen."
+
+"Oh dear," said little Alice Harding, a pale-faced girl, who loved fine
+dress and never could aspire to it, "what means can I take to become a
+member of the Cabinet?"
+
+"By being a very good outside member, and trusting to your luck,"
+laughed Kathleen. "But the time is passing, and we must proceed to what
+little business is left for to-night."
+
+Each member of the Cabinet took possession of her own blouse, wrapped it
+up tenderly, and tucked it under her arm. Kathleen desired some one to
+throw the tell-tale box away, and then she collected her followers round
+her.
+
+"Now," she said, _"Rule One_. To stick through thick and thin each to
+the other."
+
+"Yes!" cried every voice.
+
+_"Rule Two._ If possible, never to quarrel each with the other."
+
+This rule also was received with acclamations.
+
+_"Rule Three._ To have a bit of fun all to ourselves at least once a
+week."
+
+This rule quite "brought down the house." They shouted so loud that if
+the spot had been less lonely some one would certainly have taken
+cognizance of their proceedings.
+
+_"Rule Four._ That as far as possible we hold ourselves aloof from the
+paying members of the Great Shirley School."
+
+This rule was not quite as enthusiastically received. The foundationers
+were not altogether without friends amongst the other girls of the
+school. Ruth Craven in particular had several.
+
+"I don't think that is a very fair rule," she said. "I am fond of Alice
+Tennant, and I am fond of Cassandra Weldon."
+
+"And I care for Lucy Sharp"; "And I am devoted to Amelia Dawson," said
+other members of the Cabinet.
+
+Nevertheless Kathleen was firm.
+
+"The rule must be held," she said. "In a society like ours there are
+always rules which are not quite agreeable to every one. My principal
+object in starting this society is to put those horrid paying girls in
+their proper places. There must not be friendship--not real friendship,
+I mean--between us and them."
+
+"You are a paying girl yourself," suddenly exclaimed Mary Rand.
+
+"I know. I wish I were not, but I can't help myself. You must allow me
+to stand alone; I am your queen."
+
+"That you are, and I love you," said Mary.
+
+"This rule must hold good," repeated Kathleen. "I must insist on my
+society adhering to it.--Ruth Craven, why are you silent?"
+
+"Because I earnestly wish I had not joined. I cannot give up Cassandra,
+nor Alice, nor--nor other girls."
+
+"Nonsense, Ruth! You dare not fail me now," said Kathleen, with
+enthusiasm. "I will make it up to you. You shall come with me to Ireland
+in the summer. You shall. Oh Ruth, don't fail me!"
+
+"I won't; but I hate that rule."
+
+"And, girls, I think we must part now," said Kate Rourke. "It is getting
+late, and it would never do for our secret meetings to be discovered."
+
+"Whatever happens, we must stick together," said Kathleen. "Well,
+good-night; we meet again this day week."
+
+There was quite a flutter of excitement along that lonely road as the
+Wild Irish Girls returned to their different homes. Susy Hopkins felt
+quite the happiest and most light-hearted of any. By-and-by she and Ruth
+Craven found themselves the only girls who were walking down the road
+called Southwood Lane. This road led right into the centre of the shops
+where Susy's mother lived.
+
+"What a good thing," said Susy, "that I took the latchkey with me! It is
+past ten o'clock. Mother would be wild if she had to sit up so late."
+
+Ruth was silent.
+
+"Aren't you happy, Ruthie? Don't you think it is all splendid?" cried
+Susy.
+
+"Yes and no," said Ruth. "You see, I am a foundationer, and when she
+pressed me to join I hated not to; but now I am sorry that I have
+joined. What am I to do about Cassandra and about Alice?"
+
+"You think a great deal about Cassandra, don't you?"
+
+"Oh, yes; she is quite a splendid girl, and she has been so very good to
+me."
+
+"I suppose you are quite in love with her?"
+
+"No, I don't think I am. It isn't my way to fall violently in love with
+girls, like some of the rest of you. But I like her; and I like Alice
+Tennant."
+
+"All the same," said Susy, "it is worth sacrificing a little thing to
+belong to the Wild Irish Girls. Did you ever in all your life see any
+one look more splendid than Kathleen as she stood with the light of
+those big lamps upon her? She is a wonderful girl--so graceful, and with
+such a power of eloquence. And she has such a way of just taking you by
+storm; and her language is so poetic. Oh, I adore her! She is the sort
+of girl that I could die for. If all Irish girls are like her, Ireland
+must be a wonderful country to live in."
+
+"But they are not," said Ruth. "Half of them are quite commonplace. She
+happens to be rich and beautiful, and to have a taking way; but all the
+others are not like her, I am certain of it."
+
+"Anyhow, whether they are or not, I am glad to belong to the society,"
+said Susy. "It will give us great fun, and we need not mind now whether
+the paying girls are disagreeable to us or not. Then, too, think of the
+blouses we have got. Oh dear! oh dear! when I put mine on on Sunday
+mother will gape. I shall feel proud of myself in it. It was just sweet
+of her to get things like this to give us. And she knew we weren't well
+off. Oh, I do think she's one in a thousand! She must have thought of
+you, Ruth, when she ordered these sweet pale-blue colors, for that color
+is yours, isn't it?"
+
+"I suppose so," said Ruth. "Well, all the same, I feel rather anxious. I
+like her, of course, but I think she is mistaken. I must go on now, but
+I feel somehow----"
+
+"What?" said Susy, with some impatience.
+
+"As though I had not done right--as though I had something to conceal.
+Well, I can't help myself, only I won't hate the girls who are good to
+me. Good-night, Susy. We won't be in time for school in the morning if
+we stay talking any longer."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+THE BLOUSE AND THE ROBBERY.
+
+
+Susy Hopkins shared none of Ruth Craven's scruples. To her the Wild Irish
+Girls' Society was all that was lovely. She trod on air as she went down
+the street, and when she finally let herself into her mother's little
+shop, locked the door after her, and went softly upstairs, her heart was
+beating so loud that she hardly knew herself. She slept in a tiny room
+just at the back of her mother's; it was sparsely furnished, and had a
+sloping roof at one side. The chest of drawers also did duty as a
+dressing-table, and there was a small square of looking-glass placed on
+the top. Susy had secured a candle in a tin candlestick, with which she
+had lighted herself to her bedroom, but when she got there she had no
+intention of putting up with such feeble illumination. She first of all
+drew the bolt to secure herself against intrusion, and then stepping on
+tiptoe, she unlocked a drawer and took from it several ends of candle
+which she had collected from time to time. These she stuck on the
+dressing-table, and when she had made her little garret almost as bright
+as day she unfolded her pale-blue blouse. She bent low over her
+treasure, examining the blue embroidery, which was rendered still more
+fascinating with small stitches of pink silk, looking with ecstacy at
+the real lace round the neck and cuffs and finally pressing the delicate
+color against her blooming cheek.
+
+Susy Hopkins was quite an ordinary-looking little girl. Her nose was
+decidedly snub, her mouth wide; but her eyes were dark and bright, and
+she had fairly good eyebrows. She had a low forehead, rather nice curly
+hair, and a high color in her cheeks.
+
+"In this blouse I shall look a positive beauty," she thought. "Won't Tom
+respect me when he sees me in it on Sunday? I must try it on now; I
+really must."
+
+Accordingly she slipped off her bodice, and substituted the pale-blue
+cashmere blouse for the ugly and threadbare garment she had removed.
+Whether the blouse was becoming to Susy Hopkins or not remains to be
+proved, but it certainly delighted its wearer, causing her eyes to
+sparkle and the color in her cheeks to grow brighter.
+
+"It is the most beautiful thing I ever saw in my life," she thought.
+"Why, Kathleen is like a fairy godmother. And how well it fits! And what
+a perfect cut about the neck! And, oh! these darling little cuffs at the
+end of the sleeves, and this sweet pink embroidery and this little
+ruffle of lace round the neck. Oh! there never, never was anything made
+so beautifully before. I am in luck; I am--I am."
+
+Her mother's hand knocking on the wall brought her down from the clouds.
+
+"Go to bed, dear," called out her parent. "It is very late, and you are
+disturbing me."
+
+"Yes, mother," called back Susy.
+
+She removed the blouse, folded it in tissue-paper, put it into her
+drawer, blew out the candles, and got into bed. But all through the
+remainder of the night Susy dreamt of her blouse. The blouse filled her
+thoughts, otherwise she might have been in raptures over her pretty
+silver locket and its green ribbon. But as this was for private wear,
+and must on no account be shown to any one who was not a member of the
+society, it did not give her the amount of rapture it would otherwise
+have done.
+
+"It is lovely too. It is a badge, and means a great deal," she said to
+herself, and she closed her hand over it as she lay in bed. "It is
+tiresome that I cannot show it. It is a sweet little locket, and I might
+save up money enough to have it gilded over. People would think I had a
+gold locket. I have always nearly died to have one; but of course I
+couldn't do that, for it would displease our queen, the darling, and I
+wouldn't for all I am worth do anything to annoy her. Oh dear, things
+are turning out lovely! I am twice as happy a girl as I was before
+Kathleen O'Hara came to the school."
+
+At school next day the members of the new society looked a little
+conscious. Their eyes often met, and those eyes spoke volumes. Sometimes
+a girl would put her hand up to her neck in a somewhat significant way,
+and another girl would respond with a similar signal. There was a sort
+of suppressed excitement in the school; but the teachers remarked
+nothing. On the contrary, they were pleased with the way lessons were
+done, exercises gone through, and work accomplished. The girls were so
+completely in league with each other, so full of delight over the new
+amusement which Kathleen had started in their midst, that they had no
+time to be supercilious or disagreeable to the paying girls, who were
+left in peace. They were usually a good deal tormented by the
+foundationers, who took their revenge by small spiteful ways--by taking
+the ink when they did not want it, by removing good pens and putting bad
+ones in their places, by spilling ink on the blotting paper. In short,
+they had many ways of rendering the life of a paying girl anything but
+happy. To-day, however, all was peace and quiet. Kathleen walked in her
+radiant fashion through her lessons; her beautiful face could not but be
+an attraction. She was very bright and very smart, and even Alice gave
+her an approving glance.
+
+"Mother is right," she thought. "She is a little better than she was.
+If only she would take a real interest in her work I should have hopes
+of her."
+
+Now Cassandra Weldon had come to the school that day with the intention
+of asking Ruth Craven to come home with her. She had a suggestion to
+make to Ruth. She knew that the little girl was very poor and very
+clever. Cassandra was working very hard for one of the big scholarships,
+and her mother had gone to the expense of getting a special coach to
+help her at home. Cassandra had spoken to her mother, and her mother had
+agreed that Ruth might come back with her each evening and also take
+advantage of the services of Miss Renshaw. If Ruth got a scholarship she
+would indeed be a happy girl, and it was Cassandra's, opinion that,
+although she had been such a short time in the school, she would have a
+very good chance if she got a little outside help.
+
+Accordingly Cassandra waited for Ruth outside the school when lessons
+were over. During the morning her eyes had travelled in Ruth's direction
+pretty often, and her eyes had conveyed to the little girl all sorts of
+kind and friendly messages. But Ruth had avoided Cassandra's eyes. She
+had made up her mind.
+
+"I can't be two things," she said to herself. "I have elected to go with
+the foundationers and with Kathleen O'Hara, although I don't care for
+the society, and I don't want to belong to the girls who band themselves
+together against the paying girls. But if I do this I certainly can't
+take advantage of Cassandra's kindness. I do love her--I am sure I
+should love her dearly--but I can't have much to say to her now."
+
+Accordingly, while Cassandra waited for Ruth, hoping that she would
+appear at any moment, and that she could tell her what a good thing she
+had arranged on her behalf, Ruth avoided Cassandra. Presently Kathleen
+O'Hara, dressed somewhat extravagantly, and with her blue velvet cap
+perched upon the back of her golden hair, strolled out of school. She
+had a crimson sash round her black velvet dress, and a wide lace collar
+encircled her neck. She was fastening a heavily embroidered coat of blue
+cashmere when Cassandra accosted her.
+
+"How do you do, Miss O'Hara?" she said.
+
+"How are you?" replied Kathleen, just raising her brows, and then
+turning to say something to Susy Hopkins.
+
+Cassandra frowned.
+
+"How can Kathleen, who with all her eccentricities is a lady, waste her
+time talking to an insignificant little girl like Susy?" thought
+Cassandra.
+
+Kathleen seemed to read her neighbor's thoughts, for she slipped her
+hand inside Susy's arm.
+
+"I will walk with you a little way," she said; "I have something I want
+to say."
+
+"One moment first," said Cassandra. "Have you seen Ruth Craven
+anywhere?"
+
+"Oh yes; Ruth has left the school. Didn't you see her go? There she is,
+crossing the field. I suppose she is in a hurry to get home."
+
+"Thank you," said Cassandra.
+
+She caught up her books and started running in the direction of Ruth
+Craven.
+
+"How tiresome of her to have gone so fast!" she said to herself?
+
+Presently she shouted Ruth's name, and Ruth was obliged to stop.
+
+"Why, Ruth," said Cassandra, "what is the matter with you? You
+generally wait to talk to me after school is over. Why are you in such a
+hurry?"
+
+"I am not," said Ruth, who was not going to get out of her difficulty by
+telling an untruth.
+
+"Well, if you are not in a hurry, why are you running across this field
+at the rate of a hunt? It looks as if you were--" Cassandra paused, and
+the color came into her cheeks--"as if you were running away from me."
+
+Ruth was silent. Cassandra came close to her and looked into her face.
+
+"What is the matter, Ruth?" she repeated.
+
+"I have promised granny that I would help her with some darning this
+afternoon."
+
+"Your granny must do without you, for you have got to come back with
+me."
+
+"Oh, indeed, I can't!"
+
+"But you must, my little girl. I have got the most heavenly plan to
+suggest to you."
+
+Cassandra laid her hand on Ruth's shoulder. Ruth started away.
+
+"What is it, Ruth? How queer you look! What is the matter?"
+
+"I must get home. I promised granny."
+
+"But listen before you decide. You know Miss Renshaw, don't you?"
+
+"Miss Maria Renshaw, the coach. Yes, I do."
+
+"Don't you remember my pointing her out to you?"
+
+"Of course I remember it, Cassandra; and she looked--oh, lovely!"
+
+"She is far more lovely than she looks--that is, if you mean she is
+clever and taking and all the rest. She is just perfectly splendid. She
+makes you see a thing at the first glance. She has a way of putting
+information into you so that you cannot help knowing. Oh, she is
+delightful! And mother says that I may have her to coach me for the big
+scholarship--the sixty-pounds-a-year scholarship. You know there are two
+of them. There is one quite in your line, and there is one in mine; and
+there is no earthly reason why you should not get one and I the other."
+
+"Well?" said Ruth.
+
+Her beautiful, fair, delicately chiselled face had turned pale. She
+stood very upright, and looked full at Cassandra.
+
+"It could be easily done, dear little Ruth. Miss Renshaw would just as
+soon coach two girls as one, and mother has arranged it. Yes, she has
+arranged it absolutely. Miss Renshaw will coach you and me together. You
+are to come home with me every evening. She will give us both an hour.
+Isn't it too splendid?"
+
+Ruth did not speak.
+
+"Aren't you pleased, Ruth? Don't you think it is very nice of me to
+think of my friends? You are my friend, you know."
+
+"Oh no," said Ruth.
+
+"But what is it? What is the matter?"
+
+"I--I can't."
+
+"You can. It will be madness to refuse. Think what a chance is offered
+you. If you get Miss Renshaw's instruction you are safe to get that
+scholarship; and it is for three years, Ruth. It would send you, with a
+little help from your grandfather, perhaps to Holloway College, perhaps
+to Somerville or Newnham, or even Girton. Perhaps you could try for a
+scholarship in one of these great colleges afterwards. You daren't
+refuse it. It means--oh, it means all the difference in your whole
+life."
+
+"I know," said Ruth. "Cassandra, I will write to you. I can't decide
+just now. I am awfully obliged to you; I can't express what I feel. You
+are good; you are very, very good."
+
+Ruth caught one of Cassandra's hands and raised it to her lips.
+
+"You are very good," she said again.
+
+Meanwhile Kathleen O'Hara, after walking a very short way with Susy
+Hopkins, gave her an abrupt good-bye and started running in the
+direction of the Tennants' house. She did not care a bit for Susy; but
+being a member of the Wild Irish Girls, and not only a member, but one
+of the Cabinet, she must on all occasions be kind to her. Nevertheless a
+commonplace little girl like Susy Hopkins had not one thing in common
+with Kathleen.
+
+"Everything is going splendidly," she said to herself. "No fear now that
+I shall not have plenty of excitement in the coming by-and-by. I mean to
+write to father and ask him whether I may not invite some of the members
+of the Cabinet to Carrigrohane. Wouldn't they enjoy it? Kate Rourke, of
+course, must come; and dear little Ruth Craven. How pale and sweet Ruth
+looked to-day! She is far and away the nicest girl in the school. I am
+so glad I have taken steps to prevent that horrid friendship with
+Cassandra coming to anything! Ruth mustn't love anybody in the school
+very, _very_ much except me. Oh, things are going well, and Alice little
+guesses what she is driving me to by her extraordinary behavior."
+
+Kathleen entered the house, banging the door loudly after her, as was
+her fashion.
+
+Another little girl had also reached home, but she did not bang the
+door. She entered her mother's shop to encounter the flushed and
+much-perturbed face of her parent.
+
+"Well, Susy," said Mrs. Hopkins, "I wouldn't have thought it of you."
+
+"Why, what is it, mother?"
+
+"There's nineteen-and-sixpence taken out of the till," said Mrs.
+Hopkins. "Some one must have come into the shop, for the accounts are
+nineteen-and-sixpence short. When I left the house yesterday there were
+three pounds in the till--three pounds and fivepence-halfpenny. You
+sold, according to your own showing, a penn'orth of paper, which makes
+an extra penny; but when I went into the accounts this morning I found
+that the whole amount was only two pounds one shilling and a halfpenny.
+Nineteen-and-sixpence is missing. Susy, what does this mean?"
+
+"I am sure, mother, I can't tell you. No one came into the shop;
+certainly no one stole the money."
+
+"My dear child, seeing is believing. I assure you there are only two
+pounds one shilling and a halfpenny in the till. I scarcely took a penny
+this morning, and that nineteen-and-sixpence makes it impossible for me
+to pay my rent, as I meant to do, to-day. Who can have come in and
+stolen very nearly a pound's worth of my hard-earned money?"
+
+"Nobody, mother dear. Do let me examine the till."
+
+"Are you quite positive that no one came into the shop?"
+
+"Nobody, mother."
+
+"You did not leave the shop even for a moment?"
+
+"Yes; I went to sit in the parlor."
+
+"Oh, Susy? there you are! I trust you with my house and property, and
+you leave the shop without any one in it Did you lock the till?"
+
+Susy had an unpleasant memory of having found the till open when she
+returned to attend to a customer.
+
+"No" she said, hanging her head.
+
+Mrs. Hopkins uttered a heavy sigh.
+
+"Oh, dear!" she said. "And as you sat in the parlor you could see the
+shop. You did not leave the parlor, did you?"
+
+For one minute Susy remembered that she had gone upstairs for an
+exercise-book, but she determined not to tell her mother of this further
+enormity.
+
+"I was either in the shop or in the parlor all the time. I only went
+into the parlor because I could not do my exercises in the shop. But I
+sat where I could see everything."
+
+"You couldn't have done so. This money would not have gone without
+hands. How am I to manage I don't know. I have lost a large sum for such
+a poor woman."
+
+Susy pitied her mother, tried to assure her that the fault was not hers,
+was convinced that the money would be found, and went on talking a lot
+of nonsense until Mrs. Hopkins fairly lost her temper.
+
+"Examine the drawer for yourself" she said. "I tell, you what it is,
+Susy, I won't be able to buy you a new winter frock at all this year;
+and you will have to have your boots patched, for I can't afford a new
+pair. I was trying to collect a pound towards your winter things, but
+this puts a stop to everything."
+
+"Mother doesn't know what a lovely blouse I've got," thought Susy. "When
+she sees me in that she'll be quite cheered up."
+
+The moment she thought of the blouse the little girl felt a frantic
+desire to run upstairs to look at it.
+
+"Mother," she said, "I don't mind a bit about the winter dress; and if
+my boots are neatly patched and well blacked every day, I dare say I can
+do with them a little longer. And I will sit with you this afternoon,
+mother, and help you to sew. I can't understand who could have stolen
+the money. Perhaps it is a practical joke of Tom's; you know he is fond
+of doing things of that sort now and then."
+
+"No, it isn't, for I asked him. Who can have come into the shop? Do you
+think you fell asleep over your work?"
+
+"Oh, no."
+
+"Then it is a mystery past bearing. If nobody came in, and you never
+left either the shop or the parlor, that money was taken out of the till
+as though by magic."
+
+"We will find it, mother; we are sure to find it," said Susy; and the
+way she said these words aggravated poor Mrs. Hopkins, as she said
+afterwards, more than a little.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+TOM HOPKINS AND HIS WAY WITH AUNT CHURCH.
+
+
+It was quite true that Mrs. Hopkins could ill afford to lose so large a
+sum as nineteen-and-sixpence out of her small earnings. During her
+husband's lifetime the stationer's shop had gone well and provided a
+comfortable living for his wife, son, and daughter. But unfortunately,
+in an evil moment he had been induced to put his hand to a bill for a
+friend. The friend had, as usually is the case, become bankrupt. Poor
+Hopkins had to pay the money, and from that moment the affairs in the
+stationer's shop were the reverse of flourishing. In fact, the blow
+killed the poor man. He lingered for a time, broken-hearted and unable
+to rouse himself, and finally died about three years before the
+date of this story. For a time Mrs. Hopkins was quite prostrate, but
+being a woman with a good deal of vigor and determination, she induced
+one of her relatives to lend her one hundred pounds, and determined to
+keep on with the shop. She could not, of course, stock it as fully as
+she would have liked; she could never extend her connection beyond mere
+stationery, sealing-wax, pens, and a very few books, and Christmas cards
+in the winter. Still, she managed to support herself and Tom and Susy;
+but it was a scraping along all the time. She had to count every penny,
+and, above all things, to avoid going in debt. She was only in debt for
+the one hundred pounds, which had been lent to her by an aunt of her
+husband's, an old woman of the name of Church, who lived in a
+neighboring village about four miles away.
+
+Mrs. Church was quite rich, according to the Hopkinses' ideas of wealth.
+She lived alone and hoarded her money. She had not been at all willing
+to lend Mrs. Hopkins the hundred pounds; but as she had really been fond
+of Mr. Hopkins, and had at one time meant to make him her heir, she had
+listened to Mrs. Hopkins's lamentations, and desired her to send Tom to
+her to inspect him, and had finally handed over the money, which was to
+be paid back by monthly installments within the space of three years.
+
+Mrs. Hopkins was so relieved to get the money that she never thought at
+all of the terrible tax it would be to return it. Still, by working hard
+morning, noon, and night--she added to her gains by doing fine
+needlework for several ladies, who said that no one could embroider like
+Mrs. Hopkins--she managed to make two ends just meet together, and she
+always continued to send Mrs. Church her two pounds fifteen shillings
+and sevenpence on the first of every month. Tom was the one who
+generally ran across to the old lady's with the money; and so fond was
+she of him that she often gave him a piece of cake, and even on one or
+two rare occasions kept him to dinner. Tom enjoyed his visits to Mrs.
+Church, and Mrs. Hopkins was sure to encourage him to go to her, as she
+hoped against hope that when the old lady died Tom would be left some of
+her money.
+
+It was on a Wednesday that Susy sat in the parlor and forgot all about
+the interests of the shop; it was on that very night that the tramp had
+come in and helped himself to a ten-shilling-piece and some silver out
+of the till; and it was on the following Saturday that Mrs. Hopkins, for
+the first time since she had borrowed the hundred pounds from Aunt
+Church, as she called the old lady, found that she could not return even
+a portion of what had just fallen due. She called Tom to her side.
+
+"Tom," she said, "you must go and see Aunt Church this afternoon as soon
+as ever you come in. You must go, and you must tell her."
+
+"Of course I'll go, mother," answered the boy. "I always like going to
+Aunt Church's; she is very kind to me. She said next time I came along
+she'd show me things in her microscope. She has got a beetle's wing,
+mother, mounted on glass, and when you gaze down at it it seems to be
+covered with beautiful feathers, as long as though they were on a big
+bird. And she has got a drop of water full of wriggly things all alive;
+and she says we drink it by the gallon, and it is no wonder we feel bad
+in our insides. I'll go, right enough. I suppose you have the money
+ready?"
+
+"No, Tom, that's just what I have not got. I told you how that night
+when I had the misfortune to go and see your aunt and look after her
+sick child, some one came into the shop and stole nineteen-and-sixpence
+out of the till. I am so short from the loss of that money that I can't
+pay Aunt Church for at least another week. Ask her if she'll be kind
+enough to give me a week's grace, Tom; that's a good boy. I can't think
+how the money was stolen."
+
+"Why don't you put it into the hands of the police?" said Tom.
+
+"Why, Tom," said his mother, looking at him with admiration, "you are a
+smart boy. Do you know, I never thought of that. I will go round to the
+police-station this very afternoon and get Police-Constable Macartney to
+take it up."
+
+"But, mother, the thief, whoever he is, has left the place long before
+now. The money was stolen on Wednesday, and this is Saturday morning."
+
+"Well, Tom, there's no saying. Anyhow, I will go round to the
+police-station and lodge the information."
+
+Accordingly, while Susy was again trying on her lovely pale-blue
+cashmere blouse behind locked doors upstairs, Tom and his mother were
+plotting how best to cover the loss of the nineteen-and-sixpence.
+Naughty Susy, having made up her mind to deny herself a new frock and
+new boots, had given the matter no further consideration. She was
+accustomed to the fact that her mother was always in money difficulties.
+As long as she could remember, this was the state of things at home. She
+had come to the conclusion that grown-up persons were always in a
+frantic state about money, and she had no desire to join these anxious
+ones herself. As she could not mend matters, she did not see why she
+should worry about them.
+
+Tom had a scrap of dinner and then ran off to see Aunt Church. He found
+the old lady sitting at her parlor window looking out as usual for him.
+She was dressed in rusty black; she had a front of stiff curls on her
+forehead, a white widow's-cap over it, and a small black crape
+handkerchief crossed on her breast. Mrs. Church was a little woman; she
+had very tiny feet and hands, and was very proud of them. She never
+thought of buying any new clothes, and her black bombazine dress was
+more brown than black now; so was her shawl, and so was the handkerchief
+which she wore round her neck. Her cap was tied with ribbons which had
+been washed so often that they were no longer white, but yellow.
+
+She came to the door to greet Tom when he arrived, and called him in.
+
+"Ah, Tom!" she said, "I have got a piece of plumcake waiting for you;
+and if you are a really good boy, and will shoo the fowls into my
+backyard and shut the gate on them, you may look into my microscope."
+
+"Thank you, Aunt Church," said Tom. "Shall I go at once and shoo the
+fowls?"
+
+"You had best give me my money first. Here is the box; you drop it in:
+two pounds in gold--I hope to goodness your mother has sent the money in
+gold--two pounds in gold and the rest in silver. Now then, here is the
+box. Drop it in like a good child, and then you shall shoo the fowls,
+and have your plumcake, and look in the microscope."
+
+"But, Aunt Church--" said Tom. He planted himself right in front of the
+old lady. He was a tall boy, well set up, with a sandy head, and a face
+covered with freckles. He had rather shallow blue eyes and a wide mouth,
+but his whole expression was honest and full of fun. "I am desperately
+sorry, and so is mother."
+
+"Eh! What?" said the old lady. She put her hand to her ear. "I am a bit
+hard of hearing, my dear; come close to me."
+
+"Mother's awfully sorry, but she can't pay you to-day."
+
+"Oh!" said Mrs. Church; "can't pay me to-day! But it's the first of the
+month, and she was never behindhand--I will say that--in her payments
+before."
+
+"She's fretting past bearing," said Tom. "She'd give all the world to be
+able to pay you up, but she ain't got the money, and that's a fact. We
+have had a robbery in the shop, Aunt Church, and mother has took on
+dreadful."
+
+"A burglary?" said Mrs. Church. "Now tell me all about it. Stand here
+and pour your words into my ear. I am very much interested about
+burglaries. Was there attempted murder? Speak up, boy--speak up."
+
+Tom quite longed to say that there was. Had he been able to assure Mrs.
+Church that burglars with masks on their faces had burst into the shop
+at dead of night and penetrated to his mother's bedroom, and had held
+pistols to her throat and Susy's throat, and a great bare, glittering
+knife to his; and had he been further able to tell her that he himself,
+unaided, had grappled with the enemy, had wrested the knife from the
+hand of one, and knocked the loaded pistols from the hands of the
+others--then, indeed, he would have felt himself a hero, and the mere
+fact of not being able to return the money on the appointed day would
+not have signified.
+
+But Tom was truthful, and he had but a lame story to tell.
+Nineteen-and-sixpence had been abstracted from the till. Nobody knew how
+it had been done, and nobody had the least idea who was the thief. Mrs.
+Church, who would have given her niece unlimited time to return the
+money had there been a real, proper, bloodthirsty burglary, was not at
+all inclined to show mercy when the affair dwindled down into an unknown
+thief taking a small sum of money out of the till.
+
+"Why didn't you get it back?" she said. "Why didn't you send for the
+police? My word, this is a nice state of things! And me to be out of my
+money that I counted upon. Why, Tom, boy, I spend that money on my food,
+rent, and the little expenses I have to go to. I made up my mind when I
+drew that hundred pounds from my dear husband's hard-earned savings
+that, whatever happened, I'd make that sum last me for all expenses for
+three years. And I have done it, Tom--I have done it. I am in low water,
+Tom. I want the money; I want it just as much as your poor mother does."
+
+"But you have money in the bank, haven't you?"
+
+"That is no affair of yours, Tom Hopkins. Don't talk in that silly way
+to me. No, I don't want you to shoo the fowls into the yard, and I don't
+mean to give you any plumcake. I shall have to eat it myself, for I have
+no money to buy anything else. And I won't show you the beautiful wings
+of the beetle in the microscope. You can go home to your mother and tell
+her I am very much annoyed indeed."
+
+"But, Aunt Church," said Tom, "if you were to see poor mother you
+wouldn't blame her. She looks, oh, so thin and so tired! She's terribly
+unhappy, and she will be certain sure to pay you next week. It was silly
+of her, I will own, not to think of the police sooner; but she's gone to
+them to-day, ordered by me to do that same."
+
+"That was thoughtful enough of you, Tom, and I don't object to giving
+you a morsel of the stalest cake. I always keep three cakes in three tin
+boxes, and you can have a morsel of the stalest; it is more than two
+months old, but you won't mind that."
+
+"Not me," said Tom, "I like stale cakes best," he added, determined to
+show his aunt that he was ready to be pleased with everything. He was a
+very knowing boy, and spoke up so well, and was so evidently sorry
+himself, and so positive that as soon as ever the police were told they
+would simply lay their hands on the thief and the thief would disgorge
+his spoils, that Aunt Church was fain to believe him.
+
+In the end she and he made a compact.
+
+"I tell you what it is," he said. "You haven't been to see mother for a
+long time, and if you ain't got any money to buy a dinner for yourself,
+it is but fair you should have a slice off our Sunday joint."
+
+"Sunday joint, indeed!" snapped Mrs. Church.
+
+"You couldn't expect us not to have a bit of meat on Sunday," said Tom.
+"Why, we'd get so weak that mother couldn't earn the money she sends you
+every month."
+
+"And you couldn't do your lessons and be the fine big boy that I am
+proud of," said Mrs. Church. "Now, to tell the truth, I can't bear that
+sister of yours--Susy, you call her--but I have a liking for you, Tom
+Hopkins. What is it you want me to do?"
+
+"If you will let me come here to-morrow, I'll push you all the way to
+Merrifield in time for our dinner. Wouldn't you like that? And I'd bring
+you back again in the evening. There's your own old bath-chair that
+Uncle Church used to be moved about in before he died."
+
+"To be sure, there is," said Mrs. Church, her eyes brightening. "But the
+lining has got moth-eaten."
+
+"Who minds that?" said Tom. "I'll go and clean it after you have given
+me that bit of cake you promised me."
+
+Everything ended quite satisfactorily as far as Tom was concerned, for
+Mrs. Church forgot her anger in the interest that the boy's visit gave
+her. She consulted him about her fowls, and gave him a new-laid egg to
+slip into his pocket for his own supper. Later on she allowed him to
+munch some very poor and very stale plumcake. Finally she gave him his
+heart's delight, for he was allowed to peer into the old microscope and
+revel in the sight of the beetle's wings with thin, sweeping plumes, as
+he afterwards described them.
+
+It was rather late when Tom returned home. He burst into the parlor
+where his mother and Susy were sitting.
+
+"Mother," he said, "I have done everything splendidly; and she's coming
+to dine with us to-morrow."
+
+"She's what?" said Mrs. Hopkins.
+
+"Aunt Church is coming to dine with us. She was mad about the money, and
+nobody could have been nastier than she might have turned out but for
+me. But it's all right now. We must have a nice dinner for her. She is
+very fond of good things, and as she never gives them to herself, she
+will enjoy ours all the more."
+
+"She'll think that I am rich, when I am as poor as a church mouse," said
+Mrs. Hopkins. "But I suppose you have done everything for the best, Tom,
+and I must go around to the butcher's for a little addition to the
+dinner."
+
+Mrs. Hopkins left the house, and Tom sank into a chair by his sister.
+
+"It's golloptious for me," he said. "She's taking no end of a fancy to
+me. See this egg? She gave it to me for my supper. Mother shall have it.
+Mother is looking very white about the gills; a new-laid egg that she
+hasn't to pay for will nourish her up like anything."
+
+"So it will," said Susy. "We'll boil it and say nothing about it, and
+just pop it on her plate when she's having her supper. All the same,
+Tom, I wish you hadn't asked old Aunt Church here. She is such a queer
+old body; and the neighbors sometimes drop in on Sundays. And I have
+asked Miss Kathleen O'Hara to come in to-morrow, and she has promised
+to."
+
+"What?" said Tom. "That grand beauty of a young lady, the pride of the
+school? Why, everybody is talking about her. At the boys' school they've
+caught sight of her, and there isn't a boy that hasn't fallen in love
+with her. They all slink behind the wall, and bob up as she comes by.
+You don't mean that _she's_ coming here?"
+
+"Yes; why not? She's very fond of me."
+
+"But she's no end of a howler. They say she's worth her weight in gold,
+and that her father is a sort of king in Ireland. Why should she take up
+with a little girl like you?"
+
+"Well, Tom, some people like me, although you think but little of your
+sister. Kathleen is very fond of me. I invited her to have tea with us
+to-morrow, and she is coming."
+
+"My word!" said Tom. "To think that I shall be sitting at the same table
+with her! I'll be able to make my own terms now with John Short and
+Harry Reid and the rest of the chaps. Why, Susy, you must be a genius,
+and I thought you weren't much of a sort."
+
+"I am better than you think; and she is fond of me."
+
+"And you really and truly call her by her Christian name?"
+
+"Of course I do."
+
+Susy longed to tell Tom about the wonderful society; but its strictest
+rule was that it was never to be spoken about to outsiders. Susy, as a
+member of the Cabinet, must certainly be one of the last to break the
+rules.
+
+Mrs. Hopkins came back at that moment. She had added a pound of sausage
+and a little piece of pork to their usual Sunday fare. She had also
+brought sixpennyworth of apples with her.
+
+"These are to make a pudding," she said. "I think we shall do now very
+well."
+
+Susy and Tom quite agreed with their mother. Susy rose and prepared
+supper, and at the crucial moment the new-laid egg was laid on Mrs.
+Hopkins's plate. It takes, perhaps, a great deal of poverty to truly
+appreciate a new-laid egg. Mrs. Hopkins was delighted with hers; she
+thought Tom the noblest boy in the world for having denied himself in
+order to give it to her. Tears filled her tired eyes as she thanked God
+for her good children.
+
+Susy and Tom watched her as she ate the egg, and thought how delicious
+it must taste, but were glad she had it.
+
+The following day dawned bright and clear, with a suspicion of frost in
+the air. It was, as Tom expressed it, a perfect day. Susy went to church
+with her mother in the morning, the dinner being all prepared and left
+to cook itself in the oven. Tom started at about eleven o'clock on his
+walk to the tiny village where Mrs. Church lived.
+
+As soon as Susy returned from her place of worship she helped her mother
+to get the little parlor ready. She put some autumn leaves in a jug on
+the center of the table. Her mother brought out the best china, which
+had not been used since her husband's death. The best china was very
+pretty, and Susy thought that no table could look more elegant than
+theirs. The best china was accompanied by some quite good knives and
+forks. The forks were real silver; Mrs. Hopkins regarded them with
+pride.
+
+"If the worst--the very worst--comes," she said to Susy, "we can sell
+them; but I cling to them as a piece of respectability that I never want
+to part from. Your dear father gave them to me on our wedding-day--a
+whole dozen of beautiful silver forks with the hall-mark on them, and
+his initials on the handle of each. I want them to be Tom's some day.
+Silver should always be handed on to the eldest son."
+
+Susy felt that she was almost worthy of Kathleen's friendship as she
+regarded the silver forks.
+
+"You must never part with them, mother," she said--until Tom is married.
+Then, of course, they will belong to him."
+
+"You are a good little girl, Susy," said her mother. "Of course, there
+never was a boy like Tom. It was sweet of him to give up his egg to me
+last night."
+
+Having seen that the table was in perfect order, and that the dinner was
+cooking as well as dinner could in the oven, Mrs. Hopkins went upstairs
+to put on a lace collar and a neat black silk apron.
+
+Meanwhile Susy had locked herself into her own room. The crowning moment
+of her life had arrived. She had made up her mind that she would wear
+her new blouse at dinner that day. Susy's stockings were coarse, and
+showed darns here and there; Susy's shoes were rough, and could not
+altogether hide the disfiguring patches on the toes of each; Susy's
+skirt was dark-blue serge, fairly neat in its way. Altogether Susy from
+her waist down was a very ordinary little girl--the little daughter of
+poor people; but from her waist up she was resplendent.
+
+"Oh! if I could only show my sweet, sweet little badge," she thought,
+"it would make me perfect. But I daren't. The queen commands that it
+should be hidden, and the queen's commands must be obeyed."
+
+Susy slipped into her blouse. She fastened it; she put a belt round her
+waist. She curtsied before her little glass. She bobbed here; she
+bobbed there. She looked at herself front view, then over her shoulder,
+then, with a morsel of glass, at her back; she surveyed herself, as far
+as the limited accommodation of her room afforded, from every point of
+view. Finally, with flushed cheeks and a very proud expression on her
+face, she tripped downstairs. The pale-blue cashmere blouse, with its
+real lace and embroidered trimmings, might have been worn by any girl,
+even in the highest station of life.
+
+Mrs. Hopkins was busy in the kitchen. She called to Susy:
+
+"Come and hold the vegetable dish, child. I hear Tom pushing Aunt Church
+in at the gate; I know he is doing it by the creak of the bath-chair.
+There never was a bath-chair that creaked like that. Hold this while
+I--Why, sakes alive, Susy! wherever did you get--"
+
+"Oh, it's my new blouse, mother."
+
+"Your new what?"
+
+"What you see, mother--my new blouse. Don't you admire it?"
+
+Mrs. Hopkins was so stunned that she could not speak for a moment. Her
+face, which had been quite florid, turned pale. She suddenly put up her
+hand and caught Susy by the arm.
+
+"Oh, mother, don't!" said the little girl. "Your hand isn't clean. Oh,
+you have made a stain! Oh, mother, how could you?"
+
+"Run upstairs at once, child, and take it off. For the life of you don't
+let _her_ see it; she'd never forgive me. It isn't fit for you, Susy; it
+really isn't. Wherever did you get it from? Where did you buy it?"
+
+Now Susy had really no intention of making a secret with regard to the
+blouse. She meant to tell her mother frankly that it was a present from
+Miss Kathleen O'Hara, but Mrs. Hopkins's manner and words put the little
+girl into a passion, and she was determined now not to say a word.
+
+"It is my secret," she said. "I won't tell you how I got it, nor who
+gave it to me. And I won't take it off."
+
+Just then there were voices, and Aunt Church called out:
+
+"Where are you, Mary Hopkins? Why don't you show yourself? Fussing over
+fine living, I suppose. Oh, there is your daughter. My word! Fine
+feathers make fine birds.--Come over and speak to me, my dear, and help
+me out of this chair. Now then, give me your hand. Be quick!"
+
+Susy put out her hand and helped Mrs. Church as well as she could out of
+the bath-chair. Tom winked when he saw the splendid apparition; then he
+stuck his tongue into his cheek, and coming close to his sister, he
+whispered:
+
+"Wherever did you get that toggery?"
+
+"That's nothing to you," said Susy.
+
+Mrs. Church glanced over her shoulder and looked solemnly at Susy.
+
+"It's my opinion," she said, speaking in a slow, emphatic, rather awful
+voice, "that you are a very, very bad little girl. You will come to no
+good. Mark my words. I prophesy a bad end for you, and trouble for your
+unfortunate mother. You will remember my words when the prophecy comes
+true. Help me now into the parlor. I cannot stay long, but I will have a
+morsel of your grand dinner before I leave."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+AUNT CHURCH AT DINNER AND THE CONSEQUENCES THEREOF.
+
+
+When Mrs. Church was comfortably established in the easy-chair in the
+little parlor, with her feet on the fender, and a nice view of the
+street from the window near by--when her best widow's-cap was perched
+upon her head, and her little black mitts were drawn over her delicate,
+small hands--she looked around her and gave a brief sigh of
+satisfaction.
+
+"Upon my word," she said, "I'm not at all sorry I came. There's nothing
+like seeing things for yourself. Most elegant damask on the table. Mary
+Hopkins, where did you get that damask?"
+
+Mrs. Hopkins, whose cheeks were flushed, and who looked considerably
+worried, replied that it had been left to her by her own mother.
+
+"My mother was a housekeeper in a nobleman's family," she said, "and she
+was given that cloth and two or three more like it. I have 'em in the
+linen-chest upstairs, and I wouldn't part with 'em to anybody."
+
+"I admire your pride," said Mrs. Church. "Next door to pride comes
+honesty. I am sometimes inclined to believe that it comes afore pride;
+but we needn't dispute that delicate point at present. And the silver
+forks. My word!--Tom, my boy, pass me a fork to examine."
+
+Tom took up a fork and handed it to Mrs. Church.
+
+"Hall-marked and all!" she said.
+
+She laid it down with emphasis.
+
+"Perhaps you know," she said, fixing her beady black eyes upon Mrs.
+Hopkins's face, "that I'll be very low as regards victuals for the rest
+of this week. But never mind; I am never one to press what it ain't
+convenient to return. Ah! and here comes the dinner. Well, I will say
+that I have a good appetite.--You can push me right up to the table,
+Tom, my boy."
+
+Tom did push the old lady into the most comfortable seat. She now
+removed her mittens, put a napkin on her lap, and bent forward with a
+look of appetite to regard the different dishes which Ellen, the tiny
+twelve-year-old servant, brought in. Ellen trembled very much in the
+company of the old lady, and Mrs. Hopkins trembled still more. But Susy,
+who saw no reason why she should bow down before Aunt Church, ate her
+good dinner with appetite, tossed her little head, and felt that she was
+making a sensation. Tom was very attentive to Mrs. Church, and helped
+her to a large glass of ginger-wine. She thoroughly enjoyed her dinner,
+and, while she was eating it, forgot all about Susy and the pale-blue
+cashmere blouse.
+
+But when the meat had been followed by the apple-pudding, and the
+apple-pudding by some coffee which was served in real china cups, and
+Mrs. Church had folded her napkin and swept the crumbs from her
+bombazine dress, and Mrs. Hopkins, assisted by Susy, had removed the
+cloth, and the little maid had swept up the hearth, Mrs. Church began to
+recollect herself. It is true she was no longer hungry nor cold, for the
+fire was plentiful, and the sun also poured in at the small window. But
+Mrs. Church had a memory and, as she believed, a grievance. In her tiny
+house on the common four miles away firing was scarce, and food was
+scarcer. The owner of the house did not care to spend more than a very
+limited sum of money on coals and food. There was nothing in the cottage
+for Mrs. Church's supper except a bit of stale cake, a hunch of brown
+bread, and a little tea. The tea would have to be drunk without milk,
+and with only a modicum of brown sugar, for Mrs. Church was determined
+to spend no money, if possible, until Mrs. Hopkins paid the debt which
+had been due on the previous day. It was one thing, therefore, for Mrs.
+Church's debtors to eat good roast beef and good boiled pork and good
+apple-pudding, but it was another thing for Mrs. Church to tolerate it.
+She fixed her eyes now on Susy in a very meaning way. Susy had never
+appealed to the old lady's fancy, and she appealed less than ever
+to-day.
+
+"Come right over here, little girl," said Mrs. Church, waving a thin arm
+and motioning Susy to approach.
+
+Susy Hopkins, remembering her blouse and her proud position as a member
+of the Cabinet of the Queen of the Wild Irish Girls, felt for a moment
+inclined to disobey; but Mrs. Church had a certain power about her, and
+she impelled Susy to come forward.
+
+"Stand just in front of me," she said, "and let me look at you. My word!
+I never did see a more elegant figure. Don't you think that you are
+something like a peacock--fine above and ugly below?"
+
+"No, I don't, Aunt Church," said Susy.
+
+"Tut, tut, child! Don't give me any of your sauce, but just answer a
+straight question. Where did you get that bodice? It is singularly fine
+for a little girl like you. Where did you get it?"
+
+"I don't think it is any business of yours, Aunt Church."
+
+"Susy!" said her mother in a voice of terror. "Don't talk like that. You
+know very well you mustn't be rude to Aunt Church.--Don't mind her,
+aunt; she is a very naughty girl."
+
+"I am not, mother," said Susy; "and it's awfully unkind of you to say
+it of me. I am not a bit rude. But it is not Aunt Church's affair. I
+didn't steal the blouse; I came by it honestly, and it wasn't bought out
+of any of Aunt Church's money."
+
+"That remains to be proved," said Mrs. Church. "Susan Hopkins, I don't
+like you nor your ways. When I was young I knew a little girl, and you
+remind me of her. She had a face summat like yours, no way pretty, but
+what you'd call boastful and conceited; and she thought a sight of
+herself, and put on gay dress that she had no call to wear. She strutted
+about among the neighbors, and they said, 'Fine feathers make fine
+birds,' and laughed at her past bearing. But she didn't mind, because
+she was a little girl that was meant to go to the bad--and she did. She
+learned to be a thief, and she broke her mother's heart, and she was
+locked up in prison. In prison she had to wear the ugly convict-dress
+with the broad-arrow stamped on all her clothes. Afterwards, when she
+came out again, her poor mother had died, and her grandmother likewise;
+and her brother, who was the moral image of Tom there, wouldn't receive
+her in his house. I haven't heard of her for a long time back, but most
+likely she died in the work-house. Well, Susan, you may take my little
+story for what it is worth, and much good may it do you."
+
+"I think you are very rude indeed, Aunt Church," said Susy. "I don't see
+that I'm bound to submit to your ugly, cruel words. I like this blouse,
+and I'll wear it whenever I wish."
+
+"Oh, hoity-toity!" said the old lady; "impudent as well as everything
+else. That I should live to see it!--Mary Hopkins, can it be convenient
+to you to let me have the remainder of my hundred pounds? There wasn't
+any contract but that I could demand it whenever I wanted it, and it is
+about convenient to me that I should have it back now. You owe me
+between thirty and forty pounds, and I'd like, I will say, to see the
+color of my money. It can't be at all ill-convenient to you to give it
+to me when you can afford blouses of that quality for your impudent
+young daughter. Real lace, forsooth! I know it when I see it. We'll say
+Wednesday week to receive the money, and I will come over in my
+bath-chair, drawn by Tom, to take it; and I will give Tom a whole
+shilling for himself the day I get it back. That will be quite
+convenient to you, Mary Hopkins, won't it?"
+
+"Susy," said poor Mrs. Hopkins, "for goodness' sake, leave the
+room.--Aunt Church, you know perfectly well that I am not responsible
+for the naughty ways of that naughty little girl. It's apologize to you
+she shall, and that before you leave this house. And you know that if
+you press me now to return the money in full I'll have to sell up the
+shop, and the children won't have anything to eat, and we'll all be
+ruined. You wouldn't be as cruel as that to your own flesh and blood,
+would you?"
+
+"Well, Mary, I only said it to frighten you. I ain't at all a cruel
+woman. On the contrary, I am kind-hearted; but I can't stand the sauce
+of that little girl of yours. It's my opinion, Mary, that the lost money
+of yours is on the back of your Susan, and the sooner you get her to
+confess her sin the better it will be for us all."
+
+Now, before Mrs. Hopkins had time to utter a word with regard to this
+preposterous and appalling suggestion of Aunt Church's, there came a
+loud knock on the little street-door, and, listening in the parlor, the
+people within could distinctly hear the rustle of silk petticoats.
+
+"Who in the world can that be?" said Mrs. Hopkins.
+
+Tom turned first red and then white, and rushed into the passage. Susy,
+who had been crying in the shop, also appeared on the scene.
+
+"I'll open the door," said Tom. "Do wipe your eyes, Susy; don't let her
+see you crying. It's herself, of course."
+
+The knocker was just going to be applied to the door again, when Tom
+opened it with a flourish, and there stood, waiting on the steps, a very
+brilliant apparition. This was no less a person than Miss Kathleen
+O'Hara, in her Sunday best.
+
+Now, Kathleen tried to bear with Mrs. Tennant's advice with regard to
+her clothes in the week, but on Sundays she was absolutely determined
+that her love of finery should find full vent. Accordingly, from her
+store of rich and beautiful garments, she chose the gayest and the most
+likely to attract attention. On the present occasion she wore a crimson
+velvet toque. Her jacket was bright blue, and she had a skirt to match.
+On her neck she wore a rich necklet of flaming beads, which was
+extremely becoming to her; and thrown carelessly round her neck and
+shoulders was a boa of white fur, and she had a muff to match.
+Altogether her radiant dress and radiant face were quite sufficient to
+dazzle Tom. But Susy pushed past Tom and held out her hand.
+
+"Oh, Kathleen," she said, "I am glad you have come. You'd best come into
+the shop with me; there's company in the parlor, and I don't think you'd
+care about it."
+
+Kathleen, of course, was just as pleased to stay in the shop with Susy
+as to go into any other part of the house; but just then Mrs. Hopkins
+put a sad, distressed face outside the door, and Mrs. Church's voice was
+heard in high and grating accents:
+
+"I want to see the person who is talking in the passage."
+
+"Oh! don't go in," said Susy. "It's Aunt Church, and she's dreadful."
+
+"An old lady?" cried Kathleen. "I love old ladies."
+
+She pushed past Susy and made her appearance in the parlor.
+
+Now, Mrs. Church was a person of discernment. She strongly objected to
+gay dress on the person of little Susy Hopkins; but, as she expressed
+it, she knew the quality. Had she not lived all her earlier days as
+housekeeper to a widowed nobleman? Could she ever forget the fine folk
+she helped to prepare for in his house? Now, Kathleen, standing in the
+tiny room, had a certain look of wealth and distinction about her. Mrs.
+Church seemed to sniff the fine quality air in a moment; she even
+managed to rise from her chair and drop a little curtsy.
+
+"If it weren't for the rheumatics," she said, "I wouldn't make so bold
+as to sit before you, miss."
+
+"But why shouldn't you? I'm sorry you suffer from rheumatism. May I
+bring a chair and come and sit near you? Are you Mrs. Hopkins--Susy
+Hopkins's mother?"
+
+"Indeed, my dear, I'm truly thankful to say I am not. And what may your
+name be, my sweet young lady?"
+
+"Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+"Oh, dear, but it's a mouthful."
+
+"I'm not English," said Kathleen; "I'm Irish. Do you know, in our
+country we have old ladies something like you. A good many of them have
+dresses like you; and they live in little cottages, and we bring them up
+to the castle and give them good food very, very often. There are twelve
+of them, and they all live in their tiny cottages close to each other.
+We make a great fuss about them. They love to come to the castle for
+tea."
+
+"The castle!" said Mrs. Church, more and more impressed. "I should
+think they would like it. Who wouldn't like it? It's a very great honor
+for an old lady to be entertained to her tea in a castle. And so you
+live in a castle, my bonny young lady?"
+
+"Yes; my father owns Carrigrohane Castle."
+
+"Eh, love! it is a mouthful of a word for me to get round my lips. But
+never mind; it is but to look at you to see how beautiful and good you
+are."
+
+"And you are beautiful, too," said Kathleen. "I mean, you are beautiful
+for an old lady. I love the beauty of the old. But I want to see Mrs.
+Hopkins, and I want to see Susy. Susy is a great friend of mine."
+
+Mrs. Church opened her eyes very wide; her mouth formed itself into a
+round O. An eager exclamation was about to burst from her lips, but she
+restrained herself.
+
+"And a very good little girl Susan Hopkins is," she said, after a
+moment's pause; "and a particularly great friend of mine, being, so to
+speak, my grand-niece.--Mary, my dear, call your little girl in."
+
+Mrs. Hopkins, in some trepidation, crossed the room and called to Susy,
+who was still sulking in the shop.
+
+"My visitor and all," she kept saying. "And I wanted to have her all to
+myself; I had such a lot to say to her. I never saw anybody quite so
+horrible as Aunt Church is to-day."
+
+"Never mind, Susy; never mind," said her mother. "The young lady is
+pleasing your aunt like anything, and she has sent for you."
+
+"Come along in, Susan, this minute," called out Mrs. Church. "Come, my
+pet, and let's have a little talk."
+
+"Go, Susy, and be quick about it," said her mother.
+
+By the aid of Tom and Mrs. Hopkins, who pushed Susy from behind, she
+was induced to re-enter the little parlor. There, indeed, all things had
+changed. Kathleen called to her, made room for her on the same chair,
+and held her hand. Mrs. Church glanced from one to the other. Only too
+well did she see the difference between them. One was a rather plain
+little girl, the daughter of her own relation; the other was a lady,
+beautiful, stately, and magnificently dressed.
+
+"I know her kind," thought Aunt Church. "I have aired beds for quality
+of that sort, and I have watched them when they danced in the big
+ballroom, and watched them, too, when their sweethearts came along, and
+seen--oh, yes, many, many things have I seen, and many, many things have
+I heard of those fair young ladies of quality. She belongs to them, and
+she likes that good-for-nothing, pert little Susy Hopkins! Yet it don't
+matter to me. Susy shall have my good graces if she has secured those of
+Miss Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+Accordingly, Mrs. Church changed her tactics. She praised Susy in
+honeyed words to the visitor.
+
+"A good little girl, miss, and deserving of anything that those who are
+better off can do for her. She is a great help to her mother.--Mary
+Hopkins, come nigh, dear. You are very fond of your Susy, aren't you?"
+
+"Of course I am," said Mrs. Hopkins in an affectionate voice.
+
+Susy longed to keep up her anger, but she could not. She was soon
+smiling and flushing.
+
+"And what a neat little bodice my Susy is wearing!" said Mrs. Church.
+"And bought with her own hard-earned savings. You wouldn't think so,
+would you, miss?"
+
+"It gives her great credit," said Kathleen in a calm voice. "I like
+people to wear smart clothes, don't you, Mrs. Church? If you lived on
+our estate, I would dress you myself. I love to see our old ladies gaily
+dressed. On Christmas Day they come to the castle and have dinner as
+well as tea. It is wonderful how smart they look."
+
+"They are very lucky ladies--very lucky," said Mrs. Church. "They don't
+wear old bombazine like this, do they?"
+
+"Your dress suits you very well, indeed," said Kathleen; "but my old
+ladies wear velveteen dresses. They save them, of course. We don't want
+them to be extravagant; but they always come up to the castle in
+velveteen dresses, with white caps, and white collars round their necks;
+and they look very nice. They have a happy time."
+
+"I am sure they have, miss."
+
+"Yes, they have a very happy time. They want for nothing. There was an
+old lady belonging to our house who left a certain sum of money, and the
+old ladies get it between them. They get six shillings a week each, and
+a dear little house to live in. We are obliged to supply them with as
+much coal as they want, and candles, and a new pair of blankets on the
+first of every November, and a bale of unbleached calico on the first of
+May. You can't think how comfortable they are. And then, of course, we
+throw in a lot of extra things--the black velveteen dresses, and other
+garments of the same quality."
+
+"It must be a wonderful place to live in. Is it very difficult to get
+into one of these houses, missy?"
+
+"I don't know. Would you like to come?"
+
+"That I would."
+
+"I'll write to father and ask him if you may."
+
+"Miss, it would be wonderful."
+
+"You'd be very picturesque amongst them," said Kathleen, gazing at Mrs.
+Church with a critical eye. "And you'd have so much to tell them;
+because all the rest are Irish, and they have never gone beyond their
+own country. But you have seen such a lot of life, haven't you?"
+
+"Miss, I can't express all the tales I could tell. I lived with the
+quality for so long. I lived with Lord Henshel until he died; I was
+housekeeper there. Oh, I could tell them lots of things."
+
+"It would be very nice if you came over; and I am almost sure there is a
+cottage vacant," said Kathleen in a contemplative voice. "It seems
+unfair to give the cottages entirely to Irish people. We might have one
+English old lady. You would enjoy it; you'd have such a lovely view! And
+you might keep your own little pig if you liked."
+
+Mrs. Church was not enamored with the idea of keeping a pig.
+
+"Perhaps fowls would do as well," she said. "I have a great fancy for
+birds, and I am fond of new-laid eggs."
+
+"Fowls will do just as well," said Kathleen, rising now carelessly from
+her seat. "Well, Mrs. Church, I will write to father and let you know if
+there is a vacancy; and you could come back with me in the summer,
+couldn't you?"
+
+"Oh, miss, it would be heaven!"
+
+"Can't we go out and have a walk now, Susy?" said Kathleen, who found
+the small parlor a little too close for her taste.
+
+Susy rushed upstairs, put on her outdoor jacket and a cheap hat, and,
+trying to hide the holes in her gloves, ran downstairs. Kathleen,
+however, was the last girl to notice any want in her companion's
+wardrobe. She had all her life been so abundantly supplied with clothes
+that, although she loved to array herself in fine garments, the want of
+them in others never attracted her attention.
+
+"Susy," she said the moment they got out of doors, "what is the matter
+with Ruth Craven?"
+
+"With Ruth Craven?" said Susy, who was by no means inclined to waste her
+time over such an uninteresting person.
+
+"Yes. You must go to her house; you must insist on seeing her, and you
+must find out and let me know what is wrong. She has written me a most
+mysterious letter; she has actually asked me to let her withdraw from
+our society. Ruth, of all people!"
+
+"It is very queer of her," said Susy, "not to be grateful and pleased,
+for she is no better than the rest of us."
+
+"No better than the rest of you, Susy?" said Kathleen, raising her brows
+in surprise. "But indeed you are mistaken. The rest of you are not a
+patch on her. She is my Prime Minister. I can't allow her to resign."
+
+"Oh, well," said Susy, "if you think of her in that way--"
+
+"Of course I think of her in that way, Susy. I like you very much, and I
+want to be kind to everybody; but to compare you or Mary Rand or Rosy
+Myers, or any of the others, with Ruth Craven--"
+
+"But she is no better."
+
+"She is a great deal better. She is refined and beautiful. She mustn't
+go; I can't allow it. But she has written me such a queer letter, and
+implored and besought of me not to come to see her, that I am forced to
+accede to her wishes. So you will have to go to her to-night and tell
+her that she must meet me on my way to school to-morrow. Tell her that I
+will go a bit of the way towards her house; tell her that I will be at
+the White Cross Corner at a quarter to nine. You needn't say more. Oh,
+Susy, it would break my heart if Ruth did not continue to be a member of
+our society."
+
+"I will do what you want, of course," said Susy. "I'd do anything in the
+world for you, Kathleen. It was so kind of you to come to see us this
+afternoon. You will keep your promise and come and have tea with us,
+won't you?"
+
+"I am very sorry, but I am afraid I can't. I do wish I had a home of my
+own, and then I'd ask you to have tea with me. But, Susy, how funnily
+you were dressed to-day, now that I come to think of it! You did look
+odd. That blouse is too smart for the coarse blue serge skirt you were
+wearing."
+
+"I know it is; but I can't afford a better skirt. Mother is rather
+worried about money just now. I know I oughtn't to tell you, but she is.
+And, do you know, before you came in Aunt Church was so horrid. She got
+quite dreadful about the blouse, and she tried to make out that I had
+stolen the money from mother to buy it. Wasn't it awful of her? I can
+tell you it was a blessing when you came in. You changed her altogether.
+What did you do to her?"
+
+"Well," said Kathleen, "I rather like old ladies, and she struck me as
+something picturesque."
+
+"She's a horrid old thing, and not a bit picturesque. I hate her like
+poison."
+
+"That is very wrong of you, Susy. Some day you will get old yourself,
+and you won't like people to hate you."
+
+"Well, that's a long way off; I needn't worry about it yet," cried Susy.
+"I do hate her very much indeed. And then, you know, when you appeared
+she began to butter me up like anything. I hated that the worst of all."
+
+"I am sorry she is that sort of old lady," said Kathleen after a pause;
+"but I have promised to try and get her into one of our almshouses. It
+would be rare fun to have her there."
+
+"But she is not a bit poor. She oughtn't to go into an almshouse if she
+is rich," said Susy.
+
+"Of course she mustn't go into an almshouse if she is rich; but she
+doesn't look rich."
+
+"She is quite rich. I think she has saved three hundred pounds. You must
+call that rich."
+
+"I'm afraid I don't," said Kathleen.
+
+Susy was silent for a moment.
+
+"There are so many different views about riches," she said at last. "I
+am glad you are so tremendously rich that you think nothing of three
+hundred pounds. Mother and I often sigh and pine even for _one_ pound.
+For instance, now--But I mustn't tell you; it would not be right.
+Perhaps Aunt Church will be a little nicer to me now that you have taken
+her up. I'll threaten to complain to you if she doesn't behave."
+
+Here Susy laughed merrily.
+
+"That's all right, Susan," said Kathleen. "I must go back now, for I
+have promised to go for a walk with Mrs. Tennant. No one ever thinks
+about her as she ought to be thought of; so I have some plans in my head
+for her, too. Oh, my head is full of plans, and I do wish--yes, I do,
+Susy--that I could make a lot of people happy."
+
+"You are a splendid girl," said Susy. "I wish there were others like you
+in the world."
+
+"No, I am not splendid," said Kathleen, her lovely dark eyes looking
+wistful. "I have heaps and lashons of faults; but I do like to make
+people happy. I always did since I was a little child. The person I am
+most anxious about at present is Ruth: I love Ruth so very much. You
+will be sure to see her this evening, won't you?"
+
+"Sure and certain," said Susy. "I am very much obliged to you, Kathleen;
+you have made a great difference in my life."
+
+The two girls parted just by the turnstile. Kathleen passed through on
+her way across the common to Mrs. Tennant's house, and Susy went slowly
+back to the High Street and the little stationer's shop.
+
+She found Mrs. Church in the act of being deposited in her bath-chair,
+and Tom, looking proud and flushed, attending on her. Mrs. Hopkins was
+also standing just outside the shop, putting a wrap round the old lady
+and tucking her up. When Susy appeared her mother called out to her:
+
+"Come along, you ungrateful girl. Here's Aunt Church going, and
+wondering why you have deserted her during the last hour."
+
+"That's just like you, Mary Hopkins," said old Mrs. Church. "You scold
+when there's no occasion to, and you withhold scolding when it's due. I
+don't blame your daughter Susan for going out with that nice young lady.
+I am only too pleased to think that any daughter of yours should be
+taken notice of by a young lady of the Miss Kathleen O'Hara type. She's
+a splendid girl; and, to tell you the honest truth, none of you are fit
+for her to touch you with a pair of tongs."
+
+"Dear, dear!" said Susy. "But she has touched me pretty often. I don't
+think you ought to say nasty things of that sort, Aunt Church, for if
+you do I may be able to--"
+
+Aunt Church fixed her glittering black eyes on Susan.
+
+"Come here, child," she said.
+
+Susy went up to her somewhat unwillingly.
+
+"My bark is worse than my bite," said old Mrs. Church. "Now look here;
+if you bring that charming young lady to see me, and give me notice a
+day or so before--Tom can run over and tell me--if you and Tom and Miss
+Kathleen O'Hara would come and have tea at my place, why, it's the
+freshest of the plumcakes we'd have, not the stalest. And the microscope
+should be out handy and in order, and with some prepared plates that my
+poor husband used, which I have never shown to anybody from the time of
+his death. I have a magnifying-glass, too, that I can put into the
+microscope; it will make you see the root of a hair on your head. And I
+will--Whisper, Susy!"
+
+Susy somewhat unwillingly bent forward.
+
+"I will give you five shillings. You'd like to trim your hat to match
+that handsome blouse, wouldn't you?"
+
+Susy's eyes could not help dancing.
+
+"Five shillings all to yourself; and I won't press your mother about the
+installment which was due to me yesterday. I'll manage without it
+somehow. But I want to see that beautiful young lady in my cottage, and
+you will get the money when you bring her. That's all. You are a queer
+little girl, and not altogether to my taste, but you are no fool."
+
+Susy stood silent. She put her hand on the moth-eaten cushion of the old
+bath-chair, bent forward, and looked into Mrs. Church's face.
+
+"Will you take back the words you said?"
+
+"Will I take back what?"
+
+"If not the words, at least the thought? Will you say that you know that
+I got this blouse honestly?"
+
+"Oh, yes, child! I'd quite forgotten all about it. Now just see that you
+do what I want; and the sooner the better, you understand. And, oh,
+Susy, mum's the word with regard to me being well off. I ain't, I can
+tell you; I am quite a poor body. But I could do a kindness to you and
+your mother if--if certain things were to come to pass. Now that's about
+all.--Pull away, Tom, my boy. I have a rosy apple which shall find its
+way into your pocket if you take me home in double-quick time."
+
+Tom pulled with a will; the little bath-chair creaked and groaned, and
+Mrs. Church nodded her wise old head and she was carried over the
+country roads.
+
+Meanwhile Susy entered the house with her mother.
+
+"What a blessing," said Mrs. Hopkins, "that that pretty young lady
+happened to call! I never saw such a change in any one as what took
+place in your aunt after she had seen her."
+
+"Well, mother, you know what it is all about," said Susy. "Aunt Church
+wants to get into one of those almshouses."
+
+"Just like her--stingy old thing!" said Mrs. Hopkins.
+
+"I don't want her to get in, I can tell you, mother; and when Kathleen
+and I were out I told Kathleen that she was a great deal too rich. She
+asked me what her means were, and I said I believed she has three
+hundred pounds put by. Now, mother, don't you call that riches?"
+
+"Three hundred pounds!" said Mrs. Hopkins. "That depends, child. To some
+it is wealth; to others it is a decent competence; to others, again, it
+is poverty."
+
+"Kathleen didn't think much of it, mother."
+
+"Well," said Mrs. Hopkins, "I have notions in my head. Maybe this very
+thing can be turned to good for us; there's no saying. I think if your
+aunt was sure and certain to get into one of those almshouses she might
+do a good turn to you, Susy; and she's sure and certain to help Tom a
+little. But there! we can't look into the future. I am tired out with
+one thing and another. Susan, my dear child, where did you get that
+beautiful pale-blue blouse?"
+
+"I didn't get it through theft, mother, if that's what you are thinking
+of. I got it honestly, and I am not obliged to tell; and what's more, I
+won't tell."
+
+Mrs. Hopkins sighed.
+
+"Dear, dear!" she said, and she sat down in the easy-chair which Mrs.
+Church had occupied and stared into the fire.
+
+"I am not nearly as low-spirited as I was," she said after a pause. "If
+Miss Kathleen will do something for Aunt Church, it stands to reason
+that Aunt Church won't be hard on us."
+
+Susy made no answer to this. She stood quiet for a minute or two, and
+then she went slowly upstairs. She removed the beautiful blouse and put
+on a common one. She then wrapped herself in an old waterproof
+cloak--for the sunshiny morning had developed into an evening of thick
+clouds and threatening rain--and went downstairs.
+
+"Where in the world are you going?" said her mother in a fretful tone.
+"I did think you'd sit quietly with me and learn your collect. If you
+are going out, it ought to be to church. I don't see what call you have
+to be going anywhere else on Sunday evening."
+
+"I want to see Ruth Craven. Don't keep me, please; it is very
+important."
+
+"But I don't know who Ruth Craven is."
+
+"Oh, mother, I thought every one knew her. She is the very, very pretty
+little granddaughter of old Mr. Craven, who lives in that cottage close
+to the station."
+
+"A handsome old man, too," said Mrs. Hopkins, "but I confess I don't
+know anything about him."
+
+"Well, he and his old wife have got this one beautiful grandchild, and
+she has joined the foundationers at the Great Shirley School. Miss
+Kathleen O'Hara has taken up with her as well as with me and other
+foundation girls, and instead of having a miserable, dull, down-trodden
+life, we are extremely likely to have the best life of any girls in the
+school. Anyhow, I have a message for Ruth and I promised to deliver it."
+
+"All right, child; don't be longer away than you can help."
+
+Susy left the house. The distance from her mother's shop to the Cravens'
+cottage was a matter of ten minutes' quick walking. She soon reached her
+destination, walked up the little path which led to the tiny cottage,
+and tapped with her fingers on the door. The door was opened for her by
+old Mrs. Craven. Mrs. Craven was in her Sunday best, and looked a very
+beautiful and almost aristocratic old lady.
+
+"Do you want my grandchild?" she said, observing Susy's size and dress.
+
+"Yes; is she within?" asked Susy.
+
+"No, dear; she has gone to church. Would you like to wait in for her, or
+would you rather go and meet her? She has gone to St. James the Less,
+the church just around the corner; you know it?"
+
+"Yes, I know it," said Susy.
+
+"They'll be coming out now," said Mrs. Craven, looking up at the
+eight-day clock which stood in the passage. "If you go and stand by the
+principal entrance, you are safe to see her."
+
+"Thank you," said Susy.
+
+"You are sure you wouldn't rather wait in the house?"
+
+"No, really. Mother expects me back. My name is Susan Hopkins. My
+mother keeps the stationer's shop in the High Street."
+
+"To be sure," said Mrs. Craven gently. "I know the shop quite well."
+
+Susy said good-bye, and then stepped down the little path. What a humble
+abode the prime favorite, Ruth Craven, lived in! Susy's own home was a
+palace in comparison. Ruth lived in a cottage which was little better
+than a workman's cottage.
+
+"There can't be more than two bedrooms upstairs," thought Susy. "And I
+wonder if there is a sitting-room? Certainly there can't be more than
+one. The old lady looked very nice; but, of course, she is quite a
+common person. I should love to be Prime Minister to Kathleen O'Hara.
+And why should there be such a fuss made about Ruth? I only wish the
+post was mine--shouldn't I do a lot! Couldn't I help mother and Tom and
+all of us? And there is that stupid little Ruth--oh, dear! oh, dear!
+Well, I suppose I must give her the message."
+
+She hurried her steps as these last thoughts came to her, and presently
+she stood outside the principal entrance of the little church. St. James
+the Less was by no means remarkable for beauty of architecture or
+adornment of any sort; nevertheless the vicar was a man of great
+eloquence and earnestness, and in the evenings it was the custom for the
+little church to be packed.
+
+By-and-by the sermon came to an end, the voluntary rolled forth from the
+organ, and the crowd of worshippers poured out. Susy stretched out her
+hand and clutched that of a slim girl who was following in the train of
+people.
+
+"Ruth, it is me. I have something to say to you."
+
+Ruth's face, until Susy touched her, had been looking like a piece of
+heaven itself, so calm and serene were the eyes, and so beautiful the
+expression which lingered round her lips. Now she seemed to awaken and
+pull herself together. She did not attempt to avoid Susy, but slipping
+out of the crowd of people who were leaving the church, she found
+herself by the girl's side.
+
+"Come just a little way home with me," said Susy. "It won't take me long
+to say what I want to say."
+
+She linked her hand in her companion's as she spoke. Yes, there was
+little doubt of it, Ruth was lovable. One forgot her low birth, her low
+surroundings, when one looked at her. Susy had heard of those few people
+of rare character and rare natures who are, as it is expressed,
+"Nature's ladies." There are Nature's gentlemen as well, and Nature's
+ladies and Nature's gentlemen are above mere external circumstances;
+they are above the mere money's worth or the mere accident of birth.
+Now, Ruth belonged to this rare class, and Susy, without quite
+understanding it, felt it. She forgot the humble little house, the lack
+of rooms, and the workmanlike appearance of the whole place. She said in
+a deferential tone:
+
+"I have come to you, from Kathleen O'Hara. You have done something which
+has distressed her very much. She wants you to meet her to-morrow at the
+White Cross Corner on your way to school; she wants you to be there at a
+quarter to nine. That is all, Ruth. You will be sure to attend? I
+promised Kathleen most faithfully that I would deliver her message. She
+is very unhappy about something. I don't know what you have done to vex
+her."
+
+"But I do," said Ruth. "And I can't help going on vexing her."
+
+"But what is it?" said Susy, whose curiosity was suddenly awakened. "You
+might tell me. I wish you would."
+
+"I can't tell you, Susan; it has nothing to do with you. It is a matter
+between Kathleen and myself. Very well, I will meet her. There is no use
+in shirking things. Good-night, Susan. It was good of you to come and
+give me Kathleen's message."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+RUTH RESIGNS THE PREMIERSHIP.
+
+
+The next morning Kathleen O'Hara was downstairs betimes. She ran into
+the kitchen and suggested to Maria that she should help her to toast the
+bread. Maria, who was somewhat lazy, and who had already begun to
+appreciate Kathleen's extreme good-nature, handed her the toasting-fork
+and pointed to a heap of bread which lay cut and ready for toasting on
+the deal table in the center of the kitchen.
+
+"Dear me, Miss Kathleen!" she said; "if only Miss Alice was as
+good-natured as you, why, the house would go on wheels."
+
+"I often helped the servants at home," said Kathleen. "Why isn't Alice
+good-natured?"
+
+"She's made contrairy, I expect, miss."
+
+"Cut on the cross, I call it," said cook, who came forward at this
+juncture and offered a chair to Kathleen.
+
+"Well, if that's the case I'm sorry for her," said Kathleen. "It must be
+very unpleasant to feel sort of peppery-and-salty and cross-grained all
+the time."
+
+"It isn't what you ever feel, miss," said cook with an admiring glance
+at the young lady.
+
+Kathleen fixed her deep-blue roguish eyes on the good woman's face.
+
+"No," she said, "I don't think I am cross-grained. By the way, cook,
+wouldn't you like a black silk apron embroidered with violets to wear
+when you have done all your dirty work in the kitchen?"
+
+"Cooks don't wear black silk aprons embroidered with violets," was the
+good woman's answer.
+
+"But this cook might, if a nice Irish girl, who has plenty of money,
+gave it to her. I have it in the bottom of my trunk. I asked Aunt Katie
+O'Flynn to send it to me for your mistress, but your mistress doesn't
+care for it. I will give it to you, cook.--And, Maria, I've got a little
+toque for you. It is sky-blue with forget-me-nots. Have you a young man,
+Maria? Most girls have, haven't they? Wouldn't you like to walk out with
+him in a sky-blue toque trimmed with forget-me-nots?"
+
+"It puts me all in a flutter to think of it, miss," said Maria. "I am
+sure a sweeter young lady never came into this house."
+
+Kathleen chatted on to the retainers, as she called cook and Maria,
+until she had toasted enough bread. She then went into the dining-room.
+Alice was there, looking pale and headachy. The day was a very cold one,
+and the fire was by no means bright. Kathleen's intensely rosy
+cheeks--for the fire had considerably scorched them--attracted Alice's
+attention.
+
+"I do wish you wouldn't do servant's work," she said. "You annoy me
+terribly by the way you go on."
+
+"Oh, don't be annoyed, darling," said Kathleen softly. "Just regard me
+as a necessary evil. You see, Alice, however cross you are, I'd have the
+others all on my side. There's your mother and David and Ben and the two
+servants. It isn't worth while, Alice. If they all like me, why
+shouldn't you?"
+
+Alice made no reply. Kathleen stood still for a moment; then she
+glanced at the clock. It was a quarter past eight. She must be out of
+the house in a little over a quarter of an hour if she was to meet Ruth
+Craven at the White Cross Corner. She sat down to the table, helped
+herself to a piece of toast, and spread some butter on it.
+
+"A cup of tea, please, Alice," she said.--"Oh, what letters are those?
+Any for me? David, if you give me a letter I'll--I'll love you ever so
+much. Ah, two! Dave, you are a treasure; you are a darling; you are
+everything that is exquisite."
+
+It was Alice's place to pour out the tea. She poured some out now, very
+unwillingly, for Kathleen, who drew the cup towards her, stirred it
+absently, and began to read her letters. Presently she uttered a little
+shriek.
+
+"It is from Aunt Katie O'Flynn, and she is crossing the Channel, the
+darling colleenoge. She is coming to London, and she wants me to see
+her. Oh, golloptious! What fun I shall have! Boys, aren't you delighted?
+It was Aunt Katie O'Flynn who sent me that wonderful trunk of clothes.
+Won't she give us a time now? I declare I scarcely know whether I'm on
+my head or my heels.--Alice, you'd best make yourself agreeable and join
+in the fun, for I can assure you it's theaters and concerts and teas and
+dinners and--oh! shopping, and every conceivable thing that can delight
+the heart of man or woman, boy or girl, that will be our portion while
+Aunt Katie--the duck, the darling, the treasure!--is in London. Let me
+see; what hotel is she going to? Oh, the Métropole. Where is the
+Métropole?"
+
+"In Northumberland Avenue. But, of course, we are not going up to
+London," said Alice. "We are only schoolgirls. We are at school and must
+mind our lessons. I am trying for my scholarship, and I mean to get it.
+And I don't suppose, even if your aunt is coming at a most inopportune
+time, that she is going to upset everything."
+
+"That remains to be proved," said Kathleen. "I am not going to have Aunt
+Katie so close to me without having my bit of fun. Oh, dear, dear! look
+at the time. I must be off."
+
+"Why are you going so early? It is only half-past eight."
+
+"I have business, darling--a friend to meet. Have you any objection?"
+
+Kathleen did not wait for Alice's answer. She dashed upstairs, and on
+the first landing she met Mrs. Tennant, who had been suffering from
+headache, and was in consequence a little late for breakfast.
+
+"Mrs. Tennant," shouted Kathleen, "I have the top of the morning as far
+as news is concerned. It is herself that is crossing the briny. She'll
+be in London to-night. Oh, did you ever hear of anything quite so
+scrumptious? But what's the matter, dear?"
+
+"Kathleen, I wish you wouldn't wear that really good dress going to
+school."
+
+"Is it my old lavender, and my old satin blouse?" said Kathleen, looking
+down at herself with a momentary glance. "Ah, then, my dear tired one,
+it isn't dresses I'll be thinking of when Aunt Katie is in London.
+She'll get me more than I can wear. She'll fig you all out, every one of
+you, if you like--you and Alice and David and Ben and cook and Maria.
+Maria is keeping company, she tells me, and would like a few fine
+clothes--naturally, the creature! Well, Mrs. Tennant, it's herself that
+is crossing, as I said; even now she is in the big steamer, coming
+nearer and nearer to England. Shan't we have fun when she arrives?"
+
+"You haven't told me who it is yet, dear."
+
+"Oh, darling, you haven't been listening. It is the dear woman who sent
+me the box full of new clothes--Aunt Katie O'Flynn, at your service. But
+there! I must be off. I'll think of it all day, and it will make me so
+happy."
+
+Kathleen dashed away to her own room, put on her outdoor things, and a
+moment or two later was running as fast as she could in the direction of
+the White Cross Corner. There she saw a silent, grave-looking girl, very
+quietly dressed, standing waiting for her.
+
+"Here I am," said Kathleen; "and here you stand, Ruth. And now, what
+have you got to say for yourself?"
+
+"I am sorry," said Ruth. "I thought when you sent Susy to me with your
+message that I might as well come here this morning; but I haven't
+changed my mind--not a bit of it."
+
+Kathleen's eyes, always extraordinarily dark for blue eyes, now grew
+almost black. A flash of real anger shot through them.
+
+"Don't you think it is rather mean," she said, "to give me up when you
+promised to belong to me--to give me up altogether and to go with those
+dreadful, proud paying girls?"
+
+"It isn't that," said Ruth, "and you know it. It is just this: I can't
+belong to two sides. Cassandra Weldon offers me an advantage which I
+dare not throw away. It is most essential to me to win the sixty-pounds
+scholarship. If I win it I shall be properly educated. When I leave
+school I'll be able to take the position my dear father, had he lived,
+would have wished for me. I shall be able to support granny and
+grandfather. You see for yourself, Kathleen, that I can't refuse it. It
+isn't a question of choice; it is a question of necessity. I love you.
+Kathleen--I will always love you and be faithful to you--but I can't
+give up the scholarship."
+
+"I don't want you to," said Kathleen; "but why shouldn't you belong to
+me and yet take the scholarship? I don't want you to be with me all the
+time. You can go to that horrible, detestable girl when it is necessary,
+and have your odious coach to post you up. But I want you more than
+anybody else. Don't you know how I love you? Can't you do both? Think it
+over, Ruth."
+
+"I have thought it over, and I can't do it. I would if I could, but it
+isn't to be done. It wouldn't be right to you, nor right to Cassandra."
+
+"Well, I think you are very mean; I think I hate you."
+
+Kathleen turned aside. She was impulsive, high-spirited, and defiant,
+but where her passions were concerned her heart was very soft. She burst
+into tears now and flung her arms around Ruth's neck.
+
+"I like a lot of people," she said--"I like Mrs. Tennant, and even Susy,
+although she's not up to much, and two or three other girls--but I only
+_love_ you. In the whole of England I only love you, and you are going
+to give me up."
+
+"No; I will still be your friend."
+
+"But you have refused to join my society; you have refused to belong to
+the Wild Irish Girls."
+
+"I can't help myself."
+
+"But you promised."
+
+"I know I did. I made a mistake. Kathleen, there is no help for it. I
+shall love you even if I don't belong to the society. Now there is
+nothing more to be said."
+
+Ruth disentangled herself from Kathleen's embrace, and putting wings to
+her feet, ran in the direction of the school. Kathleen stood just where
+she had left her; over her face was passing a rapid and curious change.
+
+"Do I love her any longer?" she said to herself. "Oh, I think--I think I
+love her still. But she has slighted me. She will be sorry some day. Oh,
+dear! The only girl in the whole of England that I love has slighted me.
+She has thrown ridicule upon me. She said that she would be my Prime
+Minister, and she has resigned everything for that horrible Cassandra.
+She will be sorry yet; I know she will."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+THE SCHOLARSHIP: TROUBLE IS BREWING.
+
+
+Over some of the girls of the Great Shirley School there passed that
+morning a curious wave of excitement. Those girls who had joined
+Kathleen's society were almost now more or less in a state of tension.
+Once a week they were to meet in the quarry; once a week, whatever the
+weather, in the dead of night, they were to meet in this sequestered
+spot. They knew well that if they were discovered they would run a very
+great chance of being expelled from the school; for although they were
+day scholars, yet integrity of conduct was essential to their
+maintaining their place in that great school which gave them so liberal
+an education, in some cases without any fees, in all other cases with
+very small ones. One of the great ideas of the school was to encourage
+brave actions, unselfish deeds, nobility of mind. Those girls who
+possessed any talent or any specially strong characteristic had every
+chance offered to them in the Great Shirley School; their futures were
+more or less assured, for the governors of the school had powers to give
+grants to the clever girls, to award scholarships for which all might
+compete, and to encourage industry, honesty, and charitable ideas as far
+as possible.
+
+Kathleen, when she entered the school and started her society, had not
+the slightest idea that, while she was trying to help the foundationers,
+she was really leading them into very grave mischief. But several of the
+foundationers themselves knew this; nevertheless the fun of the whole
+thing, the particular fascination which Kathleen herself exercised over
+her followers, kept them her undeniable slaves, and not for the world
+would any of them have left her now that they had sworn fealty to her
+cause. So Kathleen had thought when she left the house that morning; but
+as she entered the school she knew that one girl, and that the girl whom
+she most cared for, had decided to choose the thorny path which led far
+from Kathleen and her company.
+
+"In addition to everything else, she is quite mean," thought the little
+girl, and during that morning's lessons she occupied herself far more in
+flashing angry glances in the direction of Ruth one minute, and at
+Cassandra the next, than in attending to what she was about. Kathleen
+had been given much by Nature. Her father was a very rich man; she had
+been brought up with great freedom, but also with certain bold liberal
+ideas as regards the best in life and conduct. She was a very beautiful
+girl, and she was warm-hearted and amiable. As for her talents, she had
+a certain charm which does more for a woman than any amount of ordinary
+ability; and she had a passionate and great love for music. Kathleen's
+musical genius was already spoken of with much approbation by the rest
+of the school. The girls used to ask her to improvise. Kathleen could
+improvise in almost any style, in almost any fashion. She could make the
+piano sob with her heart-rendering notes; and again she could bring
+forth music clear and fairy-like. Again she would lead the tender and
+solemn strains of the march; and again she would dance over the keys so
+lightly, so ravishingly, that the girls kept time with their feet to her
+notes. The music mistress was anxious that Kathleen should try for a
+musical scholarship, and she had some ideas of doing so herself. But
+to-day she felt cross, and even her music was at fault.
+
+"I can't do it," she said, looking Miss Spicer full in the face. "It
+means such drudgery, and I don't believe I'd play a bit better if I
+did."
+
+"That is certainly not the case, Kathleen," said Miss Spicer. "Knowledge
+must be of assistance. You have great talent; if you add to that real
+musical knowledge you can do almost anything."
+
+"But I don't think I much care to. I can play on the piano to imitate
+any birds that ever sung at home, and father loves that. I can play all
+the dead-marches to make mother cry, and I can play--oh, such dance
+music for Aunt Katie O'Flynn! It doesn't matter that I should know more,
+does it?"
+
+"I can't agree with you. It would be a very great pleasure to me if I
+saw you presented with a musical scholarship."
+
+"Would it?" said Kathleen, glancing at the thin and careworn face of the
+music teacher.
+
+"You don't know what it would mean to me," answered Miss Spicer. "It is
+seldom that one has the pleasure of teaching real talent, and I can't
+say how refreshing it is to me to hear you play as you do. But I want
+you to improve; I want you to be a credit to me."
+
+"I'd like to please you, of course," said Kathleen. She spoke gently,
+and then she added: "But there is only one piano at the Tennants', and
+that is in the drawing-room, and Alice or the boys or Mrs. Tennant are
+always there. I have not many opportunities to practice."
+
+"I live in the same terrace," said Miss Spicer eagerly, "and my piano is
+hardly ever used. If you only would come and make use of it. There is a
+fire in my sitting-room, and you could come at any hour whenever you
+have a fancy. Will you? It would be a great pleasure to me."
+
+"You are very kind. Yes, I will come."
+
+Kathleen bent towards the music mistress and, somewhat to that lady's
+astonishment, printed a kiss on her forehead. The kiss went right down
+into Miss Spicer's somewhat frozen heart.
+
+Immediately after school that day Cassandra held out her hand to Ruth.
+Ruth went up to her gravely.
+
+"Well, Ruth," she said, "have you decided? I hope you have. You told me
+you would let me know to-day."
+
+"I have, Cassandra," said Ruth.
+
+Kathleen, who was standing not far away, suddenly darted forward and
+stood within a foot of the two girls.
+
+"Have you really decided, Ruth?" she said. Her tone was imperious. Ruth
+felt her gentle heart beat high. She turned and looked with dignity
+first at Kathleen and then at Cassandra.
+
+"I will join you, Cassandra," she said.--"Kathleen, I told you this
+morning what my decision was."
+
+"And I hate you!" said Kathleen. She tossed her head and walked away.
+
+Cassandra waited until she was out of hearing.
+
+"You look very pale, dear Ruth," she said. "Come home with me, won't
+you?"
+
+Ruth did not speak. Cassandra laid her hand on her arm.
+
+"Why, you are trembling," she said. "What has that horrid girl done to
+you?"
+
+"Nothing--nothing."
+
+"But she has."
+
+"Please, Cassie, she is not horrid."
+
+"Oh, well, we won't discuss her. She is not my sort. Won't you come and
+have lunch with me, and we can arrange everything? You are going to take
+advantage of mother's offer?"
+
+"I can't help myself. It is much too good to be refused. It means--I
+can't tell you what it means to me, Cassie. If I can only get a
+scholarship I shall be able to help grandfather. And yet--I must tell
+you the truth--I was very nearly declining it."
+
+"I don't think I should ever have spoken to you again if you had."
+
+"Even so, I was very nearly declining it; for you know I could not have
+accepted your offer and been friends with Kathleen O'Hara in the way she
+wants me to be. Now I am very fond of Kathleen, and if I could please
+myself I would retain her friendship. But you know, grandfather has lost
+some more money. He heard about it two nights ago, and that made me make
+up my mind. Of course I love you, Cassie. I have loved you ever since I
+came to the school. You have been so very, very kind to me. But had I
+the choice I would have stayed with Kathleen."
+
+"Well, it is all a mystery to me," said Cassandra. "I don't like
+Kathleen; I will frankly say so. I don't think she has a good influence
+in the school. That sort of very rich popular girl always makes
+mischief. It is far better for the school not to have anybody like her
+in its midst. She has the power of attracting people, but she has also
+the power of making enemies. It is my opinion she will get into very
+serious trouble before she leaves Great Shirley School. I shall be sorry
+for her, of course."
+
+"But what do you mean? What sort of trouble can she get into?"
+
+"There are whispers about her that I don't quite understand. But if it
+were known that she does lead other girls astray, she would be had up
+before the governors, and then she would not find herself in a very
+pleasant position."
+
+Ruth did not say anything. Her face turned white. Cassandra glanced at
+her, uttered a quick sigh, and resumed:
+
+"Whether you like it or not, I am glad you are out of the whole thing. I
+should hate you to get into trouble. You are so clever, and so different
+from the others, that you are certain to succeed. And now let us hurry
+home. I must tell you all about our scheme. You must come to me every
+day; Miss Renshaw will be with us each evening from six to seven. Oh!
+you don't know how happy you are making me."
+
+Ruth smiled and tried to look cheerful.
+
+Mrs. Weldon came out to meet the two girls as they entered the pretty
+little cottage. Her face was smiling.
+
+"Ah, Cassandra!" she said, "now you will be happy."
+
+"Yes; Ruth has accepted our offer."
+
+"Indeed I have, Mrs. Weldon," said Ruth; "and I scarcely know how to
+thank you."
+
+"Come in, dear, and have some dinner.--Cassandra, I have just heard
+from Miss Renshaw, and she is coming this afternoon.--You can either
+stay, Ruth, when dinner is over, or come back again."
+
+"I will come back," said Ruth. "Granny is not very well, and I ought not
+to have left her, even to have dinner here; but I couldn't help myself."
+
+Cassandra brought her friend into the house. They had a pleasant meal
+together, and Ruth tried to forget that she had absolutely quarrelled
+with Kathleen, and that Kathleen's heart was half-broken on her account.
+
+But Kathleen herself was determined not to give way to any real feelings
+of misery on account of Ruth's desertion.
+
+"I have no time to think about it," she said to herself.
+
+When she returned to the house she found a telegram waiting for her. She
+tore it open. It was from Aunt Katie O'Flynn:
+
+"I have arrived. Come and have dinner with me to-night at the Métropole,
+and bring any friend you like."
+
+"What a lark!" thought Kathleen. "And what a chance for Ruth if only she
+had been different! Oh, dear! I suppose I must ask Alice to come with
+me."
+
+"Whom is your telegram from, dear?" asked Mrs. Tennant, coming up to her
+at that moment.
+
+Alice was standing in the dining-room devouring a book of Greek history.
+She held it close to her eyes, which were rather short-sighted.
+
+"It's from Aunt Katie O'Flynn. She has come, the darling!" said
+Kathleen. "She wants me to go to London to dine with her to-night. Of
+course I'll go.--- You will come with me, won't you, Alice? She says I
+am to bring some one."
+
+"No, I can't come," said Alice; "and for that matter no more can you.
+It takes quite thirty-five minutes to get to Charing Cross, and then you
+have to get to the Métropole. We girls are not allowed to go to London
+by ourselves."
+
+"As if that mattered."
+
+"It matters to me, if it does not to you. Anyhow, here is a note for
+you. It is from Miss Ravenscroft, our head-mistress. I rather fancy that
+will decide matters."
+
+Kathleen tore open the note which Alice had handed to her. She read the
+following words:
+
+     "DEAR MISS O'HARA,--I should be glad if you would come round
+     to see me at six o'clock this evening. I have something of
+     importance to say to you."
+
+"What can she mean?" said Kathleen. "I scarcely know Miss Ravenscroft. I
+just spoke to her the first day I went to the school."
+
+"She has asked me too. What can it be about?" said Alice.
+
+"Then you can take a message from me; I am not going," said Kathleen.
+
+"What?" cried Alice. "I don't think even you will dare to defy the
+head-mistress. Why, my dear Kathleen, you will never get over it. This
+is madness.--Mother, do speak to her."
+
+"What is it, dear?" said Mrs. Tennant, coming forward.
+
+Alice explained.
+
+"And Kathleen says she won't go?"
+
+"Of course I won't go, dear Mrs. Tennant. On the contrary, you and I
+will go together to see Aunt Katie O'Flynn. She is my aunt, and I
+wouldn't slight her for all the world. She'd never forgive me.--You can
+tell Miss Ravenscroft, Alice, that my aunt has come to see me, and that
+I have been obliged to go to town. You can manage it quite easily."
+
+Kathleen did not wait for any further discussion, but ran out of the
+room.
+
+"I do wish, mother, you'd try and persuade her," said Alice. "I am sure,
+whatever her father may be, he can't want her to come to school here to
+get into endless scrapes. There is some mystery afoot, and Miss
+Ravenscroft has got wind of it. I know she has, because I have heard it
+from one or two of the girls."
+
+"But what mystery? What can you mean?" said Mrs. Tennant.
+
+"I don't know myself," said Alice, "but it has something to do with
+Kathleen and a curious influence she has over the foundation girls. I
+know Kathleen isn't popular with the mistresses."
+
+"That puzzles me," said Mrs. Tennant, "for I never met a more charming
+girl."
+
+"I know you think so; but, you see, mere charm of manner doesn't go down
+in a great school like ours. Of course I am sorry for her, and I quite
+understand that she doesn't want to disappoint her aunt, but she ought
+to come with me; she ought, mother. I haven't the slightest influence
+over her, but you have. I don't think she would willingly do anything to
+annoy you."
+
+"Well, I will see what I can do. She is a wayward child. I am sorry that
+Miss Ravenscroft expects her to go to see her to-day, as she is so
+devoted to her aunt and would enjoy seeing her."
+
+Mrs. Tennant left the room, and Alice went steadily on with her
+preparations. She wondered why her mother did not come back. Presently
+she looked at the clock. It wanted a quarter to six.
+
+"Dear me! I must go upstairs now and fetch Kathleen. She will have to
+tidy herself, and I must try to persuade her not to put on anything
+_outre_," thought Alice.
+
+She rushed upstairs. She opened the bedroom door. The bedroom was empty.
+
+"Where can she be?" thought Alice.
+
+There were signs of Kathleen's late presence in the shape of a tie flung
+on the bed, a hat tossed by its side, an open drawer revealing brushes
+and combs, laces and colored ties, and no end of gloves, handkerchiefs,
+&c.; but not the girl herself.
+
+"She really is a great trial," thought Alice. "I suppose she has gone
+with mother to town. I wonder mother yields to her. Kathleen will get
+into a serious scrape at the school, that's certain."
+
+Alice went to her own part of the room, which was full of order and
+method. She opened a drawer, substituted a clean collar for the one she
+had been wearing during the day, brushed out her satin-brown hair
+neatly, put on her sailor-hat and a small black coat, snatched up a pair
+of gloves, and ran downstairs. On the way she met Mrs. Tennant.
+
+"Oh, mother," cried the girl, "where is Kathleen? I didn't find her in
+her room, and I wondered what had become of her."
+
+"Where is she?" said Mrs. Tennant. "I thought she was going with you. I
+had a long talk with her. She did not say much, but she seemed quite
+gentle and not at all cross. I kissed her and said that I would go with
+her to London to see her aunt to-morrow, or that she might ask Miss
+O'Flynn here."
+
+"I am sorry you did that, mother."
+
+"Well, darling, it seemed the only thing to do; and the child took it
+very well. Isn't she going with you? She said she wouldn't be at all
+long getting ready."
+
+"She is not in her room, mother. I can't imagine what has happened to
+her."
+
+Mrs. Tennant ran upstairs in some alarm. Kathleen had certainly flown.
+The disordered state of the room gave evidence of this; and then on a
+nearer view Mrs. Tennant found a tiny piece of paper pinned in
+conventional fashion to the pin-cushion. She took it up and read:
+
+"Gone to London to Aunt Katie O'Flynn."
+
+"Well, she is a naughty girl. How troublesome! I must follow her, of
+course," said Mrs. Tennant. "Really this is provoking."
+
+"Oh, mother, it isn't worth while fretting about her. She is quite
+hopeless," said Alice. "But there! I must make the best of it to Miss
+Ravenscroft, only I am sure she will be very angry with Kathleen."
+
+Alice flew to the school. She was met by a teacher, who asked her where
+she was going.
+
+"To see Miss Ravenscroft," replied Alice. "I had a note asking me to
+call at six o'clock. Do you know anything about it, Miss Purcell?"
+
+"Perhaps she wants to question you about Miss O'Hara. There is some
+commotion in the school in connection with her. She seems to be
+displeasing some of those in authority."
+
+"Kathleen had a note too, asking her to call."
+
+"Then it must be about her. But where is she? Isn't she going with
+you?"
+
+Alice threw up her hands.
+
+"Don't ask me," she said; "perhaps the less I say the better. I am late
+as it is. I won't keep you now, Miss Purcell."
+
+Alice ran the rest of the way. She entered the great school, and knocked
+at the front entrance. This door was never opened except to the
+head-mistress and her visitors. After a time an elderly servant answered
+her summons.
+
+"I am Alice Tennant," said the young girl, "and I have come at Miss
+Ravenscroft's request to see her."
+
+"Oh yes, miss, certainly. She said she was expecting two young ladies."
+
+"Well, I am one of them. Can you let her know?"
+
+"Step in here, miss."
+
+Alice was shown into a small waiting-room. A moment later the servant
+returned.
+
+"Will you follow me, miss?" she said.
+
+They went down a passage and entered a brightly and cheerfully furnished
+sitting-room. There was a fire in the grate, and electric light made all
+things as bright as day. A tall lady with jet-black hair combed back
+from a massive forehead, and beautifully dressed in long, clinging
+garments of deep purple, stood on the hearth. Round her neck was a
+collar of old Mechlin lace; she wore cuffs of the same with ruffles at
+the wrist. Her hands were small and white. She had one massive diamond
+ring on the third finger. This lady was the great Miss Ravenscroft, the
+head of the school, one of the most persuasive, most fascinating, and
+most influential teachers in the whole realm of girlhood. Her opinion
+was asked by anxious mothers and fathers and guardians. The girls whom
+she took into her own house and helped with her own counsel were thought
+the luckiest in England. Even Alice, who was reckoned a good girl as
+good girls go, had never before come in personal contact with Miss
+Ravenscroft. The head-mistress superintended the management of every
+girl in the school, but she did not show herself except when she read
+prayers in her deep musical voice morning after morning, or when
+something very special occurred. Miss Ravenscroft did not smile when
+Alice appeared, nor did she hold out her hand. She bowed very slightly
+and then dropped into a chair, and pointed to another for the girl to
+take.
+
+"You are Alice Tennant?"
+
+"Yes, madam."
+
+"You are in the upper fifth?"
+
+"Yes," said Alice again.
+
+"I have had very good reports of you from Miss Purcell and Miss Dove and
+others; you will probably be in the sixth next year."
+
+"I hope so; it will be a very great delight to me."
+
+Alice trembled and colored, looked down, and then looked up again. Miss
+Ravenscroft was regarding her with kindly eyes. Hers was a sort of
+veiled face; she seldom gave way to her feelings. Part of her power lay
+in her potential attitudes, in the possibilities which she seldom,
+except on very rare occasions, exhibited to their fullest extent. Alice
+felt that she had only approached the extreme edge of Miss Ravenscroft's
+nature. Miss Ravenscroft was silent for a minute; then she said gently:
+
+"And your friend, Kathleen O'Hara? I wrote to her also. Why isn't she
+here?"
+
+"I am very sorry indeed," said Alice; "it isn't my fault."
+
+"We won't talk of faults, if you please, Alice Tennant. I asked you why
+your friend isn't here."
+
+"I must explain. She isn't my friend. She lives with mother--I mean she
+boards with mother."
+
+"Why isn't she here?"
+
+"She got your letter. I suppose she didn't understand; she is so new to
+schools. She is not coming."
+
+"Not coming? But I commanded."
+
+"I know, I tried to explain, but she is new to school and--and spoilt."
+
+"She must be."
+
+Miss Ravenscroft was silent for a minute.
+
+"We will defer the subject of Kathleen O'Hara until I have the pleasure
+of speaking to her," she said then. "But now, as you are here, I should
+like to ask you a few questions."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What you say, Alice Tennant, will not be--I speak in judicial
+phrase"--here Miss Ravenscroft gave vent to a faint smile--"used against
+you. I should like to have what information you can give me. There is a
+disturbing element in this school. Do you know anything about it?"
+
+"Nothing absolutely."
+
+"But you agree with me that there is a disturbing element?"
+
+"I am afraid I do."
+
+"It has been traced to Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+Alice was silent.
+
+"It is influencing a number of girls who can be very easily impressed,
+and who form a very important part of this school. Special arrangements
+were made more than a hundred years ago by the founders of the school
+that they should receive an education in every way calculated to help
+them in life; the influence to which I allude undermines these good
+things. It must therefore be put a stop to, and the first way to put a
+stop to anything of the sort is to discover all about it. It is
+necessary that I should know all that is to be known with regard to the
+unruly condition of the foundationers of the Great Shirley School. The
+person who can doubtless tell me most is Kathleen O'Hara. The mere fact
+of her defying my authority and refusing to come to see me when she is
+summoned, shows that she is insubordinate as far as this school is
+concerned."
+
+Alice sat very still.
+
+"She has not chosen to appear, and I wish to take quick and instant
+steps. Can you help me?"
+
+"I could," said Alice--"that is, of course, I live in the same house
+with her--but I would much rather not."
+
+"You will in no way be blamed, but it is absolutely essential that you
+should give me your assistance. I am authorized to ask for it. I shall
+see Kathleen O'Hara, but from what you say, and from what I have heard,
+I am greatly shocked to have to say it, but I think it possible that she
+may not be induced to tell the exact truth. If, therefore, you notice
+anything--if anything is brought to your ears which I ought to know--you
+must come to me at once. Do not suppose that I want you to be a spy in
+this matter, but what is troubling the school must be discovered, and
+within the next few days. Now you understand. Remember that what I have
+said to you is said in the interest of the school, and absolutely behind
+closed doors. You are not to repeat it to anybody. You can go now,
+Alice Tennant. Personally I am pleased with you. I like your manner; I
+hear good accounts of your attention to lessons. In pleasing me you will
+please the governors of the school, and doubtless be able to help
+yourself and your mother, a most worthy lady, in the long run."
+
+"I am very much obliged to you," said Alice. "You have spoken kind words
+to me; but what you have set me to do is not at all to my taste. It
+seems scarcely fair, for I must say that I don't like Kathleen. She and
+I have never got on. It seems scarcely fair that I should be the one to
+run her to earth."
+
+"The fairness or the unfairness of the question is not now to be
+discussed," said Miss Ravenscroft.
+
+She rose as she spoke.
+
+"You are unfortunately in the position of her most intimate friend," she
+continued, "for you and she live in the same house. Regard what you have
+to do as an unpleasant duty, and don't consider yourself in any way
+responsible for being forced into the position which one would not, as a
+rule, advocate. The simplest plan is to get the girl herself to make a
+full confession to me; but in any case, you understand, _I must know_."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+KATHLEEN TAKES RUTH TO TOWN.
+
+
+When Kathleen ran upstairs her heart was bubbling over with the first
+real fierce anger she had almost ever felt in her life. She was a
+spirited, daring girl, but she also had a sweet temper. Now her anger
+was roused. Her heart beat fast; she clenched one of her hands.
+
+"Oh, if I had Alice here, wouldn't I give it to her?" she said to
+herself. "If I had that detestable Miss Ravenscroft here, wouldn't I
+give her a piece of my mind? How dare she order me about? Am I not
+Kathleen O'Hara of Carrigrohane? Is not my father a sort of king in old
+Ireland? And what is she? I'll prove to her that I defy her. I will go
+to see Aunt Katie O'Flynn; nothing shall keep me back."
+
+Carried away by the wild wave of passion which consumed her, Kathleen
+dressed hastily for her expedition. She was indifferent now as to what
+she wore. She put on the first head-dress which came to hand, buttoned a
+rough, shabby-looking jacket over her velvet dress, snatched up her
+purse which lay in a drawer, and without waiting for either gloves or
+necktie, ran downstairs and out of the house.
+
+"I will go. I haven't the slightest idea how I am to get there, but I
+will go to Aunt Katie O'Flynn. I shall be in the train and far enough
+away before they have discovered that I have gone," was her thought.
+
+From Mrs. Tennant's house to the station was the best part of a mile,
+but Kathleen was fleet of foot and soon accomplished the distance. She
+was just arriving at the station when she saw Ruth Craven coming to meet
+her. Ruth had enjoyed her hour with Miss Renshaw, and was altogether in
+high spirits. Kathleen stopped for a minute.
+
+"Oh, Ruth," she said, "will you come to town with me? It would be so
+nice if you would. I am going to meet Aunt Katie O'Flynn. It would not
+be a bit wrong of you to come. Do come--do, Ruthie."
+
+"But I can't in this dress," said Ruth, who felt suddenly very much
+tempted.
+
+"Of course you can. Why, Aunt Katie is such a darling she'll take us out
+if we want things and buy them on the spot. And what does dress matter?
+We'll be back in no time. What time does your grandmother expect you
+home?"
+
+"Oh, I don't know. I told granny I did not exactly know what time I
+should be back, but she certainly wouldn't expect me to be out late."
+
+"Never mind; you are doing me a kindness. I must go to see Aunt Katie,
+and it isn't convenient for the Tennants to go with me. If we go
+together it won't be a bit remarkable. Do come, Ruthie. You hurt my
+feelings awfully this morning; you needn't hurt them again."
+
+"Very well," said Ruth. "I don't know London at all, and I should like
+to go with you."
+
+The two girls now turned into the railway station. Kathleen gave a
+puzzled glance around her for a minute, then walked boldly up to a
+porter, asked him to direct her to the proper place to book for London.
+He showed her the right booking-office, and she secured two first-class
+single tickets for herself and Ruth. The girls were directed to the
+right platform, and in process of time found themselves in the train. It
+so happened that they had a compartment to themselves. Kathleen had now
+quite got over her burst of anger, and was in the highest spirits.
+
+"This is fun," she said. "It is so awfully nice to have met you! Do you
+know that Miss Ravenscroft--the Great Unknown, as we Wild Irish Girls
+call her--had the cheek to send me a letter?"
+
+Ruth looked attentive and grave.
+
+"She wanted me to go and see her at six o'clock. Well, it is half-past
+six now, and she will have to whistle for me. Ruth, darling, you don't
+know how pretty you look; and even though you have deserted me, and
+won't join my darling, beloved society, yet I shall always love you."
+
+Here Kathleen seated herself near Ruth and flung one arm around her
+waist.
+
+"But," said Ruth, disentangling herself from Kathleen's embrace, "you
+don't mean that Miss Ravenscroft--Miss _Ravenscroft_--wanted you to go
+and see her and you didn't go?"
+
+"No, I didn't go. Why should I go? Miss Ravenscroft has nothing whatever
+to do with me."
+
+"Oh, Kathleen! she is your mistress--the head-mistress of the Great
+Shirley School."
+
+"Well, and what about that? Aunty--my darling, my own dear, sweet aunt
+Katie O'Flynn--sent me a telegram to meet her in town. She is at the
+Hôtel Métropole. Ruth, do you know where it is?"
+
+"I haven't the most remote idea."
+
+"Oh, well, we'll get there somehow. Never mind now; don't look so
+worried. I shall be sorry I asked you to come with me if you look any
+graver."
+
+"But you make me feel grave, Kathleen," said Ruth. "Oh, Kathleen, I
+can't tell how you puzzle me. Of course, I know that you are very pretty
+and fascinating, and that lots and lots of girls love you, and will
+always love you. You are a sort of queen in the school. Perhaps you are
+not the greatest queen, but still you are a queen, and you could lead
+the whole school."
+
+"That would be rather fun," said Kathleen.
+
+"But you'd have to change a good bit. You'd have to be just as
+fascinating, just as pretty, but different somehow--I mean--"
+
+"Oh, do tell me what you mean, and be quick. We'll be in London before
+long."
+
+"You wouldn't disobey Miss Ravenscroft if you were to be our real
+queen."
+
+"Then I'll not be your queen, darling, for I shall disobey Miss
+Ravenscroft when it comes to a case of obliging her or dear, darling,
+precious aunty."
+
+Ruth said no more. In her heart of hearts she was very much distressed.
+She was sorry for her own sake that she had met Kathleen, and that she
+was going with her to London; but on the other hand she was glad that
+she was with the girl, who by herself might have got into a serious
+scrape.
+
+Finally the two found themselves standing, very forlorn and slightly
+frightened, on one of the big platforms at Charing Cross.
+
+"Now what are we to do?" said Kathleen.
+
+"We must ask the way, of course," was Ruth's answer. "Here is a porter
+who looks kind."
+
+She went up to the man.
+
+"Have you any luggage in the van, miss?" was the immediate inquiry.
+
+"No," she answered.
+
+Ruth was quietly although shabbily dressed; but she had on gloves, a
+neat hat, and a neat necktie. Kathleen had on a very shabby coat, a most
+unsuitable cap of bright-blue velvet on her clustering masses of curls,
+and no necktie and no gloves.
+
+"What could be the matter with the pretty young lady?" thought the man.
+
+Ruth spoke in her gentle tones.
+
+"We want to go to see a lady at the Hôtel Métropole," she said. "Which
+is the Hôtel Métropole?"
+
+"Oh, miss, it is quite close. You have only to go out of the station,
+take the second turning to your left, walk down Northumberland Avenue,
+and you'll be there."
+
+"But where is Northumberland Avenue? We don't know anything about
+London," interrupted Kathleen.
+
+"If you will allow me to put you two ladies into a cab, the cabman will
+take you to the Hôtel Métropole. It's only a step away, but you'd better
+drive if you don't know your London."
+
+"We have never been in our London before," said Kathleen in a voice of
+intense pleasure.
+
+They now tripped confidently along by the side of the porter. He took
+them into the yard outside the station, and called a four-wheeler.
+
+"No, no; one of those two-wheeled things," said the little girl.
+
+A hansom was summoned, and the children were put in. The driver was
+directed to take them to the Métropole, and they started off.
+
+"Ah!" said Kathleen, looking with great appreciation around her--"ah!
+the lights--aren't they just lovely? And see--see that water. That must
+be the Thames. Oh, Ruth, mayn't we stand up in the hansom? We could see
+ever so much better standing."
+
+"No; sit down," implored Ruth.
+
+"Why? Surely you are not frightened. There never was any sort of
+conveyance that would frighten me. I wish I might drive that horse
+instead of the stupid old Jehu on the box. Isn't London a perfect place?
+Oh, this is lovely, isn't it, Ruth?"
+
+"Thank goodness I'm not always bothered by that dreadful speaking voice
+inside me that you seem to have got," said Kathleen.
+
+Here the cab drew up with a jerk at the Métropole.
+
+"How much are we to pay you?" asked Kathleen.
+
+The man was honest, and asked the customary shilling. A porter was
+standing on the steps of the hotel. He flung the doors wide, and the two
+entered. Presently a man came up and asked Kathleen what she wanted. The
+hour was just before dinner, and the wide hall of the hotel was full.
+Both men and women turned and stared at the children. Both were
+extremely pretty, Kathleen almost startlingly so. But what about the
+gloveless little hands and the untidy neck and throat?
+
+"Please," said Kathleen, "we have come to see my aunt, Miss O'Flynn. She
+is here, isn't she?"
+
+The man said he would inquire, and went to the bureau.
+
+"Yes," he said after a minute's pause. "Will you come to the
+drawing-room, young ladies?"
+
+He conducted the children down some wide passages covered with thick
+Turkey carpets, opened the folding doors of a great drawing-room, and
+left them to themselves. There was a minute or two of agonized terror on
+the part of Ruth, of suspense and rapid heart-beating as far as Kathleen
+was concerned, and then a deep, mellow, ringing voice was heard, and
+Miss Katie O'Flynn entered the apartment.
+
+"Why, I never!" she cried. "The top of the morning to you, my honey! God
+bless you, my darling! Oh, it is joy to kiss your sweet face again!"
+
+A little lady, all smiles and dimples, all curls and necklaces and gay
+clothing, extended two arms wide and clasped them round Kathleen's neck.
+
+"Ah, aunty!" said Kathleen, "this is good. And I ran away to see you. I
+did, darling; I did. I have got into the most awful scrape; nobody knows
+what will happen. See me--without gloves and without a necktie. And this
+dear little girl, one of my chosen friends, Ruth Craven, has come with
+me."
+
+"Ah, now, how sweet of her!" said Miss O'Flynn, turning to Ruth.--"Kiss
+me, my darling. Why, then, you are as welcome as though you were the
+core of my heart for being so kind to my sweet Kathleen.--Come to the
+light, Kathleen asthore, and let me look at you. But it isn't as rosy
+you are as you used to be. It's a bit pale and pulled down you look. Do
+you like England, my dear? If you don't like it all at all, it's home
+you will come with me to the old castle and the old country. Now then,
+children, sit by me and let's have a talk. We'll have a good meal
+presently, and then I have a bit of a thought in the back of my head
+which I think will please you both. Sit here anyway for the present, and
+let us collogue to our hearts' content."
+
+Miss Katie O'Flynn and her two young charges, as she told the girls she
+considered them, drew a good deal of attention as they sat and talked
+together. The little lady was not young, but was certainly very
+fascinating. She had a vivacious, merry smile, the keenest, most
+brilliant black eyes in the world, and a certain grace and dignity about
+her which seemed to contrast with her rapid utterances and intensely
+genial manner.
+
+Dinner was announced, and the three went into the great dining-room.
+Miss O'Flynn ordered a small table, and they sat down together. Ruth
+felt unhappy; she keenly desired to go home again. She was more and more
+certain that she had done wrong to listen to Kathleen's persuasions. But
+Kathleen was enjoying herself to the utmost. She was an Irish girl
+again, sitting close to one of her very own. She forgot the dull school
+and the dreadfully dreary house where she now lived; she absolutely
+forgot that such a person as Miss Ravenscroft existed; she ceased almost
+to remember the Society of the Wild Irish Girls. Was she not Kathleen
+O'Hara, the only daughter of the House of O'Hara, the heiress of her
+beloved father's old castle? For some day she would be mistress of
+Carrigrohane Castle; some day she would be a great lady on her own
+account. Now Kathleen's ideas of what a great lady should be were in
+themselves very sensible and noble. A great lady should do her utmost to
+make others happy. She should dispense _largesse_ in the true sense of
+the word. She should make as many people as possible happy. Her
+retainers should feel certain that they dwelt in her heart. She should
+love the soil of her native land with a passion which nothing could
+undermine or weaken. The sons of the soil should be her brothers, her
+kinsmen; the daughters of the soil should be her sisters in the best
+sense of the word. But not only should the great lady of Carrigrohane
+love her Irish friends, but men and women, both youths and children, but
+she should love others who needed her help. There never was a more
+affectionate, more generous-hearted girl than Kathleen; but of
+self-control she had little or no knowledge, and those who crossed her
+will had yet to find that Kathleen would not obey, for she was fearless,
+defiant, resolute--in short, a rebel born and bred.
+
+Ruth sat silent, perplexed, and anxious in the midst of the gay feast.
+Kathleen and Aunt Katie O'Flynn laughed and almost shouted in their
+mirth. Occasionally people turned to glance at the trio--the grave,
+refined, extremely pretty, but shabbily dressed girl; the radiant
+child, and the vivacious little lady who might be her mother but who
+scarcely looked as if she was. It was a curious party for such a room
+and for such surroundings.
+
+"I think--" said Ruth suddenly. "Forgive me, Kathleen, but I think we
+ought to be looking out a train to go back by."
+
+"Indeed, and that you won't," said Miss O'Flynn. "You are going to stay
+with me to-night. Why, do you think I'd let this precious darling child
+back again in the middle of the night? And you must stay here too--what
+is your name? Oh, Ruth. I can get you a room here, and you shall have a
+fire and every comfort."
+
+"I at least must go home," said Ruth. "My grandfather and grandmother
+will be sitting up for me."
+
+"Oh, nonsense, child!" said Miss O'Flynn. "I can send a commissionaire
+down to tell your grandfather that I am keeping you for the night."
+
+"Of course, Ruth," said Kathleen. "Don't be silly; it is absurd for you
+to go on like that. And for my part I should love to stay."
+
+"I am sorry, Kathleen," said Ruth, "but I must go home. Perhaps one of
+the porters can tell me when there is a train to Merrifield. I must go
+back, for grandfather would be terrified if I didn't go home. You, of
+course, must please yourself."
+
+"My dear child, leave it to me," said Miss O'Flynn. "You can't possibly
+go back--neither you nor my sweet pet Kathleen. Oh, I'll arrange it,
+dear; don't you be frightened. You couldn't go so late by yourself; it
+wouldn't be right."
+
+Miss O'Flynn, however, had not come in contact with a character like
+Ruth's before. She could be as obstinate as a mule. It was in that
+light Miss O'Flynn chose to consider her conduct.
+
+"I must go," she said. "I can't by any possibility stay."
+
+"Do, Ruth, for my sake," pleaded Kathleen, tears in her eyes.
+
+"No, Kathleen, not even for your sake. And I think," added Ruth, "that
+you ought to come with me. It would be much better for you to see Miss
+Ravenscroft in the morning and explain matters to her."
+
+"Nonsense!" said Kathleen, now speaking with decided temper. "That is my
+affair. I like you very much, Ruth, but you really need not interfere
+with me."
+
+"I should think not indeed," said Miss O'Flynn. "I know nothing about
+you, Miss Craven, but you don't understand what a person of consequence
+my niece is considered in Ireland."
+
+"That may be," replied Ruth; "but at school Kathleen, sweet and dear as
+she is, has to obey the rules just like any other girl.--Please,
+Kathleen, do be persuaded and come back with me.--Indeed, Miss O'Flynn,
+if you will only believe me, it is considered a very grave offence to
+miss morning school or to be late when nine o'clock strikes; and
+Kathleen can't be at school in time unless she returns home now."
+
+"I'm not going, so there!" said Kathleen.
+
+"Perhaps some one would tell me when the next train for Merrifield
+leaves Charing Cross," was Ruth's next remark.
+
+Before any one could reply to her, however, a servant entered and said
+something in a low tone to Miss O'Flynn.
+
+"Well, now," she said, speaking with eagerness, her face all smiles and
+dimples, "the way is made plain for you at least, Miss Craven.--Who do
+you think has come, Kathleen? Why, the lady who has charge of you."
+
+"Mrs. Tennant? Oh, the dear tired one!" cried Kathleen. "She can never
+be cross, and I like her very much.--Where is the lady?" she added,
+turning to the waiter.
+
+"She is in the hall, miss."
+
+Kathleen flew out, and before Mrs. Tennant, who was really feeling very
+angry, could prevent her, had flung her arms round her neck.
+
+"Thank goodness it is you!" said the young girl. "Now don't be angry,
+for you don't know how to manage it. If it was Alice, wouldn't she be in
+a tantrum? But you are all right; you haven't an idea of scolding me. I
+arrived here as safely as a girl could. And what do you think? I brought
+pretty Ruth Craven with me. She didn't much like it, but here she is;
+and she's on tenter-hooks to get home, so she can return with you, can't
+she?"
+
+"You must come too, Kathleen. You annoyed me very much indeed. You gave
+me a terrible fright. I did not know what might have happened to you,
+knowing how ignorant you are of London and its ways."
+
+"But I have got a head on my shoulders," laughed Kathleen. "And now that
+you have come we must have a bit of fun. I want to introduce you to
+aunty. It is Aunt Katie O'Flynn, you know, the lady who sent me the
+beautiful, wonderful clothes."
+
+But here Miss O'Flynn herself appeared on the scene. Kathleen did the
+necessary introducing, and the two ladies moved a little apart to talk
+together. By-and-by Miss O'Flynn called the two girls to her side.
+
+"Mrs. Tennant is not angry with you now, Kathleen. On the contrary, she
+loves you very much; and she will take Miss Ruth Craven back with her. I
+have been trying to induce her to stay here herself, but she won't; and
+as Ruth is anxious to return home, her escort has come very opportunely.
+As to you, darling, nothing will induce me to part with you until
+to-morrow morning."
+
+"But what will you do about school?" said Ruth.
+
+"That can be managed," said Miss O'Flynn. "It isn't the first time that
+Kathleen and I have got up with the sunrise. We'll get up to-morrow
+before it, I'm thinking, and take a train, and be in time to have a good
+breakfast at Mrs. Tennant's.--Then if you, my dear lady, will put up
+with me until lunch-time, I can see more of my Kathleen, and propound
+some plans for your pleasure as well as hers. If you must go, Mrs.
+Tennant, I am afraid you must, for the next train leaves Charing Cross
+for Merrifield at ten minutes past nine."
+
+Mrs. Tennant looked grave, but it was difficult to resist Miss O'Flynn,
+and the time was passing. Accordingly she and Ruth left the Hôtel
+Métropole, and the aunt and niece found themselves alone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+MISS KATIE O'FLYNN AND HER NIECE.
+
+
+"Now, Kathleen," said Miss O'Flynn, "you come straight up to my bedroom,
+where there is a cosy fire, and where we will be just as snug as Punch.
+We'll draw two chairs up to the fire and have a real collogue, that we
+will."
+
+"Yes, that we will," said Kathleen. "I have a lot of things to ask you,
+and a lot of things to tell you."
+
+"Come along then, dear child. My room is on the second floor; we won't
+wait for the lift."
+
+Kathleen took Miss Katie O'Flynn's hand, and they ran merrily and as
+lightly as two-year-olds up the stairs. People turned to look at them as
+they sped upwards.
+
+"Why, the little old lady seems as young and agile as the pretty niece,"
+said one visitor to another.
+
+"Oh, they're both Irish; that accounts for anything," was the answer.
+"The most extraordinary and the most lively nation on the face of the
+earth."
+
+The two vivacious Irishwomen entered their bedroom. Aunt Katie flung
+herself into a deep arm-chair; Kathleen did likewise, and then they
+talked to their heart's content. It is good to hear two Irishwomen
+conversing together, for there is so much action in the
+conversation--such lifting of brows, such raising of hands, such
+emphasis in tone, in voice, in manner. Imagery is so freely employed;
+telling sentences, sharp satire, wit--brilliant, overflowing,
+spontaneous--all come to the fore. Laughter sometimes checks the eager
+flow of words. Occasionally, too, if the conversation is sorrowful,
+tears flow and sobs come from the excited and over-sensitive hearts. No
+one need be dull who has the privilege of listening to two Irishwomen
+who have been parted for some time talking their hearts out to each
+other. Kathleen and her aunt were no exception to the universal rule.
+Kathleen had never been from home before, and Aunt Katie had things to
+tell her about every person, man and woman, old and young, on the
+Carrigrohane estate. But when all the news had been told, when the exact
+number of dogs had been recounted, the cats and kittens described, the
+fowls, the goats, the donkeys, the horses, the cows enumerated, it came
+to be Aunt Katie's turn to listen.
+
+"Now my love, tell me, and be quick, about all you have been doing. And
+first and foremost, how do you like school?"
+
+"Not at all, aunty; and I'm not learning anything."
+
+"My dear, that is sad hearing; and your poor father pining his heart out
+for the want of you."
+
+"I never wished to go to school," said Kathleen.
+
+"You will have to bear it now, my pet, unless you have real cause for
+complaint. They're not unkind to you, acushla, are they?"
+
+"Oh, not really, Aunt Katie; but they're such dull people. The teachers
+are dull. I don't mind Miss Spicer so much; she's the music teacher. As
+to Miss Ravenscroft, I have never even seen her."
+
+"And who is she, darling?"
+
+"The head-mistress, and no end of a toff."
+
+"What's a toff, dear?"
+
+"It's a slang word they use in stupid old England."
+
+"I don't admire it, my love. Don't you demean yourself by bringing words
+of that sort home to Carrigrohane."
+
+"Not I. I shan't be a minute in the old place before the salt breezes
+will blow England out of my memory. Ah! it's I who pine to be home
+again."
+
+"It will broaden your mind, Kathleen, and improve you. And some of the
+English people are very nice entirely," said Miss O'Flynn, making this
+last statement in what she considered a widely condescending manner. "So
+your are not learning much?"
+
+"I am getting on with my music. Perhaps I'll settle down to work. I
+should not loathe it so much if it was not for Alice."
+
+"Ah! she's the daughter of Mrs. Tennant. I rather took to Mrs. Tennant,
+the creature! She seemed to have a kind-hearted sort of face."
+
+"She's as right as rain, aunty; and so are the two boys. But Alice--she
+is--"
+
+"What, darling?"
+
+"A prig, aunty. Detestable!"
+
+"I never took to that sort," said Miss O'Flynn. "Wouldn't you like some
+oyster-patties and some plumcake to munch while you are talking,
+deary?"
+
+"I shouldn't mind."
+
+"I'll ring and order them."
+
+A servant appeared. Miss O'Flynn gave orders which resulted in a rich
+and most unwholesome supper being placed upon the table. Kathleen and
+her aunt ate while they talked.
+
+"And what occupies you, love, at all at all?" said Miss O'Flynn as she
+ate her second oyster-patty. "From your description it seems to be a
+sort of death in life, that town of Merrifield."
+
+"I have to make my own diversions, aunty, and they are sprightly and
+entertaining enough. Don't you remember when I told you to have all
+those little hearts made for me?"
+
+"To be sure, dear--the most extraordinary idea I ever heard in my life.
+Only that I never cross you, Kathleen, I'd have written to know the
+meaning of it."
+
+"It doesn't matter about you knowing."
+
+Here Kathleen briefly and in graphic language described the Society of
+the Wild Irish Girls.
+
+"It is the one thing that keeps me alive," she said. "However, I'm
+guessing they are going to make a fuss about it in the school."
+
+"And what will you do then, core of my heart?"
+
+"Stick to them, of course, aunty. You don't suppose I'd begin a thing
+and then drop it?"
+
+"No; that wouldn't be at all like you, you young rebel.".
+
+Kathleen laughed.
+
+"I am all in a puzzle," she said, "to know where to hold the next
+meeting, for there is no doubt that some of the girls who hate us
+because they weren't asked to join spied last time; so I want the
+society to meet the night after next in a new place."
+
+"And I'll tell you what I've been thinking," said Aunt Katie; "that I'll
+be present, and bring a sparkle of old Ireland to help the whole affair.
+So you'll have to reckon with me on the occasion of the next meeting."
+
+Kathleen sat very still, her face thoughtful.
+
+"Nothing will induce me to give them up," she said, or to betray any
+girl of my society. Oh, aunty, there's such a funny old woman! I met her
+last Sunday. She's a certain Mrs. Church, and she lives in a cottage
+about four miles from Merrifield. We could have our meetings there--I
+know we could--and she'd never tell. Nobody would guess. She is the
+great-aunt of one of the members of the society, Susy Hopkins, a nice
+little girl, a tradesman's daughter."
+
+"Oh, dear me, Kathleen! You don't mean to say you demean yourself by
+associating with tradesmen's daughters?"
+
+"I do so, aunty; and I find them very much nicer than the stuck-up girls
+who think no end of themselves."
+
+"Well, well," said Miss O'Flynn, "whatever you are, you are a lady born
+and bred, and nothing can lower that sort--nothing nor nobody. You must
+make your own plans and let me know."
+
+"I am sure I can manage the old lady, and I will tell you why. She wants
+to join our alms-women."
+
+"What?"
+
+"You know what a snug time our dear old alms-women have. I was telling
+Mrs. Church about it last Sunday. She took a keen desire to belong to
+us, and I sort of half, in a kind of a way, promised her. Is there
+likely to be a vacancy soon, Aunt Katie?"
+
+"Well, dear, there is a vacancy at the present moment. Mrs. Hagan
+breathed her last, poor soul! and was waked not a fortnight ago. We'd
+better wire to your father to keep the little cottage vacant until we
+know more. This is going to be interesting, and you may be quite sure
+that if there is going to be a lark that I'm the one to help you, my
+colleen bawn."
+
+Kathleen and her aunt talked until late into the night, and when the
+young girl laid her head on her pillow she was lost immediately in
+profound slumber.
+
+It was not at all difficult for Kathleen to wake early, and accompanied
+by Miss O'Flynn, she arrived at Merrifield at half-past eight on the
+following morning. She had no time, however, to change her dress, but
+after washing her hands and smoothing out her tangled hair, and leaving
+Miss O'Flynn in the care of Mrs. Tennant--who, to tell the truth, found
+her considerably in the way--Kathleen, accompanied by Alice, started for
+school.
+
+"You'll catch it," said Alice.
+
+"Oh, that's very likely, darling," said Kathleen; "but I don't think I
+much care. Did you see Miss Ravenscroft last night, and was she very,
+very angry?"
+
+"I saw her, and she was more than angry--she was astonished. I think you
+will have to put up with a rather serious conversation with her this
+morning. She asked me questions with regard to you and your doings
+which, of course, I could not answer; but you will have to answer them.
+I don't think particularly well of you, Kathleen; your ways are not my
+ways, nor your ideas mine; but I don't think, bad as you are, that you
+would tell a lie. You will have to speak out the truth to Miss
+Ravenscroft, Kathleen, and no mistake about it."
+
+"Thank you," replied Kathleen. "I think I can manage my own affairs,"
+she added, and then she was silent, not exactly cross, but lost in
+thought.
+
+The girls reached the school without any further adventure. Prayers were
+held as usual in the great hall, and then the members of the different
+classes went to their places and the work of the morning began. The work
+went on, and to look at those girls, all steadfast and attentive and
+studious-looking, it was difficult to realize that in some of their
+hearts was wild rebellion and a naughty and ever-increasing sense of
+mischief. Certainly it was difficult to realize that one at least of
+that number was determined to have her own way at any cost; that another
+was extremely anxious, resolved to tell the truth, and hoping against
+hope that she would not be questioned.
+
+School had very nearly come to an end when the dread summons which both
+Ruth Craven and Alice Tennant expected arrived for Kathleen. She was to
+go to speak to Miss Ravenscroft in that lady's parlor.
+
+"Miss Ravenscroft is waiting," said the mistress who brought Kathleen
+the message. "Will you be quick, Kathleen, as she is rather in a hurry?"
+
+Kathleen got up with apparent alacrity. Her face looked sunshiny and
+genial. As she passed Ruth she put her hand on her shoulder and said in
+her most pleasant voice:
+
+"Extraordinary thing; Miss Ravenscroft has sent for me. I wonder what
+for."
+
+Ruth colored and looked down. One or two of the girls glanced round at
+Kathleen in amazement. She did not say anything further but left the
+room. When she got into the passage she hummed a little air. The teacher
+who had summoned her had gone on in front. Kathleen followed her at a
+respectful distance, and still humming "The wearing of the Green," she
+knocked at Miss Ravenscroft's door.
+
+Miss Ravenscroft was standing by her window. She turned when Kathleen
+appeared, and desired her to sit down. Kathleen dropped into a chair.
+Miss Ravenscroft did likewise. Then Miss Ravenscroft spoke gently, for
+in spite of herself Kathleen's attractive face, the wilful, daring, and
+yet affectionate glance in the eyes, attracted her. She had not yet had
+a full and perfect view of Kathleen. She had seen, it is true, the
+pretty little girl in a crowd of others; but now she saw Kathleen by
+herself. The face was undoubtedly sweet--sweet with a radiance which
+surprised and partly fascinated Miss Ravenscroft.
+
+"Your name?" she said.
+
+"Kathleen O'Hara," replied Kathleen.
+
+She rose to her feet and dropped a little bobbing curtsy, then waited to
+be asked to sit down again. Miss Ravenscroft did not invite her to
+reseat herself. She spoke quietly, turning her eyes away from the
+attractive little face and handsome figure.
+
+"I sent for you last night and you did not obey my command. Why so?"
+
+"I did not mean to be rude," said Kathleen. "You see, it was this way.
+My aunt from Ireland (Miss O'Flynn is her name--Miss Katie O'Flynn) was
+staying at the Métropole. I had a telegram from her desiring me to go to
+her immediately in town. I got your note after I had read the telegram.
+It seemed to me that I ought to go first to my aunt. She is my mother's
+own sister, and such a darling. You couldn't but love her if you saw
+her. You might think me a little rude not to come to you when you sent
+for me, but Aunt Katie would have been hurt--terribly, fearfully hurt.
+She might even have cried."
+
+Kathleen raised her brows as she said the last word; her face expressed
+consternation and a trifle of amazement. Miss Ravenscroft felt as though
+smiles were very near.
+
+"Even suppose your aunt had cried," she said, "your duty was to me as
+your head-mistress."
+
+"Please," said Kathleen, "I did not think it was. I thought my duty was
+to my aunt."
+
+Miss Ravenscroft was silent for a minute.
+
+"My dear," she said then gently, "you are new to the school. You have
+doubtless indulged in a very free-and-easy and unconventional life in
+your own country. I was once in Ireland, in the west, and I liked the
+people and the land, and the ways of the people and the looks of the
+land, and for the sake of that visit I am not going to be hard on a
+little Irish girl during her first sojourn in the school. In future,
+Kathleen O'Hara, I must insist on instant obedience. I will forgive you
+for your disregard of my message last night, but if ever I require you
+again I shall expect you to come to me at once. For the present we will
+forget last night."
+
+"Thank you, madam. I am sure I should love you very much if I knew you
+well."
+
+"That is not the question, my dear. I must insist on your treating me
+with respect. It is not very easy to know the head-mistress; the girls
+know her up to a certain point, but personal friendship as between one
+woman and another cannot quite exist between a little girl and her
+head-mistress. Yes, my dear, I hope you will love me, but in the sense
+of one who is set in authority over you. That is my position, and I hope
+as long as I live to do my duty. Now then, Kathleen, I will speak to you
+about the other matter which obliged me to send you a message last
+night."
+
+"Thank you, ma'am," said Kathleen. She looked down, so that the fun in
+her eyes could not be seen.
+
+"I am sure from your face that you will not tell me a lie."
+
+"No," said Kathleen, "I won't tell you a lie."
+
+"I must, however, ask you one or two direct questions. Is it true that
+you have encouraged certain girls in this school--"
+
+"Oh, I encourage all the girls, I know. Poor things! I--"
+
+"Don't interrupt me, Kathleen; I have more to say. Is it true that you
+encourage certain girls in this school"--here Miss Ravenscroft put up
+her hand to check Kathleen's words--"to rebellion and insubordination?"
+
+"I don't know what insubordination is," said Kathleen, shaking her head.
+
+"Is it true," continued the head-mistress, "that you have started a
+society which is called by some ridiculous name such as The Wild Irish
+Girls, and that you meet each week in a quarry a short distance from
+town; that you have got rules and badges; that you sing naughty songs,
+and altogether misbehave yourselves? Is it true?"
+
+Kathleen closed her lips firmly together. Miss Ravenscroft looked full
+at her. Kathleen then spoke slowly:
+
+"How did you hear that we do what you say we do?"
+
+"I do not intend to name my informant. The girls who have joined your
+society and are putting themselves under your influence are the sort of
+girls who in a school like this get most injured by such proceedings.
+They have never been accustomed to self-restraint; they have not been
+guided to control themselves. Of all the girls in the school whom you,
+Miss O'Hara, have tried to injure, you have selected the foundationers,
+who have only been to Board schools before they came here. They look up
+to you as above them by birth; your very way, your words, can influence
+them. Wrong from your lips will appear right, and right will appear
+wrong. You yourself are an ignorant and unlearned child, and yet you
+attempt to guide others. This society must be broken up immediately. I
+will forgive you for the past if you promise me that you will never hold
+another meeting, that as long as you are at the school you will not
+encourage another girl to join this society. You will have to give me
+your word, and that before you leave this room. I do not require you to
+betray your companions; I do not even ask their names. I but demand your
+promise, which I insist on. The Irish Girls--or the Wild Irish Girls,
+whatever you like to call them--must cease to exist."
+
+Miss Ravenscroft ceased speaking.
+
+"Is that all?" said Kathleen.
+
+"What do you mean? I want your promise."
+
+"But I have nothing to say."
+
+"You are not stupid, Kathleen O'Hara--I can see that--and I should hope
+you were too much of a lady to be impertinent. What do you mean to do?"
+
+"Indeed," said Kathleen, "I don't mean to be impertinent, and I don't
+want to tell a lie. The best way on the present occasion is to be
+silent. I can't give myself or the other girls in the school away. You
+ask me to make you a promise. I cannot make that promise. I am sorry.
+Perhaps I had better leave the school."
+
+"No, Kathleen, you cannot leave it in the ordinary way. You are
+connected with other girls now; your influence must be publicly
+withdrawn. I had hoped to spare you this, but if you defy me you know
+the consequences."
+
+"May I go now?" said Kathleen.
+
+"You may--for the present. I must consult with the other teachers. It
+may even be necessary to call a meeting of the Board of Governors. Your
+conduct requires stringent measures. But, my child"--and here Miss
+Ravenscroft changed her voice to one of gentleness and entreaty--"you
+will not be so silly, so wicked, so perverse. Kathleen, it is sometimes
+a hard thing to give up your own way, but I think an Irish girl can be
+noble. You will be very noble now if you cease to belong to the Irish
+Girls' Society."
+
+"'Wild Irish Girls' is the name," said Kathleen.
+
+"You must give it up. It was a mad and silly scheme. You must have
+nothing more to do with it."
+
+Kathleen slightly shook her head. Miss Ravenscroft uttered a deep sigh.
+
+"I am afraid I must go," said Kathleen. "I think you have spoken to me
+very kindly; I should like to have been able to oblige you."
+
+"And you won't?"
+
+Kathleen shook her head again. The next moment she had left the room.
+
+The school was nearly over; but whether it had been or not, Kathleen had
+not the slightest idea of returning to her class-room. She stood for a
+moment in one of the corridors to collect her thoughts; then going to
+the room where the hats and jackets hung on pegs, she took down her
+own, put them on, and left the school. She walked fast and reached Mrs.
+Tennant's house at a quarter to one. Both Mrs. Tennant and Miss O'Flynn
+were out. There was a message for Kathleen to say that Miss O'Flynn
+expected her to be ready to go to town with her immediately after
+dinner. Kathleen smiled to herself.
+
+"Dear Aunt Katie! She must get me out of this scrape. But as to thinking
+of giving up girls whom I meant to help, and will help, I wouldn't do it
+for twenty Miss Ravenscrofts." She stood at the door of the house; then
+a sudden idea struck her, and as she saw the girls; filing out of the
+school, she crossed the common and met Susy Hopkins, her satchel of
+books flung across her shoulder.
+
+"Ah, Susy, here I am. I want to speak to you."
+
+Susy ran up to her in excitement. It was already whispered in the school
+that their secret proceedings were becoming known. It had also been
+whispered from one to another that Kathleen had undergone a formidable
+interview with Miss Ravenscroft that very morning.
+
+"What is it, Kathleen?" said Susy. "Was she very, very cross?"
+
+"Who do you mean?" asked Kathleen, instantly on the defensive.
+
+"Miss Ravenscroft. You went to see her; every one knows it. What did she
+say?"
+
+"That is my affair. But, Susy, I want you to do something. We must not
+go to the quarry to-morrow evening. We want to have the meeting at your
+aunt's. I want to go to Mrs. Church's. You must run round this afternoon
+and make arrangements. There'll be about thirty or forty of us, and we
+must all be smuggled into the cottage."
+
+"Oh, dear!" said Susy. "But how are we to get there? It's four miles
+away."
+
+"Well, I suppose those who are really interested can walk four miles. I
+certainly can. Susy, you had better not miss it to-morrow night, for
+Aunt Katie O'Flynn is to be present, and there's no saying what she will
+do. She will help us if any one can. She is ever so kind, and so
+interested. It will be the greatest meeting the society has ever had; I
+wouldn't miss it myself for the world."
+
+"Oh, hurrah!" said Susy. "You certainly are a splendid girl, Kathleen.
+And won't Aunt Church be pleased?"
+
+"Tell her that if she wants to get one of the little almshouses she had
+better oblige us as far as she can," said.
+
+Kathleen. "Now I must rush back to dinner. I am going to town
+afterwards."
+
+Without waiting for Susy's reply, Kathleen turned on her heel and
+returned home. Susy watched her for a minute, then slowly and gravely
+went in the direction of her mother's shop. Mrs. Hopkins was getting in
+fresh stock that morning, and the little shop looked brighter and
+fresher than it had done for some time. It was a beautiful day in the
+beginning of winter, with that feeling of summer in the air which comes
+to cheer us now and then in November. Susy marched through the shop,
+still swinging her satchel.
+
+"I wish you wouldn't do that, Susy," said her mother. "And I wish, too,
+that you wouldn't always be late home. Be quick now; there's
+pease-pudding and pork for dinner. Tom is in a hurry to be off to his
+football."
+
+"Oh, bother!" said Susy.
+
+Mrs. Hopkins frowned. Susy, in her mother's opinion, was not quite so
+nice and comforting as she once had been. But it was not Mrs. Hopkins's
+way to reproach her children; she bore her burden with regard to them
+as silently and patiently as she could.
+
+Susy ran up to her room, tossed off her hat, washed her hands, and came
+down. Soon the three were seated at their frugal dinner.
+
+"You seem to have got in a lot of fresh goods, mother," said Tom.
+
+"I have," said Mrs. Hopkins, with a groan; "but I haven't paid for one
+of them. Parkins says he will trust me for quite a month; but however I
+am to pay your Aunt Church, and keep enough money for the new goods,
+beats me. Sometimes I think that my burden is greater than I can bear. I
+have often had a feeling that I ought to give up the shop and take
+service somewhere. I used to be noted as the best of good housekeepers
+when I was young."
+
+"Oh, no, mother, you mustn't do that," said Susy. "What would Tom and I
+do?"
+
+"If it wasn't for you and Tom I'd give notice to-morrow," said the
+widow. "But there! we must hope for the best, I suppose. God never
+forsakes those who trust Him."
+
+"Mother," said Susy suddenly, "I hope you will be able to spare me this
+afternoon. I want to go and see Aunt Church."
+
+"Why should you do that, child? There's no way for you to go except on
+your legs, and it's a weary walk, and the days are getting short."
+
+"All the same, I must go," said Susy. "I suppose you couldn't shut up
+the shop and come with me, could you, mother?"
+
+"Shut up the shop!" said Mrs. Hopkins. "What next will the child ask?
+Not a bit of it, Susan. But what do you want to see your aunt for?"
+
+"It is a little private message in connection with Miss Kathleen
+O'Hara. It means money, mother; of that I am certain. It means that Aunt
+Church will forgive you last month's installment of the debt, and
+perhaps next month's, too. You had best let me go, mother. I am not
+talking without knowledge, and I can't tell you what I know."
+
+"I know something," said Tom, and he gave utterance to a low whistle.
+
+Susy turned and glanced at her brother in some uneasiness.
+
+"There are a deal of funny things whispered about your school just now,"
+he said. "I'm not going to peach, of course; only you'd best look out.
+They say if it got to the governors' ears every foundationer in the
+place would be expelled. It is something that ought not to be done."
+
+"Don't mind him, mother. Do you think I'd do anything to endanger my
+continuing at the school, after all the trouble and care and anxiety you
+had in getting me placed there?"
+
+"Really, child," said Mrs. Hopkins, "I don't know. The wilfullness of
+young folks in these days is past enduring. But you had better clearly
+understand, Susy, that if for any reason you are dismissed from the
+school there is nothing whatever for you but to take a place as a
+servant; and that you wouldn't like."
+
+"I should think not, indeed. Well, mother, to avoid all these
+consequences I must go as fast as I can to see Aunt Church."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+SUSY HOPKINS PERSUADES AUNT CHURCH.
+
+
+Mrs. Hopkins said nothing more. Susy saw that she could have her own
+way, and as soon as dinner was over, without even waiting to help her
+mother to put the place in order, she started on her walk. She felt
+pleased and self-important. The day was a frosty one, and the sunset
+promised to be glorious. The road to Mrs. Church's house was flat and
+long and pleasant to walk on. Susy had no particular eye for pretty
+views, or she might have pleased herself with the wonderful tints of the
+sky, and the autumnal shades which had not altogether deserted the
+neighboring woods. Susy's thoughts, however, were occupied with very
+different matters.
+
+"Mother is always grumbling," she said to herself; "and for that matter,
+so is Tom. As if I'd demean myself by taking a place! The idea of my
+being a servant. Why, I know I shall do very well in the future. I look
+high. I mean to be a lady, as good as the best. Would Miss Kathleen
+O'Hara take so much notice of me if I was not a very nice, lady-like sort
+of a girl? I am sure no one could look sweeter than I do in my pale-blue
+blouse. Even Tom says so. He said I looked very genteel, and that he'd
+like his great friend, Walter Amber, to see me. I don't want to have
+anything to do with Tom's friends. Poor Tom! if mother can apprentice
+him to somebody, that is the most that can be expected. But as for me,
+the very lowest position I intend to take in life in the future is that
+of a teacher. I shall probably be a teacher in this very school, and get
+my couple of hundred a year. A place indeed! Poor dear mother doesn't
+know what she is talking about."
+
+Occupied with her own thoughts, the road did not turn out long to Susy.
+She reached Mrs. Church's very humble abode between three and four
+o'clock. It was still daylight. The little old lady was seated in her
+window; she looked very much, surprised when she saw Susy, and limped to
+the door and opened it.
+
+"Come in, Susy Hopkins," she said. "I suppose your mother has sent me my
+money. If so, it is very thoughtful of her. If you have brought the
+money, Susy, you shall have a cup of tea before you start on your
+homeward walk. It is a fine day, child, and your cheeks look very fresh.
+Come in, dear; come in."
+
+Mrs. Church hobbled back again into her small sitting-room. She got back
+into her chair, and motioned to Susy to take one opposite to her.
+
+"If that is the money you have in your hand," she said, noticing that
+the child held a small parcel, "you may give it to me, and then go over
+there and get me that black cash-box. I will put the gold and silver in
+immediately. It is never safe to leave money about."
+
+"But I haven't got the money, Aunt Church. Mother couldn't have saved it
+in the time."
+
+Mrs. Church's face became very bleak and decidedly wintry in
+appearance.
+
+"Then what have you come for, Susan?" she said. "You needn't suppose I
+am going to waste my good tea on you if you haven't brought the money.
+If you think so, you are fine and mistaken."
+
+"I don't think so, really, Aunt Church; but perhaps when you know all
+you will give me a cup of tea, and perhaps you won't be so cross the
+next time I wear my pale-blue blouse."
+
+"Ah, my dear, I wasn't cross at the end of the time, although I did
+think it a bit suspicious: your mother losing nineteen-and-sixpence of
+my own money out of her till--you forget that fact, Susan Hopkins; it
+was my money--and then you decking yourself out in the most unsuitable
+garment I ever saw on a little girl of your age and station. It has
+pleased the Almighty, Susan, to put you in a low walk of life, and in
+that walk you ought to remain, and dress according--yes, dress
+according. But, as I said, I was not displeased at the end. That was a
+very bonny young lady who came into your mother's shop--miles and miles
+above you, Susan. And how she can demean herself to call you her friend
+passes my comprehension."
+
+"You are very rude, Aunt Church," said Susy; "but I am not going to be
+angry with you, for I want you to help us. I have got news for you, and
+very good news, too. But I will only tell it to you on condition."
+
+Mrs. Church looked first skeptical, then curious, then keenly desirous.
+
+"Well, child?" she said. "Maybe you might as well put the kettle on the
+fire; it takes a good long time to boil. It's a very bobbish little
+kettle, and it has cranky whims just as though it were a human. There's
+a good child, Susan; take it out and fill it at the tap, and put it on
+the fire to boil up while you are telling me the rest of the story. I
+always liked you very well, Susan; not so much as Tom, but you are quite
+to my liking, all things considered."
+
+"No, you never liked me, Aunt Church," said Susy; "but I will fill the
+kettle if you have a fancy--although perhaps I won't be able to stay to
+have that cup of tea that you seem all of a sudden willing to give me."
+
+Mrs. Church said nothing. Susy left the room with the kettle.
+
+"I could fly out at her," thought the old lady; "but where's the good?
+She's hand and glove with that beautiful Miss O'Hara, and for the sake
+of the young lady I mustn't get her back up too much."
+
+So Susy put the kettle on to boil, and then resumed her place opposite
+Mrs. Church.
+
+"Susan," said the old lady, "while the kettle is boiling you might as
+well lay the cloth and get out the tea-things."
+
+"No, no," said Susy; "I haven't come here to act servant to you, Aunt
+Church."
+
+"You have a very nasty manner, Susan; and whatever the Almighty may mean
+to do with you in the future, you had best change your tune or things
+will go ill with you."
+
+Susy sat quite still, apparently indifferent to these remarks.
+
+"Well, if you won't lay the cloth, and won't help your own poor old
+aunt, you may as well tell me what you came for."
+
+"Not yet. I will presently."
+
+Susy was now thoroughly enjoying herself. Mrs. Church edged her chair a
+little nearer; her beady black eyes seemed to read Susy through and
+through.
+
+"Go on, child; speak. 'Tain't right to keep an old body on
+tenter-hooks."
+
+"I will tell you if you will promise me something. I have brought you a
+little bag that I made my own self, and you shall have it if you promise
+me something. It is a bag for your knitting. You know you said that you
+were always losing the ball; it would keep running under your chair, and
+you could never get it without stooping and hurting yourself."
+
+"To be sure I did, child, and it is thoughtful of you to think of me.
+Well, but we'll talk of the bag when you have said whatever else you
+have got at the back of that wise little head of yours."
+
+"I have got news that may mean a great deal to you, but before I tell it
+I want you to give me a promise. I want you to let mother off this
+month's installment of her debt."
+
+"What?" cried Mrs. Church, turning very pale. "The money that she owes
+me?"
+
+"Yes, the money she owes you. A thief came into the shop and took some
+of her money, and she is very short of money and very worried. I will
+tell you the news if you will forgive mother."
+
+"Well," said Mrs. Church, "of all the impertinent, bare-faced, wicked
+little girls, you beat them all. My answer to that, Susan Hopkins, is
+no; and you can leave the house, for that is the last word you will
+get."
+
+"Thank you, Aunt Church," said Susy. "I will leave it. It doesn't matter
+whether you hear the message I have come to give you or not. It is from
+Miss Kathleen O'Hara, but that don't matter, either. What have you to do
+with a young lady like Miss Kathleen O'Hara. She's as unsuitable to be
+with you as she is to be with me. Good-bye, Aunt Church; good-bye."
+
+Susy got as far as the door when Mrs. Church called her back.
+
+"Come here, you bad little thing," she said. "Sit down on that chair.
+Now, what do you mean?"
+
+"I say I will give you my message if you will forgive mother."
+
+"Then I won't. I will never hear your message."
+
+"All right, I will go," said Susy. "I'll tell Miss Kathleen; she will be
+disappointed, so to speak. It was about those almshouses, but--"
+
+"Look here, child; you tell me first, and then I'll consider."
+
+"No, no," said Susy. "I know something better than that. You make the
+promise first, faithfully and truly, and then I will tell you."
+
+After this there was a considerable wrangle between the old woman and
+the young girl, but all in good time Susy won her desire, and Mrs.
+Church made the required promise.
+
+"Now speak," she said. "There's that kettle singing like mad, and it
+will boil over in a minute. You shall have a cup of tea and a nice sweet
+bun with it, and what more can a poor old body like myself offer? What
+about Miss Kathleen O'Hara?"
+
+"Aunt Church, you can help Miss Kathleen, and she is worthy of being
+helped. She wants you to do something for her."
+
+"Me?" said Mrs. Church. "And what can a poor body like me do to help
+her? Things ought to be the other way round; it's she who ought to help
+me."
+
+"And so she will, and she said as much. She said she'd do what she could
+to put you into one of those sweet little almshouses; and when Miss
+Kathleen says a thing she means it. And there's an aunt of hers has come
+over from Ireland--and from all accounts she must be a perfect
+wonder--and she's coming, too. Oh, Aunt Church, you are in luck!"
+
+"You are enough to distract any one, child. Susy, I told you the kettle
+would boil before we were ready for tea. Take it off and put it on the
+hob; and be careful, for goodness' sake, Susy Hopkins, or you'll scald
+yourself."
+
+Susy removed the kettle from its position on the glowing bed of coals,
+and then resumed her narrative.
+
+"They're all coming," she said, "and you will have to get them in by
+hook or crook."
+
+"You're enough to deave a body. Who's coming, and where are they coming
+when they do come?"
+
+"They're coming here, Aunt Church, a lot of them--girls like me--big
+girls and little girls, old girls and young girls, bad girls and good
+girls; girls who'll laugh at you, and girls who'll respect you; some
+dressed badly, and some dressed fine. They are all coming, up to forty
+of them in number, and Miss Kathleen O'Hara is the queen amongst them.
+Miss Katie O'Flynn is coming, too, and it's to your house they're to
+come; and it's to happen to-morrow night."
+
+"Really, Susy, of all the impertinent children, I do think you beat all.
+Forty people coming into this tiny house, where we can scarcely turn
+round with more than two in the house! You are talking pure nonsense,
+Susan Hopkins, and I'll break my word if that's all you have to tell."
+
+"It's true enough. Have you never heard of our society? Well, of course
+not, so I will tell you. It is this way, Aunt Church: When Miss Kathleen
+came to the school she took pity on us foundationers. She founded a
+society, and we used to meet in the old quarry just to the left of
+Johnson's Field; and right good times we had. She promised us all sorts
+of things. It was she who gave me that blouse that you seemed to think I
+had bought with the money which was taken from mother's till. And she
+gave me this. See, Aunt Church; if you look you will believe."
+
+Here Susy pulled from the neck of her dress a little heart-shaped locket
+with the device and name of the society on it.
+
+"Look for yourself," she said.
+
+Mrs. Church did look. She put on her spectacles and read the words, "The
+Wild Irish Girls, October, 18--."
+
+"Whatever does this mean?" she said. "The Wild Irish Girls! It doesn't
+sound at all a respectable sort of name."
+
+"I am one," said Susy, beginning to skip up and down. "I am a Wild Irish
+Girl."
+
+"That you ain't. You don't know the meaning of the thing. You are
+nothing but a little, under-bred Cockney."
+
+"Thank you, Aunt Church. I do feel obliged for your kind opinion of me.
+But now, are you going to help Miss Kathleen, or are you not? She can't
+have the girls--the Wild Irish Girls, I mean--any longer at the quarry,
+for it's getting noised abroad in the school, and there are those who'd
+think very little of telling on us; and then we might all be expelled,
+for it's contrary to the rules of the governors that there should be
+anything underhand or anything of that sort in the place. So it is this
+way: we have got into trouble, we Wild Irish Girls, and dear Miss
+Kathleen is determined that, come what will, the society must not
+suffer; and she thinks you could help. And if you help in any sort of
+fashion, why, she'll take precious good care that you get into one of
+those little almshouses. She said I was to see you to-day, and I was to
+take her back the answer. And now, will you help or will you not?"
+
+"Well, I never!" said Mrs. Church.
+
+When she had uttered these words she sank back in her chair. Her
+knitting was forgotten; her old face looked pale with anxiety.
+
+"Have a cup of tea; it will help you to think more than anything," said
+Susy, and in a brisk and businesslike fashion she dived into the
+cupboard, took out the cups and saucers, a little box of biscuits, a
+tiny jug of milk, a caddy of tea, and proceeded to fill the little
+teapot. By-and-by tea was ready, and Susy brought a cup to the old lady.
+
+"There, now," she said. "You see what it means to have a nice little
+girl like me to wait on you. You'd have taken an hour hobbling round all
+by yourself. Now what will you do?"
+
+"What shall I do?" said Mrs. Church. "Look round, Susan Hopkins, and ask
+me what I am to do! How many of those forty can be squeezed into this
+room?"
+
+"Let me think," said Susy.
+
+She looked round the room, which was really not more than twelve feet
+square.
+
+"We couldn't get many in here," she said. "Four might stand against the
+wall there, and four there, and so on, but that wouldn't go far when
+there are forty. We must have the backyard."
+
+"What! and upset the pig?" said Mrs. Church.
+
+"Oh, Aunt Church, you really can't think of Brownie at a moment like
+this! They must all congregate in the yard, and you shall look on. Oh,
+you'll enjoy it fine! But you ought to have tea for Miss O'Hara and Miss
+Katie O'Flynn; you really ought. Think, Aunt Church; it is quite worth
+while when you have an almshouse in view; and you know that for all the
+rest of your life you are to have a house rent-free, coal and light, and
+six shillings a week."
+
+"It's worth an effort," said Mrs. Church; "it is that. But I doubt me,
+now that the thing seems so near, whether I shall like the crossing. I
+can't abide finding myself on the salty sea. I have that to think over,
+and that is against the scheme, Susy Hopkins."
+
+"And what do a few hours' misery signify," said Susy, "when you have all
+the rest of your life to live in clover?"
+
+"That's true--that's true," said the old lady. "If you are positive that
+it won't upset Brownie--"
+
+"You can lock Brownie up; I will take charge of the key."
+
+"And have him grunting like anything."
+
+"He won't be heard with forty of them."
+
+"It does sound very insurrectionary and wrong," said Mrs. Church; "but
+if you are certain sure she will keep her word--"
+
+"If I am sure of anybody, it is Miss Kathleen."
+
+"She looks a good sort."
+
+"And then, you know, Aunty Church, you can clinch matters by having a
+nice little tea for her; and afterwards, if you don't speak up, I will.
+I'll tell her you expect to get the almshouse after doing so much as to
+entertain forty of her guests."
+
+"Well, look here, Susy, you have thrust yourself into this matter, and
+you must help me out. I suppose I must have a tea, but it must be a very
+plain one."
+
+"No; it must be a very nice tea. Oh, I'll see to that. Mother shall send
+over some things from town--a little pink ham cut very thin, and
+new-laid eggs--"
+
+"And water-cress," said Mrs. Church. "I have a real relish for
+water-cress, and it's a very long time since I had any."
+
+"You have got your own fowls," said Susy, "so they will supply the eggs;
+and for the rest I will manage. You are very good indeed, aunty, and
+mother will be so pleased. Kiss me, Aunt Church. I must be off or I'll
+be getting into a terrible scrape."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+RUTH'S TROUBLES AND SUSY'S PREPARATIONS.
+
+
+The next day the suppressed excitement in the school grew worse. It is
+sad to relate, nevertheless it is a fact, that Kathleen O'Hara openly
+neglected her lessons. She kept glancing at Susy Hopkins, and Susy
+Hopkins once very boldly winked at her; and when she did this one of the
+under teachers saw her. Now, there were certain rules in the school
+which all the girls were expected to keep, and winking and making faces
+were always prohibited. But the teacher on this occasion did not
+complain of Susy; there were so many other things to be considered that
+she thought she would let the matter pass.
+
+Ruth Craven was in her class, and more than one girl remarked on Ruth's
+appearance. Her face was ghastly pale, and she looked as though she had
+been crying very hard. Alice Tennant was also in her class, and she
+looked very bold and upright and defiant. Nothing ever induced Alice to
+neglect her studies, for did not the scholarship depend on her doing her
+very utmost? She worked just as assiduously as though nothing was
+happening. But each foundation girl--at least each who had joined the
+Wild Irish Girls--pressed her hand against the front of her dress, so as
+really to be certain that the little locket, the dear little talisman of
+her order, was safe in its place; and each girl felt naughty and good at
+the same time, anxious to please Kathleen and anxious to adhere to the
+rules of the school, and each girl resolved that, if she had to choose
+between the school and Kathleen, she would throw the school over and
+give allegiance to the queen of the society.
+
+But Ruth's unhappy face certainly attracted attention. Cassandra Weldon
+noticed it first of all. In recess she went up to her and took her hand.
+
+"Ruth," she said, "you must come home with, me to dinner. Afterwards we
+can have a good chat; and then you shall have a room to yourself in
+order to work up your lessons for Miss Renshaw. But what is the matter,
+Ruth? You don't look well."
+
+"I am quite well," answered Ruth; "but I don't think I'll be able to
+come back with you to-day, Cassie."
+
+"Oh, what a pity, dear! Is your grandmother ill?"
+
+"No; she's quite well."
+
+"And your grandfather?"
+
+"They are both quite well. It is--no, it's not nothing, for it is
+something; but I can't tell you. Please don't ask me."
+
+"You look very sad."
+
+"I feel miserable."
+
+"I wonder--" said Cassandra thoughtfully.
+
+Ruth looked at her. There was absolute despair in the eyes generally so
+clear and steadfast and bright. At this moment Kathleen O'Hara was seen
+passing through the playground in a sort of triumphal progress. She was
+accompanied by quite a tail of girls: one hung on her right arm, another
+on her left; a third danced in front of her; and other girls followed in
+a thick procession.
+
+"I feel like a queen-bee that has just swarmed," she remarked _en
+passant_ to Cassandra Weldon.
+
+Her rude words, the impertinent little toss of her head, and the defiant
+glance out of her very dark-blue eyes caused Cassandra to stamp her
+foot.
+
+"Ruth," she said, "I don't like your friend Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+"But I love her," said Ruth.
+
+"That is just it. She makes you all love her and then she gets you into
+trouble."
+
+"But getting into trouble for a friend doesn't make you hate that
+friend," said Ruth.
+
+"Well, I fail to understand her. I agree with Alice Tennant about her. A
+girl of that sort--fascinating, handsome, dangerous--works havoc in a
+school."
+
+"Listen, Cassie," said Ruth suddenly. "A good many people will be saying
+bad things about Kathleen before long, and perhaps you will be
+questioned. I know that Alice Tennant has been questioned already. Will
+you promise me something, Cassie?"
+
+"You look so imploring that I'd like to promise you anything; but what
+is it?"
+
+"Do take her part when the time comes. You are certain to be asked."
+
+"But I don't know her. How can I take her part?"
+
+"You can say--oh, the kindest things. You can explain that she has
+always been bright and gay and loving and kind."
+
+"I don't know that she has."
+
+"Cassie," said Ruth, "your goodness to me has been almost past
+understanding; but I could hate you if you spoke against her, for I love
+her."
+
+Just then a teacher came out, touched Ruth Craven on her arm, and said:
+
+"Will you go at once to see Miss Ravenscroft?"
+
+"Why, have you got into a scrape, Ruth? Is that why you look so pale and
+excited and distressed?" said Cassandra.
+
+She spoke in a whisper. Ruth's eyes looked full into hers.
+
+"God help me," she said under her breath.--"Cassie, if you knew, if you
+could guess, you'd pity me."
+
+Ruth turned away and followed the teacher into the school. A moment
+later she was standing before the head-mistress.
+
+"Now, Ruth," said that lady, "I have given you as long a time as
+possible. Are you prepared to tell me what you know of the Wild Irish
+Girls?"
+
+Ruth was silent.
+
+"I can't give you any further time. There is to be a meeting of the
+governors at four o'clock this afternoon--a special meeting, convened in
+a hurry in order to look into this very matter. If you don't tell me in
+private what you can tell me, I shall be obliged to ask you to appear
+before the governors. In that case it would be a matter of insurrection
+on your part, and it is very doubtful if you would be allowed to remain
+in the school."
+
+"It is very cruel to me," began Ruth.
+
+"My dear, the path of right is sometimes cruel. We must put this matter
+down with a strong hand. Do you or do you not know where Kathleen O'Hara
+and her society are to meet this evening?"
+
+"I've been thinking it out," said Ruth; "I have had no one to consult.
+If I were to tell I should be a traitor to Kathleen. I did not care for
+the society, although I love her. I joined it at first--I can't quite
+tell you how--but afterwards I left it. I left it entirely for my own
+benefit. There is a girl in this school whom you all love and respect. I
+don't suppose any other girl in the whole school bears such a high
+character. Her name is Cassandra Weldon."
+
+"Of course I know Cassandra Weldon," said the head-mistress. "She is our
+head girl."
+
+"She is; and she is not proud, and she is--oh, so kind! She offered me
+a very great help. She presented to me a tremendous temptation."
+
+"What was that, Ruth?"
+
+Miss Ravenscroft began by being cold and indifferent; she was now really
+interested.
+
+"You can sit down if you like," she said.
+
+But Ruth did not sit; she only put one pretty little hand on the back of
+a chair as though to steady herself.
+
+"I will tell you everything that concerns myself," she said. "I don't
+mind how badly you think of me. I had joined the other foundationers as
+a member of Kathleen's society. Then Cassandra presented the temptation.
+She offered to give me the services of her coach, Miss Renshaw, to work
+up for the Ayldice Scholarship. That means sixty pounds a year. We are
+poor at home, Miss Ravenscroft. My grandfather and grandmother are very
+poor people; but my father was a gentleman, and my mother was a lady,
+and their great longing in life was to have me well educated. My
+grandparents can scarcely afford the expense of keeping me in this
+school. I know I am a foundationer and my education is free; but there
+are other small expenses that have to be met. Even for me to live at
+home is almost more than they can compass. You can therefore imagine the
+great and wonderful delight of being able to secure a scholarship of
+sixty pounds a year. I could scarcely have managed it without this help.
+It was noble of Cassandra to offer it, and I--I accepted it, Miss
+Ravenscroft. After that, of course, I couldn't remain in Kathleen's
+society, for Kathleen and Cassandra hate each other, and I couldn't be
+one moment with one girl and another with the other; so I gave up the
+society and joined Cassandra. But I can't now betray those who were my
+friends. I have made up my mind; I can't."
+
+"You have really made up your mind?"
+
+"Quite--quite; indeed I cannot."
+
+"Do you know what this means?"
+
+"I can guess."
+
+"We shall be obliged to call a meeting of the governors. You will be had
+up before them. If you still persist in keeping your knowledge to
+yourself they will be obliged to strike your name off the school roll.
+You will not then be able to get the Ayldice Scholarship. You are a
+clever girl, Ruth. My dear child, the whole thing is a mistake. You do
+wrong to conceal insurrection. I can tell your special friend Kathleen,
+who will no longer be queen of the Wild Irish Girls, to-morrow morning,
+that I have forced this confession out of you. She will not hate you;
+she will forgive you. She will understand. My dear, why should you
+sacrifice everything for the sake of this naughty Irish girl?"
+
+"Because I love her, and because it would be mean," answered Ruth, and
+now she burst into tears.
+
+Miss Ravenscroft talked to her a little longer, but Ruth was firm. When
+she left the head-mistress's presence she felt a certain sense almost of
+elation.
+
+"Now I don't feel so absolutely horrible," she said to herself. "Of
+course I will face the governors. I will just say that I know but that I
+can't tell. Yes, I believe I have done right. Anyhow, I don't feel quite
+so bad as before I went to see Miss Ravenscroft."
+
+Meanwhile Susy Hopkins was having a busy time. She went to school in the
+morning, but as soon as ever lesson hours were over she flew back to her
+mother's shop. There Mrs. Hopkins awaited her with a tray full of good
+things.
+
+"Now, Susy," she said, "Tom will help you, for I have got him to
+promise. He will borrow a wheelbarrow, and all the things can be
+stacked away tidily into it, and he will take them straight off to Aunt
+Church's house with you immediately after dinner. You had best spend the
+afternoon with the old lady and encourage her all you can. It is a
+blessed relief to have two months of that debt wiped out, and I am very
+much obliged to you, child, and I will help you all I can."
+
+"You can't think how exciting it is, mother," said Susy. "And you know
+the best of the fun is, they are making no end of a fuss in the school.
+They're trying to find out all about poor Kathleen's society, in order
+to put a stop to it and to call the foundationers to order; but the only
+effect of the fuss is to make more and more of the girls want to join. I
+saw Kathleen for a few minutes this morning, and she said that she had
+twelve applications for badges already to-day, but she told the new
+girls that they had best not come to the meeting to-night, as there
+wouldn't be room for them. Kathleen is in the highest spirits; she is
+just laughing and dancing about and looking like a sunbeam."
+
+"Dear, dear!" said Mrs. Hopkins. "I do hope it's nothing wicked. You
+girls of the present day are so queer, there's no being up to half your
+pranks. It would be a sorry day for me if you were banished from the
+school, Susy."
+
+"Oh, I won't be. It will be all right. Anyhow, this is delicious fun,
+and I mean to go on with it. What have you got for the old lady's tea,
+mother?"
+
+"Well, now, look here. Of course, she's only going to give tea to Miss
+O'Hara and Miss O'Flynn--I haven't seen that lady--and yourself and Tom.
+That's about all."
+
+"And Tom will have a pretty keen appetite," said Susy. "I'll tell Miss
+Kathleen that she is to be at Aunt Church's house quite half-an-hour
+before the rest of the girls, so that aunty can have her talk with her
+and arrange about the almshouse, and also that Kathleen and Miss O'Hara
+may have their meal in comfort. What's the grub, mother? Tell me at
+once."
+
+"Bread-and-butter," said Mrs. Hopkins, beginning to count on her
+fingers, "a pot of strawberry-jam--"
+
+"Oh, golloptious!" burst from Susy.
+
+"A plumcake--"
+
+"Better and better!" cried Susy.
+
+"A little tin of sardines--some ladies are fond of a savory--"
+
+"Yes, mother; quite right. And so is aunty, for that matter. You haven't
+forgotten the water-cress, have you?"
+
+"Here's a great bunch of it. You must turn the tap over it and wash it
+as clean as clean. And what with new-laid eggs, and tea with cream in
+it, and loaf-sugar, why, I think that's about enough."
+
+"So it is, mother; and it's beautiful. But, mother, I do think Aunt
+Church would relish a pound of sausages. It isn't often she has anything
+of that kind to eat; she lives very penuriously, you know, mother."
+
+"Well, I suppose I can fling in the sausages. I'll just run round to the
+shop and buy them. Now then, eat your own dinner, Susy, and be quick.
+Tom has eaten his, and has gone to fetch the wheelbarrow from Dan Smith,
+the cartwright."
+
+Mrs. Hopkins's programme was carried out. Tom arrived at the door with
+the wheelbarrow about two o'clock. The provisions were stowed safely
+away in the bottom and covered over with a piece of old matting, and
+then Tom and Susy started off. Both boy and girl were in high spirits.
+The day was as fine as it had been on the previous day, and Susy
+chattered to her heart's content.
+
+"My word," said Tom, "I must be in it!"
+
+"But you can't, Tom. You are a boy. That would be the final straw. If
+the ladies of the school and those awful governors were to come along
+and to see a boy in the midst of forty girls, I do believe we'd all be
+put in prison. You must clear out, Thomas; make up your mind to that as
+soon as ever you have handed over the things to Aunt Church."
+
+"You wait and see," said Tom. "You may suppose you are a favorite with
+Aunt Church, but you are nothing at all to me; I can just twist her
+round my fingers. It's a fine time I mean to have. I won't worry you at
+all when you are having your commotion in the yard. For the matter of
+that, I'll creep into the pig-sty with Brownie, and we can look over the
+doorway."
+
+"Oh, Tom, you are certain to be discovered. And you'll just pinch that
+pig and make him squeal like anything."
+
+Tom laughed.
+
+"I mean to have my fun," he said; "and don't you suppose for a moment
+I'm going to funk a lot of stupid, silly girls. How much do you think
+I'm going to eat, miss?"
+
+"I'm sure you are going to be horribly greedy. But perhaps when you see
+Miss O'Hara and Miss O'Flynn you'll take a fit of shyness. It's to be
+hoped you will."
+
+"Shyness!" cried Tom. "What's that?"
+
+"It's what you ought to have, Tom, and it's to be hoped you will have it
+when the time comes."
+
+"Looks like it!" cried Tom, rubbing his hands in a meaning way. "Never
+frightened of anybody in the whole course of my life. Mean to have a
+lark with your pretty Miss Kathleen; mean to get a sov. or two out of
+that charming Miss O'Flynn; mean to coax Aunty Church to give me that
+microscope when she moves across the sea to Ireland. Tell you, Susy,
+I'm up to a lark, and the best of the supper goes down my throat. Now
+you know, and there's no use worriting, for what can't be cured must be
+endured. Tom Hopkins is part and parcel of this 'ere feast, and the
+sooner you make up your mind to endure me the better."
+
+Susy felt slightly alarmed, but she knew from experience that Tom's bark
+was worse than his bite; and she trusted to Aunt Church desiring him in
+a peremptory manner to go when the time approached, and to Tom's being
+forced to obey her.
+
+They arrived in good time at their destination, and Mrs. Church received
+them figuratively with open arms. And now began the real fuss and the
+real preparation. Tom took a brush and kicked up, as Aunt Church
+expressed it, no end of a shindy. The little sitting-room was a cloud of
+dust. The table, the chairs, and the little sideboard were pushed about;
+everything seemed to be at a loss until Susy peremptorily took the
+duster out of Tom's hand and reduced chaos to order. Then the tea was
+unpacked. A very white cloth from Mrs. Hopkins's most precious store was
+produced; real silver spoons--from the same source--made their
+appearance; a few cups and saucers of good old china were added. The
+table looked, as Tom expressed it, "very genteel." Then the provisions
+were placed upon the board.
+
+"Now we are ready," said Mrs. Church; "and I must say," she added, "that
+I am pleased. I have known good genteel living in my lifetime, and I
+expect that Providence means me to know it again before I die. Susy and
+Tom, you are both good children. You have your spice of wickedness in
+you, but when all is said and done you mean well, and I may as well
+promise you both now that when I get to Ireland I will have you over in
+the holidays. You will enjoy that--won't you, Thomas?"
+
+"See if I don't, Aunt Church. And I always was your own boy, wasn't I?
+And you won't mind, old lady--say you won't mind--leaving me the
+microscope when you cross the briny? I'm fairly taken with that
+microscope. I dream of it at night, and think of it every minute of the
+day."
+
+"Come here and look me in the eyes, Tom," said Mrs. Church.
+
+Tom went over. Out of his freckled face there beamed two honest
+light-blue eyes. His forehead was broad and slightly bulgy; his carroty
+hair was cut short to his head. Mrs. Church raised her wrinkled old hand
+and laid it for a minute on Tom's forehead.
+
+"You resemble your great-uncle, my husband," she said. "He was the
+cleverest man I ever came across. He had a real turn for the
+microscope."
+
+"Then, of course, you will leave it behind you; of course you will give
+it to me," said Tom, quite triumphant with eagerness.
+
+"No, my boy, that I won't. If you are a good boy, and do me credit, and
+get on with your books, and do well in that calling which Providence
+means you to work in, why, I may leave it to you when I am called hence,
+Tom."
+
+"There, Tom!" said Susy, coming forward. "Don't worry Aunt Church any
+more. She's got plenty to think about.--Won't you turn him out now, Aunt
+Church? It is time for you to be dressing, you know."
+
+"So it is," said Mrs. Church, looking round her in some alarm. "Whatever
+is the hour, child?"
+
+"It is going on for six o'clock; and they will be here at half-past
+seven at the latest."
+
+"Very well," said Tom; "if I must go I will have a talk with Brownie."
+
+He looked at Susy as if he meant to defy her, but Susy was too wise to
+anger him at that moment. As soon as ever he was out of the house she
+fetched hot water, soap and a clean towel. Having helped old Mrs. Church
+with her ablutions, she produced a clean cap and a little black shawl.
+The old lady said that she felt very smart and refreshed, and altogether
+in a state to do honor to that dear little almshouse.
+
+"I am quite taking to you, Susy," she said. "But I do hope you will
+marshal those dreadful girls into the backyard without frightening my
+hens or Brownie."
+
+"Pigs aren't remarkable for sensitiveness," said Susy. "But I tell you
+what, Aunt Church; Tom's after mischief; he means to witness all the
+proceedings of dear Miss Kathleen's great society, and we oughtn't to
+let him. It would do a lot of mischief if the school heard of it, and we
+would most likely be expelled. He don't mind a word I say, so will you
+talk to him, aunty?"
+
+"But he can't be in the yard without being seen; you say that they are
+bringing lamps and will make the place as bright as day."
+
+"Yes, but he will be in the sty with Brownie; and he as good as said
+he'd give her a pinch to make her squeal."
+
+"Oh, indeed! I'm afraid that must be put a stop to," said the old lady.
+"Send him to me this minute."
+
+Susy went out and called her brother. There was no answer for a minute;
+then Tom appeared, looking somewhat rakish and disheveled.
+
+"Brownie and I were chumming up like anything," he said; then he pushed
+Susy aside and walked into the old lady's presence.
+
+What she said to him even Susy did not hear, but when the little girl
+returned to Mrs. Church, Tom was nowhere to be seen.
+
+"Has he gone home, Aunt Church," she asked.
+
+"You leave the boy alone," was Mrs. Church's answer. "He's a good boy,
+and the moral of his grand-uncle; and I'll leave him that microscope.
+See if I don't."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+THE GOVERNORS OF THE SCHOOL EXAMINE RUTH.
+
+
+At four o'clock that afternoon the governors of the Great Shirley School
+met in the room set aside for the purpose. There were six governors, and
+they were all ladies. Their names were Miss Mackenzie, Mrs. Naylor, Mrs.
+Ross, the two Misses Scott, and Miss Jane Smyth. The founders of the
+Great Shirley School had ordained that it should always be governed by
+women--that women should conduct its concerns, should see to the best
+possible education of its pupils, and should manage these things to the
+best of their ability. Even the trustees of the trust fund were women.
+
+Amongst these ladies Miss Mackenzie was reckoned as head. She was a
+tall, strong-minded woman, with iron-gray hair, false teeth, a prominent
+nose, and small steel-gray eyes. Miss Mackenzie was between sixty and
+seventy years of age; she always dressed in the severest and most
+old-fashioned manner, and wore her iron-gray hair in ringlets on each
+side of her head. She was an excellent woman of business, and was
+dreaded not only by the schoolgirls, but also by one or two of the
+ladies of the committee; those who most feared her were the two Misses
+Scott and Miss Jane Smyth. Mrs. Ross was a fashionable woman who went a
+good deal into London society, talked about the Great Shirley School to
+her different friends, and was considered an expert on the subject of
+girls' education. Mrs. Ross had a husband and a beautiful home; she
+dressed remarkably well, and was looked down on in consequence by Miss
+Mackenzie. Mrs. Naylor was the oldest of the governors. She was a
+little, wizened lady with a face like a russet apple, a kindly smile,
+and a sweet voice.
+
+It was the custom of the governors to meet four times a year as a matter
+of course, and as a matter of expediency they met about as many times
+again. But a sudden meeting to be convened within forty-eight hours'
+notice was almost unheard of in their experience.
+
+When they were all seated round the table Miss Mackenzie, who was
+chairwoman, took out the agenda and read its contents aloud. These were
+brief enough:
+
+"To inquire into the insurrection amongst the foundationers, and in
+particular to cause full investigation to be made with regard to the
+Irish girl, Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+"This is really very astonishing," said Miss Mackenzie, turning to the
+other governors. "An insurrection amongst the foundationers! Had we not
+better summon Miss Ravenscroft, who will tell us what she means?"
+
+A clerk who attended the meetings (also a woman) went away now to summon
+Miss Ravenscroft. She appeared in a few minutes, was asked to seat
+herself, and was requested to give a full explanation. This she did very
+briefly.
+
+"At the beginning of the term," she said, "a girl of the name of
+Kathleen O'Hara joined our number. She was eccentric and untrained. She
+came from the south-west of Ireland. I had her examined, and found that
+she knew extremely little. We were forced to put her into much too low
+a class for her years and general appearance."
+
+"Well," said Miss Smyth, "that, after all, isn't a crime. I don't quite
+understand."
+
+"If you will kindly resume your story we shall be obliged, Miss
+Ravenscroft," said Miss Mackenzie.
+
+Miss Ravenscroft did resume it. She traced Kathleen's conduct from the
+first day of her arrival to the present hour. Short as the time was--not
+more than six weeks--she had worked havoc in the school. Her influence
+was altogether felt amongst the foundationers. They crowded round her at
+all hours; a glance from her eyes was sufficient to compel them to do
+exactly what she wished. They ceased to be attentive to their lessons;
+they were often discovered in school in a state of semi-drowsiness; they
+were rebellious and impertinent to their teachers--in short, they were
+in a state of insurrection.
+
+"And you trace this disgraceful state of things to the advent of the
+Irish girl?" said Miss Mackenzie.
+
+"I am sorry to say, Miss Mackenzie, that I do. When I noticed that
+Kathleen O'Hara had a disturbing influence over the girls I caused
+further inquiries to be made, and I then made a discovery which
+distressed me very much. My eyes were first opened by the fact that one
+of our teachers picked up off the floor, just where a certain Clara
+Sawyer, one of the best and most promising of the foundationers, was
+sitting, a small locket, evidently a badge. She brought it to me, and I
+now hand it to you ladies for inspection."
+
+The little silver heart-shaped badge was passed from one lady to
+another. The Misses Scott thought it pretty and quaint. Miss Jane Smyth
+murmured the words "Wild Irish Girls" under her breath. Mrs. Ross pushed
+it away from her as though it was beneath notice. Mrs. Naylor said:
+
+"Very pretty; quite touching, isn't it? Heart-shaped. I always think
+that such a sweet emblem, don't you, Miss Mackenzie?"
+
+But Miss Mackenzie, with a sniff, took up the little talisman and turned
+it from right to left.
+
+"'Wild Irish Girls,'" she said aloud. "What can this mean?"
+
+"I can throw some light on the subject, but not much," said Miss
+Ravenscroft. "It is quite evident that a society calling itself by this
+name exists, and that it has been instituted and formed altogether by
+Kathleen O'Hara, who has induced a great number--I should say fully
+half--of the foundationers to join her. They meet, I have discovered, at
+night; their rendezvous being, up to the present, a certain quarry a
+short distance out of town. What they do at their meetings I cannot
+tell, but I believe they are very riotous, with singing and dancing and
+sports of all sorts. Of course, as you know, Miss Mackenzie, such
+proceedings are altogether prohibited in our school."
+
+"But this takes place out of school," said Mrs. Naylor.
+
+"Mrs. Naylor, I should be much obliged if you would allow Miss
+Ravenscroft to continue," said Miss Mackenzie.
+
+Miss Ravenscroft did continue.
+
+"Putting aside that question," she said, "the effect on the girls is
+most disastrous. They are completely out of my control, and I know for a
+fact that they do not care to please any one except Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+"Of course our duty is plain," said Miss Mackenzie. "We must get the
+ringleader into custody, so to speak, and either bind her over to break
+up the society, and so keep the peace, or expel her from the school."
+
+"She is a difficult girl to deal with," said Miss Ravenscroft. "She has
+a great deal that is good in her; she is handsome and rich, very
+affectionate, and full of spirit."
+
+"But what has a girl who is handsome and rich to do in a school like the
+Great Shirley?" asked Mrs. Ross.
+
+"That is the curious part of it. Kathleen's mother was educated in this
+school, and she made up her mind that her daughter should never go to
+any other. Kathleen lives with the Tennants. I should be sorry if she
+were expelled; there is so much that is good in her. It would be a pity
+to harden her or hold her up to public disgrace. I hope some other way
+may be discovered of bringing her to order."
+
+"You are quite right. Miss Ravenscroft," said Miss Smyth. "I never did
+hold with the severe hardening process."
+
+"Certainly in the case of Kathleen it would do no good," said Miss
+Ravenscroft.
+
+"But what do you propose to do, then?" said Miss Mackenzie. "You have
+not, I presume, asked us to come here without having some plan in your
+head."
+
+"The first thing to do is to get hold of all possible facts," said Miss
+Ravenscroft. "Now, there is one girl in the school who could tell us--a
+charming girl, a new girl--for she also only joined this term--but in
+all respects the opposite of Kathleen O'Hara. She for a short time
+belonged to the rebels, as I must call the Wild Irish Girls, but she saw
+the folly of her conduct and left them. She could tell us all about them
+if she liked, and help us to bring the insurrection to an end."
+
+"Then that is capital," said Miss Mackenzie in a tone of enjoyment.
+"Have the girl summoned, please, Miss Ravenscroft."
+
+Miss Ravenscroft turned to the clerk, who went away at once in search
+of Ruth. Ruth came in looking very white, her face dogged, her usual
+beauty and charm of manner having quite deserted her. She wore her
+little school-apron and she kept folding it between her fingers as she
+stood in the presence of her judges.
+
+"Your name?" said Miss Mackenzie.
+
+"Ruth Craven."
+
+"Your age?"
+
+"I am fourteen."
+
+"Where do you live?"
+
+"In No. 2 Willow Cottages."
+
+"Oh, I know," said Miss Mackenzie, looking with more approval at the
+child. "I have often met your grandfather. You live with him and his
+wife, don't you?"
+
+"Yes, madam."
+
+"And you have been admitted here as a foundationer?"
+
+"Yes, madam."
+
+"In what class is Ruth Craven, Miss Ravenscroft?"
+
+"Ruth is a very diligent pupil. She is in the third remove," replied
+Miss Ravenscroft, looking with kindly eyes at the child.
+
+Ruth just glanced at her teacher, and then lowered her eyes. Her
+beautiful little face was beginning to have its usual effect upon most
+of the ladies present. Some of the stony despair had left it; the color
+came and went in her cheeks. She ceased to fiddle with her apron, and
+clasped her two little white hands tightly together.
+
+"My child," said Mrs. Naylor, "your object in coming to school is
+doubtless the best object of all."
+
+Ruth raised inquiring eyes.
+
+"I mean," said the little old lady, "that you want to learn all you
+can--to gain knowledge and wisdom, to learn goodness and forbearance and
+long-suffering and charity."
+
+"Oh, yes," said Ruth, her eyes dilating.
+
+"If," continued Miss Mackenzie, interrupting Mrs. Naylor, and speaking
+in a very firm tone--"if, instead of these pleasant things happening, a
+little girl learns to join insurrectionists, to forget those to whom she
+is indebted for such tremendous advantages, then how do matters
+stand--eh, Ruth Craven?"
+
+"I don't understand," said Ruth.
+
+Her trembling and fear had come back to her.
+
+"The dear child is frightened, Miss Mackenzie," said Mrs. Naylor.
+
+"I hope not," said Miss Mackenzie; "but I as chairwoman am obliged to
+question her.--Ruth Craven, is it true that you became a member of a
+silly schoolgirl society called the Wild Irish Girls, and that you wore
+a badge like this?"
+
+Ruth nodded.
+
+"Don't nod to me. Speak."
+
+"It is true," said Ruth.
+
+"Are you now a member of that society?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Why did you join it?"
+
+"Because I loved Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+"She is the promoter, then?"
+
+Ruth was silent.
+
+"You have heard me?"
+
+"Yes, madam."
+
+"Kathleen O'Hara is the promoter?"
+
+Again Ruth was silent. Miss Mackenzie glanced at the other ladies. After
+a pause she continued:
+
+"We will leave that matter for the present. Please write down, Miss
+Judson"--here she turned to the clerk--"that Ruth Craven has refused to
+answer my question with regard to Kathleen O'Hara. We will return to
+that point later on.--Why did you leave the society?"
+
+"I did so because I wanted to join a scheme proposed by a girl who was
+not a foundationer and not a member of the society. Her name is
+Cassandra Weldon."
+
+"One of our best and most promising pupils," interrupted Miss
+Ravenscroft.
+
+"I know her," said Miss Mackenzie. "We have every reason to be proud of
+Cassandra Weldon.--And so she, this charming and excellent Cassandra
+Weldon, is your friend, little Ruth Craven?"
+
+"She has been extremely good to me, madam. She offered me the services
+of her own coach in order that I might work up for the Ayldice
+Scholarship."
+
+"And do you think you have a chance of getting it?"
+
+"I don't know. I mean to try."
+
+Her dark-blue eyes flashed with intelligence and longing as she uttered
+these words.
+
+"I think we are now in possession of the facts," said Miss Mackenzie.
+"Is that not so, Mrs. Ross? Ruth Craven was a member of the
+objectionable society; she very wisely left it, knowing that she would
+better herself by doing so.--Now then, Ruth, we expect you to tell us
+all about the society--where it meets, and as much as you know about its
+rules. And you must also acquaint us with the names of the girls who are
+members."
+
+Ruth again was silent, but now she held herself erect and looked full at
+Miss Mackenzie.
+
+"You hear me, child. Speak. You can make your narrative brief. Where
+does the society meet? What does it do? What are its rules? Go on; you
+are not stupid, are you?"
+
+"No, Miss Mackenzie," said Ruth, "I am not stupid; and I am very, sorry
+indeed to seem rude, but I cannot answer your questions. You know that
+Kathleen's society exists; that fact I cannot hide from you, but you
+will not hear anything more from me. It would be a very terrible thing
+for me to be expelled from this school; it would mean great sorrow to my
+grandfather and grandmother; but I cannot betray my friend Kathleen, nor
+any of the other girls of the society."
+
+Miss Mackenzie was silent for quite a minute. The other ladies fidgeted
+as they sat. Ruth, having delivered her soul, looked down. After a long
+pause Miss Mackenzie said quite gently:
+
+"Ruth Craven, you scarcely realize your own position. We cannot possibly
+let a little girl who is rebellious, who keeps secrets to herself which
+she ought to tell for the benefit of the school, continue in our midst.
+We will give you three days to think over this matter. If at the end of
+three days you are still obstinately silent, there is nothing whatever
+for it but that you should be expelled from the school. Do you
+understand what that means?"
+
+"It means that I must go, that I shall lose all the advantages," said
+Ruth.
+
+"It means that and more. It means that in the presence of the whole
+school you are pronounced unworthy, that you leave the school publicly,
+being desired to do so by your teacher. It is an unpleasant ceremony,
+and one which you will never be able to forget; it will haunt you for
+life, Ruth Craven. I trust, however, my dear child, that such extreme
+measures will not be necessary. You think now that you are honorable in
+making yourself a martyr, but it is not so. We who are old must know
+more than you can possibly know, Ruth, with regard to the benefits of a
+great establishment like this. Insurrection must be put down with a
+firm hand. You will see for yourself how right we are, and how wrong and
+silly and childish you are.--Miss Ravenscroft, a special meeting of the
+governors will take place in this room on Saturday morning. This is
+Wednesday. Until then we hope that Ruth Craven will carefully consider
+her conduct, and be prepared to answer the very vital questions which
+will be put to her.--You can go, Ruth."
+
+Ruth left the room.
+
+"An extraordinary child," said Miss Mackenzie.
+
+"A sweet child, I call her," said Mrs. Naylor. "What a beautiful face!"
+
+"My dear Mrs. Naylor, does the beauty of Ruth Craven's face affect this
+question? She is, in my opinion, extremely silly, and a very naughty
+child.--Miss Ravenscroft, we leave it to you to bring the little girl to
+reason. I have known her grandfather ever since he kept a grocer's shop
+in the High Street. I have respected him more than any man I ever knew.
+This child in appearance is one of Nature's ladies, but we must get her
+to see things in the right light, and if necessary she must be made an
+example of. It will be very painful, but it must be done."
+
+"I will do what I can," said Miss Ravenscroft; "but from the little I
+have seen of Ruth, I imagine she would go to the stake before she would
+betray those who are kind to her. I will, however, confide in Cassandra;
+she is extremely fond of Ruth, and she may influence her where others
+fail. I can't help saying, Miss Mackenzie, that it would be a very
+terrible thing, and would, I believe much injure the school, if a girl
+like Ruth were expelled. The other foundationers would feel it; there
+would be a sense of martyrdom. Sides would be taken for and against her.
+I trust that this extreme step will not be necessary."
+
+"If she does not tell us what she knows, it will be not only necessary,
+but it will be carried into effect, and in my presence," said Miss
+Mackenzie. "But now to return to the more immediate business. You say
+these girls meet in a quarry?"
+
+"I have heard rumors to that effect."
+
+"Do you think they meet there every night? Are their scandalous
+proceedings a nightly occurrence?"
+
+"Oh, no; I do not think they meet oftener than once a week."
+
+"Have you any idea what night they choose?"
+
+"I am rather under the impression that this is the night."
+
+"Then send some one to see, Miss Ravenscroft. One or two of the teachers
+would be the best. They could go to the quarry to-night and wait there
+in order to see if the girls arrive. If they do, my orders are that they
+take no apparent notice of them, but write down the names of all
+present. If that can be done, and you are successful in finding the
+girls, we shall have the matter, as it were, in a nutshell, and we shall
+soon crush this disgraceful rebellion."
+
+"And what about Kathleen?" asked Miss Ravenscroft.
+
+"There is very little doubt that she will have to be expelled. Such a
+girl as that is a firebrand in a school, and however rich she may be,
+and however well-born, the sooner she leaves us the better."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+THE SOCIETY MEETS AT MRS. CHURCH'S COTTAGE.
+
+
+That evening at about a quarter to eight a band of perfectly silent
+girls might have been seen walking along the road that led to Mrs.
+Church's cottage. They walked as much as possible on the grass, and
+glided in single file. Each one, as they expressed it, had her heart in
+her mouth. Occasionally they looked behind them; sometimes they started
+at an ordinary shadow, thinking that a policeman at least would be
+waiting for them. The foundationers who called themselves the Wild Irish
+Girls had very little doubt what it would mean if their scheme was
+discovered. They knew, of course, that Miss Ravenscroft would be
+furiously angry, that the governors would have something to say to them,
+and that they might be dismissed from the school unless they promised to
+cease to belong to the society. Perhaps there were worse things than
+that. There was a timid little girl called Janey Ford, who whispered to
+her friend that the Wild Irish Girls belonged to the rebels in Ireland,
+and that it might be considered necessary by the government of the
+country to have them taken up and put into prison. Nobody for a single
+moment believed Janey Ford's silly remarks, but nevertheless they gave a
+sort of thrill to the occasion. It was all delightful, this stealing
+away in the dark, this pressing one against another as they walked down
+the little road. And then Kathleen was so fascinating; her eyes were so
+bright; she was such a valiant sort of leader. If they were men and she
+was a man, Janey Ford had whispered to her great friend Edith Hart, they
+would follow her to the death.
+
+"We'd form a crusade for her," Edith had whispered, back. "She is
+magnificent."
+
+And then both girls felt the little heart-shaped lockets round their
+necks and thought of themselves as heroines.
+
+The entire party, numbering about forty-three in all, arrived at the
+cottage. Susy suddenly put in her appearance.
+
+"Girls," she said, "it isn't at all certain that we are safe. I saw a
+man going by not ten minutes ago, and he looked suspiciously at the
+house. Miss Ravenscroft would do anything to catch us; but Aunt Church
+says that if you go into the yard she doesn't think you will be seen or
+heard.--May I take the girls into the yard, Kathleen? And may I take you
+and Miss O'Flynn into the house to see Aunt Church?"
+
+Kathleen nodded in reply. She also felt excited and pleased and
+completely carried out of herself.
+
+Susy ushered her visitors with great pride and pomp into Mrs. Church's
+little sitting-room. Really she felt herself quite rising in the social
+scale as she saw her old relative dressed in her best, with the manners
+she used to wear when she was housekeeper at Lord Henshel's, and with
+that most appetizing, most _recherché_ tea on the table.
+
+"I will be back in a minute," said Susy.--"Aunt Church, here they are,
+and I know you will give them welcome."
+
+"I am proud to do that," said Mrs. Church. "I presume I am talking to
+Miss O'Flynn? Will you take a chair here by the fire, miss? I'm afraid
+the night is a little bit chilly.--Miss Kathleen, I wish I could get up
+and offer you a seat, but as it is--"
+
+"Oh, nonsense!" said Kathleen. "What are young legs for if not to wait
+on old legs? Oh, what a heavenly, delicious tea! What is that I see?
+Honey! Oh, don't I just adore honey? Don't you, Aunt Katie?"
+
+"That I do," said Miss O'Flynn; "and I eat it comb and all. It never yet
+disagreed with me; but then I've got the digestion of an ostrich."
+
+"Indeed, then, madam, I think you are rather silly to eat the comb,"
+said Mrs. Church; "and you ought always to put butter on your bread when
+you eat honey. My poor mother told me so, and I have always followed in
+her steps. If you butter your bread and don't eat the comb, honey agrees
+with you as well as anything else."
+
+"Mrs. Church," said Kathleen, "you are perfectly sweet, and I can't tell
+you how grateful we are; but we are in something of a hurry, so perhaps
+you wouldn't mind telling the rest of that story about butter and honey
+to Aunt Katie when you are in Ireland. Have you made the tea, Mrs.
+Church? Shall I make it?"
+
+"The tea is in that little brown caddy," said Mrs. Church, "and there's
+a measuring spoon close to it. I allow--"
+
+"Oh, I know," said Kathleen.
+
+She began to ladle out spoonful after spoonful and put it into the
+little brown teapot, which she then filled up with hot water. Mrs.
+Church looked on with a mingled feeling of approval and disapproval. She
+was being carried completely off her feet. She to give up her dear
+little neat house in this reckless way; she to give up her most precious
+tea to be absolutely wasted and practically lost--for Kathleen put in
+quite three times too much tea into the little teapot; she to forgive
+Susy's mother two months of that debt which she owed her. Oh, what did
+it mean? She was going to be ruined in her old age!
+
+"I'd just like to say, miss," she said, looking at Miss O'Flynn and
+then at Kathleen--"I'd like to say that I am willing to help the young
+ladies, and the old ladies too for that matter, but I want to know if it
+is settled that I am to have the almshouse and six shillings a week. I
+am a plain-spoken body and I'd like to know it; for if so it can be
+done, I ought to give notice to the landlord of this little house, where
+I have lived in peace and comfort for over twelve years. I'd like to
+know, and as soon as possible."
+
+"We have written about it, Mrs. Church," said Miss O'Flynn. "I wrote to
+my brother-in-law this very day, and I expect an answer soon. Of course,
+we can't tell you to a certainty whether the house is still to be had,
+but I didn't hear that it was let. We must hope for the best."
+
+"And if it is let," said Kathleen suddenly, running up to the old lady
+and whispering in her ear, "I'll get Dad to send me a cheque, and you
+shall have it, so you won't lose one way or the other."
+
+This whisper of Kathleen's was very soothing to Mrs. Church. She nodded
+her head twice and said:
+
+"Thank you, dear," and just then Susy returned, and tea began in real
+earnest.
+
+While the ladies were enjoying their meal they did not observe that a
+round boyish face occasionally appeared at the little glass partition
+which divided Mrs. Church's sitting-room from her bedroom. The glass
+reached down about two feet from the ceiling, and was the only light the
+bedroom had. The boyish face bobbed up now and again, made appealing
+faces in Mrs. Church's direction, and then disappeared. Mrs. Church
+shook her head at the apparition, but for a time no one noticed the
+circumstance. Then Susy began to observe it.
+
+"What can it mean?" she thought, and she turned and looked.
+
+The face appeared, the tongue now stuck into the cheek, one eye winking
+furiously.
+
+"Well, I never!" said Susy.
+
+"What are you saying, 'Well, I never!' for?" asked Kathleen. "And why do
+you and Mrs. Church keep gazing up at that ugly glass across the room?
+What is the glass for?"
+
+"It is the window that lights my bedroom, miss," said Mrs. Church. "And
+I don't see," she added, "why I may not look at any part of my own house
+that I take a fancy to."
+
+"Of course," said Kathleen. But Tom was now making pantomimic signs for
+refreshments. He was touching his mouth, which he opened into a round O,
+pointing at the cake and honey, and going on altogether in a way that
+distracted poor Susy. And just as Susy looked up Kathleen looked up, and
+the latter burst into a loud laugh, and said:
+
+"I do declare there's a boy in there."
+
+The next instant she had burst into the bedroom and dragged Tom out.
+
+"Oh, you are Tom Hopkins," she said; "you are Susy's brother. Now sit
+down here and have a right good meal. It was silly of you to hide in
+there; as if we minded."
+
+"But Kathleen, you ought to mind," said Susy; "for it would be the very
+last straw if we were discovered and there is a boy found amongst us. I
+declare I never felt so nervous in my life.--Do go back to the bedroom,
+Tom.--Aunt Church, oughtn't he to go?"
+
+"Come and sit by me," said Mrs. Church. "And here's a fresh egg for you.
+Take your place, Tom; and when the others go into the yard for their
+foolish mummeries--for I can't make out that there's a bit of sense in
+this scheme from first to last--why, you and I will finish up what is
+left of the good things."
+
+"You are a brick, Aunt Church," said Tom.
+
+He took a seat at the table, and gazed with wonder, delight, and
+admiration at Kathleen. He told his schoolfellows that at that moment
+he lost his heart to Kathleen. He said that she bowled him over
+completely.
+
+"I haven't a scrap of heart in my body to-day," he remarked to his
+chosen friends. "I took it out and put it at her feet; and if you'll
+believe me, she spurned it. That's the way of girls. Don't you have
+anything to do with them, boys."
+
+But the boys only begged more earnestly than ever to have a look at
+Kathleen. Tom finally promised to secure her photograph by hook or by
+crook, and to show it to them.
+
+When the meal, which was but a short one after all, came to an end, Miss
+O'Flynn and Kathleen got up and were preparing to go to the yard at the
+back of the house, when there came the sound of horse's hoofs on the
+stones outside. They stopped at the cottage, and a loud knock at the
+door was next heard.
+
+"They have come," said Susy, her face white as a sheet. "I knew they
+would. I wonder what will happen, Kathleen. Aren't you awfully
+frightened?"
+
+"Not I," said Kathleen. "Why should I be afraid? Whoever is there has
+nothing to do with us."
+
+Susy's state of panic amused both Miss O'Flynn and Kathleen, and Tom was
+the only one found brave enough to go to the door in answer to the
+knock. He came back the next instant with a telegram, which was
+addressed to Miss O'Flynn. She tore it open, and gave a loud scream.
+
+"It's my poor cousin Peggy Doharty. She has fallen from her horse and
+has concussion of the brain. I must go to her at once. Oh, alannah,
+alannah! What is to be done?"
+
+Here Miss O'Flynn turned a face of anguish in Kathleen's direction.
+
+"It is I that must leave you, my darling," she said. "I will go back to
+town with the messenger, get off to London to-night, and cross in the
+morning. Ah, the creature! And she's my dearest friend. Let us hope that
+Providence will spare her precious life. Oh dear, dear, dear! This is
+awful!"
+
+"I don't see why you should go, Aunt Katie," said Kathleen. "I want you
+very badly indeed just now."
+
+"Then, my sweet child, come straight away with me to Dublin; for as to
+leaving Peggy in her hour of extremity, I wouldn't do it even for you,
+Kathleen, and that's saying a good deal."
+
+"But how can I come? I have my society and--and the school."
+
+"Well, then, stay, love; only don't keep me now. Good-bye to you, pet; I
+haven't a minute to lose--Tom--is that your name?--go out and tell the
+messenger that I will go back with him to Merrifield."
+
+"And what about my almshouse?" screamed out Mrs. Church. "This is a nice
+state of things, I must say. Who minds what a slip of a young lady
+says?--meaning no offence to you, miss; but I have been spending my
+money right and left, getting tea that beats all for gentility, and now
+one of the ladies is off as it were in a flash of an eye. What about my
+almshouse?"
+
+Miss O'Flynn looked rather indignant.
+
+"You shall have your almshouse if it can be got. How unfeeling you are
+to think only of yourself when my dearest friend may be at death's door.
+Here's a sovereign, which will more than cover the expenses of the
+tea.--Good-bye, Kathleen, core of my heart.--Good-bye, all of you."
+
+Miss O'Flynn flung a sovereign on the table. Mrs. Church made a grab at
+it, and held it tightly in her hand, which was covered by a black
+mitten. The next moment the good lady had departed, and Kathleen,
+looking thoroughly bewildered, was left alone.
+
+"Dear, dear!" she said. "Yet I am an Irish girl, and I'm not going to
+show funk. There are all those poor girls waiting in the yard so long. I
+will go to them at once. Come with me, Susy."
+
+There were about forty girls in the yard, and they sat close together.
+The night was sufficiently cold to make them somewhat chill, and the
+fears which little Janey Ford had put into their hearts began to grow
+greater and more fixed each moment. When Kathleen appeared all was
+immediately changed. Susy preceded her, carrying the little paraffin
+lamp. This was placed on the table which was arranged in the yard for
+the purpose, and its light fell now on the vivid coloring and beautiful
+face of the Irish girl. She took off her favorite blue velvet cap and
+pushed her hand through her masses of radiant hair, and then flung
+herself into what she was pleased to call an attitude, but which was
+really a very graceful and natural pose. Then she said, speaking aloud:
+
+"Girls of the society, Wild Irish Girls, I am sorry to tell you that my
+aunt, Miss O'Flynn--Miss Katie O'Flynn--who I hoped would have joined
+our numbers to-night, and would have been a perfect rock of strength for
+us all, has been obliged to suddenly go back to Ireland, owing to an
+accident that has happened to her dearest friend."
+
+"Dear, dear, how sad!" said one or two.
+
+"So we are without her, girls," continued Kathleen. "And now I want to
+know if you are prepared to stand by me through thick and thin?"
+
+"That we are!" was shouted in one vivid, clear girlish note.
+
+"I am glad to hear it. And if you will stand by me, you may be quite
+sure that I will stand by you. It is whispered in the school that we are
+found out, and the school, bless it! is angry. It doesn't want us, you
+foundationers and me, to have our fun--our little bit of innocent fun."
+
+"Very mean of it!" said one or two, while the others groaned.
+
+"It wants to crush us," continued Kathleen. "We mean the school no harm,
+and why shouldn't it let us alone? All we want is our fun, a little bit
+of liberty, and to show those companions who look down upon us that we
+are as good as they, and that we will fight for each other, and have our
+own way, and meet when we please, and do as we like out of school hours.
+It is a sort of Manifesto of Independence, that is what it is, girls,
+and I want to know if you will stick to it."
+
+All the hands were raised up at this juncture, and all the voices said:
+
+"Yes, yes, yes."
+
+"That's splendid," said Kathleen. "I didn't know I had such an
+enthusiastic following. Well girls, we'll have to run a certain risk. We
+will have to conceal all we can about this society; we'll have to be
+true to each other, whatever happens; and we'll meet wherever we like,
+girls. Let the head-mistress and the governors say what they please."
+
+"Hurrah for Kathleen O'Hara! Hurrah for the Wild Irish Girls for ever!"
+they shouted.
+
+"That's about it," said Kathleen. "I called you all to-night to tell you
+that we are suspected, and we are called insurrectionists; but let them
+call us what they like."
+
+"Please," here put in the timid voice of Janey Ford, "are we likely to
+be put in prison? For that would break mother's heart, and do none of us
+any good."
+
+"Oh, you little goose!" cried Kathleen, with her ringing laugh. "Not a
+bit of it. The worst that could happen to us is to be expelled from the
+school."
+
+Now this worst, which was really a matter of little importance in the
+eyes of Kathleen, was somewhat serious to the other girls. To be
+expelled meant to deprive them of their chance of being well educated
+and of earning a decent living by-and-by. They all felt very grave, and
+Kathleen, who had a great power of reading what went on in the hearts of
+those in whom she was interested, felt somehow that their enthusiasm had
+abated.
+
+"But nothing will happen," she cried, "if we are faithful to each other,
+stand shoulder to shoulder, and do not whatever happens, betray each
+other. Why girls, Miss Ravenscroft and the governors can do nothing to
+us unless they have proof, and they will have no proof if we are all
+true to each other. Now that's the whole of it for to-night. We'll meet
+in the quarry on Saturday night, and then we'll make a plan for a great
+expedition all by ourselves to London in the course of next week."
+
+"Oh dear," said Susy, "doesn't it make your heart throb?"
+
+"And I want to add," continued Kathleen, "that I will frank you. I
+can't do it always, but I will on this occasion. Aunt Katie O'Flynn has
+given me some money for that purpose. So you will stick to me, won't you
+girls?"
+
+"That we will!" came from the mouths of all.
+
+"And I am your captain, am I not girls?"
+
+"Indeed you are. We could die for you," said one or two. "And we'll
+never betray you or one another."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+RUTH'S HARD CHOICE: SHE CONSULTS HER GRANDFATHER.
+
+
+The next morning Cassandra Weldon was much surprised, on arriving at the
+school, to receive a message asking her to step into Miss Ravenscroft's
+special sanctum. She went there at once, wondering if the head-mistress
+wanted to give her particular instructions with regard to the great
+scholarship examination which would take place at the end of the term.
+Cassandra was remarkable for her calm and somewhat stately bearing; she
+was the sort of girl who never gave herself away. She was admired rather
+than passionately loved by her companions. No one could help giving her
+a most sincere respect. But one or two adored her, and amongst these was
+Florence Archer, a handsome, bright-faced, original sort of girl who was
+in the same form as Cassandra.
+
+"Be sure you come and tell me afterwards what it all means, Cassie,"
+said Florence, touching her friend affectionately on the shoulder.
+
+Cassandra nodded. She did not suppose the matter was of special import.
+The rest of the girls proceeded to their different classes, and
+Cassandra found herself in Miss Ravenscroft's presence. Now to Kathleen
+the fact of being interviewed by Miss Ravenscroft only caused a sense of
+annoyance, and unwonted irritation; Ruth was surprised, partly delighted
+and partly afraid; but Cassandra, whose father had been a teacher, and
+who lived all her life in the scholastic world, considered it an honor
+almost too great for words that she should be specially interviewed by
+so great a person as Miss Ravenscroft. She made, therefore, a most
+respectful curtsy, and stood modestly before the head-mistress.
+
+"Sit down, dear," said Miss Ravenscroft kindly. "I have sent for you,
+Cassandra, neither to reprove nor to give you ordinary counsel. I have
+sent for you to consult you, my dear child."
+
+"You are very good," said Cassandra, flushing all over her delicate
+face; "and I am sure," she added, "if it is possible for me to help one
+like you, I should be only too proud."
+
+"That is what I feel; and I think you can help me. We are at present in
+a very unpleasant position in the school. The unanimity and harmony of
+this entire large place is in danger, and the foundationers are in
+extreme peril. You perhaps know to what I allude."
+
+"I could not be in the school without having heard rumors of a sort of
+insurrection which seems to be spreading a good deal," said Cassandra.
+
+"Of course," said Miss Ravenscroft. "It has been brought to our ears
+that a society has been formed by an Irish girl of the name of Kathleen
+O'Hara. She has called it the Wild Irish Girls. There are several
+members, and she herself is the leader. Now, Cassandra, without going
+into particulars, it is the firm intention, not only of myself as
+head-mistress, but also of the governors, to crush this matter in the
+bud. It is true that the bud is rapidly blossoming into most dangerous
+flower and fruit, but if we are in time we shall stop all further
+mischief. Now to do this we must get all particulars. There is one girl
+who can furnish us will all we want to know, but she dreads, doubtless
+from conscientious motives, to betray her late companions. I allude to
+Ruth Craven."
+
+"Poor little Ruth!" said Cassandra. "I thought as much. The child is
+very unhappy. I take a great--- very great--interest in Ruth, Miss
+Ravenscroft. She is a most sweet girl; she is a lady placed in a
+position which a lady should scarcely occupy, but through it all she
+will never betray the true instincts of her nature."
+
+"I am sure of that. I quite like the child myself," said Miss
+Ravenscroft; "and your opinion of her, Cassie, confirms my own. She told
+me, too, that you have been extremely kind to her. I quite expect that
+is the case. But, my dear, the time has come when Ruth will either have
+to tell us what she knows or to resign her place in the school."
+
+Cassandra's face looked troubled.
+
+"There are no two opinions on the matter," continued Miss Ravenscroft.
+"Yesterday a meeting of the governors was convened. They assembled in
+the committee-room, and I was present. Ruth was sent for and questioned
+by Miss Mackenzie, our chairwoman. She was asked certain questions,
+which she absolutely refused to answer. The only thing we could get out
+of her was that she had been a member of the society but was one no
+longer."
+
+"She left them because of me," said Cassandra. "She felt she could not
+be with me and with those who do not approve of the paying girls."
+
+"There you are!" said Miss Ravenscroft. "Think of the monstrous
+mischief that is going on in our midst. Children like the foundationers,
+who are received at the school without being expected to pay anything,
+who get the most admirable education free of all cost, daring to set up
+their opinion against girls who, without being in any sense their
+superiors--one doesn't want to imply that for an instant--are yet vastly
+superior in numbers. The thing must be put a stop to, and with a high
+hand; and to show you, my dear, what we mean to do, we have presented an
+ultimatum to Ruth Craven. She will either tell publicly what she knows
+of the Wild Irish Girls or be publicly expelled."
+
+"Oh, poor Ruth!" said Cassandra.
+
+"We are naturally most anxious that such a painful scene should not take
+place," said Miss Ravenscroft. "I beg of you, therefore, Cassie, to see
+her and use your influence to induce her, not from quixotic motives, to
+ruin herself and injure the other girls of the school."
+
+"I will do what I can. But Ruth is peculiar. She is, with all her
+sweetness, very obstinate. Still, I faithfully promise to do what I
+can."
+
+Cassandra left the presence of Miss Ravenscroft and returned to her
+place in class. Nothing would induce her not to work with her usual
+diligence, but when on certain occasions she raised her head she saw
+that Florence Archer was watching her with curiosity and affection, and
+that Ruth darted quick glances at her and then bent her head, with its
+curly hair falling over her face, to resume her lessons.
+
+This was a half-holiday, and the classes broke up at twelve o'clock.
+Cassandra hoped to have a talk with Ruth before she went home, but when
+she looked round for her little favorite she could not find her
+anywhere. The foundationers were standing in knots talking eagerly to
+each other. There was a sort of buzz or whisper going on in their midst.
+Kathleen O'Hara darted from one group to another, smiled at one set of
+girls, patted the shoulder of a favorite girl in another group, laughed
+one time, said an emphatic word to another, and presently disappeared,
+accompanied by Susy Hopkins.
+
+Alice Tennant was standing by herself; she looked dull and depressed.
+Cassandra went up to her.
+
+"It there anything the matter, Alice?" she asked.
+
+"Matter!" replied Alice. "Surely you must know that for yourself. Have
+you not heard what a condition the school is in?"
+
+"I have, of course, heard about the Wild Irish Girls," said Cassandra,
+lowering her voice. "But surely the fact that there are a few naughty
+girls in our midst need not upset the whole school?"
+
+"It upsets me, anyhow," said Alice, "for I feel that I have brought it
+on the school. I could cry. I only wish that mother had never been
+induced to take Kathleen as a boarder. She is worse than troublesome;
+she is a girl without principle."
+
+"Oh, I don't think quite so bad as that, dear," said a gay voice at that
+moment; and turning, Alice saw the piquant and beautiful face of the
+girl she loathed. "I guessed, of course, that you must be alluding to
+me," said Kathleen. "I am bad, but I have my own principles--and a good
+old-fashioned set, worth a great deal."
+
+She nodded impertinently to both the girls, and then reentered the
+school.
+
+"I left my satchel and came back for it," she said as she vanished from
+their view.
+
+"Yes," said Alice, "that is just like her--just the sort of thing she
+would do. She is always daring every one. I do wish some strong
+influence could be brought to bear on her. There is no doubt she is very
+clever, and when she likes she can be extremely agreeable."
+
+"She is extremely pretty, you know, and that goes a long way."
+
+"Not with me, thank goodness!" said Alice. "In fact, I almost hate her
+face. I detest people who are always grinning and smiling and showing
+themselves off. My opinion is that schoolgirls ought to be modest, and
+attentive to their books, and not thinking of giving themselves airs.
+But there! no one agrees with me. Mother and the boys are fairly mad on
+Kathleen; and as to the servants, there's nothing they wouldn't do for
+her. Every one combines to spoil her; I don't see that she has the least
+chance."
+
+Cassandra talked a little longer to Alice, and then prepared to go home.
+She was disappointed that she had not seen Ruth; but Ruth had promised
+to be with her quite early in the afternoon. They were both to work for
+two hours, and afterwards their coach was to arrive. Ruth would spend
+the entire afternoon at Cassandra's home. On her way back Florence
+Archer suddenly joined her.
+
+"Now, Cassie," she said, "what is it?"
+
+"Oh, can't you guess for yourself, Flo? It is this. The school has got
+into trouble, and the governors and Miss Ravenscroft mean to sift the
+matter to the very bottom. It is pretty bad when all things are
+considered, for if the girls won't tell they will be expelled--expelled
+without any hope of returning. And I rather fancy Kathleen is the sort
+of girl whom no one will betray. It is extremely awkward, and I feel
+very miserable about it."
+
+"You look it; and yet it isn't your affair. Your place in the school is
+secure enough."
+
+"What does that matter, Flo, when those you love are in danger?"
+
+"Those you love in danger, Cassie! What do you mean now?"
+
+"I mean just what I say. I am decidedly fond of little Ruth Craven. She
+is placed in a hard position, but she is so clever and so pretty that
+she could do anything. Well, I am certain that Ruth won't betray her
+companions."
+
+"I forgot," said Florence, "that she did belong to that silly society.
+What a little goose she was!"
+
+"She was led into it by Kathleen. They all were for that matter.
+Kathleen seems to have a singular power over them."
+
+"But Ruth doesn't belong to it now."
+
+"No. I can't in justice to her explain any further, Florence. I will
+tell you all I can, of course; but may I say good-bye now, for I have a
+good deal to do before dinner?"
+
+"You are not half as friendly as you used to be," said Florence,
+pouting. "You hardly ever ask me to your house, and when I ask you to
+mine you always have an excuse ready. It is somewhat hard on me that
+Ruth Craven should have come between us."
+
+"But she hasn't. I wish that you would believe that she hasn't. I have
+to give her a sort of protecting love; but you and I, Flo, are equal in
+our love. Surely we can afford to be kind to a little girl who has not
+our advantages."
+
+"Oh, if you put it in that way, I don't mind a bit," said Florence
+cheerfully. "Well, good-bye for the present. We'll meet to-morrow
+morning."
+
+The girls parted, and Florence went on her way home.
+
+Meanwhile Ruth had also gone on her way. She walked slowly. Once or
+twice she stopped. Once when in a somewhat narrow and lonely path she
+paused and looked up at the sky, and then down at the ground beneath her
+feet. Once she uttered a short, expressive sort of sigh; and once she
+said half-aloud:
+
+"I do hope God will help me. I do want to do just what is right."
+
+Thus, lagging as she walked, she by slow degrees reached her home. Mrs.
+Craven happened to be out, but old Mr. Craven was seated by the fire. He
+was feeling rather poorly to-day. He had a large account-book open in
+front of him, and when Ruth entered he laid down the pen with which he
+had been summing up his figures.
+
+"I can't make them quite right," he said slowly.
+
+"Why, grandfather, what is the matter?" said Ruth in some surprise.
+
+The old man's large clear blue eyes were fixed on the child.
+
+"I had a curious feeling this morning," he said; "but I know now it was
+only a dream. I thought I was back in the shop again. I was up, my dear;
+I had taken a bit of a walk, and I came in and sat down by the fire. It
+came over me all of a sudden how lazy I was, and how wrong to neglect
+the shop and not give your grandmother a bit of help with the customers;
+and so strong was the notion over me that I unlocked the old bureau and
+took out the account-books. I said to myself I can at least square
+everything up for her, and that will help her as much as anything. She
+was always a rare one to see a good balance at the end of the week. If
+she had a good balance and all things nicely squared up, we'd have a
+nice little joint for Sunday; and she'd put on her little bonnet and
+best mantle, and we'd go for a walk in the country arm-in-arm, just like
+the Darby and Joan we were, Ruthie, and which we are. But if the balance
+didn't come out on the right side she'd stay at home. She'd never cry or
+despair; that wasn't her way, bless you! She'd say, 'We must think of
+some way of saving, John, or we must do a bit more selling of the
+stock.' She was a rare one to contrive."
+
+Ruth had heard this story of her grandmother many and many a time
+before, but her grandfather's look frightened her. She went up to him
+and closed the big account-book.
+
+"You have balanced things a long time ago," she said. "Don't fret now.
+May I put the account-book aside?"
+
+"You may, darling; you may. But the accounts ain't balanced, Ruthie; we
+are on the wrong side of the ledger, my love--on the wrong side of the
+ledger."
+
+Ruth said nothing more. She put the book back into the drawer and locked
+it. Then she sat down by her grandfather's side.
+
+"Would you rather I got you your dinner," she said, "or would you rather
+I talked to you for a little?"
+
+"I'd a sight rather my little Ruth sat near me and let me place my hand
+on her hair. Your hair is jet-black, Ruthie--almost blue-black. So was
+your father's hair, my child. He was a very handsome boy. I never looked
+for it that he would die in the foreign parts and leave you to your
+grandmother and me. But you have been a rare blessing to us--a rare
+blessing."
+
+"Sometimes I think," said Ruth slowly, "that I have been a great care.
+It must have cost you a great deal to feed and clothe me."
+
+"No, no, child; far from that. You were always the bit of good luck--on
+the right side of the balance--always, always."
+
+Ruth took the old man's hand and pressed it between both her own.
+Presently she rubbed her cheeks softly against it.
+
+"Grandfather," she said, "are you all right now--quite wide awake, I
+mean? Has the dream about the shop and the wrong accounts passed out of
+your head?"
+
+"Why, yes, darling; of course it was only a dream."
+
+"Then I'd like to ask you something."
+
+"Ask away, my little Ruth. You are such a busy little maid now, what
+with your school, and what with your lessons, and what with that big
+scholarship--sixty pounds a year. Ah! we shall have a fine right side of
+the ledger when little Ruth has brought home sixty pounds a year."
+
+Ruth stifled a groan.
+
+"I am rather puzzled," she said, "and I want to put a question to you."
+
+"Yes, my darling; I am prepared to listen."
+
+"I know a girl," said Ruth after a pause--she thought that she would
+tell her story that way--"I know a girl at school, and she has been
+kindly treated. She is one of the foundation girls, but some of the
+girls who are not foundationers have singled her out and been specially
+good to her."
+
+"Eh, eh! Well, that's good of them," said old Mr. Craven.
+
+"They have been very good to her; but that Irish girl whom I told you
+about, she started a society--no special harm in itself--at least it
+didn't seem harm to the girl I have been telling you about, and she
+joined it. She joined it for a bit, and she liked it--that is, on the
+whole--but afterwards a girl who had not joined the society and did not
+belong to the foundationers, one whom I am sorry to say the
+foundationers did not care for at all, offered a great kindness to this
+girl--a very special and tremendous kindness--and the girl in her own
+mind decided that she would be doing wrong not to accept it. So she did
+accept it, and--Are you listening, grandfather?"
+
+"Indeed I am, little maid. Go on, my child; I'm attending to every
+word."
+
+"The girl decided to accept the kindness from the paying girl, and to do
+that she had to give up the society. She was sorry to give it up, but it
+seemed to her that it was the only right and honorable thing to do. She
+could not belong to both--to one side of the school and to the other;
+she must take her stand with one or the other; so she decided for her
+own special benefit to take her stand with the paying girls."
+
+"On the whole, perhaps, she was right," said the old man. "Can't say
+unless I know everything; but on the whole, perhaps, she was right."
+
+"I think she was, grandfather," said Ruth slowly. "But now please
+listen. The head-mistress at the school and the governors have found out
+about the secret society. They have found out that it exists, but they
+don't know much more. They know, however, that its influence is bad in
+the school, and they are determined to crush it out. In order to do this
+they must get full particulars. They must get the name of the leader. I
+am afraid that they know the name of the leader, but they must also get
+the names of her companions--all the names--and as much as possible of
+the rules of the society. Now the only girl not a member of the society
+who can give those particulars is the girl I have been talking about;
+for, of course, she knows, as she belonged to it at one time although
+she has now left it. And the governors and the head-mistress sent for
+this girl and asked her to betray her companions--those girls to whom
+she had sworn fealty--and the girl refused."
+
+"Quite right," said old Mr. Craven.
+
+The color rushed into Ruth's cheeks. She clasped her grandfather's hand
+firmly.
+
+"She thought it right, but something dreadful is going to happen. It
+will be terribly hard for the girl if she sticks to her resolve, for the
+governors of the school have presented what they call an ultimatum to
+her; they have given her from now till Saturday to make up her mind, and
+if she refuses on Saturday grandfather, she is to be expelled publicly.
+Her sentence will be proclaimed in the presence of all the school, and
+she will be watched walking out of the schoolroom and out of the big
+gates, which will close behind her for ever, and all her chance
+goes--all her golden prospects. Nevertheless, grandfather, speaking to
+me from your own heart, ought the girl to betray her companions?"
+
+"Upon my word!" said the old man, who was intensely moved by Ruth's
+story. It did not occur to him for one moment that the little girl was
+talking about herself. "I tell you what, Ruth," he said; "I must think
+over it. I pity that poor girl. I don't think the governors ought to put
+any girl in such a position."
+
+"They are sorry, but they say they must. They must get at the truth;
+they must crush out the insurrection."
+
+"But it is turning king's evidence," said the old man. "I don't see how
+a girl is to be expected to betray her companions."
+
+"That is the position, grandfather. And now I think I will get you your
+dinner."
+
+Ruth went out of the room into the little kitchen. For a minute she
+pressed her hands against her face.
+
+"Grandfather agrees with me," she said to herself. "I am glad I
+consulted him. No one ever had a clearer head for business or for right
+and wrong than grandfather when he is at his best. He was at his best
+just now. I feel stronger. I won't betray Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+RUTH WILL NOT BETRAY KATHLEEN.
+
+
+Soon after dinner Ruth walked over to Cassandra's house. Cassandra was
+so anxious to see her, so determined to use her influence on what she
+considered the scale of right, that she was waiting for Ruth at the
+little gate.
+
+"Ah! here you are," she said. "I am so glad to see you. Mother has gone
+out for the day; we will have a whole delightful afternoon to ourselves.
+We can do some good work."
+
+"Let us," said Ruth.
+
+She felt feverish and excited. As a rule she was very calm, but now her
+heart beat too fast. She was thinking of her grandfather, and of what it
+would mean to him and the old grandmother when she came back on Saturday
+a disgraced girl, expelled from her high estate, her golden chance
+snatched from her. Nevertheless she had always been pretty firm, and
+pretty well resolved to do what she thought right. She was firmer now,
+and quite resolved.
+
+"Shall we go in at once and set to work?" she said. "I want to read that
+bit of Tasso over again before Miss Renshaw comes."
+
+"No, no," said Cassandra. "You are always in such a fidget to learn,
+Ruth. Come into the garden; I want to talk to you."
+
+Ruth looked full round at her companion. She saw something in
+Cassandra's eye which made her slightly shiver. Then she said:
+
+"Very well."
+
+Cassandra opened the little gate which led into the tiny fruit and
+vegetable garden. There was a narrow path, bordered on each side with a
+box-hedge, down which the girls walked. Presently Cassandra slipped her
+arm round Ruth's waist.
+
+"You knew, of course," she said, "how much I love you."
+
+"You are awfully good to me, Cassie."
+
+"As a rule I am not fond of what schoolgirls call falling in love,"
+continued Cassandra; "but I love you. There is nothing I wouldn't do for
+you."
+
+"Thank you," said Ruth again.
+
+She wondered what Cassandra would say on Saturday. Surely after Saturday
+no girl who belonged to the Great Shirley School would like to speak to
+her.
+
+"Now I want to tell you something," continued Cassandra. "I saw Miss
+Ravenscroft this morning. She told me about you and your position with
+the governors."
+
+"Oh, need we talk of that?" said Ruth coloring, stopping in her walk,
+and turning to face Cassandra.
+
+"Why shouldn't we? I wish you would tell me everything. Why are you
+going to be so obstinate? But of course you won't be. You will--you
+must--change your mind. She told me--Miss Ravenscroft did--because she
+likes you, Ruth, and she would be so terribly sorry if you got into
+trouble over this matter. She said you are certain to get into most
+serious, terrible trouble, for the governors will on no account depart
+from their firm resolve to expel you from the school. You will have
+defied their authority, and that is what they cannot permit. It is on
+that ground they will expel you, but it is strong enough; no one can
+suppose for a moment that they are acting with injustice."
+
+"I am glad it is on that ground," said Ruth softly.
+
+"Then of course you will be wise, Ruth. It is silly and quixotic, for
+the sake of a girl like Kathleen O'Hara, to ruin all your own
+prospects."
+
+"It is scarcely that--and yet it is that," said Ruth slowly. "It is
+because I will not be a traitor," she added, lowering her voice, then
+flinging up her head and gazing proudly before her.
+
+"I knew you were quixotic. I knew that was at the bottom of it," said
+Cassandra. "But you will think it over, Ruth. It would be too terrible
+to see you denounced in the presence of the whole school, and sent out
+of the school for ever. Think of losing your scholarship. Think of the
+help you want to give your grandparents. Think of your own future."
+
+"I think of them all," said Ruth; "but I also think of what father would
+have said if he were alive. You see Cassandra, before all things he was
+a gentleman."
+
+Cassandra started. She looked full at Ruth.
+
+"Is that a slap at me?" she asked.
+
+"No; I did not mean it as a slap at you or anybody. I only see how the
+matter looks to me, and how it would have looked to father, and how it
+looks to grandfather. There are some people born that way; I think,
+after a fashion, I am one of them. There are others who would look at
+the thing from a different point of view, but I don't think I envy those
+others. Shall we go in now and set to work?"
+
+"You are an extraordinary girl," said Cassandra. "I really don't know
+whether I love you or hate you most for being such a little goose. Well,
+Ruth, if that is your mind, I don't know why you care to go in to work,
+for it will be all over in a day or two--all over--and your fate
+sealed."
+
+"Nevertheless I should like to read that piece of Tasso, and do my work
+with Miss Renshaw. Shall we go in?" said Ruth.
+
+Cassandra somehow did not dare to say any more. Afterwards, when Ruth
+had returned to her own home, Cassandra sat with her head in her hands
+for the best part of an hour. Her mother asked her what ailed her.
+
+"I have a headache," she replied. "I was with a girl to-day who is fifty
+times too good for me."
+
+"What nonsense you are talking, Cassandra! There are few people good
+enough for you."
+
+"To think of her gives me a headache," continued Cassandra. "If you
+don't mind, mother, I will go to bed now."
+
+Meanwhile things were moving rather rapidly in another direction.
+Kathleen O'Hara, walking home that day in the company of Susy Hopkins,
+eagerly questioned that young lady.
+
+"How prim and proper every one looked in the school to-day!" she said.
+"What is wrong?"
+
+"There is plenty wrong," said Susy. "I tell you what it is, Kathleen, I
+feel rather frightened. I suppose it will come to our all being
+expelled."
+
+"Oh, not a bit of it," said Kathleen.
+
+"Well, it looks rather like it," said Susy. "Do you know what they are
+doing?"
+
+"What?"
+
+"They are bringing pressure to bear upon Ruth Craven. The governors
+convened a special meeting yesterday; they had Ruth before them, and
+then tried by every means in their power to get her to tell. You see,
+she is in the position of the person who knows everything. She belonged
+to us for a time, and now she doesn't belong to us."
+
+"Well?" said Kathleen, feeling interested and a little startled.
+
+"She wouldn't tell."
+
+"Of course she wouldn't. She is a brick. The Ruth Cravens of the world
+are not traitors," said Kathleen. "And so that is what the governors are
+doing--horrid, sneaky, disagreeable things! But they are not going to
+subdue me, so they needn't think it. I tell you what it is, Susy. Why
+should we put off till next week our picnic to town? Can't we have it
+this week?"
+
+"I wish we could," said Susy. "It would be glorious," she continued. "I
+do think somehow, Kathleen, that they will catch us in the long run. It
+might be dangerous to put off our glorious time till next week."
+
+"It might? It certainly would," said Kathleen. "We will go to-morrow
+evening. School is always over at four. We can meet at the railway
+station between five and six, and go off all by ourselves to--But where
+shall we go when we get to town?"
+
+"Couldn't we go to a theatre--to the pit at one of the theatres?"
+
+"If only Aunt Katie O'Flynn was with us it would be as right as right,"
+said Kathleen; "but dare we go alone?"
+
+"I am sure we dare. I shouldn't be frightened. I think some of the girls
+know exactly how to manage."
+
+"Well, I tell you what. You know most of the names of the members. Go
+round to-day and see as many as you can. Tell them that I am game for a
+real bit of fun, and that I will stand treat. We will go to town by the
+quarter-to-six train to-morrow evening. We will have some refreshments
+at a restaurant, and then we will go to the pit of one of the theatres.
+It will be a lark. There will be about forty of us altogether."
+
+"We are sure to be found out. It is too risky; and yet I think we'll do
+it," said Susy. "Oh, there never was such a lark!"
+
+"Nothing could happen to forty of us," said Kathleen. "I am going to do
+it just to defy them. How dare they try to make dear little Ruth betray
+us? But she won't. I am certain she won't."
+
+Susy talked a little longer to Kathleen, and finally agreed to take her
+message to as many of the Wild Irish Girls as she could possibly reach.
+
+"They will all hear of it safe enough," said Susy. "The whole forty of
+us will meet you at the station to-morrow night. Oh dear! of course it
+is wrong."
+
+"It is magnificently wrong; that is the glorious part of it," said
+Kathleen. "Oh dear! I feel almost as jolly as though I were in old
+Ireland again."
+
+She laughed merrily, parted from Susy, and ran all the rest of the way
+home.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+KATHLEEN AND GRANDFATHER CRAVEN.
+
+
+Friday was emphatically a summer's day in winter. The sky was cloudless;
+the few leaves that still remained on the trees looked brilliant in
+their autumn coloring. The ground was crisp under foot; the air was
+soft, gentle, and pleasant. Girls, like all other creatures, are
+susceptible to weather; they do their best work and have their best
+feelings aroused when the sun shines and the day looks cheerful. The
+sunshiny weather puts heart into them. But it is sad to relate that when
+a girl is bent on mischief she is even more mischievous, more daring,
+more defiant when the sun shines and the earth looks gay.
+
+Kathleen awoke on the special morning after a night of wild dreams. She
+raised herself on her elbow and looked across at Alice.
+
+"What a lovely day! Why, I see sunshine quite plainly from where I am
+lying. Wake up, won't you, Alice?" she said.
+
+"How tiresome of you to rouse me!" said Alice, opening her eyes and
+looking crossly at Kathleen.
+
+Kathleen smiled back at her. Her face was rosy. Her hair was tossed in
+wild confusion about her head and shoulders; it tumbled also over her
+forehead, and made her eyes look more dancing and mischievous than ever
+beneath its heavy shadow.
+
+"I wonder--" said Kathleen softly.
+
+If she had spoken in a loud voice Alice would have taken no notice, but
+there was something pathetic and beautiful in her tone, and Alice raised
+herself and looked at her.
+
+"I wonder," she said "why you hate me so much?'
+
+"Fudge!" said Alice.
+
+"But Alice, it isn't fudge. Why should I have made myself so terribly
+obnoxious to you? The others are fond of me; they don't think me
+perfect--and indeed I don't want them to--but they love me for those
+qualities in me which are worthy of love."
+
+"How you chatter!" said Alice. "I have hitherto failed to perceive the
+qualities in you that are worthy of love. It wants another quarter of an
+hour before our hot water is brought in. Do you greatly object to my
+sleeping during that time?"
+
+"No, cross patch," said Kathleen, turning angrily on her pillow. "You
+may sleep till doomsday as far as I am concerned."
+
+"Polite," muttered Alice.
+
+She shut her eyes, folded her arms, and prepared for further slumber;
+but somehow Kathleen had effectually aroused her. She could not get the
+radiant face out of her head, nor the words, a little sad in their
+meaning, out of her ears. She looked up as though moved to say
+something.
+
+"As you have asked me a question, I will give you an answer. I know a
+way in which you can secure my good opinion."
+
+"Really!" said Kathleen, who was too angry now to be properly polite.
+"And what may that way be?"
+
+"Why, this: if you will tell the truth about your horrible society, and
+spare dear little Ruth Craven, and make Cassandra Weldon happy."
+
+"I don't care twopence about your tiresome Cassandra; but little
+Ruth--what ails her?"
+
+"The governors are going to insist upon her telling what she knows."
+
+"But she won't," said Kathleen, laughing merrily. "She is too much of a
+brick."
+
+"Then she'll be expelled."
+
+"What nonsense!"
+
+"You wait and see. You don't know the Great Shirley School as well as I
+do. However, I have spoken; I have nothing more to say. It is time to
+get up, after all."
+
+The girls dressed in silence. Alice had long ceased to torment Kathleen
+about her own side of the room. Provided Alice's side was left in peace,
+she determined to shut her eyes to untidy wardrobes, to the chest of
+drawers full to bursting, to a boot kicked off here and a shoe
+disporting itself there, to ribbons and laces and handkerchiefs and
+scarves and blouses scattered on the bed, and even on the floor. Alice
+had learnt to put up with these things; she turned her back on them, so
+to speak.
+
+The two girls ran downstairs together. Just for a moment Kathleen had
+felt frightened at Alice's words, but then she cast them from her mind.
+It was quite, quite impossible to suppose that anything so monstrously
+unfair as that a little girl should be expelled from the school could
+happen. Ruth, too, of all the girls--Ruth who was absolutely goodness
+itself. So Kathleen ate her breakfast with appetite, remarked on the
+brightness of the day to Mrs. Tennant and the boys, and then with Alice
+started off to school with her satchel of books slung over her shoulder,
+her gay, pretty dress making her look a most remarkable figure amongst
+all the girls who were going towards the great school, and her saucy
+bright face attracting attention on all sides. There was nothing about
+Kathleen to indicate that that evening she meant to steal from home
+and, in company with forty companions, go to London. She was able to
+keep her own counsel, and this last daring scheme was locked tightly up
+in her heart. On her way to school she met Ruth.
+
+"There is Ruth," she said, turning to Alice. "Oh! and there's Susy in
+the distance. I want to speak to them both. You can go on, of course,
+Alice; I will follow presently."
+
+"We are rather late as it is," said Alice. "In addition to your
+misdemeanors, I should advise you not to be late for prayers just at
+present."
+
+"Thanks so much!" said Kathleen in a sarcastic tone.
+
+She left Alice and ran towards Ruth.
+
+"Why, Ruth," she said, "you do look pale."
+
+"Oh, I am all right," said Ruth, brightening at the sight of Kathleen.
+
+"Then you don't look it. Ruth, is it true that they want you to tell?"
+
+"They want me to, Kathleen," said Ruth; "but I am not going to. You can
+rest quite satisfied on that point."
+
+"You are a splendid, darling brick," said Kathleen, "and I love you to
+distraction. Dear Ruth, what can I do for you?"
+
+"Give up the society as fast as you can," said Ruth.
+
+"What? And yet you won't tell!"
+
+"It's because it's dishonorable to tell," said Ruth. "Don't keep me now,
+Kathleen; I want to get into school in good time. Grandfather is not
+well, and I must hurry back to him."
+
+"Your nice white-haired grandfather that you have talked to me about?"
+
+"He was ill all night. He talked about you a little. Do you know,
+Kathleen, I think he'd like to see you. Would you greatly mind coming
+back with me after school, just to see him for a minute? I have told him
+so much about you, and I have told granny too, and they both picture you
+somewhat as you are. Do you think you could come, just to give them both
+pleasure?"
+
+"Come?" said Kathleen gaily. "Why, of course I'll come, heart of my
+life. I'd do anything on earth to please you. I'll join you after
+school, and well go straight away. It doesn't matter a bit about my
+being late for dinner at the Tennants'. Ah! there's Susy. I want to have
+a word with her."
+
+Kathleen pushed past Ruth and ran up to Susy. Susy was looking intensely
+agitated: there were vivid spots of color on her cheeks, and her eyes
+were as bright as stars.
+
+"I have managed everything," she said in a whisper. "It's all right;
+it's splendidly right. We are all coming; not one of us will stay
+behind. We know what it means, of course."
+
+"You look very mysterious," said Kathleen. "I wonder why you talk like
+that. What does it mean, in your opinion?"
+
+"Oh, Kathleen, can't you understand? And one does it sometimes in life.
+I have read about it in story-books, and there are cases of it in
+history; you have one great tremendous fling; you do what is wrong; you
+have a good--a very good--time, and you know it won't last; you know
+that afterwards will come--the deluge."
+
+"You are a silly!" said Kathleen. "Why, what could happen? Nobody need
+know; we will be far too careful for that. I can't tell you how
+splendidly I have planned things. I have got up my headache already, in
+order to go to my room and thus avoid all suspicion."
+
+"Oh dear!" said Susy. "It doesn't sound right, does it?"
+
+"Right or wrong, it is fun," said Kathleen. "I am going to have it so.
+I have got the money, and I mean to have a magnificent time. Now don't
+keep me; I must run into school. It is horrid of them to grudge us our
+little bit of amusement."
+
+Susy agreed with her friend; indeed, during those days she was nearly
+lifted off her feet, so excited was she, so charmed, so altogether
+amazed at Kathleen O'Hara's condescension to her. Before Kathleen
+arrived at the school Susy was a good little girl, who helped her mother
+in the shop, and had dreams of going into another shop herself
+by-and-by. In those days she did not consider herself a lady, nor expect
+ladies to take any special notice of her. But those dull and stupid days
+were no more. Gold and sunshine and rich color and marvellous dreams had
+all come into her life since the arrival of Kathleen at Merrifield. For
+Kathleen had discrimination; it mattered nothing to her whether a girl
+paid or did not pay for her lessons, whether she belonged to the
+despised foundationers or was respected and looked up to by paying
+girls. Indeed, if anything, Kathleen had a decided leaning towards the
+foundationers; and she, Kathleen, was a lady--she belonged to what her
+mother and Aunt Church called the "real quality." "None of your
+upstarts," Aunt Church had said, "but one who for generations has
+belonged to the aristocrats; and they are of the kind who are too great
+in themselves to be proud. They are proud in the right way, but they
+never look down on folks." Yes, Susy was a happy girl now.
+
+But, after all, was she quite happy? Was she not at this very minute
+more or less oppressed by a secret fear? Suppose any single individual
+in Merrifield heard of the midnight picnic--the great, daring, midnight
+excursion into the heart of London. Susy knew far better than Kathleen
+what a mad action the girls were about to perpetrate. She knew because
+she lived with the class who discussed such things very openly. If their
+frolic was not discovered, all would be well; if it was, it would be
+ruin--ruin complete and absolute. The ladies of the town would fight shy
+of her mother's shop. Aunt Church would be very unlikely to get her
+little almshouse in Ireland, for surely even Kathleen's friends would be
+very angry with her if they knew. Susy herself would be expelled from
+the school, and she in her fall would bring down her mother and brother.
+Yes, terrible would be the consequences _if_ they were discovered. But
+then, they needn't be. Plucky people were not as a rule brought into
+trouble of that sort. It only needed a brave heart and a firm foot, and
+courage which nothing could daunt; and the other girls, the thirty-eight
+who were to join Kathleen and Susy, would keep them company.
+Nevertheless Susy was as unhappy as she was happy that day. She was so
+absorbed in her feelings, and in wondering what would happen during the
+next twenty-four hours, that she was not attentive at her lessons, and
+did not notice how the teachers watched her and made remarks. It was
+very evident to an onlooker that the teachers were particularly alert
+that morning, and that their gaze was principally fixed upon the
+foundationers.
+
+No remarks, however, were made. The school came to an end quite in the
+usual manner. Immediately afterwards Kathleen dashed off to find Ruth.
+Ruth was waiting for her just outside the gates.
+
+"Here I am," said Kathleen. "Take my arm, won't you, Ruthie? I shall be
+very glad indeed to be introduced to your grandfather."
+
+Ruth made no answer. Her face was white, but this fact only increased
+the rare delicacy, the sort of fragrance, which her appearance always
+presented. Kathleen and Ruth, did they but know it, made a most charming
+contrast as they walked arm-in-arm across the common; for Ruth belonged
+more or less to the twilight and the evening star, and Kathleen--her
+face, her eyes, her voice, her actions--spoke to those who had eyes to
+see of the morning. Kathleen was all enthusiasm, gay life, valor,
+daring; Ruth's gentle face and quiet voice gave little indication of the
+real depth of character which lay beneath.
+
+"This is such a lovely day," said Kathleen, "and somehow I feel so
+downright happy. Perhaps I am wrong, perhaps I am right, but I feel
+happy. I think it is on account of the day."
+
+They had now reached the little path which led up to the cottage. Ruth
+went first, and Kathleen followed. What a tiny place for her darling
+favorite to live in! But Kathleen felt she loved her all the better for
+it.
+
+Ruth softly unlatched the door and peeped in. The front-door opened
+right into the kitchen, and Mrs. Craven was seated by the fire.
+
+"Hush!" she said, putting her finger to her lips; "he is asleep."
+
+"I have brought Kathleen O'Hara, granny. I thought you'd like to see
+her, and I thought granddad would like to see her."
+
+"To be sure, child," said Mrs. Craven, bustling up and removing her
+cooking-apron. "Bring Miss O'Hara in at once. Is she waiting outside?
+Where are your manners, Ruth?--Ah, Miss O'Hara, I'm right pleased to see
+you! I am sorry my dear husband is not as well as could be wished; but
+perhaps if you'd be good enough to sit down for a minute or two, he
+would wake up before you go."
+
+Kathleen entered, held out her hand, greeted Mrs. Craven with a frank
+smile, showing a row of pearly teeth, and then sat down near the fire.
+
+"This is cosy," she said. "Aren't you going to give me a little bit of
+dinner, Mrs. Craven?"
+
+"Oh, my dear young lady, but we live so plain!"
+
+"And so do I when I am at home," said Kathleen. "I do hate messy dishes.
+I like potatoes better than anything in the world. Often at home I go
+off with my boy cousins, and we have such a good feed. I think potatoes
+are better than anything in the world."
+
+"Well, miss, if you'd like a potato it's at your service."
+
+"I should if it is in its jacket."
+
+"What did you say, miss?"
+
+"If the potato is boiled in its jacket. Ah! I see they are. Please let
+me have one."
+
+Kathleen did not wait for Mrs. Craven's reply. She herself fetched a
+plate and the salt-cellar from the dresser, and putting these on the
+table, helped herself to a potato from the pot.
+
+"Now," she said, "this is good. I can fancy I am back in old Ireland."
+
+Mrs. Craven began to laugh.
+
+"Ruth, do have a potato with me," said Kathleen; "they are first-rate
+when you don't put a knife or fork near them."
+
+But Ruth had no inclination for potatoes eaten in the Irish way.
+
+"I will go in and see how grandfather is, granny," she said, and she
+disappeared into the little parlor.
+
+"You know," said Kathleen, helping herself to a second potato, and
+fixing her eyes on Mrs. Craven's face--"you know how fond I am of Ruth."
+
+"Indeed, my dear young lady, she has been telling me about you; and I am
+glad you notice her, dear little girl!"
+
+"But it is not only I," said Kathleen; "every one in the school likes
+her. She could be the primest favorite with every one if she only chose.
+She is so sweetly pretty, too, and such a lady."
+
+"Well, dear, her mother was a real lady; and her father was educated by
+my dear husband, and was in the army."
+
+"It doesn't matter if her father was a duke and her mother a dairymaid,"
+said Kathleen with emphasis. "She is just a lady because she is."
+
+Before she could add another word Ruth came in.
+
+"Do come, Kathleen," she said. "He is much better after his sleep. I
+told him you were here, and he would like to see you."
+
+"He has been bothered like anything about those accounts," said Mrs.
+Craven. "I can't make out what has put it into his head. Years ago it
+was an old story with him that something had gone wrong with the books;
+but, dear hearts! he had forgotten all about it for a weary long while.
+Now within the last week he has been at it again, just as if 'twas
+yesterday."
+
+"He has an old account-book on the table now, granny," said Ruth.
+
+"Well," said Mrs. Craven, "we must humor him.--Don't you take any
+notice, Miss O'Hara; don't contradict him, I mean."
+
+Kathleen nodded. There was a look on Ruth's face which made her feel no
+longer interested in the Irish potatoes. She slipped her hand inside her
+friend's, and they went into the parlor. Mr. Craven was seated by the
+fire. His white locks fell about his shoulders; there was a faint touch
+of pink on each of his sallow cheeks, and his blue eyes were bright.
+
+"Ah!" he said, raising his face when he saw Kathleen. "And is this the
+little lady--the dear little lady--- from over the seas, from the heart
+of Ireland itself? I was once in Ireland. I spent a month in Dublin, and
+I bought the very best paper for packing my sugars and teas in that I
+ever came across. Ah! I had a good time. We used to sit in Phoenix Park.
+I liked Ireland, and I could welcome any Irish maiden.--Give me your
+hand, missy; I am proud to see you."
+
+Kathleen gave her hand. She came up close to the old man and said:
+
+"Do you know, you have a look of my own old grandfather. He is dead and
+in his grave; but he had white, white hair like yours. Do you mind if I
+put my hand on your hair and stroke it just because of grandfather?"
+
+"Ah, my dear, you may do what you like," said the old man. "And you have
+been good to my little lass--my little woman here. She has told me you
+have been good to her."
+
+"She has been very good to me. I am glad to see you, Mr. Craven. I hope
+when you get strong again you will come over and stay with father and
+mother and me at Carrigrohane Castle."
+
+"No, no, my love. There was a time when I'd have liked it well, but not
+now. You see, dear--" his voice faltered and his eyes grew anxious--"I
+must mind the shop. When a man doesn't attend to his own business,
+accounts go wrong. Now there was quite a deficiency last week--the wrong
+side of the ledger. It was really terrible. I think of it at night, and
+when I wake first thing in the morning I remember it. I must get to my
+accounts, little miss, but I am right glad to see you."
+
+Kathleen felt a lump in her throat. Ruth, with her bright eyes fixed on
+her grandfather, stood close by.
+
+"But there!" said the old man hastily. "It's splendid for Ruth. She's
+got into that school, and she's trying for a scholarship. I know what
+Ruth tries for she will get, for her brain is of that fine quality that
+could not brook defeat, and her mind is of that high order that it must
+adjust itself to true learning. I was a bit of a scholar when I was
+young, although I made my money in grocery. Well, well! Ruth is all
+right. Even if the old man can't square up the ledger, Ruth is as right
+as right can be. Thank you, Miss--I can't remember your name--- but
+thank you, little Irish miss, for coming to see me; and good-bye."
+
+Kathleen found herself outside the room. Mrs. Craven was not in the
+kitchen. Ruth and Kathleen went into the garden.
+
+"How can you stand it?" said Kathleen. "Doesn't it break your heart to
+see him?"
+
+"Oh no," said Ruth. "You see, I am accustomed to him. He talks like
+that. I am sorry he is so bothered about the accounts, but perhaps that
+phase will pass."
+
+"He is so pleased about you and the scholarship."
+
+"Yes," said Ruth. She turned pale. "Whatever happens," she added, "he
+must never know."
+
+"What do you mean about whatever happens?"
+
+"He must never know if I do not get it. Good-bye now, Kathleen. I am
+glad you have seen grandfather and granny. I must go back to granny now.
+She is very tired; she gets so little rest at night."
+
+Kathleen went slowly home. The meal was over at the Tennants', but
+somehow her couple of potatoes had satisfied her. She felt much more
+sober than she had done in the morning; she was inclined to think, to
+consider her ways. She felt an uncomfortable sensation of being haunted
+by the faces of Ruth and the old man.
+
+"But of course Ruth will get her scholarship," she said to herself. "Of
+course--of course her grandfather is right. Her brain is of the right
+order, and her mind is attuned to learning. How nicely he spoke, and how
+beautiful he looked--how like my dear old grandfather who has been with
+God for so many years now."
+
+There came a loud rat-tat at the front-door. David went out and brought
+in a telegram. It was addressed to Kathleen. She opened it in some
+surprise, and read the contents slowly. There was amazement on her face;
+a feeling of consternation stole into her heart. The telegram, not a
+long one, was from her father:
+
+     "Have just seen Aunt Katie O'Flynn. Do not approve of your
+     society. Squash the whole thing at once, or expect my serious
+     displeasure.--O'HARA."
+
+"Is there an answer?" asked David.
+
+"No," said Kathleen. "I mean yes. Yes, I suppose so. Can I have a form?
+Mrs. Tennant, can I have a telegraph form?"
+
+Mrs. Tennant began to hunt about for one. Telegrams were by no means
+common things at the Tennants' house. David suggested that the messenger
+boy might have one. This turned out to be the case. Kathleen began to
+write, but she suddenly changed her mind.
+
+"No, no; there is no answer," she said. "I can write by post."
+
+She crushed the telegram up and thrust it into her pocket. After this
+she went out for a little; she was too restless to stay still. The
+fascination of the coming sport grew greater as obstacles appeared in
+the way of its realization. Whatever her father might say, she could not
+desert the girls who belonged to her society now.
+
+"What can have ailed Aunt Katie to betray me in such a fashion?" she
+thought.
+
+She came home in time for tea; but, to her amazement she found another
+telegram waiting for her. This was from Dublin, from Aunt Katie herself:
+
+     "Have told your father. He received letter from
+     school-mistress this morning. Very angry about Wild Irish
+     Girls. You must give the whole thing up or you will incur his
+     serious displeasure. Don't be a goose; nip the thing in the
+     bud immediately.--AUNT KATIE."
+
+"But indeed I won't," thought Kathleen. "Whatever happens, we will have
+our fun to-night. Whatever happens, neither father nor Aunt Katie, nor
+Ruth Craven can keep me back."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+KATHLEEN HAS A GOOD TIME IN LONDON.
+
+
+So the head-mistress had written; she had dared to write to Kathleen's
+father. What she said to him was a matter of no moment; she had written,
+and to complain of her!
+
+"She thinks, I suppose," said Kathleen, "that she'll subdue me by these
+means. She wants to bring, not the long arm of the law, but father's arm
+right across the sea to stop me. No, no, daddy, your Kathleen will be
+your Kathleen to the end--always loving, always daring, always true,
+but always rebellious; the best and the worst. I am going to-night, and
+I am going all the more surely because you wired to me not to go, and
+because they are daring to bully dear little Ruth Craven. And after I
+have had my fling I will come back in good time. No fear; nothing will
+go wrong. Your Kathleen wouldn't hurt a fly, much less your heart. But I
+mean to have my fun to-night."
+
+Kathleen quite sobered down as these thoughts came to her. It was now
+getting dusk. The girls were to meet at the station at half-past five.
+They were to go in quite quietly by twos and twos; each couple of girls
+was to go to the booking-office and take their tickets, and walk away
+just as though nothing special had happened. They were on no account to
+collect in a mass. They were not even to take any notice of each other
+until they were off. Once the train was in motion all would be safe;
+they might meet then and talk and be merry to their hearts' content. Oh,
+it was a good, good time they were about to have!
+
+This arrangement about meeting one another had been suggested by Kate
+Rourke, who knew a good deal about theatres, and who also knew how
+dangerous it would be for so many girls to be seen at the station
+together; but dressed quietly, and just dropping in by couples, nobody
+would remark them.
+
+"And then we must go straight to the theatre," she said, "and stand
+outside the pit, and take our chance; but we will have time enough for
+that if we leave Merrifield by the quarter-to-six train."
+
+Kathleen noticed that evening that Alice watched her as she moved about
+the room; that Alice occasionally lifted her eyes and glanced at her
+when she sat down to read; and when she approached the tea-table and
+helped herself to tea and bread-and-butter and jam, Alice also kept up
+that gentle sort of espionage. It annoyed Kathleen; she found herself
+watching for it. She found herself getting red and annoyed when the
+calm, steadfast gaze of Alice's brown eyes was fixed on her face.
+Finally she said:
+
+"What are you doing? Why do you stare at me?"
+
+"Sorry," replied Alice. She bent over her book, and did not glance again
+at Kathleen.
+
+By-and-by Kathleen went upstairs. She went to their mutual room, and
+turned the key in the lock.
+
+"I must get out of the window," she said to herself. "I can easily do
+it; it is but to swing on to that thick cord of ivy and I shall reach
+the ground without the slightest trouble. The back-gate that leads into
+the garden is never locked, and the window I mean to emerge from looks
+into the garden. I shall go off without anybody's noticing me."
+
+Kathleen had to take a great deal of money with her. If there were forty
+girls, their tickets would cost a good deal. It is true they were to buy
+their own in the first instance, but Kathleen was to return them the
+money in the train. Then the omnibuses they were to go on, the seats at
+the theatre, their supper of some sort must be paid for by the head of
+the society.
+
+"I promised to frank them, and I must frank them," thought the girl.
+
+She slipped some sovereigns into her purse, tucked it for safety into
+the bosom of her dress, and then put on her hat and jacket. Some
+instinct told the wild, ignorant child to dress quietly. She put on her
+plainest hat and a little reefer coat which looked neat and substantial.
+She was just drawing a pair of gloves on her hands when Alice was heard
+turning the handle of the door.
+
+"Let me in at once, Kathleen," she cried.
+
+Kathleen did not reply at all for a moment; then she said in a sleepy,
+smothered sort of voice which seemed to proceed from the bed:
+
+"I have a splitting headache; don't disturb me."
+
+"Very sorry," answered Alice, "but I really must come in."
+
+Kathleen made no answer. After a long pause, during which Alice once or
+twice felt the handle of the door again, the sound of her retreating
+footsteps was heard.
+
+"Now is my time," thought Kathleen.
+
+To tell the truth, Alice was not at all taken in by Kathleen's headache.
+
+"She is very clever," thought that young lady, "but she has tried that
+dodge on so often before that I am not going to be deceived by it now."
+
+Accordingly she went into her mother's room and stood by the window. Now
+the window of Mrs. Tennant's bedroom looked also into the garden, and
+was really parallel with the window by which Kathleen meant to escape.
+There was an interval of silence, and then Alice had her reward! for the
+window of their mutual bedroom was flung wide open, and Kathleen, neatly
+dressed, appeared on the window-sill. She looked around her for a minute.
+Alice caught a glimpse of her bright face by the light of the moon,
+which was already getting up in the sky. The next minute Kathleen caught
+firm hold of the arm of old ivy and let herself down deftly and quickly
+to the ground. The action was done so neatly, and in fact so
+beautifully, that Alice in spite of herself felt inclined to cry
+"Bravo!" She knew that if she were to trust herself to that ivy she
+would probably fall to the bottom and get, if not really killed, at
+least half so. But Kathleen stood serenely on the ground, and glanced
+up at the window from which she had let herself down. Just at that
+moment Alice rushed into their bedroom. Kathleen had shut the window
+behind her before she trusted herself to the ivy; she had also unlocked
+the door. In a moment Alice had put on her hat and jacket, had rushed
+downstairs, opened the hall door, and was following Kathleen across the
+common. Now, quite the nearest way to the railway station was across the
+common. Kathleen walked fast.
+
+"Kathleen, Kathleen!" cried Alice.
+
+Kathleen looked behind her. She saw Alice, and took to her heels.
+
+"No, no, Kathleen; I will follow you until I drop. You must let me come
+up with you."
+
+But Kathleen made no answer. If she could do anything well, she could
+run in a race. Her swift feet scarcely touched the ground. She ran and
+ran. How soon would Alice get tired? She did not dare to go to the
+railway station as long as she was following. And the time to catch the
+train was very short. At the other side of the common was a long,
+narrow, winding passage which, after a quarter of a mile of tortuous
+turning, led right up a back-way to the great terminus. Kathleen had
+given herself exactly the right length of time. Had nothing happened to
+hinder her, she would have been on the platform three minutes before the
+train came in. For reasons of her own she did not wish to be long there.
+She had crossed the common when she looked behind her; Alice was still
+running, but she was also in the distance.
+
+"If I could only double, hide for a minute, and make her give up the
+chase, all would be well," thought the mischievous Irish girl.
+
+There was a great tree, which cast a huge shadow, just before the
+winding passage was reached. Kathleen darted towards it. In an instant
+she had climbed up and was seated securely in one of its lower branches.
+
+"Now, if only she will be quick, she will run past me into the passage.
+She will never get to the end in time. I shall slip down and go the long
+way. I know it is a good bit farther, but she is not in it with me as
+far as running is concerned," was Kathleen's thought.
+
+Alice came up as far as the tree; she paused a minute and looked around
+her. Kathleen in the gray darkness looked down at her. Kathleen's face
+was completely in the shadow, but the light fell full on Alice's, and
+her face, white and anxious, almost made the other girl laugh.
+
+"If the situation wasn't quite so tremendous I could enjoy this," she
+thought.
+
+Presently Alice ran down the passage. Kathleen waited until her
+footsteps had died away, and then she descended from the oak-tree. She
+flew as fast as she could the long way to the railway station.
+
+"Alice can't think that I want to go by train," thought Kathleen.
+
+Now she was truly a very swift runner, but as she was running to-night,
+whom should she meet but Mrs. Hopkins. Mrs. Hopkins was on her way home
+after doing a little shopping on her own account. She saw Kathleen,
+observed her panting for breath, and stood directly in her path.
+
+"Miss O'Hara," she said, "can I speak to you for a moment? It is
+something very particular indeed. I am very thankful I happened to meet
+you."
+
+"I will see you to-morrow--to-morrow," panted Kathleen. "I am in a great
+hurry. To-morrow, Mrs. Hopkins."
+
+"No, Miss O'Hara; it ought to be to-night. You are going to the railway
+station, aren't you, miss?"
+
+Kathleen felt inclined to knock that interfering woman down. She darted
+to one side of the road.
+
+"Oh, let me pass!" she said. She was shaking with her quick run. She
+knew the moments were flying; already she heard the bell at the station
+ring. The train for London was signaled; she had not an instant to lose.
+
+"Don't--don't keep me," she said.
+
+"But you mustn't go, miss; it would be madness--wicked. You musn't; you
+daren't."
+
+Kathleen pushed past her. This time Mrs. Hopkins had no power to stop
+her. She rushed on, reached the station, flew up the steps, and found
+herself on the platform just as the train was coming in.
+
+Instead of the forty girls she expected to meet, she saw not more than
+about half-a-dozen. They all crowded up to her at once.
+
+"I have got your ticket for you," said Susy. "I was just able to screw
+out the money to get one for you and myself. Here's the train; let us
+hop in at once."
+
+"But where are all the others--the forty?" gasped Kathleen.
+
+"They funked it, almost all of them. Oh! come along; here's the train."
+
+The great train thundered into the station. The girls ran wildly looking
+for a third-class carriage. At last they found one and tumbled into it;
+the door was slammed, and they were off. Kathleen wondered--she was not
+sure, but she wondered--if she really did see, or if it was only a
+dream, a pair of brown eyes looking at her from the station, and the
+severe young figure and shocked face of Alice Tennant.
+
+"It must have been a dream; she could not have guessed that I was going
+to the station. What a good thing she didn't meet Mrs. Hopkins!" thought
+Kathleen. Then she turned to her companions--to the six girls who had
+decided to brave all the terrors of their expedition. They were Susy
+Hopkins, Kate Rourke, Clara Sawyer, Rosy Myers, Janey Ford, and Mary
+Wilkins.
+
+Kathleen sat quite still for a minute until she had recovered her
+breath. She looked around her. To her relief, she saw that they were
+alone. There was no one else in the compartment.
+
+"Now then," she said, "how is it that all the others have funked it?"
+
+"There has been so much muttering and whispering and suspecting going on
+during the whole livelong day that they were positively afraid," said
+Susy. "Indeed, if it hadn't been for you, Kathleen, I doubt if any of us
+would have come."
+
+"Well, girls, we can't help it," said Kathleen. "If the rest are so
+timid, there's more fun for us; isn't that so?"
+
+She looked round at her companions.
+
+"I mean to enjoy myself," said Kate Rourke. "I have been to a theater
+twice before. Once I went with my grandfather, and another time with an
+uncle from Australia. I didn't go to the pit when I went with uncle. He
+took me to a grand stall, and we rubbed up against the nobility, I can
+tell you."
+
+It suddenly occurred to Kathleen that Kate Rourke was rather a vulgar
+girl. She drew a little nearer to her, however, and fixed her very
+bright eyes on the girl's face."
+
+"But we needn't go to the pit, need we?" she said. "I meant to pay for
+forty. If there are only six, why shouldn't we have jolly seats
+somewhere, and not waste our time outside the theater?"
+
+"That would be nice," said Kate Rourke. "I always enjoy myself so much
+more if I am in good company. I have been looking up the plays at the
+theaters, and there is a very fine piece on at the Princess'. That is in
+Oxford Street. It is a sort of melodrama; there's a deal of killing in
+it, and the heroine has to do some desperate deeds."
+
+"Oh, dear!" said Susy, with a sigh; "I don't feel, somehow, as if I much
+cared where we went. It will be awful afterwards when the fun is over."
+
+"But we will enjoy ourselves, Susy, while the fun lasts," said Kathleen.
+She tried to believe that she was enjoying herself and was having a
+right good time. She tried to forget the fact that Alice Tennant might
+really have seen her off, and that Mrs. Hopkins had justice in her
+remarks when she begged and implored of Kathleen not to go to the train.
+
+"What can she have found out?" she thought.
+
+She now turned to Susy.
+
+"Has your mother learned anything, Susy?" she said.
+
+"What do you mean?" said Susy, turning very pink.
+
+"Well, you know, as I was running here--Oh, girls, I had such a lark!
+What do you think happened? That horrid Alice--Alice Tennant--ran after
+me as I was leaving the house. I raced her across the common, and then
+to get rid of her I climbed up into an oak-tree. She never saw me, and
+ran on down the passage. Of course, my only chance of getting to the
+station was to go by the long way.--Half-way there I came across your
+mother, Susy, and she tried to stop me, and said she must speak to me.
+Dear, she did seem in a state! Evidently there's a great deal of
+excitement and watching going on in that school."
+
+"There will be a great deal of excitement to-morrow," said Susy. "It
+strikes me it will be all up with us to-morrow--that is, if Ruth tells."
+
+"If Ruth tells! What do you mean?"
+
+"They are going to do their utmost to get her to tell; and if she does
+tell they will call out our names and expel us, that's all. Oh! I can't
+bear to think of it--I can't bear to think of it."
+
+Susy's voice broke. Tears trembled in her bright black eyes, and she
+turned her head to one side. Kathleen gave her a quick glance.
+
+"It will be all right," she said. "Ruth won't tell. Ruth is the kind who
+never tells. She told me to-day she wouldn't."
+
+"She'll be a brick if she doesn't," said Kate Rourke. "But then, of
+course, you know--"
+
+"I know what?"
+
+"Oh, nothing. What's the good of making ourselves melancholy on a night
+like this?"
+
+"If I were expelled," said Clara Sawyer, "I should leave Merrifield. I
+could never lift up my head again. You can't think what impudent sort of
+boys my brothers are, and they have always twitted me for my good
+fortune in getting into the Great Shirley School. They say that if we
+are to be expelled it will be done in public. The governors are
+determined to read us a lesson. That's what they say."
+
+"Who cares what they say?" said Kathleen. "Let them say."
+
+"Well, that's what I think; and I dare say half of it is untrue," said
+little Janey Ford.
+
+"I am sure, Janey, wonders will never cease when we see you in this
+thing," said Susy. "It was disgusting of the others to funk it. But I
+suppose they were on the right side; only I do sometimes hate being on
+the right side.--Don't you, Kathleen?"
+
+"Yes," said Kathleen in a whisper, and she squeezed Susy's hand. It
+seemed to her that her soul and Susy's had met at that moment, and had
+saluted each other like comrades true.
+
+"But how was it you came, Janey? Didn't your little heart funk it
+altogether?" continued Kate.
+
+"I was so mad to come," said Janey. "I am shaking and trembling now like
+anything. But I had never been to a theater, and it was such a
+tremendous temptation. I said about ten times to myself that I wouldn't
+come, but eleven times I said that I would; and the eleventh time
+conquered, and here I am. I do hope we'll have a right good time."
+
+With this sort of chatter the girls got to London. Here Kate Rourke took
+the lead. She marshaled the little party in two and two, and so conveyed
+them out of the station. Outside the yard at Charing Cross they all
+climbed on the top of an omnibus, and soon were wending their way in the
+direction of the Princess' Theater, which Kate most strongly advocated.
+There was no crowd at the theater this special evening. The piece which
+was presented on the boards happened to be a fairly good one. The girls
+got excellent seats, and found themselves in the front row of the family
+circle. From there they could look down on dazzling scenes, and
+Kathleen, who had never been to a theater in the whole course of her
+life, was delighted. She at least had forgotten what might follow this
+expedition. Oh, yes, they were having a glorious time; and it was quite
+right to do what you liked sometimes, and quite right to defy your
+elders. Oh, how many she was defying: Ruth Craven, who would almost
+have given her life to keep her back from this; Miss Ravenscroft, the
+head-mistress, to whom Kathleen's heart did not go out; her own father;
+her own aunt; Alice Tennant--oh, bother Alice Tennant! And last, Mrs.
+Hopkins.
+
+"Quite an army of them," thought Kathleen. "I have dared to do what none
+of them approved of, and I am not a bit the worse for it. Darling dad,
+your own Kathleen will tell you everything, and you may give me what
+punishment you think best when the fun is over. But now I am having a
+jolly time."
+
+So Kathleen did enjoy herself, and made so many saucy remarks between
+the acts, and looked so radiant notwithstanding her very plain dress,
+that several people looked at the beautiful girl and commented about her
+and her companions.
+
+"A school party, my dear," said a lady to her husband.
+
+"But I don't see the chaperone," he remarked.
+
+And then the lady, who looked again more carefully, could not help
+observing that these seven girls were certainly not chaperoned by any
+one. A little wonder and a little uneasiness came into her heart. She
+was a very kind woman herself; she was a motherly woman, too, and she
+thought of her own girls tucked up safely in bed at home, and wondered
+what she would feel if they were alone at a London theater at this hour.
+Presently something impelled her to bend forward and touch Kathleen on
+her arm. Kathleen gave a little start and faced her.
+
+"Forgive me," she said; "I see that you and your companions are
+schoolgirls, are you not?"
+
+To some people Kathleen might have answered, "That is our own affair,
+not yours;" but to this lady with the courteous face and the gentle
+voice she replied in quite a humble tone:
+
+"Yes, madam, we are schoolgirls."
+
+"And if you will forgive me, dear, have you no lady looking after you?"
+
+"No," said Kate Rourke, bending forward at that moment; "we are out for
+a spree all by our lone selves."
+
+Kate gave a loud laugh as she spoke. The lady started back, and could
+not help contrasting Kathleen's face with those of the other girls. She
+bent towards her husband and whispered in his ear. The result of this
+communication was that, the curtain having fallen for the last time, the
+actors having left the stage, the play being completely over, and the
+seven girls being about to get back to Charing Cross as best they could,
+the lady touched Kathleen on her arm.
+
+"You will forgive me, dear," she said; "I am a mother and have daughters
+of my own. I should not like to see girls in the position you are in
+without offering to help them."
+
+"But what do you mean?" said Kathleen.
+
+"I mean this, my dear, that my husband and I will see you seven back to
+your home, wherever it is."
+
+Kathleen burst out laughing; then she looked very grave, and her eyes
+filled with tears as she said:
+
+"But wouldn't mother approve of it?"
+
+"If your mother is the least like me she would not approve of it; she
+would be horrified."
+
+"I don't think the lady can see us home," here remarked Clara Sawyer,
+"for we live at Merrifield, a good long way from London."
+
+Again the lady and her husband had a talk together, and then she
+suggested that they should take the girls back with them to Charing
+Cross and put them into their train.
+
+"But we thought we'd have a bit of supper," said Kate Rourke.
+
+"I can get you some things at the railway station; you ought not to wait
+for supper in town," said the gentleman in a stern voice.
+
+Then somehow all the girls felt ashamed of themselves, Kathleen slightly
+more ashamed than the others. They left the theater very slowly, with
+all the lightsomeness and gladness of heart gone.
+
+Two cabs were secured for the little party, and with their kind
+protectors they were taken back to Charing Cross. Eventually they got
+seats in a comfortable carriage, and found themselves going back again
+to Merrifield.
+
+"Well, it has been a dull sort of thing altogether," said Clara Sawyer.
+"What meddlesome people!"
+
+"Don't!" said Kathleen.
+
+"Don't what, Kathleen O'Hara? Why should you speak to me in that
+reproving voice?"
+
+"It isn't that; only they were like two angels. I know it; I am sure of
+it. We did an awful thing coming to town; I know we did, and I feel--oh,
+detestable!"
+
+Kathleen bent her head forward, covered it with her hands, and sat
+still. No tears shook her little frame, but there was a storm within. To
+her dying day Kathleen never forgot that return journey. Truly the fun
+was all over; the dregs of the cup of pleasure were in their mouths, and
+there was a fear, great, certain, and very terrible, in their hearts.
+But with all her fears--and they were many--Kathleen thought again and
+again of the lady who had girls of her own, and of the gentleman who was
+both stern and chivalrous, who had the manners of a prince and the look
+of a gentleman. As long as she lived she remembered those two faces, and
+the words of the lady, and the smile with which she said good-bye. She
+never learned their names; perhaps she did not want to.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LEDGER.
+
+
+Ruth got up rather earlier than usual on that Saturday morning. She had
+a dull, stunned kind of feeling round her heart. She was glad of that;
+she was glad that she was not acutely sorry, or acutely glad, or acutely
+anxious about anything.
+
+"If I could always be like this, nothing would matter," she said to
+herself.
+
+She dressed with her usual scrupulous neatness, and after hesitating for
+a moment, put on her best Sunday serge dress. It was a dark-blue serge,
+very neatly made. She combed back her luxurious hair and tied it with a
+ribbon to match the dress. She then ran downstairs.
+
+"Why, Ruth?" said her grandmother, who was pouring some porridge into
+bowls, "what are you wearing that frock for?"
+
+"I thought I would like to, granny."
+
+"Well, to be sure. I trust to goodness you are not getting extravagant.
+It will be doomsday before we can get you another like it. You must
+remember that I saved up for it sixpence by sixpence, and it took me all
+my time and my best endeavors to get it."
+
+"I know it, granny; and when I wear it I feel that you were very kind to
+give it me. A girl who wears a dress like this ought to be very, very
+good, oughtn't she, granny?"
+
+"Well, to be sure, little woman; and so you are. There never was a
+better child. Sit down now and sup your porridge. It is extra good this
+morning, and there's a drop of cream in that jug which will give it a
+flavor."
+
+Ruth sat down to the table and drew her bowl of porridge towards her.
+The warm, nourishing food seemed to choke her; but, all the same, she
+ate it with resolution."
+
+"That's right, dear," said her grandmother. "'It's putting a bit of
+color into your cheeks. You are too white altogether, Ruth. I hope, my
+dear, you are not working too hard."
+
+"Oh, that's all right," said Ruth, keeping back a groan.
+
+"It's a fine thing your getting into that school," continued Mrs.
+Craven; "it gives you a chance. Do you know, now, when I look at you and
+see the pretty little girl you are turning into, and observe your
+lady-like ways, which every one remarks on, I think of the time when
+your father was your age."
+
+"Yes, granny," said Ruth, brightening up and looking earnestly at the
+old lady; "you never care to talk about father, but I should greatly
+like to hear about him this morning."
+
+"Well, child, I don't talk of him because it hurts me too much. He was
+the only child I ever had, and if I live to be a hundred I sha'n't get
+over his death. But he was like you--very neat in his person, and very
+particular, and always keen over his books. And do you know what he said
+to his father? It was when he was fifteen years old, just for all the
+world about the age you are now. I mind the time as well as if it was
+yesterday. Her father and I were sitting by the hearth, and the boy came
+and stood near us. Your grandfather looked up at him, and his blue eyes
+seemed to melt with love and pride, and he said:
+
+"'What will you be, my boy? Will you let me teach you the business, and
+save up all the money I can for you to sell groceries on a bigger scale?
+There's many a small business like mine which, when built up, means a
+great big business and much wealth. If you have a turn that way I could
+set you on your legs; I am certain of it. I'd like to do it. Would you
+like that best, or would you rather have a profession and be made a
+gentleman?'
+
+"'The gentleman part doesn't matter,' said our boy in reply to that;
+'but I think, father, if you can give me my choice, I'd like best to be
+that which, if necessary, would oblige me to give my life,'
+
+"'What do you mean?' asked his father, and the lad explained with his
+eyes shining.
+
+"'I have only got one life,' he said, 'and I'd like to give it if
+necessary.'"
+
+"To tell the truth, Ruth, I could not understand him."
+
+"But I can," said Ruth. She hastily put down her porridge spoon and
+jumped to her feet. "I can understand," she continued; "and I am proud
+of him."
+
+"So he went into the army. I wish you could have seen him in his
+uniform; and his father paid for every scrap of the whole thing, and
+educated him and all. Oh, dear! it was a proud moment. But we weren't
+proud afterwards when we heard that he was killed. His father reminded
+me of his words: 'I'd like to be that for which I could give my life if
+necessary,'"
+
+There was quite a pink color in each of Ruth's cheeks now, and her eyes
+were very bright.
+
+"I will go and see grandfather," she said, "and then I must be off to
+school."
+
+She left the kitchen and went into the tiny parlor where the old man
+was seated. It was his fashion to get up early and go straight to the
+parlor and read or talk softly to himself. For a couple of months now he
+had never sat in the kitchen; he said it caused a buzzing in his head.
+Mrs. Craven brought him his meals into the little parlor. He had
+finished his breakfast when Ruth, in her neat Sunday dress, entered the
+room. There was an exalted feeling in her heart, caused by the narrative
+which her grandmother had told her of her father.
+
+"Well, little woman," said the old man, "and you are off to school? Or
+is it school? Perhaps it is Sunday morning and you are off to church."
+
+"No, grandfather; it is Saturday morning--quite a different thing."
+
+"Well, my love, I am as pleased as Punch about that school. I can't tell
+you how I think about it, and love to feel that my own little lass is
+doing so well there. And if you get the scholarship, why, we will be
+made; we won't have another care nor anxiety; we won't have another
+wrinkle of trouble as long as we remain in the world."
+
+Ruth went straight over to the old man, knelt down by his side, and
+looked into his face.
+
+"Stroke my hair, granddad," she said.
+
+He raised his trembling hand and placed it on her head.
+
+"That is nice," she said, and caught his hand as it went backwards and
+forwards over her silky black hair, and kissed it.
+
+"Granddad," she said after a pause, "is it the best thing--quite the
+best thing--always to come out on the right side of the ledger?"
+
+"Eh? Listen to the little woman," said the old man, much pleased and
+interested by her words. "Why, of course, Ruth; it is the only thing."
+
+"But does it mean sometimes, grandfather--dishonor?"
+
+"No, it never means that," said Mr. Craven gravely and thoughtfully.
+"But I will tell you what, Ruthie. It does mean sometimes all you have
+got."
+
+"Yes," said Ruth, "I understand." She rose to her feet. Do you think my
+father would have come out on the right side of the ledger?"
+
+"Ah, child! when he lay dead on the field of battle he came very much
+out on the right side, to my thinking. But why that melancholy note in
+your voice, Ruth? And why are your cheeks so flushed? Is anything the
+matter?"
+
+"Kiss me," said Ruth. "I am glad you have said what you did about
+father. I am more glad than sorry, on the whole, this morning. Good-bye,
+grandfather."
+
+She kissed him; then she raised her flower-like head and walked out of
+the room with a gentle dignity all her own.
+
+"What has come to the little woman?" thought the old man.
+
+But in a minute or two he forgot her, and called to his wife to bring
+him the account-books.
+
+"Why do you bother yourself about them?" she asked.
+
+"It has come over me," he replied, "that I have counted things wrong,
+and that I'll come out on the right side if I am a bit more careful. Put
+the books on this little table, and leave me for an hour or two. That's
+right, old woman."
+
+"Very well, old man," she replied, and she pushed the table towards him,
+put the account-books thereon, and left the room.
+
+Meanwhile Ruth went slowly to school. She was in good time. There was
+no need to hurry. The morning was fresh and beautiful; there was a
+gentle breeze which fanned her face. It seemed to her that if she let
+her soul go it would mount on that breeze and get up high above the
+clouds and the temptations of earth.
+
+"I am glad," she said to herself, "the right side of the ledger means
+giving up all, and the best of life is to be able to lose it if
+necessary. I will cling to these two thoughts, and I don't believe if
+the worst comes that anything can really hurt me."
+
+When she got near the school she was met by Mrs. Hopkins. She was amazed
+to see that good woman, as at that hour she was usually busily engaged
+in her shop. But Mrs. Hopkins took the bull by the horns and said
+quietly:
+
+"I came out on purpose to see you, Ruth Craven."
+
+"Well, and what do you want?" asked Ruth.
+
+"My dear, you are not looking too well."
+
+"Please do not mind my looks."
+
+"It is just this, dear. There will be no end of a fuss in the school
+to-day."
+
+Ruth did not reply.
+
+"And they will press you hard."
+
+Still Ruth made no answer.
+
+"You know what it will mean if you tell?"
+
+Ruth's grave eyes were fixed on Mrs. Hopkins's face.
+
+"Child, I don't want to doubt you--nobody who knows you could do
+that--but it will mean ruin to poor Susy and to many and many a girl at
+the Great Shirley School. It isn't so much Miss O'Hara we mean. Miss
+O'Hara has gone into this with her eyes open; and she is rich, and what
+is disgrace to her in this little part of England, when she herself
+lives in a great big castle in Ireland, and is a queen, lady, and all
+the rest? But it means--oh, such a frightful lot to so many! Now, Susy,
+for instance. I meant to apprentice her to a good trade when she had
+gone through her course of work at the Great Shirley; but she will have
+to be a servant--a little maid-of-all-work--and I think that it would
+break my heart if she was expelled."
+
+"And what do you want me to do, Mrs. Hopkins?"
+
+"Oh, my dear, not to think of yourself, but of the many who will be
+ruined--not to tell, Ruth Craven."
+
+Ruth gave a gentle smile; then she put out her small slim hand and
+touched Mrs. Hopkins, and then turned and continued her walk to the
+school.
+
+There were a group of foundationers standing round the entrance. Ruth
+longed to avoid them, but they saw her and clustered round her, and each
+and all began to whisper in her ears:
+
+"You will be faithful, Ruth; nothing will induce you to tell. It will be
+hard on you, but you won't ruin so many of us. It is better for one to
+suffer than for all to suffer. You won't tell, will you, Ruth?"
+
+Ruth made no reply in words. The great bell rang, the doors of the
+school were flung wide, and the girls, Ruth amongst them, entered.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+AFTER THE FUN COMES THE DELUGE
+
+
+Kathleen O'Hara's nature was of the kind that rises to the top of the
+mountains and sinks again to the lowest vales. She had been on the
+tip-top of the hills of her own fantasy all that evening. When she ran
+quickly home under the stars she began to realize what she had done She
+had done something of which her mother would have been ashamed. Not for
+a moment had Kathleen thought of this way of looking at her escapade
+until she read the truth in the eyes of the unknown but most kind lady.
+She despised herself for her own action, but she did not dread
+discovery. It did not occur to her as possible that what she and her
+companions had done could be known. If no one knew, no one need be at
+all more sorry or at all more unhappy on account of her action.
+
+"Poor Wild Irish Girls! they are getting into hot water," she said to
+herself. "But this little bit of fun need never be told to any one."
+
+Kathleen had let herself out of the house by the strong rope of ivy; she
+meant to return to her bedroom the same way. Alice was a very sound
+sleeper; it did not occur to her that Alice on that particular night
+might be awake. She reached the foot of the window in perfect safety,
+saw that the ivy looked precisely as it had looked when she climbed down
+it, and began her upward ascent. This was decidedly more difficult than
+her downward one; but she was light of foot and agile. Had she not
+climbed dangerous crags after young eaglets at home? By-and-by she
+reached the window-sill. How nice! the window was partly open. She
+pushed it wider and got in. The room was in darkness. So much the
+better. She stepped softly, reached her own bed, undressed, and lay
+down. How nice of Alice to be sound asleep! Then of course it was not
+Alice she saw standing on the platform looking at her with reproachful,
+horrified eyes.
+
+"I must have dreamt it," thought Kathleen. "Now all is well, and I shall
+sleep like a top until the morning."
+
+This, however, was no easy feat. Alice's quiet breathing sounded not
+many feet away, and after a time it seemed to get on Kathleen's nerves.
+She moved restlessly in her bed. Alice awoke, and complained of the
+cold.
+
+"The window is a little open," said Kathleen. "Shall I shut it?"
+
+Alice made no answer. Kathleen jumped up, shut the window, and fastened
+it. She then got back into bed. In the morning Alice called out to her:
+
+"Is your headache better?"
+
+"Had I one?" began Kathleen. Then she blushed; then she laughed; then
+she said, "Oh, it's quite well."
+
+Alice gazed steadily at her. It seemed to Kathleen that Alice's eyes
+were full of something very terrible.
+
+"Are you coming to school to-day?" asked Alice the next moment.
+
+"Of course. Why do you ask such a strange question?"
+
+"I shouldn't think you would wish to; but there is no accounting for
+what some people can live through."
+
+"Alice, what do you mean?"
+
+"What I say."
+
+"Explain yourself."
+
+"No."
+
+"Is there anything very awful going to happen at school?"
+
+"You will find out for yourself when you get there."
+
+"Dear me!" said Kathleen; "you look as if the deluge was coming."
+
+"And so it is," said Alice.
+
+She had finished dressing by now, and she went out of the room. The two
+girls went down to breakfast. Alice's face was still full of an awful
+suppressed knowledge, which she would not let out to any one; but Mrs.
+Tennant was smiling and looking just as usual, and the boys were as
+fond of Kathleen as was their wont. She had completely won their
+immature masculine hearts, and they invariably sat one on each side of
+her at meals, helped her to the best the table contained, and fussed
+over her in a way that pleased her young majesty. Kathleen was very glad
+that morning to get the boys' attention. She determined to sit with her
+back slightly turned to Alice, in order not to look into her face. They
+were about half-way through breakfast when there came a ring at the
+front-door, and Cassandra Weldon's voice was heard.
+
+Alice went out to her. The two girls kept whispering together in the
+passage. Presently Alice returned to the breakfast-room, and Kathleen
+now noticed that her eyes were red, as though she had just been
+indulging in a bout of crying.
+
+"What can be the matter?" she thought.
+
+"Why, my dear Alice," said her mother, looking up at this moment, "what
+did Cassandra want? And what is the matter with you? Have you had bad
+news?"
+
+"Yes, mother," answered Alice.
+
+"But what is it, dear?"
+
+"You will know soon enough, mother."
+
+"That is exactly what you said to me upstairs," said Kathleen, driven
+desperate by Alice's manner. "I do wish you would speak out.--Do get her
+to speak out, Mrs. Tennant. She hints at something awful going to happen
+at school to-day. I declare I won't go if it is as bad as that."
+
+"It would be like you not to come," said Alice. "But I think you will
+come. I don't think you will be allowed to be absent."
+
+"Allowed!" said Kathleen. "Who is going to prevent me staying away from
+school if I wish to?"
+
+"The vote of the majority," said Alice very firmly. "Now, look here,
+Kathleen; don't make a fuss. It is wrong for the girls of the Great
+Shirley School to absent themselves without due reason."
+
+"Well, I have a headache. I had one last night."
+
+"No, you had not."
+
+"Alice, dear, why do you speak to Kathleen like that?" said her mother.
+"What is the matter with you?--Kathleen, do keep your temper.--Alice, I
+am sorry something has annoyed you so much."
+
+"It is past speaking about, mother. You will understand all too
+soon.--Kathleen, it is time for us to be going."
+
+"I am not going," said Kathleen, "so there!"
+
+"Kathleen, you are."
+
+"No."
+
+"Come, Kathleen; come."
+
+"You needn't fuss about me; I am not coming."
+
+"Kathleen, dear, I think you ought to go. Go for my sake," said Mrs.
+Tennant.
+
+Kathleen looked up then, saw the anxiety in Mrs. Tennant's face, and her
+heart relented. She was in reality not at all afraid of what might be
+going to happen at school. If there was to be a fray, she desired
+nothing better than to be in the midst of it.
+
+"All right," she said, "I will go; but I won't go yet. I am going to be
+late this morning. I can see by your manner, Alice, that I have got into
+disgrace. Now, I can't think what disgrace I have got into, unless some
+horrid girls have been prying and telling tales out of school. That sort
+of thing I should think even the Great Shirley girls would not attempt.
+Unless some one has been mean enough to act in that way, there is
+nothing in the world to prevent my going to school, and taking my
+accustomed place, and disporting myself in my usual manner. I shall get
+a bad mark for being late; that is the worst that can happen to me. I am
+going to be very late, so you can go on by yourself, Alice."
+
+Alice very nearly stamped her foot. She went so far as to beg and
+implore of Kathleen, but Kathleen was imperturbable.
+
+"You are very naughty, Kathleen," said Mrs. Tennant, but Kathleen ran up
+to her and kissed her.
+
+"You and I will have some fun, perhaps, this afternoon," she said. "I
+have got a lot of new plans in my head; they are all about you, and to
+make you happy and not so tired. Don't be cross with me. I'll promise
+that I will never be naughty again after to-day."
+
+Mrs. Tennant said nothing more. A minute or two later Alice left the
+house.
+
+It was quite an hour after Alice had departed that Kathleen took it into
+her head that she might as well stroll towards the school. On Saturdays
+school was over a little earlier than other days. There was a special
+class which she was anxious not to miss, for in spite of herself she was
+becoming interested in certain portions of her lessons. Her depression
+had now left her, and she felt excited, but at the same time irritated.
+A spirit of defiance came over her. She went upstairs and selected from
+her heterogeneous wardrobe one of her very prettiest and most
+fashionable and most unsuitable dresses. She put on a hat trimmed with
+flowers and feathers, and a sash of many colors round her waist. Over
+all she slipped her dark-blue velvet jacket, and with rich sables round
+her neck and wrists, she ran downstairs.
+
+"Why, Kathleen, any one would suppose you were going to a concert," said
+Mrs. Tennant.
+
+"Ah, my dear good friend, I like to look jolly once in a way. I am
+certain to get a bad mark for unpunctuality, so I may as well get it
+looking my best as my worst. You don't blame me for that, do you?"
+
+"No. Go off now, dear, and don't let me find you so troublesome again."
+
+Kathleen started off. She ran across the common, and reached the doors
+of the great school exactly one hour after she ought to have arrived. To
+her amazement, she saw quite a crowd of people waiting outside, and
+amongst them was Mrs. Hopkins. There were several other mothers as well,
+and when they saw Kathleen they turned their backs on her, and one or
+two were heard to say aloud:
+
+"It's she who has done it."
+
+But Mrs. Hopkins did not turn her back on Kathleen; she came close to
+her, and even took her hand.
+
+"Why are you late, miss?" she said. "But perhaps it is best. Miss
+O'Hara, you won't forget my poor aunt; you will be sure to get her the
+little almshouse in Ireland?"
+
+"Yes, of course I will," said Kathleen. "Aunt Katie has written about it
+already, and I will write to-night. You may tell Mrs. Church that it is
+absolutely quite certain that she will get it. What is the matter, Mrs.
+Hopkins? How strange you look! And all those other women--they seem
+quite cross with me. What have I done?"
+
+"Ah, miss! I keep saying to them that it is because you are Irish and
+don't know frolic from serious mischief. Bless your heart, miss! it is
+you that are kind. You mean kindly--no one more so--and so I have said
+to them."
+
+"But it will be a nice thing if my girl gets expelled owing to her,"
+said a sour-faced woman, coming forward now and placing her arms akimbo
+just in front of Kathleen.
+
+"Is it that that every one is thinking about?" said Kathleen. She stood
+still for a minute. The color left her face. She felt a wave of
+tempestuous blood pressing against her heart; then it all rushed back in
+a fiery color into her cheeks and in brightness to her eyes.
+
+"And Alice knew of this," she said to herself; "and when I didn't come
+to school this morning she thought that I was afraid. Afraid!--Don't
+keep me, good people," said Kathleen. "Make way, please. I am sorry I am
+a little late."
+
+She walked past them all. When she got as far as the school door she
+turned to Mrs. Hopkins.
+
+"You can tell your aunt that the almshouse is safe," she said, and then
+she blew a kiss to her and disappeared into the school.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+WHO WAS THE RINGLEADER?
+
+
+In the passage a monitress was standing, and when she saw Kathleen she
+came up to her and said in an agitated tone:
+
+"They are all assembled in the great hall. Go in quickly; you may be in
+time, after all."
+
+The voice of the monitress quite shook, and there was a troubled, very
+nearly tearful expression in her eyes.
+
+"But why is the whole school in the central hall?" asked Kathleen. "Why
+are they not in their different classrooms?"
+
+"Go in--go in," said the monitress. "You will know when you find
+yourself there; and there is not a moment to lose."
+
+So Kathleen, impelled by a curious power which seemed to drive her
+whether she will it or not, opened the door of the great central hall
+and entered. She found it quite full. The four hundred girls who
+composed the Great Shirley School were all present; so were the
+teachers, and so were the professors who came to give them music and
+drawing and literature lessons. So was the head-mistress, Miss
+Ravenscroft; and also, seated on the same little raised platform, were
+the six ladies who formed the governors. The governors sat in a little
+circle, Miss Mackenzie in the middle. Miss Mackenzie looked hard and
+very firm. Her iron-gray hair, her false teeth, her prominent nose, and
+her rather cruel steel-gray eyes made themselves felt all down the long
+room. The other ladies also looked as they usually did, except that Mrs.
+Naylor had traces of tears in her eyes, and bent forward several times
+to whisper something to Miss Mackenzie, who invariably shook her head
+and looked more stern than ever. There was evidently a moment's pause,
+and the whole school was in a waiting attitude when Kathleen made her
+appearance. All eyes were then turned in her direction; all eyes fixed
+themselves on the showily dressed and very handsome child who suddenly
+entered the room.
+
+"It is Kathleen O'Hara;" "It is Kathleen O'Hara herself;" "Well, she has
+come at last;" "Yes, it is Kathleen O'Hara," passed from lip to lip,
+until Kathleen felt that her name had got round her and above her and to
+right and left of her. She had an instant's sensation of absolute fear.
+She had a flashing desire to turn tail and run out of the room; but the
+same power which had pushed her into the room now sent her right up the
+long central hall past all the watching, expectant, eager-looking girls.
+Outside some one had said that she would be afraid. No, whatever the
+danger, she knew she could keep her own. She was not Kathleen O'Hara of
+Carrigrohane Castle for nothing.
+
+"Come here, Miss O'Hara," said the voice of Miss Ravenscroft at that
+moment.
+
+Kathleen obeyed at once. She found a seat on the front bench, dropped
+into it, and at the same moment encountered the almost malicious glance
+of Alice Tennant. She turned away from Alice. That look seemed suddenly
+to steady her nerves. She was afraid just for a moment that she might
+give way to something, she knew not what, but Alice's look hardened her
+heart. Time had been given Kathleen to take her place, to recover any
+emotion she might have felt by her sudden entrance, and then Miss
+Ravenscroft rose to her feet.
+
+"It is my painful duty," she said, "to have to say something which
+distresses me far more than I can give you any idea of. My dear girls,
+you have all been summoned to attend in this hall to-day in order to
+meet the governors of the school, Miss Mackenzie, Mrs. Naylor, Mrs.
+Ross, the Misses Scott, and Miss Jane Smyth. These ladies have come to
+meet you, because they wish thoroughly to investigate a most disgraceful
+matter which has lately been going on in the school."
+
+Miss Ravenscroft paused and looked round her.
+
+"I allude," she said, "to the insurrection in our midst--a sort of civil
+war in our camp. There are, I am given to understand, in the midst of
+this hitherto well conducted and admirable school, a number of girls who
+have banded themselves together in disregard of its laws, and who have
+made for themselves laws contrary to the peace-abiding principles of
+this great school and noble institution: who meet at unseemly hours, who
+preach rebellion each to the other, who dare to publicly break the laws
+of the school, and who defy the express wishes of myself as
+head-mistress and the governors of the school by insisting on continuing
+their wicked meetings. And last night a certain number of these girls
+actually took it upon themselves to go to London--to do what, I can't
+say--and to return at midnight, alone and unchaperoned. Such conduct is
+so unworthy, so undignified, and so absolutely sinful that there is only
+one course to pursue. The girls who are rebellious in the school must be
+exposed; their conduct must be investigated, and a very heavy punishment
+awarded to them."
+
+Here Miss Ravenscroft looked round her. She caught the eye of Miss
+Mackenzie, who beckoned to her and whispered something in her ear.
+
+"Miss Mackenzie bids me say that if the girls who belong to this society
+will at this moment give up the name of their ringleader they themselves
+will be forgiven. What punishment they receive will only be connected
+with their work in the school, and may possibly exclude them from
+competing for certain scholarships during this present term, but for the
+rest nothing further will be said. But it is essential that the name of
+the ringleader, as well as her rules and her motives, should be
+declared."
+
+Miss Ravenscroft paused again and looked down the whole length of the
+long hall. She looked to right and left.
+
+"Don't let any girl think," she said after a pause, "that she is acting
+nobly by suppressing information which is for the benefit of the school.
+I do not ask the girls who are spoken of as the paying girls to expose
+their companions, nor do I ask those foundationers who have not joined
+the band of insurgents to betray their fellows; but what I do ask is
+this: that the girls themselves--the rebels--should rise in a body and
+point to their leader. With that leader the governors will deal. The
+girls themselves will have forgiveness."
+
+Miss Ravenscroft again paused. The silence which followed might be felt.
+Susy Hopkins bent her head and sobbed. Janey Ford trembled all over, and
+clutched tightly the hand of her companion. But no one spoke. It was at
+that moment that Kathleen calmly and slowly raised her face and looked
+around her. She looked back, and caught the eyes of at least a dozen of
+those foundationers whom she had pitied and helped and been jolly with.
+She looked to the right then, and met as many more faces of girls whom
+she knew, and who were members of the Wild Irish Girls' Society. Then
+very calmly she resumed her nonchalant attitude in the front row of the
+schoolgirls. Miss Ravenscroft meanwhile stood waiting. Still no one
+spoke.
+
+"Will no one speak?" she said. "Will no girl present be brave enough to
+save the school?"
+
+Still there was silence.
+
+"This is a very good and a great school," said Miss Ravenscroft. "It
+gives for a very trifling sum an education worthy of the very best and
+most expensive schools in England. It was founded some hundred years
+ago, by those who thought much and in advance of their time. In an age
+when girls were almost uneducated, when nothing further was required
+from them than a smattering of reading and writing, these wise and
+far-seeing people said that they would give the girls of the future a
+chance. So they left money for the purpose, and that money, wisely
+invested, has borne fruit. The great school was built, and has for
+generations helped many girls who otherwise might not have been able to
+earn their own bread. Even for the paying girls the expense for all they
+receive is but a trifle. But the school does more than that. It was the
+wish of the founders that there should always be one hundred
+foundationers on the school lists, and these girls are admitted free;
+they pay nothing in hard cash for what they receive. They are taught
+liberally; they have the best rooms, the best laboratories; the best
+music, the best art, are supplied to them. If they have talent they have
+every chance of bringing it to the fore, for the education is thorough
+and generous. But the school does even more than this. It opens up
+scholarships--many scholarships--of great value for those special girls
+who call themselves foundationers. Now my dear girls of the Great
+Shirley School, you must clearly understand that no establishment of
+this kind can be worked except on certain lines, and these lines mean
+order, method, and obedience. Rules must be made, and these rules at any
+cost must be obeyed. These rules are made not only to enable the girls
+to get the best possible education out of the school, but also that the
+greater education of mind and heart, which alone can build up a fine and
+useful character, may not be neglected. That sort of education can only
+be given by conforming to principles. Now, there are certain principles
+which every girl who comes into this school is bound to adhere to. She
+is bound on all occasions to behave with sobriety, with a sense of
+modesty and true womanly feeling; she is never, if she is a true member
+of the school, to join herself to rebels who do not believe in its
+rules. Now, there is not the slightest doubt that the society which you
+girls--a certain number of you--have joined is rebellious, has bad
+effects, and has rules of its own which are absolutely contrary to the
+rules of the Great Shirley School. It is impossible for you to be
+members of this society and to be members of the Great Shirley School.
+If, therefore, you do not immediately forsake that society, and
+immediately promise here and now that you will give it up forever, we
+shall have the painful duty of expelling you from the school. You have a
+few minutes in which to decide. Nobody wants to be hard on you; nobody
+wants to be hard on your founder, although she must no longer take her
+place as a member of this school; but if you don't confess, very
+stringent and terrible methods will have to be resorted to."
+
+Miss Ravenscroft here resumed her seat. There was a faint applause which
+came from different parts of the room, but was not unanimous, and soon
+died away. After that there was silence. Miss Mackenzie bent forward and
+made some notes in a little black book which she held upon her lap. Mrs.
+Naylor took her handkerchief and wiped the tears from her eyes; the
+other governors looked depressed and uneasy. Meanwhile Miss Ravenscroft
+sat with her eyes fixed on the different girls in their different forms.
+There was no movement. Kathleen drew herself up proudly.
+
+"They're not quite such cads," she said under her breath.
+
+But just as the thought came to her, Miss Mackenzie, the woman most
+respected and most dreaded in the whole of Merrifield, rose slowly to
+her feet.
+
+"Girls of the Great Shirley School," she said, "your head-mistress, Miss
+Ravenscroft, has conveyed to you a message from me and from the other
+governors. The message is to the effect that if those silly girls who
+have allied themselves to that most ridiculous society, the Wild Irish
+Girls, will give the name of their leader, they shall be forgiven. Do
+you accept, foundationers, or do you decline?"
+
+Dead silence ensued.
+
+"I presume," said Miss Mackenzie after a pause of a full minute, "that
+your silence means refusal I have therefore to turn to a certain young
+girl in this school who was a member of the Wild Irish Girls' Society,
+and who has now left it.--Ruth Craven, have the goodness to step
+forward."
+
+Ruth had been seated in the fourth bench. She rose slowly. Kathleen felt
+a curious tremor run through her, but she did not move a muscle; only
+when Ruth appeared at the edge of the platform, it was with the greatest
+effort she could keep herself from jumping up, taking her hand, and
+mounting the platform by her side.
+
+"Step up here, Miss Craven," said Miss Mackenzie.
+
+Ruth did so.
+
+"Will you have the goodness to stand just here, Miss Craven?"
+
+Ruth went to the place indicated.
+
+"You can now face me, and your schoolfellows can also see you.--Girls, I
+have requested Ruth Craven to take the prominent position she now
+occupies in order that you may all see her. You all know her, do you
+not? Those who know Ruth Craven, hold up their hands."
+
+Immediately there was a great show of uplifted hands.
+
+"I presume that you all like her?"
+
+Again the hands went up, and Kathleen's was raised the highest of all.
+Ruth's little face, however, remained perfectly white and still; only
+her eyes were dark with emotion. She kept thinking of her father.
+
+"I should like that which would make me give _my life_ if necessary," he
+had said; and her grandfather had said, "Sometimes when you come out on
+the right side of the ledger it means giving _all_ that you possess."
+
+Ruth could scarcely see the faces which rose up like a great ocean
+beneath her, but she remembered her father's words very distinctly.
+
+"You all see Ruth Craven," continued Miss Mackenzie. "As far as I know,
+she is a good girl; and I judge by your method of answering my question
+that she is a popular girl. I know, alas! that she is poor. I have heard
+a great deal about her intellectual endowments, and believe that this
+school could be of immense advantage to her. I believe, in short, that
+she is the typical sort of girl of whom the founders thought when they
+instituted this great and noble house of learning. Nevertheless, Ruth
+Craven must fall if necessary for the good of the many.--Ruth, I wish to
+ask you a certain question. You were a member of that rebellious
+society, the Wild Irish Girls?"
+
+"Yes, Miss Mackenzie."
+
+Ruth's "Yes" was very clear; her face looked modest but firm. There was
+not the slightest hesitation in the words she uttered. Her speech was
+not loud, but it could be heard to the end of the great hall.
+
+"You are no longer a member?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Three days ago I and the other governors sent for you to ask you
+certain questions. You refused to answer those questions then. We gave
+you three days to consider, telling you that if at the end of that time
+you still kept to your resolution there was only one thing for us to do,
+and that was to make an example of you in the presence of the entire
+school--in short, to take from you your right of membership, and to
+expel you from the school, taking from you all privileges, all chances
+of acquiring learning and the different valuable scholarships which this
+school was opening to you. We came to this most painful resolve knowing
+well that it would cast a blight upon your life, that wherever you went
+the knowledge that you had been publicly expelled from the Great Shirley
+School would follow you--that you would, in short, step down, Ruth
+Craven. I quite understand from the expression of your face that you are
+the sort of child who imagines that she is doing right when she keeps
+back the knowledge which she thinks she ought not to betray; but we
+governors do not agree with you. There are six of us here, and we wish
+to tell you that if you now refuse the information which we wish to
+obtain from you, you will do _wrong_. You are young, and cannot know as
+much as we do. We earnestly beg of you, therefore; not to make a martyr
+of yourself in a silly and ridiculous cause.--Mrs. Naylor, will you now
+say what you think to Ruth Craven?"
+
+"I think, dear child," said Mrs. Naylor, speaking in a tremulous voice,
+which could scarcely be heard half-way down the room, "that it would be
+best for you not to conceal the truth."
+
+"And I agree," said Mrs. Ross.
+
+"We all agree," said the Misses Scott and Miss Jane Smyth.
+
+"We all think, dear," continued Mrs. Naylor, "that for the sake of any
+chivalrous ideas, quite worthy in themselves, it is a considerable pity
+for you to spoil your life. You are not the sort of child who could
+stand disgrace."
+
+"And you don't look the sort of child who would under ordinary
+circumstances act the idiot," said Miss Mackenzie sharply. "As to the
+chivalrous nature of your silence, I fail to see it. I hope you have
+carefully considered the position and are prepared to act openly and
+honorably. By go doing you will save the school and yourself. Now then,
+Ruth Craven, will you come a little more forward? Stand just
+there.--Girls, you can all see Ruth Craven, can you not?"
+
+The girls held up their hands in token that they could.
+
+"I will therefore at once proceed to question her," continued Miss
+Mackenzie.
+
+There was just a moment's pause, and during that complete silence a
+dreadful rushing noise came into Kathleen O'Hara's head. The floor for
+an instant seemed to rise up as though it would strike her; then she
+felt composed, but very cold and white. She fixed her eyes full on Ruth.
+
+"I will hear her out. I must hear the thing out," she kept saying to
+herself. "Afterwards--afterwards--But I must hear the whole thing out."
+
+Miss Mackenzie turned, and in a very emphatic voice began to question.
+
+"You are prepared to reply to the following questions?" she said.
+
+Ruth's very steady eyes were raised; she fixed them on Miss Mackenzie.
+Her lips were firmly shut. Nothing could be quieter than her attitude;
+she did not show a trace of emotion. Always pale, she looked a little
+paler now than her wont. Her darks eyes seemed to darken and grow full
+of intense emotion; otherwise no one could have told that she was
+suffering or feeling anything in particular.
+
+"But I know what she is going through," thought Kathleen. She clenched
+her hands so tightly that the nails went into the delicate flesh. She
+was glad of the pain; it kept her from screaming aloud.
+
+"The first question I have to ask," said Miss Mackenzie, "is this: How
+many of the foundation girls have joined the rebels?"
+
+Ruth came a step nearer.
+
+"How many? I can't quite hear you."
+
+"I am sorry," said Ruth then, "but I can't tell you."
+
+Miss Mackenzie, without any show of emotion, immediately entered Ruth's
+answer in a little book which she held in her hand.
+
+"Oh, don't, Miss Mackenzie! Don't be harsh," gasped little Mrs. Naylor.
+
+Miss Mackenzie, as though she had not heard the voice of her sister
+governor, proceeded:
+
+"What is the name of the founder of the society?"
+
+"I am not prepared to say," replied Ruth.
+
+Again this answer was recorded.
+
+"Can you give me an exact account of the rules of the society, its
+motives, its bearing generally?"
+
+The same negative reply was the result of this question.
+
+"Do you know anything whatever of the disgraceful escapade which took
+place last night, when a certain number of the members of this society
+went to London and returned by themselves at midnight?"
+
+Ruth's face cleared a little at this question.
+
+"I cannot answer because I know nothing," she said.
+
+A slight look of relief was visible on the faces of the unfortunate
+girls who had gone to town with Kathleen on the preceding night. A few
+more questions were asked, Ruth replying on every occasion in the
+negative. "I can't say," or "I will not say," were the only words that
+were wrung from her lips.
+
+"In short," said Miss Mackenzie very quietly, "you have decided, Ruth
+Craven--you, an ignorant, silly little girl--to defy the governors of
+this school. All justice has been dealt out to you, and all patience.
+The consequence of your mad action has been explained to you with the
+utmost fullness. You have been given time--abundant time--to consider.
+You have chosen, from what false motives it is impossible to say--"
+
+"My dear," interrupted Mrs. Naylor, "the child means well, I am
+assured."
+
+"From what false motives it is impossible to say," continued Miss
+Mackenzie, not taking the slightest notice of the little governor's
+futile appeal, "you have decided to wreck your own life and to ruin the
+school. It was to have been your noble privilege to save the school in a
+time of extremity. You have chosen the unworthy course. It is therefore
+my painful duty to call upon Miss Ravenscroft as head-mistress to expel
+you, Ruth Craven, from this school. You are no longer a member of the
+Great Shirley School; you are--"
+
+"Hold!" cried Kathleen.
+
+Her voice rang out sharp and clear. It was heard all over the school,
+and was so imperative, so startling, so unexpected, that even Miss
+Mackenzie lost her self-control and fell back in silence.
+
+"Hold!" cried Kathleen again. "You have said enough. I don't think you
+ought to go on. You are torturing the noblest girl in the world. But
+Kathleen O'Hara, bad as she is, cannot endure this last insult.
+Girls--Wild Irish Girls, you who belong to my society--I as your queen
+desire you to come forward. Come forward in a body at once."
+
+What was there in the young voice that impelled? What was there in the
+young face that stimulated, that caused fear to slink out of sight and
+courage to come to the fore, that caused hearts to beat high with
+generous emotion? Not a single girl failed Kathleen in this moment of
+her appeal. They clambered over their seats; they bent under the forms;
+they got out in any fashion, until she was surrounded by the sixty girls
+who formed her society. She glanced round her; her dark-blue eyes grew
+full of sweetness, and there was a look on her face which made the girls
+for the moment feel that they would die for her.
+
+"Come, girls," said their queen--"come; there is room on the platform."
+
+She sprang up the couple of steps without another word, and the girls
+followed her.
+
+"Do what you like with Ruth Craven, Miss Mackenzie," she cried; "but put
+your questions over again to me, and I will answer them one after the
+other. Then expel me and my companions; turn us out of the school, but
+keep the girl who would be a credit to you."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+END OF THE GREAT REBELLION.
+
+
+No one quite knew what happened next. Some of the girls went off into
+violent hysterics; others rushed out of the great hall, half-fainting;
+while others controlled themselves and listened as best they could. The
+scene was vivid and picturesque. Mrs. Naylor sobbed quite audibly, and
+took hold of Ruth's hand, and even kissed it. But as she did so Kathleen
+herself came near and flung her arm round Ruth's neck.
+
+"If you mean to expel Ruth you will expel me," she said. "But won't you
+forgive her? If her ideas were wrong, they were at least generous; and
+you know that I won't trouble you any more. I am very sorry, but I don't
+think that I was made to suit a great school like this, and I give up
+the society--yes, absolutely--so you won't have any rebels present in
+your midst again. Expel me, but keep her, for she will be the flower of
+your school, the greatest ornament, one you will talk of in the dim
+years of the future. Don't let me feel that I have spoilt her life."
+
+"But why did you act so, Kathleen O'Hara?" said Miss Mackenzie. "Why did
+you, a silly young girl, come over here, a stranger, to ruin the school
+and make us all unhappy?"
+
+"I can't answer you that," said Kathleen, flinging out her hands. "I did
+what I was made to do. I am a rebel by nature. I believe I shall always
+be a rebel. I shall go home to father and mother and tell them I am not
+suited for a school like this. But don't expel Ruth, and don't expel the
+others."
+
+"But we will all go if you are not kept," suddenly cried one of the
+sixty, Kathleen never quite knew which; and suddenly one girl after
+another began to speak up for her, and all promised that if Kathleen
+were allowed to remain, and if the whole story of the great rebellion
+was allowed to blow over, they would work as they had never done before.
+They wanted their queen to stay with them. Would the governors forgive
+their queen, just because she was an Irish girl and like no one else?
+
+How it came to pass it was impossible to tell. There was something about
+Kathleen--the bold, bright, and yet generous look on her face, the love
+which darted out of her eyes when she grasped Ruth's hand--that even
+impressed Miss Mackenzie. She said after a pause that she was willing to
+reconsider matters, and that she and all the other governors would meet
+in a day or two to give their opinion.
+
+Thus the school broke up. It had lived through its greatest and most
+exciting hour. But when Kathleen was seen going through the gates, her
+arm flung round Ruth's waist, and all the sixty girls following at her
+heels, such a cheer went up from the anxious mothers and fathers and
+brothers--for many fresh people had come to swell the crowd since
+Kathleen entered the school--as was never heard before in Merrifield.
+
+Thus ended the great rebellion. It is spoken of to this day as the
+greatest and most conspicuous event in the school's history. For, after
+all, the governors were lenient, and no girl was expelled. Kathleen, as
+years went on, became far and away the most popular girl in the school.
+Her talents were of the most brilliant order; her very faults seemed in
+one way to add to her charms. In one sense she was always a more or less
+troublesome girl; but where she loved she loved deeply, and from that
+hour she gave up all thought of rebellion either against the governors
+or against Miss Ravenscroft. Ruth was Kathleen's greatest friend. Her
+grandfather got better; his heart was never broken by the knowledge of
+that terrible disgrace which the child so feared that she would bring
+him. Mrs. Church became one of the Irish alms-women, and grumbled a good
+deal at the change in her position. Mrs. Hopkins's debt was cleared off;
+and all the characters in this story did well, and were proud to admit
+that they owed most of their future prosperity to the Wild Irish Girl,
+Kathleen O'Hara.
+
+THE END.
+
+
+TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:
+
+p.2  Typo fixed: changed OE to OF
+p.2  Typo fixed: changed upside-down V in VERY
+p.9  Added missing opening quote before THE BUTCHER
+p.15  Added missing opening quote before I HOPE TO
+p.27  Typo fixed: changed KATLHEEN to KATHLEEN
+p.29  Removed an extra closing quote after STICKY
+p.44  Typo fixed: changed SAN into SANS
+p.47  Typo fixed: changed CASSANDA to CASSANDRA
+p.57  Typo fixed: changed TOMORROW to TO-MORROW
+p.61  Typo fixed: changed AND to AN
+p.68  Typo fixed: changed RUTH RAVEN to RUTH CRAVEN
+p.76  Added missing closing quote after ON THE TABLE
+p.98  Typo fixed: changed TENNAN'T to TENNANT'S
+p.99  Typo fixed: changed HOMOR to HUMOR
+p.101 Typo fixed: changed EQUISITELY to EXQUISITELY
+p.113 Typo fixed: changed SCHOOL-FELLOWS to SCHOOLFELLOWS
+p.118 Typo fixed: changed WAN'T to WANT
+p.125 Added missing line: -ING ANY LONGER.
+p.177 Typo fixed: changed POSESSED to POSSESSED
+p.180 Typo fixed: changed TODAY to TO-DAY
+p.183 Typo fixed: changed METROPOLE to MÉTROPOLE
+p.184 Typo fixed: changed METROPOLE to MÉTROPOLE
+p.197 Typo fixed: changed ABOUNT to ABOUT
+p.205 Typo fixed: changed ARMCHAIR to ARM-CHAIR
+p.205 Typo fixed: changed PLUM-CAKE to PLUMCAKE
+p.209 Typo fixed: changed TENANT to TENNANT
+p.209 Typo fixed: changed PROFUND to PROFOUND
+p.220 Typo fixed: changed LADYLIKE to LADY-LIKE
+p.235 Removed an extra closing quote after GOOD THINGS
+p.241 Typo fixed: changed A SOON AS to AS SOON AS
+p.247 Removed an extra closing quote after HER JUDGES
+p.260 Typo fixed: changed FAVORIATE to FAVORITE
+p.267 Added missing closing quote after THAT, DEAR
+p.284 Added missing closing quote after THAT POINT
+p.285 Removed extra opening quote before I CAN'T TELL YOU
+p.290 Typo fixed: changed FOUND to FOND
+p.294 Typo fixed: changed GREAW to GREW
+p.295 Typo fixed: changed TEATABLE to TEA-TABLE
+p.297 Typo fixed: changed WINDOWSILL to WINDOW-SILL
+p.301 Removed an extra closing quote after THE GIRL'S FACE
+p.309 Removed an extra closing quote after WITH RESOLUTION
+p.325 Added missing closing quote after AWARDED TO THEM
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Rebel of the School, by Mrs. L. T. Meade
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+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rebel of the School, by Mrs. L. T. Meade
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Rebel of the School
+
+Author: Mrs. L. T. Meade
+
+Release Date: May 16, 2005 [EBook #15839]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REBEL OF THE SCHOOL ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Irma Špehar and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+<h1><!-- Page 1 --><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a><i>The Rebel of the School</i></h1>
+
+<h3>BY</h3>
+
+<h2>MRS. L.T. MEADE</h2>
+
+<h3>AUTHOR OF</h3>
+
+<h3>"MISS NONENTITY," "THE SCHOOL FAVORITE," "MERRY GIRLS OF ENGLAND,"
+"LITTLE MOTHER TO THE OTHERS," ETC.</h3>
+
+<h3>CHICAGO</h3>
+
+<h3>M.A. DONOHUE &amp; COMPANY</h3>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 311px;">
+<img src="images/cover1.jpg" width="311" height="500" alt="Front cover page" title="Front cover" />
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h3><!-- Page 2 --><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a>MRS. L.T. MEADE SERIES</h3>
+
+<table border="0" cellpadding="3" summary="Previous Books by L.T. Meade">
+<tr><td align='right'>BAD LITTLE HANNAH &nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp; LITTLE MOTHER TO OTHERS</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>A BUNCH OF CHERRIES &nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp; MERRY GIRLS OF ENGLAND</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>CHILDREN'S PILGRIMAGE &nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp; MISS NONENTITY</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>DADDY'S GIRL &nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp; A MODERN TOMBOY</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>DEB AND THE DUCHESS &nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp; OUT OF FASHION</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>FRANCIS KANE'S FORTUNE &nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp; PALACE BEAUTIFUL</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>A GAY CHARMER &nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp; POLLY, A NEW-FASHIONED GIRL</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>A GIRL OF THE PEOPLE &nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp; REBELS OF THE SCHOOL</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>A GIRL IN TEN THOUSAND &nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp; SCHOOL FAVORITE</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>THE GIRLS OF ST. WODES &nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp; A SWEET GIRL GRADUATE</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>GIRLS OF THE TRUE BLUE &nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp; THE TIME OF ROSES</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>GOOD LUCK &nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp; A VERY NAUGHTY GIRL</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>THE HEART OF GOLD &nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp; WILD KITTY</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>THE HONORABLE MISS &nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp; WORLD OF GIRLS</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>LIGHT OF THE MORNING &nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp; THE YOUNG MUTINEER</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan="2">List Price $1.00 Each<!-- Page 3 --><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2>
+
+
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border='0' cellpadding='4' cellspacing='0' summary="Table of Contents">
+<tr><td align='left'>CHAPTER</td><td align='left'>PAGE</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>I. Sent to Coventry!</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_5">5</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>II. High Life and Low Life</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>III. The Wild Irish Girl</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_26">26</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>IV. The Home-Sick and the Rebellious</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>V. Wit and Genius: the Plan Propounded</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_58">58</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>VI. The Poor Tired One</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>VII. The Queen and Her Secret Society</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_79">79</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>VIII. The Box from Dublin and Its Treasures</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>IX. Conscience and Difficulties</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_106">106</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>X. The Wild Irish Girl's Society Is Started</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_112">112</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XI. The Blouse and the Robbery</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XII. Tom Hopkins and His Way with Aunt Church</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XIII. Aunt Church at Dinner, and the Consequences Thereof</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XIV. Ruth Resigns the Premiership</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XV. The Scholarship: Trouble Is Brewing</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XVI. Kathleen Takes Ruth to Town</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_192">192</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XVII. Miss Katie O'Flynn and Her Niece</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_204">204</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XVIII. Susy Hopkins Persuades Aunt Church</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><!-- Page 4 --><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XIX. Ruth's Troubles and Susy's Preparations</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_230">230</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XX. The Governors of the School Examine Ruth</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_242">242</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XXI. The Society Meets at Mrs. Church's Cottage</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_253">253</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XXII. Ruth's Hard Choice: She Consults Her Grandfather</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_263">263</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XXIII. Ruth Will Not Betray Kathleen</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_275">275</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XXIV. Kathleen and Grandfather Craven</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_281">281</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XXV. Kathleen Has a Good Time in London</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_294">294</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XXVI. The Right Side of the Ledger</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_308">308</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XXVII. After the Fun Comes the Deluge</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_314">314</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XXVIII. Who Was the Ringleader?</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_321">321</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>XXIX. End of the Great Rebellion</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_334">334</a></td></tr>
+</table></div>
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2><!-- Page 5 --><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a>THE REBEL OF THE SCHOOL<br /></h2>
+
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2>
+
+<h3>SENT TO COVENTRY!</h3>
+
+
+<p>The school was situated in the suburbs of the popular town of
+Merrifield, and was known as the Great Shirley School. It had been
+endowed some hundred years ago by a rich and eccentric individual who
+bore the name of Charles Shirley, but was now managed by a Board of
+Governors. By the express order of the founder, the governors were
+women; and very admirably did they fulfil their trust. There was no
+recent improvement in education, no better methods, no sanitary
+requirements which were not introduced into the Great Shirley School.
+The number of pupils was limited to four hundred, one hundred of which
+were foundationers and were not required to pay any fees; the remaining
+three hundred paid small fees in order to be allowed to secure an
+admirable and up-to-date education under the auspices of the great
+school.</p>
+
+<p>There came a day in early autumn, shortly after the girls had
+reassembled after their summer vacation, when they streamed out of the
+building in groups of twenties and thirties and forties. They stood
+about and talked as girls will.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 6 --><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a>The Great Shirley School, well as it was managed, had perhaps a larger
+share than many schools of those temptations which make school a
+world&mdash;a world for the training either for good or evil of those who go
+to it. There were the girls who attended the school in the ordinary way,
+and there were the girls who were drafted on to the foundation from
+lower schools. These latter were looked down upon by the least noble and
+the meanest of their fellow-scholars.</p>
+
+<p>There was a slight rain falling, and two or three girls standing in a
+group raised their umbrellas, but they still stood beside the gates.</p>
+
+<p>"She's quite the very prettiest girl I ever saw," cried Alice Tennant;
+"but of course we can have nothing to do with her. She entered a week
+ago. She doesn't pay any of the fees; she has no pretence to being a
+lady. Oh, here she comes! Did you ever see such a face?"</p>
+
+<p>A slight, shabbily dressed little girl, with her satchel of books slung
+on her arm, now appeared. She looked to right and left of her as though
+she were slightly alarmed. Her face was beautiful in the truest sense of
+the world; it did not at all match with the shabby, faded clothes which
+she wore. She had large deep-violet eyes, jet-black hair, and a sweet,
+fresh complexion. Her expression was bewitching, and when she smiled a
+dimple came in her cheek.</p>
+
+<p>"Look&mdash;look!" cried Mary Denny. "Isn't she all that I have said?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and more. What a pity we can't know her!" said Alice Tennant.</p>
+
+<p>"But can't we? I really don't see why we should make the poor child
+miserable," said Mary Denny.</p>
+
+<p>"It is not to be thought of. We must worship the<!-- Page 7 --><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a> beautiful new star
+from afar. Perhaps she will do something to raise herself into our set;
+but as it is, she must go with Kate Rourke and Hannah Johnson and Clara
+Sawyer, and all the rest of the foundationers."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we have seen her now," said Mary, "so I suppose we needn't stand
+talking about her any longer. Will you come home and have tea with me,
+Alice? Mother said I might ask you."</p>
+
+<p>"I wish I could come," said Alice; "but we are expecting Kathleen."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, the Irish girl! Is it really arranged that she is to come?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, of course it is. She comes to-night. I have never seen her. We are
+all pleased, and expect that she will be a very great acquisition."</p>
+
+<p>"Irish girls always are," said Mary. "They're so gay and full of life,
+and are so ridiculously witty. Don't you remember that time when we had
+Norah Mahoney at the school? What fun that was!"</p>
+
+<p>"But she got into terrible scrapes, and was practically dismissed," said
+Alice. "I only hope Kathleen won't be in that style."</p>
+
+<p>"But do you know anything about her? The Irish are always so terribly
+poor."</p>
+
+<p>"She is not poor at all. She has got an uncle and aunt in Chicago, and
+they are as rich as can be; and her uncle is coming to see her at
+Christmas. And besides that, her father has an awfully old castle in the
+south-west of Ireland. He is never troubled on account of the Land
+League or anything else, and Kathleen will have lots and lots of money.
+I know she is paying mother well for giving her a home while she is
+being educated at the Shirley School."</p>
+
+<p>"I can't imagine why she comes to our school if she is<!-- Page 8 --><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a> so rich," said
+Mary. "It seems almost unfair. The Great Shirley School is not meant for
+rich girls: a girl of the kind you have just described ought not to
+become a member of the school."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that is all very fine; but it seems her mother was educated here,
+and swore a sort of vow that when Kathleen was old enough she should
+come to this school and to no other. Her mother's name is Mrs. O'Hara,
+and she wrote to Miss Ravenscroft and asked if there was a vacancy for
+Kathleen, and if she knew of any one who would be nice to her and with
+whom she could live. Miss Ravenscroft thought of mother; she knew that
+mother would like to have a boarder who would pay her well. So the whole
+thing was settled; mother has been corresponding with Mrs. O'Hara, and
+Kathleen comes to-day. I really can't stay another moment, Mary. I must
+rush home; there are no end of things to be attended to."</p>
+
+<p>"All right," said Mary. "I will watch for you and the beautiful Irish
+heiress&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know that she is an heiress."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, whatever she is&mdash;the bewitching Irish girl&mdash;to-morrow morning.
+Ta-ta for the present."</p>
+
+<p>Mary turned to the left, and Alice continued her walk. She walked
+quickly. She was a well-made, rather pretty girl of fifteen. Her hair,
+very light in colour, hung down her back. She had a determined walk and
+a good carriage. As she hurried her steps she saw Ruth Craven, the
+pretty foundation girl, walking in front of her. Ruth walked slowly and
+as if she were tired. Once she pressed her hand to her side, and Alice,
+passing her, hesitated and looked back. The face that met hers was so
+appealing and loving that she could not resist saying a word.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you awfully tired, Ruth Craven?" she said.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 9 --><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a>"I shall get used to it," replied Ruth. "I have had a cold for the last
+few days. Thank you so much, Miss Tennant!"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't thank me," said Alice, frowning; "and don't say 'Miss Tennant,'
+It isn't good form in our school. I hope you will be better to-morrow. I
+am sure, at least, that you will like the school very much."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," said the girl again.</p>
+
+<p>The girls parted at the next corner. When Ruth found herself alone she
+paused and looked behind her. Tears rose to her eyes; she took out her
+handkerchief to wipe them away. She paused as if troubled by some
+thought; then her face grew bright, and she stepped along more briskly.</p>
+
+<p>"I am a coward, and I ought to be ashamed of myself," she thought. "Now,
+when I go in and grandfather sees me, he will think he has done quite
+wrong to let me go to the Shirley School. I must not let him think that.
+And granny will be still more vexed. I have had my heart's desire, and
+because things are not quite so pleasant as I hoped they would have
+been, it is no reason why I should be discontented."</p>
+
+<p>The next moment she had lifted the latch at a small cottage and entered.
+It was a little better than a workman's house, but not much; there were
+two rooms downstairs and two rooms upstairs, and that was all. To the
+front of the little house was the tiny parlour, at the back an equally
+tiny kitchen. Upstairs was a bedroom for Ruth and a bedroom for her
+grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. Craven did not keep any servants. The moment
+Ruth entered now her grandmother put her head out of the kitchen door.</p>
+
+<p>"Ruthie," she said, "the butcher has disappointed us to-day. Here is a
+shilling; go to the shop and bring in<!-- Page 10 --><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a> some sausages. Be as quick as you
+can, child, or your grandfather won't have his supper in time."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth took the money without a word. She went down a small lane, turned
+to her right, and found herself in a mean little street full of small
+shops. She entered one that she knew, and asked for a pound and a half
+of pork sausages. As the woman was wrapping them up in a piece of torn
+newspaper, she looked at Ruth and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Is it true, Miss Craven, that you are a scholar at the Great Shirley
+School?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am," replied Ruth. "I went there for the first time to-day."</p>
+
+<p>"So your grandparents are going to educate you, miss, as if you were a
+lady."</p>
+
+<p>"I am a lady, Mrs. Plowden. My grandparents cannot make me anything but
+what I am."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Plowden smiled. She handed Ruth her sausages without a word, and
+the young girl left the shop. Her grandmother was waiting for her in the
+porch.</p>
+
+<p>"What a time you have been, child!" she said. "I do hope this new school
+and the scholars and all this fuss and excitement of your new life won't
+turn your head. Whatever happens, you have got to be a little servant to
+me and a little messenger to your grandfather. You have got to make
+yourself useful, and not to have ideas beyond your station."</p>
+
+<p>"Here are the sausages, granny," answered Ruth in a gentle tone.</p>
+
+<p>The old lady took them from her and disappeared into the kitchen.</p>
+
+<p>"Ruth&mdash;Ruth!" said a somewhat querulous but very deep voice which
+evidently issued from the parlor.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, granddad; coming in a moment or two," Ruth<!-- Page 11 --><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a> replied. She ran up
+the tiny stairs, and entered her own little bedroom, which was so wee
+that she could scarcely turn round in it, but was extremely neat.</p>
+
+<p>Ruth removed her hat, brushed out her black hair, saw that her dress,
+shabby as it was, was in apple-pie order, put on a neat white apron, and
+ran downstairs. She first of all entered the parlor. A handsome old man,
+with a decided look of Ruth herself, was seated by the fire. He was
+holding out his thin, knuckly hands to the blaze. As Ruth came in he
+turned and smiled at her.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, deary!" he said, "I have been missing you all day. And how did you
+like your school? And how is everything?"</p>
+
+<p>"I will tell you after supper, grandfather. I must go and help granny
+now."</p>
+
+<p>"That's right; that's a good girl. Oh! far be it from me to be
+impatient; I wouldn't be for all the world. Your granny has missed you
+too to-day."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth smiled at him and went into the kitchen. There were eager voices
+and sounds of people hurrying about, and then a fragrant smell of fried
+sausages. A moment later Ruth appeared, holding a brightly trimmed lamp
+in her hand; she laid it on a little centre-table, drew down the blinds,
+pulled the red curtains across the windows, poked up the fire, and then
+proceeded to lay the cloth for supper. Her pile of books, which she had
+brought in her satchel, lay on a chair.</p>
+
+<p>"I can have a look at your books while I am waiting, can't I, little
+woman?" said the old man.</p>
+
+<p>Ruth brought him over the pack of books somewhat unwillingly. He gave a
+sigh of contentment, drew the lamp a little nearer, and was lost for the
+time being.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, child," said old Mrs. Craven, "you heat that<!-- Page 12 --><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a> plate by the fire.
+Have you got the pepper and salt handy? Sausages ain't worth touching
+unless you eat them piping hot. Your grandfather wants his beer. Dear,
+dear! What a worry that is! I never knew that the cask was empty. What
+is to be done?"</p>
+
+<p>"I can go round to the shop and bring in a quart," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"But you&mdash;a member of the Shirley School! No, you mustn't. I'll do it."</p>
+
+<p>"Nonsense, granny! I'll leave school to-morrow if you don't let me work
+for you just the same as ever."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Craven sank into her chair.</p>
+
+<p>"You are a good child," she said. "All day I have been so fretting that
+we were taking you out of your station; and that is a sad mistake&mdash;sad
+and terrible. But you are a good child. Yes, go for it, dear; it won't
+do you any harm."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth wrapped an old shawl round her head, picked up a jug, and went off
+to the nearest public-house. They were accustomed to see her there, for
+old Mr. Craven more often than not had his little cask of beer empty.
+She went to a side entrance, where a woman she knew served her with what
+she required.</p>
+
+<p>"There, Ruth Craven," she said&mdash;"there it is. But, all the same, I'm
+surprised to see you here to-night."</p>
+
+<p>"But why so?" asked Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"Isn't it true that you are one of the Shirley scholars now?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am; I joined the school to-day."</p>
+
+<p>"And yet you come to fetch beer for your old grandfather!"</p>
+
+<p>"I do," said Ruth, with spirit. "And I shall fetch it for him as long as
+he wants it. Thank you very much."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 13 --><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a>She took the jug and walked carefully back to the cottage.</p>
+
+<p>"She's the handsomest, most spirited, best little thing I ever met,"
+thought the landlady of the "Lion," and she began to consider in her own
+mind if one of her men could not call round in the morning and leave the
+necessary beer at the Cravens'.</p>
+
+<p>Supper was served, and was eaten with considerable relish by all three.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," said old granny when the meal had come to an end, "you stay and
+talk to your grandfather&mdash;he is all agog to hear what you have got to
+say&mdash;and I will wash up. Now then, child, don't you worry. It isn't
+everybody who has got loving grandparents like us."</p>
+
+<p>"And it isn't many old bodies who have got such a dear little
+granddaughter," said the old man, smiling at Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Craven carried the supper things into the kitchen, and Ruth sat
+close to her grandfather.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, tell me, child, tell me," he said. "What did they do? What class
+did they put you into?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am in the third remove; a very good class indeed&mdash;at least they all
+said so, grandfather."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't understand your modern names; but tell me what you have got to
+learn, dear. What sort of lessons are they going to put into that smart
+little head of yours?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, all the best things, grandfather&mdash;French, German, English in all
+its branches, music, and Latin if I like. I am determined to take up
+Latin; I want to get to the heart of things."</p>
+
+<p>"Quite right&mdash;quite right, too. And you are ever so pleased at having
+got in?"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 14 --><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a>"It does seem a grand thing for me, doesn't it, grandfather?"</p>
+
+<p>"Most of the girls are ladies, aren't they?"</p>
+
+<p>"It is a big school&mdash;between three and four hundred girls. I don't
+suppose they are all ladies."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you are, anyhow, my little Ruth."</p>
+
+<p>"Am I, granddad? That is the question."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you think yourself?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think so; but what does the world say?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ruth, I never told you, but your mother was a lady. You know what your
+father was. I saved and stinted and toiled and got him a commission in
+the army. He died, poor fellow, shortly after you were born. But he was
+a commissioned officer in the Punjab Infantry. Your mother was a
+governess, but she was a lady by birth; her father was a clergyman. Your
+parents met in India; they fell in love, and married. Your mother died
+at your birth, and you came home to us. Yes, child, by birth you are a
+lady, as good as any of them&mdash;as good as the best."</p>
+
+<p>"They are dead," said Ruth. "I don't remember them. I have a picture of
+my father upstairs; it is taken with his uniform on. He looks very
+handsome. And I have a little water-color sketch of my mother, and she
+looks fair and sweet and interesting. But I never knew them. Those I
+knew and know and love are you, grandfather, and granny."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, dear, when I had the power and the brains and the strength, I
+kept a shop&mdash;a grocer's shop, dear; and my wife, she was the daughter of
+a harness-maker. Your grandparents were both in trade; there's no way
+out of it."</p>
+
+<p>"But a gentleman and lady for all that," said the girl.</p>
+
+<p>She pressed close to the old man, took one of his<!-- Page 15 --><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a> weather-beaten hands
+between both of her own, and stroked it.</p>
+
+<p>"That is as people think, Ruthie; but we weren't in the position, and
+never expect to be, of those who are high up in the world."</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad you told me about my father and mother," said the girl. "I
+love both their memories. I am glad to think that my father served the
+Queen, and that my mother was the daughter of a clergyman. But I am more
+glad to think that there never was such an honorable man as you,
+granddad, and that you made the grocery trade one of the best in the
+world."</p>
+
+<p>"It was a bad trade, my darling. I had several severe losses. It was
+very unfortunate my lending that money."</p>
+
+<p>"What money?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I will tell you another time; it doesn't really matter. There was a
+little bit of ingratitude there, but it doesn't matter. Only I made no
+fortune by grocery&mdash;barely enough to put my boy into the army and to
+educate him for it, and enough to keep us with a pittance now that we
+are old. But I have nothing to leave you, sweetest. You just have your
+pension from the Government, which don't count for nothing at all."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth rose to her feet.</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad I got into the school," she said. "I hope to do wonders
+there. I mean to take every scrap of good the place opens out to me. I
+mean to work as hard as ever I can. You shall be desperately proud of
+me; and so shall granny, although she doesn't hold with much learning."</p>
+
+<p>"But I do, little girl; I love it more than anything. I have got such a
+lovely scheme in my head. I will work alongside of you, Ruth&mdash;you and I
+at the same things. You can lend me the books when you don't want them."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 16 --><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a>"What a splendid idea!" said Ruth, clapping her hands.</p>
+
+<p>"You look quite happy, my dear."</p>
+
+<p>"And so I am. I am about the happiest girl on earth. And now, may I
+begin to look through my lessons for to-morrow?"</p>
+
+<p>The old man arranged the lamp where its light would be most comfortable
+for the keen young eyes, and Ruth sat down to the table, got out her
+books, and worked for an hour or two. Mrs. Craven came in, looked at her
+proudly, wagged her head, and returned to the kitchen. After a time she
+came to the door and beckoned to the old man to follow her. But the old
+man had taken up one of Ruth's books and was absorbed in its contents;
+he was muttering words over under his breath.</p>
+
+<p>"Coming, wife&mdash;coming presently," he said.</p>
+
+<p>Ruth's head was bent over her books. Mr. Craven rose and went on tiptoe
+into the kitchen.</p>
+
+<p>"We mustn't disturb her, Susan," he said. "We must let her have her own
+way. She must work just as long as she likes. She is going to be a great
+power in the land, is that child, with her beauty and her talent;
+there's nothing she can't aspire to."</p>
+
+<p>"Now don't you be a silly old man," said Mrs. Craven. "And what on earth
+were you whispering about to yourself when I came in?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am going to work with her. It will be a wonderful stimulation, and a
+great interest to me. I always was keen for book-learning."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Craven suppressed a sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"If I even had fifty pounds," she said, "I wouldn't let that child spend
+every hour at school. I'd dress up smart, and take her out, and get her
+the very best husband I<!-- Page 17 --><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a> could. Why, old man, what does a woman want
+with all that learning?"</p>
+
+<p>"If a woman has brains she's bound to use them," replied the old man, as
+he sat down by the kitchen fire.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Ruth went on with her lessons. After a time, however, she
+uttered a sigh. She flung down her books and looked across the room.</p>
+
+<p>"If he only knew," she said under her breath&mdash;"if he only knew that I
+was practically sent to Coventry&mdash;that none of the nice girls will speak
+to me. But never mind; I won't tell him. Nothing would induce me to
+trouble him on the subject."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2>
+
+<h3>HIGH LIFE AND LOW LIFE.</h3>
+
+
+<p>Amongst the many girls who attended the Great Shirley School was one who
+was known by the name of Cassandra Weldon. She was rapidly approaching
+the proud position of head girl in the school. She had entered the
+Shirley School when quite a little child, had gone steadily up through
+the different classes and the various removes, until she found herself
+nearly at the head of the sixth form. She was about to try for a
+sixty-pound scholarship, renewable for three years; if she got it she
+would go to Holloway College, and eventually support herself and her
+mother. Mrs. Weldon was the widow of a man who in his time had a very
+successful school for boys, and she herself had been a teacher long ago
+in the Great Shirley School. Cassandra and her mother, therefore, were
+from<!-- Page 18 --><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a> the very first surrounded by scholarship; they belonged, so to
+speak, to the scholastic world.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Weldon could scarcely talk of anything else. Evening after evening
+she would question her daughter eagerly with regard to this
+accomplishment and the other, to this change or that, to this chance
+which Cassandra might have and to the other. The girl was extremely
+clever, with a sort of all-round talent which was most remarkable; for
+in addition to many excellent accomplishments, she was distinctly
+musical. Her musical talent very nearly amounted to genius. If in the
+future she could not play in public, she resolved at least to earn her
+living as a music teacher. Mrs. Weldon hoped that Cassandra would do
+more than this; and, to tell the truth, the girl shared her mother's
+dreams. Besides music, she had worked very hard at botany, at French and
+German, and at English literature. She would be seventeen on her next
+birthday, and it was against the rules for any girl to remain at the
+Great Shirley School after that time. Cassandra had, however, two more
+terms of school-life before her, and these terms she regarded as the
+most valuable of her whole education.</p>
+
+<p>In appearance Cassandra was a tall, well-made girl, graceful in her
+movements, and very self-possessed in manner. Her face was full of
+intelligence, but was rather plain than otherwise, for her mouth was too
+wide and her nose the reverse of classical. She had bright intelligent
+brown eyes, however, a nice voice, and a pleasant way. Cassandra was
+looked up to by all her fellow-students, and this not because she was
+rich, nor because she was beautiful, but simply because she was good and
+honorable and trustworthy; she possessed a large amount of sympathy<!-- Page 19 --><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a> for
+nearly every one, her tact was unfailing, and she was never
+self-assertive.</p>
+
+<p>Now Cassandra, who had many friends in the school, had amongst them, of
+course, her greatest friend. This girl was called Florence Archer.
+Florence was pretty and clever, but she had neither Cassandra's depth
+nor power of intellect. She was naturally vain and frivolous, except in
+the presence of her dearest friend. She was easily influenced by others,
+and it was her habit to follow the one who gave her the last advice. Her
+passionate love for Cassandra was perhaps her best and strongest
+quality; but of late she had exhibited a sense of almost unwarrantable
+jealousy when any other girl showed a preference for her special friend.
+Florence was a very nice girl, but jealousy was her bane. She thought a
+good deal of herself, for her father was a rich man, and only took
+advantage of the Great Shirley education because it was incomparably the
+best in the place. There was no rule against any one attending the
+school, and he had long ago secured a niche in it for his favorite
+daughter. Florence loved it and hated it at the same time. She was fond
+of her own companions, but she could not bear the foundation girls.
+These girls made a large percentage in the school. In all respects they
+were supposed to be Florence's equals, but as a matter of fact they were
+kept in a very subordinate position by the paying girls. On every
+possible occasion they were avoided, and there must be something very
+special about any one of them if she was taken up by the aristocrats&mdash;as
+they termed themselves&mdash;of the school.</p>
+
+<p>But Cassandra as a rule was perfectly sweet and pleasant to the
+foundation girls, and this trait in her friend's character annoyed
+Florence more than anything else.</p>
+
+<p>On the morning after Ruth Craven had been admitted<!-- Page 20 --><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a> to the school
+Cassandra was one of the first arrivals. She was standing in the wide
+courtyard waiting for the school doors to be opened. She looked, as
+usual, bright and capable. A stream of girls were surrounding her, each
+smiling and trying to draw her attention. Cassandra was a girl of few
+words, and after nodding to her companions, she gave them to understand
+that she did not intend to enter into any special conversation. Her neat
+satchel of school-books was slung on her arm. She wore a very dark-blue
+serge dress, and her white sailor-hat looked correct and pretty on her
+shining brown hair. Cassandra, with her face beaming as the sun, made a
+sort of figure-head for the smaller girls. Presently three foundation
+girls entered the gates side by side and glanced up at her. This trio
+formed perhaps the most objectionable set in the school. One was called
+Kate Rourke; she was a girl of fifteen years of age, showily dressed,
+with flashing eyes, long earrings in her ears, false jewellery round her
+neck, and a smart, rather shabby hat, trimmed with a lot of flowers,
+placed at the back of her head. Hanging on Kate's arm might have been
+seen Hannah Johnson, in all respects that young lady's double. Clara
+Sawyer, a fair-haired little girl about fourteen, with a heavy fringe
+right down to her eyebrows, completed the trio.</p>
+
+<p>They glanced at Cassandra, and then nodded to one another and joked and
+laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"I have no doubt," said Kate, "that Cassie will take her up."</p>
+
+<p>She said the word "Cassie" in a loud voice. Cassandra heard her, but she
+took not the slightest notice.</p>
+
+<p>"She is safe to," continued Kate. "Now, such a girl oughtn't to be on
+the foundation at all. If you only knew<!-- Page 21 --><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a> the snubbing she gave me
+yesterday. I quite hate her, with all her pretty face and her mincing
+ways."</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind, Kitty," said Hannah Johnson. "She may snub you as much as
+she likes, but you have got me to cling on to."</p>
+
+<p>"And you've got me, too, Kitty," said Clara Sawyer. She snuggled close
+up to Kate and slipped her hand through her arm.</p>
+
+<p>"Nasty thing!" said Hannah. "I feel every word you say, Kate. Do you
+know, I offered to walk home with her yesterday, and she said, 'No, I
+thank you; I prefer to walk home alone,'"</p>
+
+<p>As Hannah made this speech she adopted the mincing tones which she
+supposed Ruth Craven had used. The two other girls burst out laughing.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, do say what you are laughing about!" said another girl, running up
+to the group at this moment. Her name was Rosy Myers. "You always have a
+joke among you three, and I want to share it. Do say&mdash;do say! I've got a
+lot of toffee in my pocket."</p>
+
+<p>"Hand it out, Rosy, and perhaps we'll tell you," said Kate.</p>
+
+<p>Rose produced a packet of sticky sweetmeat, and a moment later the four
+were sucking peppermint toffee and making themselves thoroughly
+objectionable to their neighbors.</p>
+
+<p>"But what about the girl&mdash;the person you are laughing about?" asked
+Rose.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, it's that stupid, tiresome Ruth Craven," answered Hannah. "Why,
+she's nobody. The governors and the mistress ought not to allow such a
+girl in the school. It's all very well to be on the foundation, but
+there are limits. Why, her old grandfather kept nothing better than a<!-- Page 22 --><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a>
+huckster's shop. It doesn't seem right that a girl of that sort should
+belong to this school, and then take airs."</p>
+
+<p>"But the question is," said Cassandra suddenly, "does she take airs?"</p>
+
+<p>The girls all stopped talking, and gazed up at Cassandra with
+astonishment in their faces.</p>
+
+<p>"I have overheard you," said Miss Weldon calmly. "I presume you are
+alluding to Miss Craven?"</p>
+
+<p>"We are talking about Ruth Craven," said Kate Rourke; "and you will
+excuse me, Cassie, but I never saw a girl more chock-full of pride. She
+is so conceited that she is intolerable."</p>
+
+<p>"I heard of her yesterday, but have not had an opportunity to form any
+estimate of her character," continued Cassandra. "I should prefer that
+you did not call me Cassie, if you please, Kate. I will watch her and
+find out if I agree with you. I only noticed yesterday that she is
+remarkably pretty. I will ask her to walk home with me to-day and have
+tea. I should like to introduce her to mother."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I never!" said Hannah. "And you really mean that you would
+introduce that girl to Mrs. Weldon?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think so. Yes, I am almost certain. Here she comes. I like her face.
+Don't let her hear you giggling, please, Kate; it is very unkind to make
+a new girl feel uncomfortable."</p>
+
+<p>Kate smothered a laugh and turned away. The doors of the school were now
+thrown open, and the girls disappeared by their special entrances.</p>
+
+<p>It was just at that moment that Ruth in her shabby dress, but with her
+sweet and most beautiful face, joined the group of girls who were going
+into the school. She was without a companion. The other girls went in
+by<!-- Page 23 --><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a> twos, each clinging to her special crony. Cassandra now changed her
+position, and found herself within a yard or two of Ruth Craven. She was
+examining Ruth with great care, but not at all from the unkind point of
+view; hers was a sympathetic aspect. That little old serge dress made
+something come up in Cassandra's throat, and she longed beyond words to
+give her a better dress. Ruth's hat, too, left much to be desired. It
+was an old black sailor-hat, which had been burnt to a dull brown. But,
+notwithstanding the hat and the dress, there was the face. The face was
+most lovely, and the back of the shabby frock was covered by hair as
+black as jet, and curling and rippling in the sunshine.</p>
+
+<p>"What wouldn't every other girl in the school give to have such a face
+as that, and such hair as that?" thought Cassandra. "I must speak to
+her."</p>
+
+<p>She was just bending forward, meaning to touch Ruth on her shoulder,
+when there came a commotion near the entrance, and the excited face of
+Alice Tennant came into view. Alice was accompanied by a tall, showily
+dressed girl. The girl had a very vivid color in her cheeks, intensely
+bright and roguish dark-blue eyes, light chestnut hair touched with
+gold&mdash;hair which was a mass of waves and tendrils and fluffiness, and on
+which a little dark-blue velvet cap was placed.</p>
+
+<p>"I am not going to be shy," cried the new-comer in a hearty, clear, loud
+voice with a considerable amount of brogue in it. "Leave off clutching
+me by the arm, Alice, my honey, for see my new companions I will. Ah,
+what a crowd of girls!&mdash;colleens we call them in Ireland. Oh, glory! how
+am I ever to get the names of half of them round my tongue? Ah, and
+isn't that one a beauty?"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 24 --><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a>"Hush, Kathleen&mdash;do hush!" said Alice. "They will hear you."</p>
+
+<p>"And what do I care if they do, darling? It doesn't matter to me. I mean
+to talk to that girl; she's won my heart entirely."</p>
+
+<p>Before Alice could prevent her, the Irish girl had sprung forward,
+pushed a couple of Great Shirley girls out of their places, and had
+taken Ruth Craven by the arm.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a kiss I'm going to give you, my beauty," she said. "Oh, it's
+right glad I am to see you! My name is Kathleen O'Hara, and I hail from
+the ould country. Ah, though! it's lonely I'm likely to be, isn't it,
+deary? You don't deny me the pleasure of your society when I tell you
+that in all this vast crowd I stand solitary&mdash;solitary but for her; and,
+bedad! I'm not certain that I take to her at all. Let me tuck my hand
+inside your arm, sweetest."</p>
+
+<p>A titter was heard from the surrounding girls. Ruth turned very red,
+then she looked into Kathleen's eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"You mean kindly," she said, "but perhaps you had better not. You, too,
+are a stranger."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you a stranger?" asked Kathleen. "Then that clinches the matter.
+Ah, yes; it's lonely I am. I have come from my dear mountain home to be
+civilised; but civilisation will never suit Kathleen O'Hara. She isn't
+meant to have it. She's meant to dance on the tops of the mountains, and
+to gather flowers in the bogs. She's made to dance and joke and laugh,
+and to have a gay time. Ah! my people at home made a fine mistake when
+they sent me to be civilised. But I like you, honey. I like the shape of
+your face, and the way you are made, and the wonderful look in your eyes
+when you glance round at me. It is you and me will be the finest of
+friends, sha'n't we?"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 25 --><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a>Before Ruth could reply the girls had entered the great hall, which
+presently became quite full.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't let go of me, darling, for the life of you. It's lost I'd be in a
+place of this sort. Let me clutch on to you until they put me into the
+lowest place in the school."</p>
+
+<p>"But why so?" asked Ruth, glancing at her tall companion in some
+astonishment. "Don't you know anything?"</p>
+
+<p>"I? Never a bit, darling. I don't suppose they'll keep me here. I have
+no learning, and I never want to have any, and what's more&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Hush, girls! No talking," called the indignant voice of a form-room
+mistress.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen's dark-blue eyes grew round with laughter. She suddenly dropped
+a curtsy.</p>
+
+<p>"Mum's the word, ma'am," she said, and then she glanced round at her
+numerous companions.</p>
+
+<p>The girls had all been watching her. Their faces broke into smiles, the
+smiles became titters, and the titters roars. The mistress had again to
+come forward and ask what was wrong.</p>
+
+<p>"It's only me, miss," said Kathleen, "so don't blame any of the other
+innocent lambs. I'm fresh from old Ireland. Oh, miss, it's a beautiful
+country! Were you never there? If you could only behold her purple
+mountains, and let yourself go on the bosom of her rushing streams! Were
+you ever in the old country, miss, if I might venture to ask a civil
+question?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Miss Atherton in a very suppressing tone. "I don't understand
+impertinent questions, and I expect the schoolgirls to be orderly.&mdash;Ah,
+Ruth Craven! Will you take this young lady under your wing?"</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't I say we were to be mates, dear?" said Kathleen<!-- Page 26 --><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a> O'Hara; and as
+they passed from the great hall, Kathleen's hand was still fondly linked
+on Ruth's arm.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2>
+
+<h3>THE WILD IRISH GIRL.</h3>
+
+
+<p>Lessons went on in their usual orderly fashion. At eleven o'clock there
+was a break for a quarter of an hour. The girls streamed into the
+playground. The playground was very large, and was asphalted, and in
+consequence quite dry and pleasant to walk on. There was a field just
+beyond, and into this field the girls now strolled by twos and twos.
+Kathleen O'Hara clung to Ruth Craven's arm; she kept talking to her and
+asking her questions.</p>
+
+<p>"You needn't reply unless you like, pet," she said. "All I want is just
+to look into your face. I adore beauty; I worship it more than anything
+else on earth. I was brought up in the midst of it. I never saw anything
+uglier than poor old Towser when he broke his leg and cut his upper jaw;
+but although he was ugly, he was the darling of my heart. He died, and I
+cried a lot. I can't quite get over it. Yes, I suppose I am uncivilised,
+and I never want to be anything else. Do you think I want to copy those
+nimby-pimby girls over there, or that lot, or that?"</p>
+
+<p>"You had better not point, please, Miss O'Hara," said Ruth. "They won't
+like it."</p>
+
+<p>"What do I care whether they like it or not?" said Kathleen. "I wasn't
+brought here to curry favor with them. What would my darling father say
+if I told him that I was going to curry favor with the girls of the
+Great<!-- Page 27 --><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a> Shirley School? And what would mother say? No, no; I may pick up
+a few smatterings, or I may not, but there is one thing certain: I mean
+to make a friend of you, Ruth&mdash;yes, a great big bosom friend. You will
+be fond of me, won't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I like you now," said Ruth. "I know you are kind, and you are very
+pretty."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, then, darling," said Kathleen, "is it the Blarney Stone you have
+kissed? You have a sweet little voice of your own, although it hasn't
+the dear touch of the brogue that I miss so in all the other girls."</p>
+
+<p>"But you like Miss Tennant don't you?" said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes. Poor little Alice! She's very reserved and very, very formal,
+but she's a good soul, and I won't worry her. But you are the one my
+heart has gone out to. Ah! that is the way of Irish hearts. They go
+straight out to their kindred spirits. You are a kindred spirit of mine,
+Ruth Craven, and you can't get away from me, not even if you will."</p>
+
+<p>The fifteen minutes for recreation came to an end, and the girls
+returned to the schoolroom. Ruth was in a high class for her age, and
+was already absorbed in her work. Kathleen drummed with her fingers on
+her desk and looked round her. Kathleen was in a low class; she was with
+girls a great deal smaller and younger than herself.</p>
+
+<p>"How old are you, Miss O'Hara?" the English teacher, Miss Dove, had
+said.</p>
+
+<p>"I am fifteen, bless your heart, darling!" replied Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't talk exactly like that," said Miss Dove, who, in spite of
+herself, was attracted by the sweet voice and sweeter eyes. "Say, 'I am
+fifteen, Miss Dove.'"</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen made a grimace. Her grimace was so comical<!-- Page 28 --><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a> that all the small
+girls in the class burst out laughing. She was silent.</p>
+
+<p>"Speak, dear," said Miss Dove in a persuasive tone.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, darling, I'm trying to."</p>
+
+<p>"You mustn't use affectionate words in school."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, my heart! How am I to bear it?" said Kathleen, and she clasped a
+white hand over that organ.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Dove paused for a moment, and then decided that she would let the
+question in dispute go by for the present. She began to question
+Kathleen as to her acquirements, and found that she must leave her with
+the younger children for the time being. She then went on to attend to
+other duties.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen sat bolt-upright in the centre of the class. It seemed absurd
+to see this tall, well-grown girl surrounded by tiny tots. One of the
+tiny tots looked towards her. Presently she thrust out a moist little
+hand, and out of the moisture produced a half-melted peppermint drop.
+Just for a second Kathleen's bright eyes fell upon the sweetmeat with
+disgust; then she took it up gingerly and popped it into her mouth.</p>
+
+<p>"It's golloptious," she said, turning to the child, and then she drummed
+her fingers once more on the edge of the desk. Presently she stooped
+down and whispered to this small girl:</p>
+
+<p>"I hate school; don't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Y&mdash;es," was the timid reply.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's go out."</p>
+
+<p>"But I&mdash;I can't."</p>
+
+<p>"I must, then. I have nothing to do; the lessons are deadly stupid.
+Forgive me, girls; you are all blameless;" and the next moment she had
+left the room.</p>
+
+<p>Half a moment later she was in the fresh air outside.<!-- Page 29 --><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a> Her cheeks were
+hot, her hair in disorder, and her hand, where she had touched the
+peppermint, was sticky."</p>
+
+<p>"What would father say if he could see me now?" she thought. "If Aunty
+O'Flynn was to look at her Kathleen! Oh, why did they send me across the
+cold sea to a place of this sort&mdash;a detestable place? Oh, the fresh air
+is reviving. I was born free, and Britons never, never will be slaves. I
+can't stay in that horrid room. Oh, how long the morning is!"</p>
+
+<p>Just then a teacher came out and beckoned to Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"What are you doing outside, Miss O'Hara? Come in immediately and return
+to your class."</p>
+
+<p>"I can't dear," replied Kathleen in a gentle tone. "You are young,
+aren't you? You don't look more than twenty. Do you ever feel your heart
+beat wild, dear, and your spirits all in a sort of throb? And did you,
+when you were like that, submit to being tied up in steel chains all
+round every bit of you? Answer me: did you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I can't answer you, Miss O'Hara. You are a very naughty, rebellious
+girl. You have come to school to be disciplined. Go back immediately."</p>
+
+<p>For a minute Kathleen thought of rebelling, but then she said to
+herself, "It isn't worth the fuss," and returned to her place once again
+in the centre of the class.</p>
+
+<p>"I have been called back," she said in a whisper to her little
+peppermint companion. "I was naughty to go out, and I am called back. I
+am in disgrace. Isn't it a lark?"</p>
+
+<p>The little girl felt quite excited. Never was there such and big and
+fascinating inmate of the lower fifth before. It was worth coming to
+school now to be in the vicinity of one so handsome and so gay.</p>
+
+<p>The weary morning came to an end at last. The girls seldom returned for
+afternoon school, generally doing their<!-- Page 30 --><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a> preparations at home. Alice
+Tennant, however, sometimes preferred the quiet school to the noisy life
+she lived with her brothers at home. She looked now eagerly for
+Kathleen, who had shunned her from the instant they had entered the
+school; she stood just by the gate waiting for her. Kathleen, on her
+part, was looking for Ruth Craven. Ruth had been monopolised by
+Cassandra Weldon.</p>
+
+<p>"You must come home with me," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"But my grandparents will be expecting me," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind; we will go round by your cottage and ask them. I know all
+about you, and I want to know you better. You will, won't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you very much," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"We will go on at once without waiting for the others," said Cassandra,
+and they walked on quickly, while Kathleen searched in vain for her
+chosen friend.</p>
+
+<p>"Come, Kathleen; I am waiting," said Alice in a slightly cross voice.
+"Mother said we were to be home early to-day."</p>
+
+<p>"All right," said Kathleen; "but I can't find Miss Craven anywhere.</p>
+
+<p>"You can't wait for her now. Indeed, she has gone. I saw her walking
+down the road with Cassandra Weldon."</p>
+
+<p>"And who is she?"</p>
+
+<p>"The head girl of the school; and such a splendid creature! I am glad
+she is taking up Ruth. It isn't possible for every one to notice her;
+although, for my part, I have no patience with that sort of false pride.
+Of course, a lot of the foundation girls are very common; but when one
+sees a perfect lady like Ruth one ought to recognize her."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course," said Kathleen, fidgeting a little as she walked.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 31 --><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a>"And how did you get on?" asked Alice, noticing the dejected tone of
+her voice.</p>
+
+<p>"I got on abominably," said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"What class are you in?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. I am with a lot of babies; I suppose I am to be a sort of
+caretaker to them. There wasn't anything to learn. I am going to write
+to father. I can't stay in that horrid school."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, you can. You will get to like it very much after a time. You
+have never been at school before, and of course you find it irksome."</p>
+
+<p>"Is it irksome?" cried Kathleen. "Is it that she calls it? Oh, glory!
+It's purgatory, my dear, that's what it is&mdash;purgatory&mdash;and I haven't
+done anything to deserve it."</p>
+
+<p>"But you want to learn; you don't want to be always ignorant."</p>
+
+<p>"Bedad, then, darling, I don't want to learn at all. What do I want to
+know your sort of things for? I could beat you, every one of you, and
+the teachers, too, in some accomplishments. Put me on a horse, darling,
+and see what I can do; and put me in a boat, pet, and find out where I
+can take you. And set me swimming in the cold sea; I can turn
+somersaults and dive and dance on the waves, and do every mortal thing
+as though I were a fish, not a girl. And give me a gun and see me bring
+down a bird on the wing. Ah! those things ought to be counted in the
+education of a woman. I can do all those things, and I can mix whisky
+punch, and I can sing songs to the dear old dad, and I can comfort my
+mother when her rheumatics are bad. And I can love, love, love! Oh, no,
+Alice, I am not ignorant in the true sense; but I hate French, and I
+hate arithmetic, and I hate all your horrid<!-- Page 32 --><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a> school work. And I never
+could spell properly; and what does it matter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Everything," replied Alice. "You can't go about the world if you are
+stupid and ignorant."</p>
+
+<p>"Can't I?" exclaimed Kathleen, and she flashed her eyes at Alice and
+made her feel, as she said afterwards, quite uncanny.</p>
+
+<p>The Tennants were, after all, not a large family. They consisted of Mrs.
+Tennant, Alice, and two young brothers. These brothers were schoolboys
+of the unruly type. Alice considered them very badly trained. Kathleen,
+however, was much taken by their schoolboyish ways.</p>
+
+<p>As the two girls now entered the house they heard a whistle proceeding
+from the attic; a cat-call at the same time came from the basement.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, dear!" cried Alice, "there are those dreadful boys again. Whatever
+you do, Kathleen, you must not encourage them in their larks."</p>
+
+<p>"But why shouldn't I? I like them both. I call David a broth of a boy. I
+am glad you have got brothers, Alice. I haven't any; but then I have
+lots of boy cousins, which comes to much the same thing."</p>
+
+<p>The girls by this time had reached the large bedroom which they shared
+on the first floor.</p>
+
+<p>"You are welcome to my brothers if you don't toss all your things about
+in my room," cried Alice. "If we are to sleep together we must be
+orderly."</p>
+
+<p>"Orderly, is it?" cried Kathleen. "I don't know the meaning of the word.
+Well, all right, I'm ready."</p>
+
+<p>She pushed her fingers through her tangled golden hair, and, without
+glancing at herself in the glass, marched out of the room.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish mother hadn't asked her to come," said Alice<!-- Page 33 --><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a> to herself. "The
+house was bad enough before, but now she will make things past bearing."</p>
+
+<p>Alice went downstairs to the sound of a cracked gong. The Tennants had
+their meals in a sitting-room on the second floor. It was barely
+furnished, and had kamptulicon instead of a carpet on the floor. Mrs.
+Tennant, looking careworn and anxious, was seated at the head of the
+table; her dress was somewhat faded. Alice entered and took her seat at
+the foot. Kathleen was nowhere to be seen.</p>
+
+<p>"I have only soup and fish for dinner to-day," said Mrs. Tennant. "I do
+trust Kathleen will be satisfied."</p>
+
+<p>Alice frowned at her mother in some displeasure.</p>
+
+<p>"We ought to have meat&mdash;" she was beginning, when there came a bang and
+a scuffle, a girlish laugh, and Kathleen, leaning fondly on both the
+boys, appeared. Mrs. Tennant pointed to a seat, and she sat down. The
+Irish girl had a healthy appetite, and was indifferent to what she ate.
+She demanded two plates of soup, and when she had finished the second
+she looked at Mrs. Tennant and said emphatically:</p>
+
+<p>"I have fallen in love."</p>
+
+<p>"My dear Kathleen!"</p>
+
+<p>"I have&mdash;with a girl, so it doesn't matter. She's the prettiest,
+sweetest, bonniest thing I ever saw in my life. I am going to hunt round
+for her immediately after dinner. I thought I'd say so, for I mean to do
+it."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Kathleen!" said Alice in a distressed voice, "you really mustn't.
+You must come back to the school with me. I promised Miss Dove that I'd
+see you through your tasks.&mdash;You know, mother," continued Alice,
+"Kathleen is not very advanced for her age, and Miss Dove wants to get
+her into a proper class as quickly as possible; therefore<!-- Page 34 --><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a> she is to be
+coached a little, and I have undertaken to do it.&mdash;You will come with
+me, Kathleen? I must get back to the school again by half-past two. You
+will be sure to come, dear?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think not, dear," replied Kathleen in her most aggravating tone.</p>
+
+<p>"But you must.&mdash;Mustn't she, mother?"</p>
+
+<p>"You ought to, Kathleen," said Mrs. Tennant. "You have been sent here to
+learn. Alice can teach you; she can help you very much. She means to be
+very kind to you. You certainly ought to do what she suggests."</p>
+
+<p>"But I am afraid," said Kathleen, "that I am not going to do what I
+ought. I don't wish to be good at all to-day. I couldn't live if I
+wasn't really naughty sometimes. I mean to be terribly naughty all the
+afternoon. If you will let me have my fling, I do assure you, Mrs.
+Tennant, that I will work off the steam, and will be all right
+to-morrow. I must do something desperate, and if Alice opposes me I'll
+have to do something worse."</p>
+
+<p>"You are a clipper!" said David Tennant, smiling into her face.</p>
+
+<p>"All right, my boy; I expect I am," said Kathleen; and then she added,
+springing to her feet, "I have eaten enough, and for what we have
+received&mdash;Good-bye, Mrs. Tennant; I'm off."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2>
+
+<h3>THE HOME-SICK AND THE REBELLIOUS.</h3>
+
+
+<p>Kathleen O'Hara ran up to an untidy room. She banged-to the door, and
+standing by it for a moment, drew the bolt. Thus she had secured herself
+against intrusion.<!-- Page 35 --><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a> She then flung herself on the bed, put her two arms
+under her head, and gazed out of the window. Her heart was beating
+wildly; she had a strange medley of feelings within. She was
+desperately, madly lonely. She was homesick in the most intense sense of
+the word.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen had never left Carrigrohane Castle before. This romantic abode
+was situated in the extreme south-west of Ireland. It was a mile away
+from the sea, and stood on a rocky eminence which overlooked a very wide
+expanse of moor and wood, rushing streams and purple mountains, and deep
+dark-blue sea. In the whole world there could scarcely be found a more
+lovely view than that which since her birth had presented itself before
+Kathleen's young eyes. Her father, Squire O'Hara, was, as landlords in
+Ireland go, very well off. His tenantry adored him. He got in his rents
+with tolerable regularity. He was a good landlord, firm but also kind
+and indulgent. A real case of distress was never turned away from his
+doors, but where rent could be paid he insisted on the cottars giving
+him his due. He kept a rather wild establishment, however. His wife was
+an Irishwoman from a neighboring county, and had some of the most
+careless attributes of her race. The house got along anyhow. There were
+always shoals of visitors, mostly relatives. There were heavy feasts in
+the old hall, and sittings up very late at night, and no end of hunting
+and fishing and shooting in their seasons. In the summer a pretty white
+yacht made a great "divartisement," as the Squire was fond of saying;
+and in all things Kathleen O'Hara was free as the air she breathed. She
+was educated in a sort of fashion by an Irish governess, but in reality
+she was allowed to pursue her lessons exactly as she liked best herself.</p>
+
+<p>It was just before she was fifteen that Kathleen's aunt,<!-- Page 36 --><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a> a maiden lady
+from Dublin, who rejoiced in the truly Irish name of O'Flynn, came to
+see them, remarked on Kathleen's wild, unkempt appearance, declared that
+the girl would be a downright beauty when she was eighteen, said that no
+one would tolerate such a want of knowledge in the present day, and
+advised that she should go to school. Mrs. O'Hara took Miss O'Flynn's
+hint very much to heart. Kathleen was consulted, and of course tabooed
+the entire scheme; in the end, however, the elder ladies carried the
+day. Miss O'Flynn took her niece to Dublin with her, and gave her an
+expensive and very unnecessary wardrobe; and Mrs. O'Hara, having heard a
+great deal of Mrs. Tennant, who had Irish relatives, decided that
+Kathleen should go to the Great Shirley School, where she herself had
+been educated long ago. Everything was arranged in a great hurry. It
+seemed to Kathleen now, as she lay on her bed, kicking her feet
+impatiently, and ruffled her beautiful hair, that the thing had come to
+pass in a flash. It seemed only yesterday that she was at home in the
+old house, petted by the servants, adored by her father, worshipped by
+all her relatives&mdash;the young queen of the castle, free as the air,
+followed by her dogs, riding on her pony&mdash;and now she was here in this
+hideous, poor, fifth-class house, going to that ugly school.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't stand it," she thought. "There's only one way out. I must have
+a real desperate burst of naughtiness. What shall I do that will most
+aggravate them? For do that thing I will, and as quickly as possible."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen thought rapidly. She had no brothers of her own, but their loss
+was made up for by the adoration of about twenty young cousins who were
+always loafing about the place and following Kathleen wherever she
+turned.</p>
+
+<p>"What would most aggravate Pat if he were here,"<!-- Page 37 --><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a> thought the girl, "or
+dear old Michael? Ah, well! Michael&mdash;" The girl's face slightly changed.
+"I was never <i>very</i> naughty with Michael," she said to herself. "He is
+different from the others. I wouldn't like to see that sort of sorry
+look in his dear dark-blue eyes. Oh, I mustn't think of Michael now.
+When I was going away he said, 'Bedad, you'll come back a princess, and
+I'll be proud to see you.' No, I mustn't think of Michael. Pat, the imp,
+would help me, and so would Rory, and so would Ted. But what shall it
+be?"</p>
+
+<p>She thought excitedly. There came a rattle at the handle of the door.</p>
+
+<p>"Let me in, please, Kathleen; let me in," called Alice's voice.</p>
+
+<p>"Presently, darling," replied Kathleen in her most nonchalant tone.</p>
+
+<p>"But I am in a hurry. I must be back at school by half-past two. Let me
+in immediately."</p>
+
+<p>"What a nuisance it all is!" thought Kathleen. "But, after all, my
+naughtiness needn't make that stupid old Alice late for her darling
+lessons."</p>
+
+<p>She scrambled off the bed, drew back the bolt, and returned to her old
+position. Alice came quickly in. She glanced at Kathleen with disgust.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish you wouldn't lie on the bed in your muddy boots."</p>
+
+<p>No answer.</p>
+
+<p>"I must ask you not to lock the door. It is my room as well as yours."</p>
+
+<p>No answer. Kathleen's eyes were fixed on the window; they were brimful
+of mischief. After a time she said:</p>
+
+<p>"Darling."</p>
+
+<p>"I wish you wouldn't talk to me in that silly way."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 38 --><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a>"Faith! honey, then."</p>
+
+<p>"I do wish&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen suddenly sprang upright on her bed.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you like the sky when it looks as it does now? I wish you could
+see it from Carrigrohane. You don't know the sort of expression it has
+when it seems to be kissing the sea. We have a ghost at Carrigrohane.
+Oh, wisha, then, if you only could see it! I can tell the boys about it.
+Sha'n't I make them creep?"</p>
+
+<p>"It is very silly to talk about ghosts. Nobody believes in them," said
+Alice.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll ask father if I may have you at Carrigrohane in the summer, and
+then see if you don't believe. She wears white."</p>
+
+<p>"I am going out now, Kathleen; aren't you coming with me?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, thank you, my love."</p>
+
+<p>"You ought to, Kathleen. I am busy preparing for my scholarship
+examination or I would stay and argue with you. It is an awful pity to
+have gone to the expense of coming here if you don't mean to do your
+utmost."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, darling, but it is rather a waste of breath for you to talk
+so long to me. I mean to be naughty this afternoon."</p>
+
+<p>"I can't help you," said Alice. "I am very sorry you ever came."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you so much, dear."</p>
+
+<p>Alice ran downstairs.</p>
+
+<p>"Mother," she said, rushing into her mother's presence, "we shall have
+no end of trouble with that terrible girl. She is lying now on the bed
+with her outdoor boots on, and she won't come to school, or do a single
+thing I want her to."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 39 --><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a>"The money her father pays will be very welcome, Alice. We must bear
+with some discomforts on account of that."</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose so," said Alice, shrugging her shoulders. "How horrid it is
+to be poor, and to have such a girl as that in the house! Well, I can't
+stay another minute. You had better keep a sort of general eye on her,
+mother, for there's no saying what she will do. She has declared her
+intention of being naughty. She knows no fear, is not guided by any sort
+of principle, and would, in short, do anything."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, go to school, Alice, and be quick home, for I have a great deal I
+want you to help me with."</p>
+
+<p>Alice made no reply, and Mrs. Tennant, after thinking for a minute, went
+upstairs. She knocked at the door of the room which she had given up to
+the two girls. There was no answer. She opened it and went in. The bird
+had flown. There were evident signs of a stampede through the window,
+for it stood wide open, and there were marks of not too clean boots on
+the drugget, and a torn piece of ivy just without. The window was twenty
+feet from the ground, and Kathleen must have let herself down by the
+sturdy arm of the old ivy. Mrs. Tennant looked out, half expecting to
+see a mangled body on the ground; but there was no one in view. She
+returned to her darning and her anxious thoughts.</p>
+
+<p>She was a widow with two sons and a daughter, and something under two
+hundred and fifty pounds a year on which to live. To educate the boys,
+to do something for Alice, and to put bread-and-butter into all their
+mouths was a difficult problem to solve in these expensive days. She had
+on purpose moved close to the Great Shirley School in order to avail
+herself of its cheap education for Alice.<!-- Page 40 --><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a> The boys went to another
+foundation school near by; and altogether the family managed to scrape
+along. But the advent of Kathleen on the scene was a great relief, for
+her father paid three guineas a week for Mrs. Tennant's motherly care
+and for Kathleen's board and lodging.</p>
+
+<p>"Poor child!" thought the good woman. "What a wild, undisciplined,
+handsome creature she is! I must do what I can for her."</p>
+
+<p>She sat on for some time darning and thinking. Her heart was full; she
+felt depressed. She had been working in various ways ever since six
+o'clock that morning, and the darning of the boys' rough socks hurt her
+eyes and made her fingers ache.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Kathleen was running along the road. She ran until she was
+completely out of breath. She then came to a stile, against which she
+leant. By-and-by she saw a girl walking leisurely up the road; she was a
+shabbily dressed and rather vulgar girl. Kathleen saw at once that she
+was one of the Great Shirley girls, so she went forward and spoke to
+her.</p>
+
+<p>"You go to our school, don't you?" she said.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, miss," answered the girl, dropping a little curtsy when she saw
+Kathleen. She was a very fresh foundation girl, and recognized something
+in Kathleen which caused her to be more subservient than was necessary.</p>
+
+<p>"Then, if you please," continued Kathleen, "can you tell me where that
+sweetly pretty girl, Ruth Craven, lives?"</p>
+
+<p>"She isn't a lady," said the girl, whose name was Susan Hopkins. "She is
+no more a lady than I am."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed she is," said Kathleen. "She is a great deal more of a lady than
+you are."</p>
+
+<p>The girl flushed.</p>
+
+<p>"You are a Great Shirley girl yourself," she said. "I<!-- Page 41 --><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a> saw you there
+to-day. You are in an awfully low class. Do you like sitting with the
+little kids? I saw you towering up in the middle of them like a
+mountain."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen's eyes flashed.</p>
+
+<p>"What is your name?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Susan Hopkins. I used to be a Board School girl, but now I am on the
+foundation at Great Shirley. It is a big rise for me. Are you a poor
+girl? Are you on the foundation?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what it means by being on the foundation, but I don't
+think I am poor. I think, on the contrary, that I am very rich. Did you
+ever hear of a girl who lived in a castle&mdash;a great beautiful castle&mdash;on
+the top of a high hill? If you ever did, I am that girl."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, my!" said Susy Hopkins. "That does sound romantic."</p>
+
+<p>Her momentary dislike to Kathleen had vanished. The desire to go to the
+town on a message for her mother had completely left her. She stood
+still, as though fascinated.</p>
+
+<p>"I live there," said Kathleen&mdash;"that is, I do when I am at home. I come
+from the land of the mountain and the stream; of the shamrock; of the
+deep, deep blue sea."</p>
+
+<p>"Ireland? Are you Irish?" said the girl.</p>
+
+<p>"I am proud to say that I am."</p>
+
+<p>"We don't think anything of the Irish here."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, don't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"But don't be angry, please," continued Susy, "for I am sure you are
+very nice."</p>
+
+<p>"I am nice when I like. To-day I am nasty. I am wicked to-day&mdash;quite
+wicked; I could hate any one who opposes me. I want some one to help me;
+if some one will help me, I will be nice to that person. Will you?"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 42 --><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a>"Oh, my word, yes! How handsome you look when you flash your eyes!"
+said Susy Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>"Then I want to find that dear little girl, who is so beautiful that I
+love her and can't get her out of my head. I want to find Ruth Craven.
+She went away with a horrid, stiff, pokery girl called Cassandra Weldon.
+You have such strange names in your country. That horrid, prim Cassandra
+chose to correct me when I came into school, and she has taken my
+darling away&mdash;the only one I love in the whole of England. I want to
+find her. I will give you&mdash;- I will give you an Irish diamond set in a
+brooch if you will help me."</p>
+
+<p>This sounded a very grand offer indeed to Susy Hopkins, who lived in the
+most modest way, and had not a jewel of any sort in her possession.</p>
+
+<p>"I will help you. I will, and I can. I know where Miss Weldon lives. I
+can take you to her house."</p>
+
+<p>"But I want Ruth."</p>
+
+<p>"If she has taken Ruth home, she will be at Cassandra's house," said
+Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"And you can take me there?"</p>
+
+<p>"This blessed minute."</p>
+
+<p>"All right; come along."</p>
+
+<p>"When will you give me the diamond set in the brooch?"</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't a real diamond, you know. It is an Irish diamond set in
+silver&mdash;real silver. My old nurse had it made for me, and I wear it
+sometimes. I will bring it to you to school to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, thank you&mdash;thank you, Miss&mdash;I forgot your name."</p>
+
+<p>"O'Hara&mdash;Kathleen O'Hara."</p>
+
+<p>"O'Hara is rather a difficult name to say. May I call you Kathleen?"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 43 --><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a>"Just as you please, Susan. It is more handy for me to say Susan than
+Hopkins. As long as I am in England I must consort, I see, with all
+kinds of people; and if you will make yourself useful to me, I will be
+good to you."</p>
+
+<p>Susy turned and led the way in the direction of Cassandra Weldon's home.
+They had to walk across a very wide field, then down a narrow lane, then
+up a steep hill, and then into a valley. At the bottom of the valley was
+a straight road, and at each side of the road were neat little
+houses&mdash;small and very proper-looking. Each house consisted of two
+stories, with a hall door in the middle and a sitting room on each side.
+There were three windows overhead, and one or two attics in the roof.
+The houses were very compact; they were new, and were called by
+ambitious names. For instance, the house where the Weldons lived went by
+the ambitious name of Sans Souci. All through the walk Susy chatted for
+the benefit of her companion. She told Kathleen so much about her life
+that she was interested in spite of herself! and by the time they
+arrived outside Sans Souci, Kathleen's hand was lying affectionately on
+her companion's arm.</p>
+
+<p>"I had best not go in, miss," she said. "Cassandra Weldon would never
+take the very least notice of me; and none of us foundation girls like
+her at all."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it is extremely unfair," said Kathleen. "From all you have been
+telling me, the foundation girls must be particularly clever. I tell you
+what it is: I think I shall take to you."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, would you, indeed, miss?" said Susy, her eyes sparkling. "There are
+a hundred of us, you know, in the school."</p>
+
+<p>"That is a great number. And Ruth Craven is really one?"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 44 --><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a>"She is, miss. She isn't a bit better than the rest of us."</p>
+
+<p>"And I love her already."</p>
+
+<p>"She is no better than the rest of us," repeated Susan Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>"I have a great mind to take to you all, to make a fuss about you, and
+to show the others how badly they behave."</p>
+
+<p>"You'd be a queen amongst us; there's no doubt about that."</p>
+
+<p>"It would be lovely, and it would be a tremendous bit of naughtiness,"
+thought Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think you will, miss? Because, if you do, I will tell the
+others. We could meet you and talk over things."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I will decide to-morrow. I will enclose a letter with your
+brooch. Good-bye now; I must go in and kiss my darling Ruth."</p>
+
+<p>Susy Hopkins stood for a minute to watch Kathleen as she went up the
+little narrow path of Sans Souci. When Kathleen reached the porch she
+waved her hand, and Susy, putting wings to her feet, ran as fast as she
+could in the opposite direction. She felt very much elated and really
+pleased. In the whole course of her life she had never met a girl of the
+Kathleen O'Hara type before. Her beauty, her daring and wild manner, the
+flash in her bright dark eyes, the glints of gold in her lovely hair,
+all fascinated Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"What a queen she'd make!" she thought. "We must make her our queen.
+We'd have quite a party of our own in the school if she took us up. And
+she will; I'm sure she will. This is a lark. This is worth a great
+deal."</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Kathleen rang the bell at Sans Souci in a very smart,
+imperative manner. A little maid, neatly dressed, came to the door.</p>
+
+<p>"Please," said Kathleen, "will you say that Miss O'Hara<!-- Page 45 --><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a> has called and
+would be glad to see Miss Ruth Craven for a few minutes?"</p>
+
+<p>The girl withdrew. Presently she returned.</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Weldon will be pleased if you will go in, miss. She is sitting in
+the drawing-room. The two young ladies are out in the garden."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>After a brief hesitation she entered the house, and was conducted across
+the narrow hall into a very sweet and charmingly furnished room. The
+room had a bay-window with French doors; these opened on to a little
+flower-lawn. At one side of the house was a tiny conservatory full of
+bright flowers. Compared to the house where the Tennants lived, this
+tiny place looked like a paradise to Kathleen. She gave a quick glance
+round her, then came up to Mrs. Weldon.</p>
+
+<p>"I am one of the new girls at the Great Shirley School," she said. "My
+name is Kathleen O'Hara. I am Irish. I have only just crossed the cold
+sea. I am lonely, too. I want Ruth Craven. May I sit down a minute while
+your servant fetches her? I like Ruth Craven. She is very pretty, isn't
+she? She is the sort of girl that you'd take a fancy to when you're
+lonely and far from home. May I sit here until she comes?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course, my dear," said Mrs. Weldon, speaking with kindness, and
+looking with eyes full of interest at the handsome, striking-looking
+girl. "I quite understand your being lonely. I was very lonely indeed
+when I came home from India and left my dear father and mother behind
+me."</p>
+
+<p>"How old were you when you came home?"</p>
+
+<p>"A great deal younger than you are: only seven years old. But that is a
+long time ago. I should like to be kind<!-- Page 46 --><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a> to you, Miss O'Hara. Cassandra
+has been telling me about you. You are living at the Tennants', are you
+not? Alice Tennant and Cassandra are great friends."</p>
+
+<p>"But I don't like either of them," said Kathleen in her blunt way.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Weldon looked a little startled.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know my daughter?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"She is much too interfering, and she is frightfully stuck-up. Please
+forgive me, but I am always very plain-spoken; I always tell the truth.
+I don't want her. I like you, and wish that I lived with you, and that
+you'd have Ruth Craven instead of your own daughter in the house. Then
+I'd be perfectly happy. I always did say what I thought. Will you
+forgive me?"</p>
+
+<p>"I will, dear, because at the present moment you don't know my girl at
+all. There never was a more splendid girl in all the world, but she
+requires to be known. Ah! here she comes, and your little friend, Miss
+Craven, with her."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth, looking very pretty, with a delicate flush on each cheek, now
+entered the room in the company of Cassandra. Kathleen sprang up the
+minute she saw Ruth, rushed across the room, and flung one arm with
+considerable violence round her neck.</p>
+
+<p>"You have come," she said. "I have been hunting the place for you. How
+dared you go away and hide yourself? Don't you know that you belong to
+me? The moment I saw you I knew that you were my affinity. Don't you
+know what an affinity means? Well, you are mine. We were twin souls
+before birth; now we have met again and we cannot part. I am ever so
+happy when I am with you. Don't mind those others; let them stare all
+they like. I am going to take you foundation girls up. I have made<!-- Page 47 --><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a> up
+my mind. We will have a rollicking good time&mdash;a splendid time. We will
+be as naughty as we like, and we will let the others see what we are
+made of. It will be war to the knife between the foundation girls and
+the good, proper, paying girls. Let the ladies look after themselves. We
+of the foundation will lead our own life, and be as happy as the day is
+long. Aren't you glad to see me, dear, sweet, pretty Ruth? Don't you
+know for yourself that you are my affinity&mdash;my chosen friend, my
+beloved? Through the ages we have been one, and now we have met in the
+flesh."</p>
+
+<p>"I think," said Cassandra, at last managing to get herself heard, "that
+you have said enough for the present, Miss O'Hara. Ruth Craven has come
+to spend the day with me. I know that you are an Irish girl, and you
+must be lonely. I shall be very pleased if you will join Ruth and me in
+our walk. We are going for a walk across the common.&mdash;We shall be in to
+tea, dear mother. Will you have it ready for us not later than five
+o'clock? And I am sure you will join me, mother darling, in asking Miss
+O'Hara to stay, too."</p>
+
+<p>"But Miss O'Hara doesn't want to join either you or your 'mother
+darling,'" said Kathleen in her rudest tone. "It is Ruth I want. I have
+come here for her. She must return with me at once."</p>
+
+<p>"But I can't. I am ever so sorry, Miss O'Hara."</p>
+
+<p>"You mean that you won't come when I have called for you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am with Miss Weldon at present."</p>
+
+<p>"Be sensible, dear," said Mrs. Weldon at that moment. "You don't quite
+understand our manners in this country. However attached we may be to a
+person, we don't enter a strange house and snatch that person out of it.
+It<!-- Page 48 --><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a> isn't our way; and I don't think&mdash;you will forgive me for saying
+it&mdash;that your way is as nice as ours. Be persuaded, dear, and join
+Cassandra and Ruth, and have a happy time."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen's face had turned crimson. She looked from Mrs. Weldon to
+Cassandra, and then she looked at Ruth. Suddenly her eyes brimmed up
+with tears.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think I can ever change my way," she said. "I am sorry if I am
+rude and not understood. Perhaps, after all, I am mistaken, about Ruth;
+perhaps she is not my real proper affinity. I am a very unhappy girl. I
+wish I could go back to mother and to my dad. I shouldn't be lonely if I
+were in the midst of the mountains, and if I could see the streams and
+the blue sea. I don't know why Aunt Katie O'Flynn sent me to this horrid
+place. I wish I was back in the old country. They don't talk as you talk
+in the old country and they don't look as you look. If you put your
+heart at the feet of a body in old Ireland, that body doesn't kick it
+away. I will go. I don't want your tea. I don't want anything that you
+have to offer me. I don't like any of you. I am sorry if you think me
+rude, but I can't help myself. Good-bye."</p>
+
+<p>"No, no; stay. Stay and visit with me, and tell me about the old country
+and the sea and the mountains," said Mrs. Weldon.</p>
+
+<p>But Kathleen shook her head fiercely, and the next moment left the room.</p>
+
+<p>"Poor, strange little girl," thought the good woman. "I see she is about
+to heap unhappiness on herself and others. What is to be done for her?"</p>
+
+<p>"I like her," said Ruth. "She is very impulsive, but she is&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes," said Cassandra, "she has a good heart, of<!-- Page 49 --><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a> course; but I
+foresee that she is up to all sorts of mischief. She doesn't understand
+our ways. Why did she leave her own country?"</p>
+
+<p>Ruth was silent. She looked wistful.</p>
+
+<p>"Come along, Ruthie; we will be late. I have no end of schemes in my
+head. I mean to help you. You will win that scholarship."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth smiled. Presently she and Cassandra were crossing the common
+arm-in-arm. In the interest of their own conversation they forgot
+Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>When that young lady left the house she ran back to the Tennants'.</p>
+
+<p>"I will write to dad to-night and tell him that I can't stay," she
+thought. "Oh, dear, my heart is in my mouth! I shall have a broken heart
+if this sort of thing goes on."</p>
+
+<p>She entered the house. There sat Mrs. Tennant with a great basket of
+stockings before her. The remains of a rough-looking tea were on the
+table. The boys had disappeared.</p>
+
+<p>"Come in, Kathleen," called Mrs. Tennant, "and have your tea. I want
+Maria to clear the tea-things away, as I have some cutting out to do; so
+be quick, dear."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen entered. The untidy table did not trouble her in the least; she
+was accustomed to things of that sort at home. She sat down, helped
+herself to a thick slice of bread-and-butter, and ate it, while burning
+thoughts filled her mind.</p>
+
+<p>"Have some tea. You haven't touched any," said Mrs. Tennant.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd rather have cold water, please," Kathleen replied.</p>
+
+<p>She went to the sideboard, filled a glass, and drank it off.</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Tennant," she said when she had finished, "what<!-- Page 50 --><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a> possessed you to
+live in England? You had all the world to choose from. Why did you come
+to a horrible place like this?"</p>
+
+<p>"But I like it," said Mrs. Tennant.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't look as if you did. I never saw such a worn-out poor body.
+Are you awfully old?"</p>
+
+<p>"You would think me so," replied Mrs. Tennant, with a smile; "but as a
+matter of fact I am not forty yet."</p>
+
+<p>"Not forty!" said Kathleen. "But forty's an awful age, isn't it? I mean,
+you want crutches when you are forty, don't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not as a rule, my dear. I trust when I am forty I shall not want a
+crutch. I shall be forty in two years, and that by some people is
+considered young."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I suppose it is mending those horrid stockings that makes you so
+old."</p>
+
+<p>"Mending stockings doesn't help to keep you young, certainly."</p>
+
+<p>"Shall I help you? I used to cobble for old nurse when I was at home."</p>
+
+<p>"But I shouldn't like you to cobble these."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I can darn, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"Then do, Kathleen. I should take it very kindly if you would. Here is
+worsted, and here is a needle. Will you sit by me and tell me about your
+home?"</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen certainly would not have believed her own ears had she been
+told an hour ago that she would end her first fit of desperate
+naughtiness by darning stockings for the Tennant boys. She did not darn
+well; but then, Mrs. Tennant was not particular. She certainly&mdash;although
+she said she would not&mdash;did cobble these stockings to an extraordinary
+extent; but her work and the chat with<!-- Page 51 --><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a> Mrs. Tennant did her good, and
+she went upstairs to dress for supper in a happier frame of mind.</p>
+
+<p>"I will stay here for a little," she said finally to Mrs. Tennant,
+"because I think it will help you. You look so terribly tired; and I
+don't think you ought to have this horrible work to do. I'd like to do
+it for you, but I don't suppose I shall have time. I will stay for a bit
+and see what I can make of the foundation girls."</p>
+
+<p>"The foundation girls?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes; don't ask me to explain. There are a hundred of them at the
+Great Shirley School, and I am going&mdash;No, I can't explain. I will stop
+here instead of running away. I meant to run away when my affinity would
+have nothing to do with me."</p>
+
+<p>"Really, Kathleen, you are a most extraordinary girl."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I am," said Kathleen. "Did you ever suppose that I was
+anything else? I am very remarkable, and I am very naughty. I always
+was, and I always will be. I am up to no end of mischief. I wish you
+could have seen me and Rory together at home. Oh, what didn't we do? Do
+you know that once we walked across a little bridge of metal which is
+put between two of the stables? It is just a narrow iron rod, six feet
+in length. If we had either of us fallen we'd have been dashed to pieces
+on the cobble-stones forty feet below. Mother saw me when I was half-way
+across, and she gave a shriek. It nearly finished me, but I steadied
+myself and got across. Oh, it was jolly! I am going to set some of the
+foundation girls at that sort of thing. I expect I shall have great fun
+with them. It is principally because my affinity won't have anything to
+do with me; she is attaching herself to another, and that other is
+little better than a monster. Your Alice won't like me; and, to be frank
+with you, I don't<!-- Page 52 --><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a> like her. I like you, because you are poor and
+worried and seem old for your age&mdash;although your age is a great one&mdash;and
+because you have to cobble those horrid socks. There! good-bye for the
+present. Don't hate me too much; I can't help the way I am made. Oh; I
+hear Alice. What a detestable voice she has! Now then, I'm off."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen ran up to her room, and again she locked the door. She heard
+Alice's step, and she felt a certain vindictiveness as she turned the
+key in the lock. Alice presently took the handle of the door and shook
+it.</p>
+
+<p>"Let me in at once, Kathleen," she said. "I really can't put up with
+this sort of thing any longer. I want to get into my room; I want to
+tidy myself. I am going to supper to-night with Cassandra Weldon."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you don't get in," whispered Kathleen to herself. Aloud she said:</p>
+
+<p>"I am sorry, darling, but I am specially busy, and I really must have my
+share of the room to myself."</p>
+
+<p>"Do open the door, Kathleen," now almost pleaded poor Alice. "If you
+want your share of the room, I want mine. Don't you understand?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am not interfering, dearest," called back Kathleen, "and I am keeping
+religiously to my own half. I have the straight window, and you have the
+bay. I am not touching your beautiful half; I am only in mine."</p>
+
+<p>"Let me in," called Alice again, "and don't be silly."</p>
+
+<p>"Sorry, dear; don't think I am silly."</p>
+
+<p>There was a silence. Alice went on her knees and peered through the
+keyhole: Kathleen was seated by her dressing-table, and there was a
+sound of the furious scratching of a pen quite audible. "This is
+intolerable," thought Alice. "She is the most awful girl I ever heard
+of. I shall be late. Mary Addersley and Rhoda Pierpont are to call for<!-- Page 53 --><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a>
+me shortly, and I shan't be ready. I don't want to appeal to mother or
+to be rude to the poor wild thing the first day. Stay, I will tempt
+her.&mdash;Kathleen!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, darling."</p>
+
+<p>"Wouldn't you like to come with me to Cassandra Weldon's? She is so
+nice, and so is her mother. She plays beautifully, and they will sing."</p>
+
+<p>"Irish songs?" called out Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. Perhaps they will if you ask them."</p>
+
+<p>"Thanks," replied Kathleen; "I am not going." Again there was silence,
+and the scratching of the pen continued. Alice was now obliged to go
+downstairs to acquaint her mother.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it, dear? Why, my dear Alice, how excited you look!"</p>
+
+<p>"I have cause to be, mother. I have come in rather late, very much
+fagged out from a day of hard examination work and that imp&mdash;that horrid
+girl&mdash;has locked me out of my bedroom. I was so looking forward to a
+nice little supper with Cassandra and the other girls! Kathleen won't
+let me in; she really is intolerable. I can't stay in the room with her
+any longer; she is past bearing. Can't you give me an attic to myself at
+the top of the house?"</p>
+
+<p>"You know I haven't a corner."</p>
+
+<p>"Can't I share your bed, mummy? I shall be so miserable with that
+dreadful Kathleen."</p>
+
+<p>"You know quite well, Alice, that that is the only really good bedroom
+in the house, and I can't afford to give it to one girl by herself. I
+think Kathleen will be all right when we really get to know her; but she
+is very undisciplined. Still, three guineas a week makes an immense
+difference to me, Alice. I can't help telling you so, my child."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 54 --><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a>"In my opinion, it is hardly earned," said Alice. "I suppose I must
+stay down here and give up my supper. I can't go like this, all untidy,
+and my hair so messy, and my collar&mdash;oh, mother, it is nearly black! It
+is really too trying."</p>
+
+<p>"I will go up and see if I can persuade her," said Mrs. Tennant.</p>
+
+<p>She went upstairs, turned the handle of the door, and spoke. The moment
+her voice penetrated to Kathleen's ears, she jumped to her feet, crossed
+the room, and bent down at the other side of the keyhole.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't tire your dear voice," she said. "What is it you want?"</p>
+
+<p>"I want you to open the door, Kathleen. Poor Alice wants to get in to
+get her clothes. It is her room as much as yours. Let her in at once, my
+dear."</p>
+
+<p>"I am very sorry, darling Mrs. Tennant, but I am privately engaged in my
+own half of the room. I am not interfering with Alice's."</p>
+
+<p>"But you see, Kathleen, she can't get to her half."</p>
+
+<p>"The door is in my half, you know," said Kathleen very meekly, "so I
+don't see that she has any cause to complain. I am awfully sorry; I will
+be as quick as I can."</p>
+
+<p>"You annoy me very much. You make me very uncomfortable by going on in
+this extremely silly way, Kathleen."</p>
+
+<p>"I will darn some more socks for you, darling, tired pet," whispered
+Kathleen coaxingly. "I really am awfully sorry, but there is no help for
+it. I must finish my own private affairs in my own half of the room."</p>
+
+<p>She retreated from the door, and the scratching of the pen continued.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 55 --><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a>Alice downstairs felt like a caged lion. Mrs. Tennant admitted that
+Kathleen's conduct was very bad.</p>
+
+<p>"It won't happen again, Alice," she said, "for I shall remove the key
+from the lock. She won't shut you out another time. Make the best of it,
+darling. If we don't worry her too much she is sure to capitulate."</p>
+
+<p>"Not she. She is a perfect horror," said Alice.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Weldon's supper party was to begin at eight o'clock. It was now
+seven, and the girls were to call for Alice at half-past. If Kathleen
+would only be quick she might still have time.</p>
+
+<p>The boys came in. They stared open-eyed at Alice when they saw her still
+sitting in her rough school things, a very cross expression on her face.
+David came up to her at once; he was the favorite, and people said he
+had a way with him. Whatever they meant by that, most people did what
+David Tennant liked. He stood in front of his sister now and said:</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter? And where's the little Irish beauty?"</p>
+
+<p>"For goodness' sake don't speak about her," said Alice. "She's driving
+me nearly mad."</p>
+
+<p>"Your sister is naturally much annoyed, David," said his mother.
+"Kathleen is evidently a very tiresome girl. She has locked the door of
+their mutual bedroom, and declines to open it; she says that as the door
+happens to be in her half of the room, she has perfect control over it."</p>
+
+<p>David whistled. Ben burst out laughing.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, now that is Irish," David said.</p>
+
+<p>"If you take her part I shall hate you all the rest of my life," said
+Alice, speaking with great passion.</p>
+
+<p>"But can't you wait just for once?" asked David. "Any<!-- Page 56 --><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a> one could tell
+she is just trying it on. She'll get tired of sitting there by herself
+if only you have patience."</p>
+
+<p>"But I am due at Cassandra's for supper" and Mary Addersley and Rhoda
+Pierpont are to call for me at half-past seven."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that's it, is it?" said David.&mdash;"Ben, leave off teasing." For Ben
+was whistling and jumping about, and making the most expressive faces at
+poor Alice,&mdash;"I will see what I can do," he said, and he ran upstairs.
+David was very musical; indeed, the soul of music dwelt in his eyes, in
+his voice, in his very step. He might in some respects have been an
+Irish boy himself. He bent down now and whistled very softly, and in the
+most flute-like manner, "Garry Owen" through the keyhole. There was a
+restless sound in the room, and then a cross voice said:</p>
+
+<p>"Go away."</p>
+
+<p>David stopped whistling "Garry Owen," and proceeded to execute a most
+exquisite performance of "St. Patrick's Day in the Morning." Kathleen
+trembled. Her eyes filled with tears. David was now whistling right into
+her room "The Wearing of the Green." Kathleen flung down her pen, making
+a splash on the paper.</p>
+
+<p>"Go away," she called out. "What are you doing there?"</p>
+
+<p>"The outside of this door doesn't belong to you," called David, "and if
+I like to whistle through the keyhole you can't prevent me;" and he
+began "Garry Owen" again.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen rushed to the door and flung it open. The tears were still wet
+on her cheeks.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't you guess what you are doing?" she said. "You are stabbing
+me&mdash;stabbing me. Oh! oh! oh!" and she burst into violent sobs. David
+took her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Come, little Irish colleen," he said. "Come along downstairs. I am
+going to be chummy with you. Don't be so<!-- Page 57 --><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a> lonely. Give Alice her room;
+one-half of it is hers, and she wants to dress to go out."</p>
+
+<p>"Let her take it all," sobbed Kathleen. "I am most miserable. Oh, Garry
+Owen, Garry Owen! Oh, Land of the Shamrock! Oh, my broken heart!"</p>
+
+<p>She laid her head on David's shoulder and went on sobbing. David felt
+quite bashful. There was nothing for it but to take out his big and not
+too clean handkerchief and wipe her tears away.</p>
+
+<p>"Whisper," he said in her ear. "There are stables at the back of the
+house; they are old, worn-out stables. There is a loft over one, and I
+keep apples and nuts there. It's the jolliest place. Will you and I go
+there for an hour or two after supper?"</p>
+
+<p>"Do you mean it?" said Kathleen, her eyes filling with laughter, and the
+tears still wet on her cheeks.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, colleen, I mean it, for I want you to tell me all you can about
+your land of the shamrock."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, then, that I will," she replied. "Wisha, then, David, it's a broth
+of a boy, you are!" and she kissed him on his forehead. David took her
+hand and led her into the dining-room. Alice was still there, looking
+more stormy than ever.</p>
+
+<p>"It's too late now," she said; "the girls have come and gone. I can't go
+at all now."</p>
+
+<p>"But why, darling?" said Kathleen. "Oh! I wish I had let you in.&mdash;She
+must go, David, the poor dear. It would be cruel to disappoint
+her.&mdash;What dress will you wear?" said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"Let me alone," said Alice.</p>
+
+<p>She rushed upstairs, but Kathleen was even quicker.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not going to be nasty to you any more," she said. "I have found a
+friend, and I shall have more friends to<!-- Page 58 --><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a>morrow. Kathleen O'Hara would
+have died long ago but for her friends. I shall be happy when I have got
+a creelful of them here. Now then, let me help you. No, that isn't the
+shoe you want; here it is. And gloves&mdash;here's a pair, and they're neatly
+mended. Which hat did you say&mdash;the one with the blue scarf round it?
+Isn't it a pretty one? You put that on. Aunt Katie O'Flynn is going to
+send me a box of clothes from Dublin, and I will give you some of them.
+You mustn't say no; I will give you some if you are nice. I am ever so
+sorry that I kept you out of your part of the room; I won't do it any
+more. Now you are dressed; that's fine. You won't hate me forever, will
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>Alice growled something in reply. She had not Kathleen's passionate,
+quick, impulsive nature&mdash;furious with rage one minute, sweet and gentle
+and affectionate the next. She hated Kathleen for having humiliated and
+annoyed her; and she went off to Cassandra's house knowing that she
+would be late, and determined not to say one good word for Kathleen.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2>
+
+<h3>WIT AND GENIUS: THE PLAN PROPOUNDED.</h3>
+
+
+<p>While Kathleen was locked in Alice's room, she was writing to her
+father:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">My Darling Daddy</span>.&mdash;If ever there was a cold, dreary,
+     abominable land, it is this where they wave the British flag.
+     The ugliness of it would make you sick. The people are as ugly
+     as the country, and they're so stiff and stuck-u<!-- Page 59 --><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a>p. If you
+     suppose for a moment that your wild Irish girl can stand much
+     of this sort of thing, you are fine and mistaken, and you can
+     tell the mother so. I mean to write to Aunt Katie O'Flynn
+     to-morrow and give her a fine piece of my mind. Early in the
+     day, dad, I did not think that I could stay at all; but I have
+     got a plan in my head now, and if I succeed I may at least put
+     up with one term of this detestable school. I won't tell you
+     the plan, for you mightn't approve; in fact, I can guess in
+     advance that you wouldn't approve. Anyhow, it is going to
+     occupy the time and thoughts of your Kathleen. Now I want a
+     good bit of money; not a pound or even five pounds, but more
+     than that. Can you send me a ten-pound note, daddy mine, and
+     say nothing whatever about it to the mother or the retainers
+     at Carrigrohane? And can you let me have it as quick as quick
+     can be? Maybe I will want more before the term is up, or maybe
+     I won't. Anyhow, we will let that lie in the future. Oh, my
+     broth of an old dad, wouldn't I like to hug you this blessed
+     minute? How is everybody at home? How are the mountains? How
+     is the sea? How is the trout-stream? Are those young cousins
+     of mine behaving themselves, the spalpeens? And how are you,
+     my heart of hearts&mdash;missing your Kathleen, I doubt not? Well,
+     no more for the present. They're rattling at the door like
+     anything, and there's a detestable boy now whistling 'Garry
+     Owen' right into my heart. You can't imagine what I am
+     feeling. Oh, the omadhaun! he is changing it now into 'St.
+     Patrick's Day,' Wisha, then, daddy! I must stop, for it's more
+     than the heart of woman can stand. Your affectionate daughter,</p>
+
+<p>     "<span class="smcap">Kathleen</span>."</p></div>
+
+<p>This letter was posted by Kathleen herself. After sup<!-- Page 60 --><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a>per she went with
+David into the old loft over the tumble-down stables. It was not a very
+safe place of refuge, for the rafters were rotten and might tumble down
+at any time. Still, the sense of danger made it all, the more
+interesting to the children. There they sat side by side, and Kathleen
+told David about her old life. She was very outspoken and affectionate,
+and very fierce and very wild. To look at her, one would have said there
+never was any one less reserved; but Kathleen in her heart of hearts was
+intensely reserved. Her real feelings she never told; her real hopes she
+never breathed. She talked with high spirits all the time; and although
+she liked David and was much comforted by his words and his actions, he
+did not get at the real Kathleen at all.</p>
+
+<p>When Alice came back that evening Kathleen was sound asleep in her
+little bed, dreaming of Carrigrohane and the old home. She was murmuring
+some loving words as Alice entered the room.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, daddy mine, my heart is sore for you," she was saying in a tone
+which caused Alice to pause and look at her attentively.</p>
+
+<p>"She is the most awful girl I ever heard of," thought Alice. "I am sure
+she will get us into trouble. I know that those three guineas a week
+that mother gets for having her are not worth all the mischief she will
+drag us into. But still, she does look pretty when she is asleep."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen had very long and very thick eyelashes and nobly arched brows.
+Her forehead was broad and full and beautifully white. The mischievous,
+dare-devil expression of her face when awake was softened in her sleep.
+Alice, who had determined to come very noisily into the room and bang
+her things about, to take rude possession of her own half of the
+room&mdash;which, after all, was the better half&mdash;<!-- Page 61 --><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a>was softened by the look
+on the girl's face. She knelt for a moment at her bedside and prayed
+that God would keep her from quite hating Kathleen. This was a great
+deal from Alice, who had made up her mind never to be friends with the
+Irish girl. Then she got into bed and fell asleep.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning, quite early, Kathleen was up. She was accustomed to
+getting up almost at cock-crow at Carrigrohane, and when Alice opened
+her eyes, it was to see an empty bed and an empty room.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder if she's up to mischief?" she thought.</p>
+
+<p>She got up and went to the window. Kathleen was walking across the
+common. She had no hat on, and no jacket. She was stepping along
+leisurely, looking up sometimes at the sky, and sometimes pausing as
+though she was thinking hard.</p>
+
+<p>"She will catch cold and be ill; that will be the next trouble," thought
+the indignant Alice. She sleepily proceeded with her dressing. It was
+only half-past seven. The Great Shirley School met at nine. Alice was
+seldom downstairs until past eight. When she came down this morning she
+saw, to her amazement, Kathleen helping the very untidy maid-of-all-work
+to lay the breakfast things. She was dashing about, putting plates and
+cups and saucers anyhow upon the board.</p>
+
+<p>"Now then, Maria," she said, "shall I run down to the kitchen and bring
+up the hot bacon and the porridge? I will, with a heart and a half. Oh,
+you poor girl, how tired you look!"</p>
+
+<p>Maria, whom Alice never noticed, looked with adoring eyes at beautiful
+Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't right, miss. I ought to be doing my own work," she said. "I am
+ever so much obliged to you, miss."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 62 --><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a>"Wisha, then, it is I who like to help you," said Kathleen, "for you
+look fair beat."</p>
+
+<p>She dashed past Alice, and appeared the next moment in the kitchen.</p>
+
+<p>"Where's the bacon, cook? And where's the bread, and where's the butter,
+and all the rest of the breakfast? See, woman&mdash;see! Give me a tray and I
+will fill it up and take the things upstairs with my own hands. You
+think it is beneath me, perhaps; but I am a lady from a castle, and at
+Carrigrohane Castle we often do this sort of thing when the hands of the
+poor maids are full to overflowing."</p>
+
+<p>The cook, a sandy-haired and sour-looking woman, began by scowling at
+Kathleen; but soon the girl's pretty face and merry eyes appeased her.
+She and Kathleen had almost a quarrel as to who was to carry up the
+tray, but Kathleen won the day; and when Mrs. Tennant made her
+appearance, feeling tired and overdone, she was amazed to see Kathleen
+acting parlor-maid.</p>
+
+<p>"I love it," she said. "If I can help you, you dear, tired, worn one, I
+shall be only too glad."</p>
+
+<p>"I am sure, mother," said Alice, "it is very good of Kathleen to wish to
+do the household work; but as she has been sent here to gain some
+information of another sort, do you think it ought to be allowed?"</p>
+
+<p>"And who will prevent it, darling? That is the question," said Kathleen
+in her softest voice.</p>
+
+<p>Alice was silent.</p>
+
+<p>"I tell you what," said Kathleen. "When I see you beginning to help your
+poor, exhausted mother, and running messages for that overworked
+slavey&mdash;I think you call her Maria&mdash;then perhaps I'll do less. And when
+there's some one else to mend the boys' socks, perhaps I won't<!-- Page 63 --><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a> offer;
+but until there is, the less you say about such things the better, Miss
+Alice Tennant."</p>
+
+<p>Ben kicked David under the table, and David kicked him back to stay
+quiet. Altogether the breakfast was a noisy one.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen went to school quite prepared to carry out her promise to Susy
+Hopkins. She had neatly packed the little Irish diamond brooch in a box,
+and had slipped under it a tiny note:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"Get as many foundation girls as you can to meet me, at
+     whatever place you like to appoint, this evening. I have a
+     plan to propose.&mdash;<span class="smcap">Kathleen O'Hara</span>.</p>
+
+<p>     <i>"P.S.</i>&mdash;You can name the place by pinning a note under my
+     desk. Be sure you all come. The plan is gloryious."</p></div>
+
+<p>The thought of the note and the plan and the little brooch kept Kathleen
+in a fairly good humor on her walk to school. There she saw Ruth Craven.
+She was decidedly angry with Ruth for having, as she said to herself,
+"snubbed her" the day before. But beauty always had a curious effect on
+the Irish girl, and when she observed Ruth's really exquisite little
+face, clear cut as a cameo, with eyes full of expression, and watched
+the lips ready to break into the gentlest smiles, Kathleen said to
+herself:</p>
+
+<p>"It is all over with me. She is the only decent-looking colleen I have
+met in this God-forsaken country. Make up to her I will."</p>
+
+<p>She dashed, therefore, almost rudely through a great mass of incoming
+girls, and seized Ruth by her shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>"Ruth," she said, "go and talk to Susy Hopkins during<!-- Page 64 --><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a> recess. She will
+have something to say, and I want you so badly. You won't refuse me,
+will you, Ruth?"</p>
+
+<p>"But I don't know what you want," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"Go and talk to Susy Hopkins; she will know. Oh, there she is!"</p>
+
+<p>"Kathleen, Kathleen!" called out Alice. "The school-bell has just rung,
+and they are opening the doors. Come do come."</p>
+
+<p>"In a jiff," replied Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>She ran up to Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"This is what I promised," she said; "and there is a note inside. Read
+it, and give me the answer where I have asked you."</p>
+
+<p>Susy Hopkins, a most ordinary little girl, who had no position of any
+sort in the school, colored high with delight. Some of the paying girls
+looked at her in astonishment. Susy walked into the school with her head
+high in the air; she quite adored Kathleen, for she was making her a
+person of great distinction.</p>
+
+<p>"We are going to have a glorious time," whispered Susy to Kate Rourke as
+they made their way to their respective classes.</p>
+
+<p>Susy was small, rather stupid, and absolutely unimportant. Kate was big,
+black-eyed, impudent. She was jealous of the paying girls of the school;
+but she treated Susy as some one beneath contempt.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't drag my sleeve," she replied crossly. "And what you do mean by a
+glorious time? I don't understand you."</p>
+
+<p>"You will presently," said Susy. "And when all is said and done, you
+will have to remember that you owe it to me. But I have no time to talk
+now; only meet me, and bring as many of the foundationers as you can
+collect into<!-- Page 65 --><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a> the left-hand corner of the playground, just behind the
+Botanical Laboratory, at recess."</p>
+
+<p>Kate made no answer, unless a toss of her head could have been taken as
+a reply. Her first impulse was to take no notice of Susy's
+remarks&mdash;little Susy Hopkins, the daughter of a small stationer in the
+town, a girl who had scarcely scraped through in her examination. It was
+intolerable that she should put on such airs.</p>
+
+<p>The work of the school began, and all the girls were busy. Kate was
+clever, and she meant to try for one of the big scholarships. She would
+get her forty pounds a year when the time came, and go to Holloway
+College or some other college. She was not a lady by birth; she had not
+a single instinct of a true lady within her; but she was intensely
+ambitious. She did not care so much for beauty as for style; she made
+style her idol. The look that Cassandra wore as she walked quietly
+across the room, the set of her dress, the still more wonderful set of
+her head as it was placed on her queenly young shoulders&mdash;these were the
+things that burnt into Kate's soul and made her restless and
+dissatisfied. She would willingly have given all her father's
+wealth&mdash;and he was quite well-to-do for his class&mdash;- to have Cassandra's
+face, Cassandra's voice, Cassandra's figure. Cassandra was not at all a
+pretty girl, but her appearance appealed to all the wild ambitions in
+Kate's soul. She had a jealous contempt of Ruth Craven, who, although a
+foundation girl, managed to look like a lady; but her envy was centered
+round Cassandra. As to the Irish girl, she had scarcely noticed her up
+to the present.</p>
+
+<p>Work went on that morning with much verve and vigor. It was a pleasant
+morning: the windows were open; the schoolrooms were all well
+ventilated; the teachers, the best of their kind, were stimulating in
+their lectures and<!-- Page 66 --><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a> in their conversation. There was a look of business
+and animation throughout the whole place: it was like a hive of bees. At
+last the moment of recess arrived. Kate just raised her head, looked
+over the shoulders of her companions, and saw Susy Hopkins darting
+restlessly about, catching one girl by the sleeve, another by the arm,
+whispering in the ear of a third, flinging her arm round the neck of a
+fourth; and as she spoke to the girls they looked interested,
+astonished, and cordial. They moved away to that lonely part of the
+playground which was situated at the back of the Botanical Laboratory.
+Kate had made up her mind not to take the least notice of Susy. She was
+pacing up and down alone; for, most provoking, all her chosen friends
+had gone off with that young lady. Suddenly she saw Ruth Craven going
+very quietly by. By all the laws of the foundationers, Ruth ought to
+speak to her companions in misfortune. Kate rushed up to her.</p>
+
+<p>"What are they all doing there?" she said. "Do you happen to know Susy
+Hopkins?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," replied Ruth gently. "She came up to me just now and asked me to
+join her and some other girls at the back of the Laboratory. I don't
+know that I want to."</p>
+
+<p>"I am curious," said Kate. "Of course, I am no friend of Susy's; she is
+a most contemptible little wretch; but I may as well know what it is all
+about. Come with me, won't you?"</p>
+
+<p>Ruth hesitated.</p>
+
+<p>"Come along; we may as well know. There is probably some mischief on
+foot, and it is only fair that we should be forewarned."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want to know," said Ruth; but as Kate slipped her hand through
+her arm and pulled her along, she said resignedly, "Well, if I must I
+must."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 67 --><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a>As they strolled across the big playground, Ruth turned and glanced at
+Cassandra; but Cassandra was busy making friends with Florence, who was
+very angry with her for her desertion of the day before, and took no
+notice of Ruth. The Irish girl was nowhere in sight. Ruth sighed and
+continued her walk with Kate.</p>
+
+<p>The most lonely and most dreary part of the playground was that little
+portion which was situated at the back of the Laboratory. Nothing grew
+there; the ground was innocent of grass, and much worn by the tramping
+of young feet. There were swings and garden-seats and preparations for
+tennis and other games in the rest of the big playground, but nothing
+had ever been done at the back of the Laboratory. When the two girls
+arrived they found five other girls waiting for them. Their names were,
+of course, Susy Hopkins, who considered herself on this delightful
+occasion quite the leader; a gentle and refined-looking girl of the name
+of Mary Rand; Rosy Myers, who was pretty and frivolous, with dark eyes
+and fair hair; Clara Sawyer, who was renowned for her vulgar taste in
+dress; and Hannah Johnson, a heavy-looking girl with a scowling brow and
+a very pronounced jaw. Hannah Johnson was about the plainest girl in the
+school. When Susy saw Kate Rourke and Ruth Craven she uttered a little
+scream of delight.</p>
+
+<p>"Now we are complete," she said. "Listen to me, all you girls, for I
+haven't too long in which to tell you; that horrid bell will ring us
+back to lessons and dullness in less than no time. The most wonderful,
+delightful chance is offered to us. I met her yesterday, and she decided
+to do it. She is a brick of bricks. She will make the most tremendous
+difference in our lives. You know, although you pretend not to feel it,
+but you all must know how we<!-- Page 68 --><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a> foundationers are sat upon and objected to
+in the school. We bear it as meekly as we can for the sake of our
+so-called advantages; but if we can be snubbed, we are, and if we can be
+neglected, we are&mdash;although it isn't the teachers we have to complain
+of, but the girls. Sometimes things are past bearing, and yet we are
+powerless. There are three hundred paying girls, and there are one
+hundred foundationers. What chance has one hundred against three?"</p>
+
+<p>"What is the good of bringing all that up, Susy?" said Mary Rand. "We
+are foundationers, and we ought to be thankful."</p>
+
+<p>"The education is splendid; we ought not to forget that," said Ruth
+Craven.</p>
+
+<p>Susy turned on Ruth as though she would like to eat her.</p>
+
+<p>"It is all very fine for you," she said. "Just because you happen to be
+pretty, they take you up. I wonder one of your fine friends doesn't pay
+for you, and so save your position out and out."</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't allow her to," replied Ruth, her eyes flashing fire. "I had
+much rather be a foundationer. I mean to prove that I am every bit as
+good as a paying girl. I mean to make you all respect me, so there!"</p>
+
+<p>"That'll do, Spitfire," said Kate Rourke. "The time is passing, and we
+must get to the bottom of Susy Hopkins's remarkable address.&mdash;What's up,
+Susy? What's up?"</p>
+
+<p>"This," said Susy. "You know the Irish girl who has come to live with
+the Tennants?"</p>
+
+<p>"Can't say I do," said Kate.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you will soon. She's a regular out-and-out beauty."</p>
+
+<p>"I know her," cried Ruth Craven. "She is most lovely."</p>
+
+<p>"She's better," said Susy; "she's bewitching. See; she gave me this."
+Here she pointed proudly to the Irish dia<!-- Page 69 --><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a>mond brooch, which she had
+stuck in the bosom of her dress. The diamond had been polished, and
+flashed brightly; the silver setting was also as good as was to be
+found. The girls crowded round to admire, and "Oh, my!" "Oh, dear!" "Did
+you ever?" and "Well, I never!" sounded on all sides.</p>
+
+<p>"You will be so set up now, Susan Hopkins, that we won't be able to bear
+you in the same class," said Clara Sawyer.</p>
+
+<p>"Go on," exclaimed Hannah Johnson&mdash;"go on and tell us what you want.
+Your horrid brooch doesn't interest us. What have you got to say?"</p>
+
+<p>"You are mad with jealousy, and you know it," answered Susy. "Well, I am
+coming to the great news. The Irish girl's name is Kathleen O'Hara, and
+she comes from a castle over in the wild west of Ireland. Her father is
+very rich, and he keeps dogs and horses and carriages and&mdash;oh,
+everything that rich people keep. Compared to the other girls in the
+school, she is ten times a lady; and she has a true lady's heart. And
+she has taken a dislike, as far as I can see, to Alice Tennant."</p>
+
+<p>"And I'm sure I'm not surprised," said Rosy Myers.</p>
+
+<p>"Stuck-up thing!" said Clara Sawyer.</p>
+
+<p>"Dirt beneath our feet!" exclaimed Hannah Johnson.</p>
+
+<p>"Well; she doesn't like her either, though she doesn't use that kind of
+language," continued Susy. "Anyhow, she wants to befriend <i>us</i>&mdash;Oh, do
+let me speak!"&mdash;as Kate interrupted with a hasty exclamation. "She
+thinks that we are just as good as herself. There is no false pride
+about a real lady, girls; and the end of it is that she has a plan to
+propose&mdash;something for our benefit and for her benefit. See for
+yourselves; this is her letter. It is<!-- Page 70 --><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a> in her own beautiful Irish,
+handwriting. You can read it, only don't tear it all to bits."</p>
+
+<p>The girls did read the letter. They pressed close together, and one
+peeped over the shoulder of her companion, another stood on tiptoe,
+while a third tried to snatch the letter from the hand of her fellow;
+but all managed to read the words: "Get as many foundation girls as you
+can to meet me, at whatever place you like to appoint, this evening. I
+have a plan to propose." This letter and the end of the postscript
+excited the girls; there was no doubt whatever of that. "The plan is
+<i>gloryious</i>." They laughed at the word, smiled into each others' faces,
+and stood very close together consulting.</p>
+
+<p>"The old quarry," whispered Rosy.</p>
+
+<p>"That's the place!" exclaimed Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"Let us meet her, we seven by ourselves," was Kate's final suggestion.
+"We will then know what she wants, and if there is anything in it. We
+can form a committee, and get other girls to join by degrees. Hurrah! I
+do say this is fun."</p>
+
+<p>Susy was now quite petted by her companions. The conference hastily
+ended, and on entering the school Susy pinned a piece of paper under
+Kathleen's desk, on which she wrote: "The old quarry; nine o'clock this
+evening. Will meet you at a quarter to nine outside Mrs. Tennant's
+house."</p>
+
+<p>When Kathleen received the communication her eyes flashed with delighted
+fire. She thrust the letter into her pocket and proceeded with her work.
+The Irish girl looked quite happy that day; she had something to
+interest her at last. Her lessons, too, were by no means distasteful.
+She had a great deal of quick wit and ready perception. Hitherto she had
+been taught anyhow, but now she was all<!-- Page 71 --><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a> keen to receive real
+instruction. Her intuitions were rapid indeed; she could come to
+startlingly quick conclusions, and as a rule her guesses were correct
+rather than otherwise. Kathleen had a passion for music; she had never
+been properly taught, but the soul of music was in her as much as it was
+in David Tennant. She had a beautiful melodious voice, which had, of
+course, not yet come to maturity. Just before the end of the morning she
+took her first lesson in music. Her mistress was a very amiable and
+clever woman of the name of Agnes Spicer. Miss Spicer put a sheet of
+music before her.</p>
+
+<p>"Play that," she said.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen frowned. Her delicate white fingers trembled for an instant on
+the keys. She played one or two bars perforce and very badly; then she
+dashed the sheet of music in an impetuous way to the floor.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't," she said; "it isn't my style. May I play you something
+different?"</p>
+
+<p>Miss Spicer was about to refuse, but looking at the girl, whose cheeks
+were flushed and eyes full of fire, she changed her mind.</p>
+
+<p>"Just this once," she said; "but you must begin to practice properly.
+What I call amateur music can't be allowed here."</p>
+
+<p>"Will this be allowed?" said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>She dashed into heavy chords, played lightly a delicate movement, and
+then broke into an Irish air, "The Harp that once through Tara's Halls."
+From one Irish melody to another her light fingers wandered. She played
+with perfect correctness&mdash;with fire, with spirit. Soon she forgot
+herself. When she stopped, tears were running down her cheeks.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 72 --><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a>"What is music, after all," she said, looking full into the face of her
+teacher, "when you are far from the land you love? How can you stand
+music then? No, I don't mean to learn <i>music</i> at the Great Shirley
+School; I can't. When I am back again at home I shall play 'The Harp
+that once through Tara's Halls,' but I can't do it justice here. You
+will excuse me; I can't. I am sorry if I am rude, but it isn't in me.
+Some time, if you have a headache and feel very bad, as my dear father
+does sometimes, I shall play to you; but I can't learn as the other
+girls learn&mdash;it isn't in me."</p>
+
+<p>Again she put her fingers on the keys of the piano and brought forth a
+few sobbing, broken-hearted notes. Then she started up.</p>
+
+<p>"I expect you will punish me for this, Miss Spicer, but I am sorry&mdash;I
+can't help myself."</p>
+
+<p>Strange to say, Miss Spicer did not punish her. On the contrary, she
+took her hand and pressed it.</p>
+
+<p>"I won't ask you to do any more to-day," she said. "I see you are not
+like others. I will talk the matter over with you to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>"And you will find me unchanged," said Kathleen. "Thank you, all the
+same, for your forbearance."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2>
+
+<h3>THE POOR TIRED ONE.</h3>
+
+
+<p>Mrs. Tennant spent the afternoon out shopping. She told the girls at
+dinner that she would be home for tea, that she expected to be rather
+tired, and hoped that they would be as good as possible. The boys were
+always out<!-- Page 73 --><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a> during the afternoon, and as a rule never returned until
+after tea; but Alice and Kathleen were expected to be in for this meal.
+When Mrs. Tennant walked down the street, Kathleen went to the window
+and looked after her.</p>
+
+<p>"What are you going to do this afternoon?" said Alice, who was lying
+back in an easy-chair with an open novel in her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," replied Kathleen. "What a dull hole this is! How can you
+have grown up and kept well in a place like this?"</p>
+
+<p>"Opinions differ with regard to its dullness," said Alice. "I think our
+home a very pleasant, entertaining place. I wouldn't live in your wild
+castle for all you could give me."</p>
+
+<p>"Nobody asked you, my dear," said Kathleen, with a saucy nod of her
+head.</p>
+
+<p>She left the room and went up to what she called her half of the bedroom
+on the next floor. She knelt down by the window and looked across over
+the ugly landscape. There were houses everywhere&mdash;not a scrap of real
+country, as she expressed it, to be found. She took out of her pocket
+the letter which the foundation girls had sent her, and opened and read
+it.</p>
+
+<p>"The old quarry! I wonder where the old quarry is," she thought. "It
+must be a good way from here. We have such a place at home, too. I did
+not suppose one was to be found in this horrid part of the world. I am
+rather glad there is an old quarry; it was quite nice of little Susy to
+suggest it, and she will meet me, the little colleen. That is good. What
+fun! I shall probably have to return through the bedroom window, so I
+may as well explore and make all in readiness. Dear, dear! I should like
+David to help me. It isn't the naughtiness that I care about, but it is
+the fun of being naughty; it is the fun of<!-- Page 74 --><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a> having a sort of dangerous
+thing to do. That is the real joy of it. It is the ecstacy of shocking
+the prim Alice! Oh! there is her step. She's coming up, the creature!
+Now then, I had best be as mum as I can unless I want to distract the
+poor thing entirely."</p>
+
+<p>Alice entered the room.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you greatly object to shutting the window?" she said to Kathleen. "I
+have a slight cold, and the draught will make it worse."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, then, of course, darling," said Kathleen in a hearty voice, as she
+brought down the window with a bang. "Would you like me to shut the
+ventilator in the grate?" she then asked.</p>
+
+<p>"No. How silly you are!"</p>
+
+<p>"Is it silly? I thought you had a cold. You are afraid of the draughts.
+Why are you going out?"</p>
+
+<p>"I want to see a school friend."</p>
+
+<p>"You will be back in time for tea, won't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Can't say."</p>
+
+<p>"But your mother, the poor tired one, asked you to be back."</p>
+
+<p>"I do wish, Kathleen, that you wouldn't call mother by that ridiculous
+name. She is no more tired than&mdash;than other women are."</p>
+
+<p>"If that is the case," said Kathleen, "I heartily hope that I shall not
+live to be a woman. I wouldn't like us all to be as fagged as she
+is&mdash;poor, dear, gentle soul! She's overworked, and that's the truth."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen saw that she was annoying Alice, and proceeded with great gusto
+to expand her theory with regard to Mrs. Tennant.</p>
+
+<p>"She's in the condition when she might drop any time," she said. "We
+have had old Irishwomen overworked like<!-- Page 75 --><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a> that, and all of a sudden they
+went out like snuffs: that is what happens. What are you putting on your
+best hat for?"</p>
+
+<p>"That is no affair of yours."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, hoity-toity, how grand we are! Do you know, Alice, you haven't got
+at all nice manners. You think you have, but you haven't. We are never
+rude like that in Ireland. We tell a few lies now and then, but they are
+only <i>polite</i> lies&mdash;the kind that make other people happy. Alice, I
+should like to know which is best&mdash;to be horribly cross, or to tell nice
+polite lies. Which is the most wicked? I should like to know."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I will tell you," said Alice. "What you call a nice lie is just a
+very great and awful sin; and if you don't believe me, go to church and
+listen when the commandments are read."</p>
+
+<p>"In future," said Kathleen very calmly, "now that I really know your
+views, I will always tell you <i>home truths</i>. You can't blame me, can
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>Alice deigned no answer. She went downstairs and let herself out of the
+house.</p>
+
+<p>"And that is the sort of girl I have exchanged for daddy and the mother
+and the boys," thought the Irish girl. "Oh, dear! oh, dear!"</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen flew downstairs. It was nearly three o'clock; tea was to be on
+the table at half-past four. Quick as thought she dashed into the
+kitchen.</p>
+
+<p>"Maria," she said, "and cook, is there anything nice and tasty for tea
+this evening?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nice and tasty, miss!" said cook. "And what should there be nice and
+tasty? There's bread, and there's butter&mdash;Dorset, second-class
+Dorset&mdash;and there's jam (if there's any left); and that's about all."</p>
+
+<p>"<!-- Page 76 --><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a>That sort of tea isn't very nourishing, cook, is it? I ask because I
+want to know," said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"It's the kind we always have at Myrtle Lodge," replied cook. "I don't
+hold with it, but then it's the way of the missis."</p>
+
+<p>"I have got some money in my pocket," said Kathleen. "I want to have a
+beautiful, nice tea. Can't you think of something to buy? Here's five
+shillings. Would that get her a nice tea?"</p>
+
+<p>"A nice tea!" cried Maria. "It would get a beautiful meal; and the poor
+missis, she would like it."</p>
+
+<p>"Then go out, Maria; do, like a darling. I will open the door for you if
+anybody calls. Do run round the corner and bring in&mdash;Oh! I know what.
+We'll have sausages&mdash;they are delicious&mdash;and a little tin of
+sardines&mdash;won't they be good?&mdash;and some water-cress, and some
+shrimps&mdash;oh, yes, shrimps! Be quick! And we will put out the best
+tea-things, and a clean cloth; and it will rest the poor tired one so
+tremendously when she comes in and sees a good meal on the table."</p>
+
+<p>Both cook and Maria were quite excited. Perhaps they had an eye to the
+reversion of the tea, the sausages, the sardines, the shrimps, and the
+water-cress.</p>
+
+<p>Maria went out, and Kathleen stood in the hall. Two or three people
+arrived during Maria's absence, and Kathleen went promptly to the door
+and said, "Not at home, ma'am," in a determined voice, and with rather a
+scowling face, to these arrivals. Some of the visitors left rather
+important messages, but Kathleen did not remember them for more than a
+moment after they were delivered. Maria presently came back and the
+tea-table was laid. Kathleen gave Maria sixpence for the washing of an
+extra cloth, and<!-- Page 77 --><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a> the well-spread table looked quite fresh and
+wonderfully like a school-feast.</p>
+
+<p>When Mrs. Tennant returned (she came in looking very hot and tired), it
+was to see the room tidy, Kathleen seated in her own special chair
+cobbling the boys' socks as hard as she could, and an appetizing tea on
+the table.</p>
+
+<p>"What does this mean?" said Mrs. Tennant.</p>
+
+<p>"It means," said Kathleen, jumping up, "that you are to plant yourself
+just here, and you are not to stir. Oh, I know you are <i>dead</i> tired. I
+will take off your shoes, poor dear; I have brought your slippers down
+on purpose, and you are to have your tea at this little table. Now what
+will you have? Hot sausages?&mdash;They are done to a turn, aren't they,
+Maria?"</p>
+
+<p>"That they are, miss."</p>
+
+<p>"A nice hot sausage on toast, and a lovely cup of tea with cream in it."</p>
+
+<p>"But&mdash;but," said Mrs. Tennant, "what will Alice say?"</p>
+
+<p>"Maria and I don't care twopence what Alice says. This is my tea, and
+Maria fetched it. Now then, dear tired one, eat and rest."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Tennant looked at Kathleen with loving eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you buy these things?" she said.</p>
+
+<p>"That she did, ma'am," cried Maria. "I never did see a more thoughtful
+young lady."</p>
+
+<p>"My dear child," said Mrs. Tennant, "you are too good."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"If there is one thing I am, it is not that," she said. "I am not a bit
+good. I am as wild and naughty and&mdash;&mdash;Oh, but don't let us talk about
+me. I am so hungry. You know I didn't much like your dinner to-day. I am
+not fond of those watery stews. Of course, I can eat anything, but I
+don't specially like them; so if you don't mind I<!-- Page 78 --><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a> will have a sausage,
+too, and a plateful of shrimps afterwards, and some sardines. And isn't
+this water-cress nice? The leaves are not quite so brown as I should
+like. Oh, we did have such lovely water-cress in the stream at home!
+Mrs. Tennant, you must come back with me to Carrigrohane some day, and
+then you will have a real rest."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Tennant, feeling very much like a naughty child herself, enjoyed
+her tea. She and Kathleen laughed over the shrimps, exclaimed at the fun
+of eating the water-cress, enjoyed the sausages, and each drank four
+cups of tea. It was when the meal had come to an end that Kathleen said
+calmly:</p>
+
+<p>"Three or four, or perhaps five, ladies called while Maria was out."</p>
+
+<p>"Who were they, dear?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. They left messages, and I have forgotten them. One lady
+was dressed in what I should call a very loud style. She was quite old.
+Her face was all over wrinkles. She was stout, and she wore a short
+jacket and a big&mdash;very big&mdash;picture-hat."</p>
+
+<p>"You don't mean," said Mrs. Tennant, "that Mrs. Dalzell has called? She
+is one of my most important friends. She promised to help me with regard
+to David's future. What did she say&mdash;can't you remember?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am ever so sorry, but I can't. I kept staring at her hat all the
+time. I don't remember anything about her except that she was old and
+had wrinkles and a big picture-hat&mdash;the sort of hat that Ruth Craven
+would look pretty in."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Tennant began to find the remembrance of her delightful tea a
+little depressing, for, question Kathleen as she might, she did not
+remember anything about the ladies except a few fugitive descriptions.
+As far as Mrs. Tennant<!-- Page 79 --><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a> could make out, people who were of the greatest
+importance to her had left messages, and yet none of the messages could
+be attended to.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't even imagine who the other ladies can be," she said. "But as to
+Mrs. Dalzell, she must not be neglected; I must go out and see her at
+once."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you will be more tired than ever, and I have not done a scrap of
+good."</p>
+
+<p>"You meant very kindly, my dear child, and have given me a delicious and
+strengthening tea. Only don't do it again, darling, for it is my place
+to give you tea, not yours to give it to me."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2>
+
+<h3>THE QUEEN AND HER SECRET SOCIETY.</h3>
+
+
+<p>Mrs. Tennant had not been out more than a minute or two before David and
+Ben came in. Kathleen saw them from the window; she tapped on the window
+with her knuckles, nodded to them, kissed her hand, and looked radiant
+with delight. Some boys at the opposite side of the street saw her and
+burst out laughing. David's face grew red.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish the little Irish girl wouldn't make us figures of fun," said
+Ben, speaking in an annoyed tone.</p>
+
+<p>The next instant David had opened the door with his latchkey, and
+Kathleen was waiting for them in the hall.</p>
+
+<p>"Sausages," she said, bringing out the word with great gusto, "and
+shrimps, and water-cress, and sardines, besides bread-and-butter galore,
+and nice hot tea. Maria is mak<!-- Page 80 --><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a>ing fresh tea now in the kitchen. Come
+along in&mdash;do; you must be ravenous."</p>
+
+<p>The boys stared at her. Ben forgot his anger; he was schoolboy enough to
+thoroughly enjoy the delicious meal which Kathleen had prepared.</p>
+
+<p>When it came to an end David jumped up impatiently.</p>
+
+<p>"Where are you going, Dave?" asked Kathleen in an interested voice. She
+wanted him to help her. She had hoped that he and she would go away to
+the old loft together, and talk as they had done the night before. But
+David was firm.</p>
+
+<p>"I am going to the church," he said, "to practice on the organ. I only
+get the chance three times a week, and I must not neglect it."</p>
+
+<p>"David hopes to be no end of a swell some day," remarked Ben. "He thinks
+he can make the instrument speak."</p>
+
+<p>"And so can I," said Kathleen. "May I come with you, Dave?"</p>
+
+<p>"Some day," he replied, looking at her kindly, "but not to-day. I'll be
+back as soon as I can."</p>
+
+<p>David did not notice her disappointed face; he went out immediately,
+without even going upstairs first. Ben and Kathleen were now alone.
+Kathleen looked at him attentively.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder&mdash;" she said slowly.</p>
+
+<p>"What are you staring at me for?" said Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"I have been wondering what sort you are. I have got cousins at home,
+and they do anything in the world I like. I wonder if you would."</p>
+
+<p>Ben had been very cross with Kathleen when she had knocked to him and
+David from the dining-room window, but he was not cross now. He was only
+thirteen, and up<!-- Page 81 --><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a> to the present no pretty girl had ever taken the
+slightest notice of him. He was a plain, sandy-haired boy, with a
+freckled face, a wide mouth, and good-humored blue eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"You make me laugh whenever I look at you," was Kathleen's next candid
+remark.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't know that I was so comical," was his answer.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps you don't like it."</p>
+
+<p>"I can't say I do."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, this is the Palace of Home Truths," said Kathleen, laughing. "I
+asked your darling, saintly sister just now which was the most
+wicked&mdash;to tell a polite lie, or a frightfully rude home truth. She said
+that a polite lie was an awful sin, so in this house I must cleave to
+the home truths. I could tell you, you know, that you have quite a
+fascinating smile, and a very taking voice, and a delightful and
+polished manner; but I prefer to tell you that you are comical, which
+means that I feel inclined to burst out laughing whenever I look at
+you."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," said Ben, who could be very sulky when he liked. "Then I
+will take my objectionable presence out of your sight. I have got my
+lessons to do."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen raised her brows and gave a slow smile. Ben got as far as the
+door.</p>
+
+<p>"Benny," she said then in a most seductive whisper.</p>
+
+<p>He turned.</p>
+
+<p>"I am so glad you are in."</p>
+
+<p>"I should not have thought so."</p>
+
+<p>"But I am. It is awfully lonely for a girl like me, who has got dozens
+of cousins at home, and uncles and aunts and all the rest of the goodly
+fry, to be stranded. I like David. I am quite smitten with David; and I
+like you, too. You can be a <i>great</i> friend of mine."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't mind," said Ben.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 82 --><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a>He thought it would be very good fun to tell the other fellows about
+the charming Irish girl who liked him so much.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder if you'd help me, Ben."</p>
+
+<p>"What can I do?" asked Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"Sit down, and let's be cozy. I will sit in the tired one's chair, and
+you can sit on that little stool at my feet. Now isn't that nice?"</p>
+
+<p>"Who do you mean by the tired one?"</p>
+
+<p>"Your mother, silly boy, of course."</p>
+
+<p>"It is a very ridiculous name to call her."</p>
+
+<p>"It belongs to the Palace of Home Truths. Your mother is tired, and
+you&mdash;you lazy omadhauns&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, go on," said Ben. "I see by your manner that you want me to do
+something. I suppose it's something a little bit&mdash;a little bit not quite
+good."</p>
+
+<p>"It is perfectly good. I'll love you ever so much if you will do it."</p>
+
+<p>"What is it?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am going out this evening. I may not be in until late. If the others
+are in bed, will you come and unlock the door for me when I throw gravel
+up at your window? You must tell me which is your window."</p>
+
+<p>"I sleep in the north attic. It doesn't look out on to the street; and I
+can't&mdash;I can't possibly do it."</p>
+
+<p>"You can come down and wait for me in the hall."</p>
+
+<p>"How can I?"</p>
+
+<p>"When the tired one goes to bed, you can come down. She goes to bed at
+ten, I know, and I shall not be in until about half-past ten. I don't
+want Dave to know&mdash;well, because I don't. I don't want Alice to know,
+because I dislike Alice very much."</p>
+
+<p>"Really, Kathleen, you ought not to speak like that."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 83 --><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a>"Well, I do, and I can't help myself. Will you do what I want? Here, do
+you think you'd like this in your possession?"</p>
+
+<p>As Kathleen spoke she held out a golden sovereign in the palm of her
+little hand.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want to be bribed."</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't bribery really; it is paying you for giving me a great
+convenience. I must go out on important business. I want to help those
+who are down-trodden and distressed. Will you do what I want, Ben&mdash;will
+you, dear Ben? You know I like you so much. Will you&mdash;will you?"</p>
+
+<p>Of course, Ben fought against Kathleen's rather wicked suggestion; of
+course in the end he yielded. When he finally got up to his attic to
+thumb over his well-worn lesson-books he had Kathleen's golden sovereign
+in his pocket. He took it out and looked at it; he turned it round and
+round and examined it all over. He rubbed it lovingly against his
+freckled cheek, held it until it got warm in the palm of his hand, and
+then put it back in his pocket and jingled it against a couple of
+pennies which were its only companions.</p>
+
+<p>"A whole sovereign," he said to himself&mdash;"a whole sovereign, and I never
+had so much as five shillings of my own in the whole course of my life.
+Well, she is a little witch. I suppose Dave would beat me black and blue
+for doing a thing of this sort. But how could I&mdash;how could I withstand
+her?"</p>
+
+<p>Supper at the Tennants' generally consisted of cold pudding, cold meat,
+bread-and-butter, and a little jam when there happened to be any in the
+house. It was not a particularly tempting meal, and those who ate it
+required to have good, vigorous appetites. Kathleen, although she had
+been brought up in a considerable amount of wasteful<!-- Page 84 --><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a> splendor, was
+indifferent to what she ate. She soon jumped up and walked across the
+little passage into the drawing-room. Ben, looking very red and
+shamefaced, would not meet her eyes. Ben's face annoyed Kathleen. It did
+not occur to her for a minute that he would not be faithful to her, but
+she was afraid that others might notice his extraordinary and perturbed
+expression. Once, too, he jingled the sovereign in his pocket; she heard
+him, and wondered why David did not ask him where he had got the money.
+But no remark was made, and the meal came safely to an end. Kathleen
+took up the first book she could find and pretended to read.</p>
+
+<p>"I shall feign sleepiness at a quarter to nine," she said to herself,
+"and go upstairs. I shall be awfully polite and sweet to dear Alice. She
+never comes to bed before ten, so I shall be quite safe getting out of
+the house. I can drop from the window, but I should prefer going by the
+back door; and I don't think Maria will betray me."</p>
+
+<p>Just then Alice strolled into the room. She looked rather nice; she wore
+a very pretty pink muslin blouse, which suited her well. Her hair was
+neatly arranged; her face was calm. She stood before Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish&mdash;" she said suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen raised her head.</p>
+
+<p>"And I wish you wouldn't stand between me and the lamp. Don't you see
+that I am reading?"</p>
+
+<p>"I want you to stop reading. I have something to say."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed!"</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen longed to be very rude, but she thought of her delightful plan
+so close at hand, and refrained.</p>
+
+<p>"I must humor her if I can by any possibility keep my temper," was her
+thought. Then aloud: "What is it you<!-- Page 85 --><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a> want? I hope you will be very
+quick, for I am rather sleepy and intend to go to bed soon."</p>
+
+<p>"I hope you won't do it again, that's all."</p>
+
+<p>"Do what again?" asked Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"Spend your money on buying food for us. We are not so poor as all that.
+My mother is paid by your father to give you your meals; your father
+doesn't expect you to buy them over again."</p>
+
+<p>"Dad always likes me to do what I wish," replied Kathleen calmly.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, don't do it again. It's extremely displeasing both to David and
+me."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"Dave gobbled up his sausage and his sardines," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't do it again, that's all."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen nodded her head, and again buried herself in her book.</p>
+
+<p>"And there is another thing," continued Alice, dropping into a chair by
+Kathleen's side. "You are very low down in the school. Two of the
+mistresses spoke to me about you to-day. They don't like to see a great
+overgrown girl like you in a class with little children; it does neither
+you nor the school credit. They fear that during this term you may be
+forced to continue in your present low position; but they earnestly hope
+that you will work very hard, so as to be removed into a higher form.
+You ought, after Christmas, to get into a class at least two removes
+higher up in the school. That is what I came to say. I suppose you have
+a certain sense of honor, and you don't want your father's money to be
+thrown away."</p>
+
+<p>"Bedad, then! he has plenty of money, and I don't much care," replied
+Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 86 --><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a>She lay back in her chair and whistled "Garry Owen" in a most insolent
+manner.</p>
+
+<p>"If you have really made up your mind not to improve yourself in the
+very least, mother had better write to Squire O'Hara and suggest that
+you don't come back after Christmas."</p>
+
+<p>"And Squire O'Hara will decide that point for himself," replied
+Kathleen. "There are other houses where I can be entertained and fussed
+over, and regarded as I ought to be regarded, besides the home of Alice
+Tennant. The fact is this, Alice: you aggravate me; you don't understand
+me; I am at my worst in your presence. Perhaps I am a bit wild
+sometimes, but your way would never drive me to work or anything else. I
+have no real dislike to learning, and if another girl spoke to me as you
+have done I might be very glad."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean?" said poor Alice. "I really and truly, Kathleen, do
+want to help you. You and I could work every evening together; I could,
+and would, see you through your lessons. Thus you would very quickly get
+to the head of your class, and get your removes without trouble at
+Christmas."</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose you mean to be kind," said Kathleen. "I will think it over.
+Let me alone now."</p>
+
+<p>She gave a portentous yawn. Ben heard her, came and sat down on an
+ottoman not far off, and began kicking his legs.</p>
+
+<p>"Benny," said his sister, "if you have done your lessons, you had better
+go to bed."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want to go so early. You always treat me as if I were a baby."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, please yourself. I am going upstairs to fetch my<!-- Page 87 --><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a> books. I have a
+good hour and a half of hard work to get through before bedtime."</p>
+
+<p>The moment Kathleen and Ben were alone, Ben rushed up to her side and
+began to whisper.</p>
+
+<p>"It is all as right as possible," he said. "I am going up to bed as
+usual, and when mother and Alice and Dave are safe in their rooms I'll
+slip down again. I'll be in the hall. Don't ring when you come back;
+just walk up the steps and scratch against the door with your knuckles,
+and I'll hear you and let you in in a trice. I am awfully pleased about
+that sovereign; it will make me one of the greatest toffs in the school.
+I'll have more money than any of the other fellows. I'm so excited I can
+scarcely think of anything else. I know I'm doing wrong, but you did
+offer me such a tremendous temptation. Now I hear Alice's step. It will
+be all right, Kathleen; don't you fear."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen smiled to herself. The rest of her programme was carried out to
+a nicety. At a quarter to nine she complained of fatigue, bade Mrs.
+Tennant an affectionate good-night, nodded to Alice, and left the room.</p>
+
+<p>"Be sure you don't lock the door," called Alice after her. "I sha'n't be
+up for quite an hour, and you will be sound asleep by that time."</p>
+
+<p>"I won't lock it," replied Kathleen gently.</p>
+
+<p>When Kathleen had gone upstairs, Mrs. Tennant turned and spoke to her
+daughter.</p>
+
+<p>"You know, Alice," she said, "the child is very lovable and
+kind-hearted&mdash;a little barbarian in some senses of the word, but a fine
+nature&mdash;of that I am certain."</p>
+
+<p>"I am so busy to-night, mother," replied Alice. "Can't we defer talking
+of the charms of Kathleen's character until after I have done my
+lessons?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course, dear," said her mother.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 88 --><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a>She drew her basket of mending towards her, put stitch after stitch
+into the shabby garments, and thought all the time of Kathleen with her
+bright face and beautiful, merry eyes.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile that young lady, having arranged a bolster in her bed to look
+as like a human being as possible, put on her hat and jacket and ran
+downstairs. There was no one in the hall, and she was absolutely daring
+enough to go out by that door. Mrs. Tennant raised her head when she
+heard the door gently shut.</p>
+
+<p>"Can that be the post?" she said; but as no one replied, she forgot the
+circumstance and went on with her mending.</p>
+
+<p>A few doors down the street Susy Hopkins was waiting for Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, there you are!" she said. "We are so excited! There will be about
+eight of us waiting for you in the old quarry. You are good to come. You
+don't know what this means in our lives. You are good&mdash;you are
+wonderfully good."</p>
+
+<p>"Where's the quarry?" asked Kathleen. "You have chosen such a funny
+place. I should not have imagined that a quarry&mdash;a dear, romantic
+quarry&mdash;could be found anywhere in this neighborhood."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but there is, and a good big one, too. It is about half a mile
+away, just at the back of Colliers' Buildings. It is the safest place
+you can possibly imagine, for no one will ever look for us there. Now do
+be quick; we will find the others before us. You can't think how excited
+we are."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'm willing to be quick," replied Kathleen. "I am doing all this
+for you, you know, because I am sorry for the foundationers, and think
+it so very ridiculous that there should be distinctions made. Why, you
+are quite as good as the others. They are none of them much to boast
+of."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 89 --><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a>"What fun this is!" cried Susy again. "I assure you the paying girls
+think no end of themselves. They are under the supposition that there
+never were such fine ladies to be found in the land before. Oh, we will
+take it out of them, sha'n't we?"</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen made no reply. Presently they reached the opening that led into
+the quarry. They had to go down a narrow sloping path, and then by a
+doorway cut in the solid rock. After they had passed through they found
+themselves in a large circular cavern open to the sky. There was no moon
+and the night was dark; but one girl had brought a lantern. She opened
+it and placed it on the ground; a bright shaft of light now fell on
+several young figures all huddled together. Susy gave a sharp whistle;
+the girls started to their feet.</p>
+
+<p>"Here we are, girls. See, this is our queen," and she presented Kathleen
+to the assembled girls.</p>
+
+<p>"Does the queen mind our looking at her face in turns?" said Kate
+Rourke. "I have not specially noticed you before," she continued, "but
+after we have each had a good stare we will know what sort of girl you
+are."</p>
+
+<p>For reply Kathleen herself lifted the lantern and flung the full light
+upon her radiant and lovely face and figure. The intense light made her
+golden hair shine, and brought out the delicate perfection of each
+feature; the merry eyes framed in their dark lashes, the gleaming white
+teeth, the rosy lips were all apparent. But beyond the mere beauty of
+feature Kathleen had to a remarkable degree the far more fascinating
+beauty of expression: her face was capable of almost every shade of
+emotion, being sorrowful and pathetic one moment, and brimful of
+irrepressible mirth and roguery the next.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 90 --><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a>There was a silence amongst the girls until Mary Rand shouted:</p>
+
+<p>"Hip! hip! hurrah!"</p>
+
+<p>The whole eight immediately broke into a ringing cheer.</p>
+
+<p>"Welcome, Queen Kathleen," they said&mdash;"welcome;" and they held out their
+hands and clasped the hands of the Irish girl.</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad," said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"What about?" said Clara Sawyer.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, you have crowned me queen yourselves. Now I can do what I like
+with you all."</p>
+
+<p>"You certainly can," said Susy Hopkins.&mdash;"We are devoted to our queen,
+aren't we, girls?"</p>
+
+<p>"We have fallen in love with her on the spot," said Rosy Myers.</p>
+
+<p>"I never saw any one quite so lovely before as the queen," said Mary
+Rand.</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't only that she's lovely, she is so genteel," said Susy Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>"Aristocratic!" cried Kate.&mdash;"Hannah Johnson, you haven't given your
+opinion yet.&mdash;And, Ruth Craven, you haven't given yours."</p>
+
+<p>"I reserve my opinion," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"And I say there's a great deal of humbug and balder-dash in the world,"
+said Hannah Johnson.</p>
+
+<p>Ruth's remark was unexpected, but the girls pooh-poohed Hannah's. Who
+was Hannah Johnson that she dared to speak so rudely to one so charming
+and beautiful as Kathleen O'Hara? There was a disconcerting pause, and
+then Kathleen said:</p>
+
+<p>"Hannah, doubtless you are right. There is plenty of humbug in the
+world; but I don't think I am one. Now the question is: Shall I be on
+the side of the foundationers,<!-- Page 91 --><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a> or shall I be on the side of the paying
+girls in the Great Shirley School?"</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed, darling," said Rosy Myers, "you shall be on our side. Those
+horrid, stuck-up paying girls don't want you; and we do. Nothing will
+induce us to give you up. It is a chance to get a girl like you, so
+lovely and so sweet and so rich, to be one of us."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I think I can give you a good time, and I can show those others
+with their snobbish ways&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Hear, hear!" cried the excited girls.</p>
+
+<p>"I can show the others what I think of them. They won't snub me, but
+perhaps I shall snub them. Well, girls, as we have decided to band
+together, we must draw up rules; and when they are drawn up we must obey
+them. I, of course, will be your head; as you have made me queen, that
+is the natural thing to expect."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course," said Susy.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen clapped her hands.</p>
+
+<p>"This is going to be a real good secret society," she said. "What fun it
+all will be!"</p>
+
+<p>The girls laughed, and clustered with more and more friendliness round
+Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"You are our queen," said Kate. "There are eight of us here, and we all
+swear allegiance to you.&mdash;Don't we, girls?"</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly," said Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"Unquestionably," remarked Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"With all my heart," said Rose.</p>
+
+<p>"And mine," echoed Clara.</p>
+
+<p>"And mine," said Kate.</p>
+
+<p>"I will join the others, although I don't approve," said Hannah Johnson,
+with a somewhat unwilling nod.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 92 --><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a>"And I am neutral. I don't think I ought to join at all," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, you will, Ruth. I want you to be my Prime Minister, I want you
+to be with me in all things."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know that I can."</p>
+
+<p>"And why should she be your Prime Minister?" said Kate in an ugly voice.
+"She's no better than the others, and she's very new. Some of us have
+been at the school for some time. Ruth Craven has only just joined.</p>
+
+<p>"The queen must have her way," said Kathleen, stamping her foot. "The
+queen must have her way in all particulars, and she wishes to elect Ruth
+Craven as her Prime Minister&mdash;that is, if Ruth will consent."</p>
+
+<p>They were headstrong and big girls, most of them older than Kathleen,
+but they submitted, for her ways were masterful and her tone full of
+delicate sympathy.</p>
+
+<p>"I will think it over and let you know," said Ruth. "Of course, I shall
+not betray you; but you must please understand that I have friends
+amongst the paying girls of the school. Cassandra Weldon is my friend,
+and there are others. I will not join nor advocate any plan that annoys
+or worries them."</p>
+
+<p>The girls looked dubious, and one or two began to speak in discontented
+voices.</p>
+
+<p>"We must meet again in a couple of days," said Kathleen finally. "By
+then I shall have drawn up the rules. We can't always meet at night, but
+we will when it is possible, for this place is so romantic, and so
+correct for a secret society. Those who are present to-night will be in
+my Cabinet. I should like if possible to have all the foundation girls
+on my side, but that must be decided at our next meeting. I am willing
+to purchase a badge for<!-- Page 93 --><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a> each girl who joins me; it will be made of
+silver, and can be worn beneath the dress in the form of a locket."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, lovely, delicious! There never was such a queen," cried Susy
+Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>The little meeting broke up amidst universal applause.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2>
+
+<h3>THE BOX FROM DUBLIN AND ITS TREASURES.</h3>
+
+
+<p>Kathleen returned quite safely to Myrtle Lodge. Ben was sitting up for
+her; he opened the door. The hall was quite dark. He held out his hand
+and drew her in.</p>
+
+<p>"Am not I splendid?" he said. "I have been standing here for
+half-an-hour, all drenched with perspiration. If mother came down" what
+wouldn't she say? And as to Alice, she'd be even worse. But a sov.'s
+worth doing something for. I say! I do feel happy! I never had all that
+lot of bullion in the whole course of my life before. Are you right now,
+Kathleen&mdash;can you slip upstairs without making any noise? Don't forget
+that the step just before you reach the upper landing gives a great
+creak like the report of a pistol; hop over it on to the landing itself,
+and you are safe. Alice is in bed, snoring like anything; I listened
+outside the keyhole."</p>
+
+<p>"Thanks," said Kathleen. "I'm awfully obliged to you, Ben. See if I
+don't do something for you. You are a broth of a boy. What do you say to
+Carrigrohane in the summer, and a gun all to yourself? I'll teach you
+how to shoot rabbits and to bring down a bird on the wing."</p>
+
+<p>She brushed her lips against his cheek, and ran lightly upstairs. She
+escaped the treacherous second step, and<!-- Page 94 --><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a> entered her bedroom without
+waking Alice. The bolster carefully manipulated had done its work; it
+had never occurred to Alice that the form in the bed was anything but
+the living form of Kathleen O'Hara. She had shaded the light from what
+she supposed to be the sleeping girl, and got into bed herself feeling
+tired and sulky. She had dropped asleep immediately.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen's first step, therefore, towards the formation of a secret
+society in the Great Shirley School was marked with success. The idea
+which she had formulated in the old quarry spread like wildfire amongst
+the foundationers; but Kathleen was determined not to have another
+meeting for nearly a week. She wished to hear from her father; she
+wanted to have money in hand.</p>
+
+<p>"They are all poor," she thought. "If I appear just as poor as they are,
+I shall never be able to keep my exalted position as queen. We cannot
+have our next meeting until I have drawn up the rules, and I should like
+Ruth Craven to help me. She has got sense. I don't want the thing to be
+riotous, nor to do harm in any way. I just want us to have a bit of fun,
+and to teach the horrid paying girls of the school a lesson."</p>
+
+<p>The thought of her secret society kept Kathleen in a fairly good humor,
+and she worked at her lessons so well that Alice began to have hopes of
+her. About a week after her arrival at Myrtle Lodge the box which Aunt
+Katie O'Flynn was sending from Dublin arrived. It came when the girls
+were at school. When they returned to early dinner they saw it standing
+in the front hall.</p>
+
+<p>"Whatever is this, and why is it put here?" said Alice, springing
+forward to look at the address:</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Kathleen O'Hara, care of Mrs. Tennant, Myrtle Lodge."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 95 --><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a>"Golloptious!" cried Kathleen. "It's my own. It's my clothes&mdash;my sort
+of a kind of a treasure. Oh, what delicious fun! Now you will see how
+smart I can be. Maybe there will be something here to fit you, Alice.
+Wouldn't you like it? We are going to tea to-night to Mrs. Weldon's, and
+Ruth Craven is to be there. The darling girl&mdash;I will give her something.
+I should love to make her look just as beautiful as she can look. I am
+not a bit a stingy sort of girl; you know that, Alice. I want to be
+quite generous with my lovely things."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, do stop talking," said Alice. "I never came across such an
+inveterate chatterbox. I suppose you'd like to have the box taken up to
+our room; but I don't think you'll have any time to open it at present.
+You have promised to come back with me to the school this afternoon, in
+order that Miss Spicer may give you a special lesson in music."</p>
+
+<p>"Arrah, then, my dear!" cried Kathleen, "it isn't me you'll see at
+school again to-day. It's gloating and fussing over my clothes I will
+be&mdash;portioning out those I mean to give to others, and trying on the
+ones that will suit me. You can go to your horrid, stupid lessons if you
+like, but it won't be Kathleen O'Hara who will accompany you. Perhaps
+the poor tired one would like to have a pleasant afternoon in my
+bedroom. Oh, glory be to goodness! we will have a time. Isn't it worth
+anything to see that blessed trunk? My eyes can almost pierce through
+the deal and see the lovely garments folded away inside."</p>
+
+<p>Alice took no notice; she marched on to her room. Kathleen followed her.</p>
+
+<p>"The boys shall bring it up for me immediately after dinner," she said.
+"I sha'n't be going out again until I<!-- Page 96 --><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a> go to Mrs. Weldon's. I expect
+people will open their eyes when they see me to-night."</p>
+
+<p>"You must please yourself, of course," said Alice. "For my part, I am
+extremely sorry that the trunk has come. You were settling down a
+little, and were not quite so objectionable as at first."</p>
+
+<p>"Thanks <i>awfully</i>, darling," said Kathleen, dropping a mock curtsy.</p>
+
+<p>"Not quite so objectionable," continued Alice in a calm voice. "But now,
+with all these silly gewgaws, you will be worse titan ever. But please
+clearly understand that I do not want any of your ornaments."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't trouble yourself, darling; they were not made for you. I force my
+treasures on nobody."</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't wear them if you were to give them. I hope I have some
+proper pride."</p>
+
+<p>"Pride of the <i>most</i> proper sort," said Kathleen, dancing before her.</p>
+
+<p>"And I do hope, also, that you won't make yourself a merry-andrew or a
+figure of fun at the Weldons' to-night. It will be in extremely bad
+taste. We are not going to have a large party&mdash;just one or two of the
+mistresses and little Ruth Craven, who, although she is a foundationer,
+seems to be a very nice sort of child. It would be in the worst taste
+possible to wear anything but the simplest clothes."</p>
+
+<p>"All right," said Kathleen. "If I am a chatterbox, you are about the
+greatest preacher, with the most long-winded sermons, that ever entered
+a house. You are a perfect plague to me, and that is the truth, Alice
+Tennant."</p>
+
+<p>Alice poured some water into her basin, washed her hands, and went
+downstairs.</p>
+
+<p>"Mother," she said, "I am obliged to be out the whole<!-- Page 97 --><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a> afternoon. The
+scholarship examination takes place in six weeks now, and if I am to
+have any chance of getting through I must not idle a single moment. I
+grieve to say that a box of finery has arrived for Kathleen&mdash;most
+unsuitable, for she has plenty of clothes. I do trust, mother, you will
+keep her in tow a little this afternoon, and not allow her to make a
+show of herself."</p>
+
+<p>"You are not very kind to Kathleen," said Mrs. Tennant. "Why shouldn't
+the child enjoy her pretty things? I like to see girls nicely dressed.
+It is a great trial to me to be obliged to deny you the ribbons and
+frills and laces which most girls of your age possess."</p>
+
+<p>"Thanks, mother," answered Alice; "but if you were as Rich as Cr&oelig;sus, I
+should not wish, while I am a schoolgirl, to dress any better than I
+do."</p>
+
+<p>"You certainly have a great deal of sense, dear; but don't be too hard
+on the little girl. Ah! here she comes. Now we must sit down to dinner
+at once."</p>
+
+<p>During dinner Kathleen's eyes sparkled so brightly, and she looked so
+merry and mysterious, that both the boys gazed at her in wonder.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't mind me," she said, whispering to David as she bent towards him.
+"It's in real downright delight I am. I am expecting to have the most
+wonderful joy all the afternoon that was ever given a girl. Ah, then,
+it's illegant myself will be when you see me next, boys. And do look at
+her! I declare she's getting crosser each minute."</p>
+
+<p>"Hush, Kathleen!" said David. "You must not say unkind things."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't trouble to reprove her, David," called out Alice in a calm and
+lofty tone. "I assure you she doesn't annoy me in the least. Sometimes I
+think there is a little gnat flying about and trying to sting me, but
+that's all."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 98 --><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a>"And a charming metaphor, too," said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>She ate her meal soberly, but occasionally a bubble of laughter came to
+the surface, and her merry eyes glanced from Mrs. Tennant's face to
+Alice's, and from Alice's to those of the boys. The moment the meal came
+to an end Kathleen jumped up.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, then, my angels, you come with me," she said, and she caught David
+by the one hand and Ben by the other, and led her willing slaves into
+the hall.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you ever see anything like it?" said Alice to her mother. "She will
+ruin the boys in addition to all her other mischief. Mother, must we
+keep her long? It is really most disturbing."</p>
+
+<p>"If you would only take poor little Kathleen as she is, you would find
+her quite agreeable, Alice," was her mother's answer.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh dear, mother! you seem to be just as much infatuated as the others.
+But never mind. I am off now, and I need not be back in the house until
+it is time to dress to go to Mrs. Weldon's. I declare that girl is
+causing me to hate my home. I don't think its fair, whatever you may say
+to the contrary."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Tennant sighed. Alice had always been a little difficult; she was
+more than difficult at the present moment. But very soon afterwards the
+welcome bang of the hall door was heard, and the house was free.</p>
+
+<p>"Now for a jolly time," said Kathleen. "Tired one, where are you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Kathleen, you ought not to call me by that name. You ought to be more
+respectful."</p>
+
+<p>"Arrah, then, darling, I can't; 'tain't in me. I am so fond of you&mdash;oh,
+worra, worra! there's nothing I wouldn't do for you; but I must be as
+I'm made. You do look tired,<!-- Page 99 --><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a> and tired you will go on looking until I
+take you to Carrigrohane to rest you and to feed you with good milk and
+good fruit and good eggs and good cream.&mdash;Now then, boys, lift up that
+trunk. Be aisy with it, so that you won't hurt it. Take it up to my
+bedroom and put it on the floor. Maybe there's something in it for you,
+or maybe there isn't&mdash;Mrs. Tennant, acushla! you will come along
+upstairs with me at once. You can bring your mending basket, and I will
+pop you into the arm-chair by the window, and we can consult together
+over the garments. It's fine I'll look when I have them on. Aunt Katie
+O'Flynn is a woman who has real taste, and I know she is going to dress
+me up as no other girl ever was dressed before in the Great Shirley
+School."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Tennant could not help laughing. The boys were also in the highest
+good-humor; Kathleen's mirth was contagious. They went upstairs to the
+bedroom, and then Ben saucily perched himself on the foot of one of the
+beds; while David, having brought up a hammer and screwdriver, proceeded
+to lift the lid of the box, which was firmly nailed down. Under the lid
+was a lot of tissue-paper. Kathleen went on her knees, lifted it up,
+uttered a shout, and turned to the boys.</p>
+
+<p>"You make off now," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"No, indeed I won't," said Ben. "I want to see the fun."</p>
+
+<p>"Go, both of you. There will be something nice for you when you come
+back to tea," said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>They looked regretful, but saw nothing for it but to go. Kathleen in a
+breathless sort of way, scarcely uttering a word, spread out her
+treasures on the bed. Was there ever such a box? Skirts, bodices,
+blouses, shirts; an evening dress, an afternoon dress, a morning
+dress&mdash;they<!-- Page 100 --><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a> seemed simply endless. Then there were frills and ribbons
+and veils; there were two great, big, very stylish-looking hats, with
+long plumes; and there was a little toque made of crimson velvet, which
+Kathleen declared was quite too sweet for anything. There were also
+dozens of handkerchiefs, dozens of pairs of stockings, and some sweet
+little slippers all embroidered and fit for the most bewitching feet in
+the world. Kathleen's cheeks got redder and redder.</p>
+
+<p>"Here's a cargo for you," she said. "Here's something to delight the
+heart. Now, my dear Mrs. Tennant, let us come and examine everything. Do
+you think I am utterly selfish, Mrs. Tennant? Do you think I want all
+these things for myself?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am sure you don't, dear."</p>
+
+<p>"It quite makes me ache with longing to give some of them away. I don't
+want so many frocks: there are a good dozen here all told. Aunt Katie
+O'Flynn's the one for extravagance, bless her! and for having a thing
+done in style, bless her! I should like you to see her. It's
+splendacious she is entirely when she's dressed up in her best&mdash;velvet
+and feathers and laces and jewels. Why, nothing holds her in bounds;
+there's nothing she stops at. I have seen her give hundreds of pounds
+for one little glittering gem. Ah! and here's a ring. Look, Mrs.
+Tennant."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen had now opened a small box which was lying at the bottom of the
+great trunk. There were several treasures in it: a necklet of glittering
+white stones, another of blue, another of red, and this little ring&mdash;a
+little ring which contained a solitary diamond of the purest water.</p>
+
+<p>"Now I shall look stylish," said Kathleen, and she slipped the ring on
+the third finger of her left hand.</p>
+
+<p>"My wedding finger too, bedad!" she said.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 101 --><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a>When the contents of the trunk had been finally explored, Kathleen
+began to sort her finery. Mrs. Tennant gave advice.</p>
+
+<p>"Some of these things are a little too fine for everyday use," she said.
+"But some of these blouses are very suitable, and so are these white and
+gray and pink shirts. And this blue bodice is quite nice for the
+evening, and so is the skirt belonging to it; but this and this and
+this&mdash;I wouldn't wear these until I went home if I were you, my love."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen glanced at her. A slight frown came between her brows.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you see," she said impatiently, "that I want to give away some of
+these things? Do you see this dozen of blouses, all exactly alike, in
+this box? These are for the secret society."</p>
+
+<p>"The what, Kathleen?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you musn't tell&mdash;it is the most profound secret&mdash;but I have joined
+one. Being an Irish girl, it is quite natural. I sent a line to Aunt
+Katie to get a dozen of the very prettiest blouses she could. Of course
+there are a lot more members, but our Cabinet has risen to something
+like a dozen, so I thought I'd have them handy. Aren't they just sweet?"</p>
+
+<p>As she spoke she took out of the box the palest blue cashmere blouse,
+most exquisitely trimmed with blue embroidery flecked with pink silk.
+The blouse had real lace round the neck and cuffs, and must have cost a
+great deal of money.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you think Alice would look very nice in one of these?" said
+Kathleen, gazing with a very earnest face at Mrs. Tennant.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 102 --><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a>"Pink is more Alice's color. She is too pale for blue," was Mrs.
+Tennant's reply.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then, look here. Isn't this a perfect duck? See for yourself.
+It's a sort of cross between a coral and a rose&mdash;oh, so exquisite! And
+see how it is made, with all these teeny tucks and the embroidery let in
+between. And the sleeves&mdash;aren't they just illegant entirely? Don't you
+think we might make her wear it?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am sorry, Kathleen, but you are not getting on very well with Alice.
+I wish it were different. Could you not do something to propitiate her?"</p>
+
+<p>"Wisha, then, darling!" said Kathleen, pausing a moment to consider;
+"that's just what I can't do. Alice's ways are not my ways, and if I
+copied her it's kilt I'd be entirely. She never likes to see a smile on
+my face, and she can't abide to watch me if I dance a step, and she
+wouldn't take a joke out of me if it was to save her life. To please
+Alice I'd have to be the primmest of the prim, and always stooping over
+my horrid lessons, and the end of it there'd be no more of poor Kathleen
+O'Hara&mdash;- it's dead and in her grave she'd be, the creature. Indeed, I'm
+glad I'm not made on Alice's pattern, even if she is your daughter. I
+can't aspire to anything so fine and high up even for your sake,
+darling, and you are one of the sweetest women on God's earth. I
+couldn't do it&mdash;not by no means."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Tennant could not help laughing as Kathleen described the sort of
+girl she would be if she adopted Alice's role.</p>
+
+<p>"But the question is now," said the girl, "what are we to do to make her
+have some of these pretty things? Mightn't I give the blouse to you
+first, and you could give it to her? She'd look so sweet in this pink
+blouse when<!-- Page 103 --><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a> she went to tea at her chosen friends. She'd be almost
+pretty if she was nicely dressed. I've got this white one for little
+Ruth Craven, and I want Alice to have this so badly. Can't you manage
+it, dear Mrs. Tennant?"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Tennant felt tempted. The blouse was very dainty and pretty, and
+unlike anything she could afford to buy for her only daughter. Kathleen
+threw her arms round her neck and kissed her.</p>
+
+<p>"You will&mdash;you will, dear Mrs. Tennant," she said. "It is yours
+entirely. You tell her you got it at a cheap sale. Say you went to a
+jumble sale and bought it; you paid one-and-twopence-halfpenny for it.
+That's the right figure, isn't it, for the best things at a jumble sale?
+Tell her it's <i>quite</i> new, and was thrown in promiscuous like."</p>
+
+<p>"But, my darling child, I can't tell her what isn't true. She would wear
+it if she didn't know it came from you. She would not only wear it, but
+she would delight in it; but nothing would induce her to take it if she
+thought you had given it."</p>
+
+<p>"Then don't let's tell her. Besides, it wouldn't be true, for I have
+given it to you, dear. And now, see, here is something for your sweet
+self. I wrote to Aunt Katie, and Aunt Katie is so clever. See! come to
+the glass."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen had opened a cardboard box, and out of it she took a black
+velvet bonnet with nodding plumes and a little pink strip of velvet
+fastened under the brim. This she put with trembling fingers on Mrs.
+Tennant's head. Mrs. Tennant was in reality not at all old, and she
+looked quite young and pretty in the new toque.</p>
+
+<p>"You are charming, that's what you are," said Kathleen. "And I can't
+take it back, for you know perfectly well that it is a wee bit too old
+for me. You will have to wear it."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 104 --><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a>"But what will Alice say?"</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind. Don't tell her; just be mum. Say, 'it is mine, and I mean
+to wear it.' Oh, I'd manage Alice if I happened to be her mother."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think you would, dear."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed, but I would. And now I must consider whom I am to give the
+other things to."</p>
+
+<p>When Kathleen had finally parcelled out her treasures there was not such
+a great deal left for herself, for this girl and the other who had taken
+her fancy were all allotted a treasure out of that famous box. And there
+was a thick albert chain made of solid silver for Ben, and a keyless
+silver watch for David; and what could boys possibly want more? Kathleen
+had remembered all her friends, and Aunt Katie O'Flynn was more than
+willing to carry out her request.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, at the very bottom of the trunk was a little parcel which she
+refrained from opening while Mrs. Tennant was present. It contained the
+badges of the new society. Kathleen had decided that they were to call
+themselves "The Wild Irish Girls," and this title was neatly engraved on
+the little badges, which were of the shape of hearts. Below the name was
+the device&mdash;a harp with a bit of shamrock trailing round it. The badges
+were small and exceedingly neat, and there were about sixty of them in
+all.</p>
+
+<p>"Now then, I can go ahead," thought Kathleen. "What with the finery for
+my dear, darling chosen ones, and the badges for all the members, I
+shall do."</p>
+
+<p>She was utterly reckless with regard to expense. Her father was rich,
+and he did not mind what he spent on his only child. The box seemed to
+fill up every crevice of her heart, as she expressed it, and it was a
+very happy girl who<!-- Page 105 --><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a> dressed to go to the Weldons' that evening.
+Kathleen was intensely affectionate, and would have done anything in the
+world to please Mrs. Tennant; but when it came to wearing a very quiet
+gray dress with a little lace round the collar and cuffs, she begun to
+demur.</p>
+
+<p>"It can't be done," she thought. "Half of them will be in gray and half
+of them in brown, and a few old dowdies will perhaps be in black. But I
+must be gay; it isn't fair to Aunt Katie to be anything else."</p>
+
+<p>She made a wild and scarcely judicious selection. She put on crimson
+silk stockings, and tucked into her bag a pair of crimson satin shoes.
+Her dress consisted of a black velvet skirt over a crimson petticoat,
+and her bodice was of crimson silk very much embroidered and with
+elbow-sleeves. Round her neck she wore innumerable beads of every
+possible color, and twisted through her lovely hair were some more
+beads, which shone as the light fell on them. Altogether it was a very
+bizarre and fascinating little figure that appeared that evening at the
+Weldons' hall door. Over her showy dress she wore a long opera-cloak, so
+that at first her splendors were not fully visible. This gaily dressed
+little person entered a room full of sober people. The effect was
+somewhat the same as though a gorgeous butterfly had flown into the
+room. She lit up the dullness and made a centre of attraction&mdash;all eyes
+were fastened upon her; for Kathleen in her well-made dress,
+notwithstanding the gayety of its color, looked simply radiant. The
+mischief in her dark eyes, too, but added to her charm. She glanced with
+almost maliciousness at Alice, who, in the dowdiest of pale-gray
+dresses, with her hair rather untidy and her face destitute of color,
+was standing near one of the windows. And as Alice glanced at Kathleen
+she felt that she almost hated the Irish girl.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a><!-- Page 106 --><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2>
+
+<h3>CONSCIENCE AND DIFFICULTIES.</h3>
+
+
+<p>All the people who knew her were beginning to make a fuss over Ruth
+Craven. She who had hardly ever been noticed during the early part of
+her life, who was just her grandfather's darling and her grandmother's
+idol, was now petted and made much of and fussed over by every one. It
+was quite an extraordinary thing for the paying girls of the Great
+Shirley School to be so interested and excited about a foundationer.
+Cassandra Weldon was not the only girl who had taken Ruth up; some of
+the best and nicest girls of the school began to patronize her. The fact
+was that she was very modest and a perfect lady, and it was impossible
+to feel anything but good-will towards her. The rest of the foundation
+girls at first determined that they would leave her with her fine
+friends, but when Kathleen insisted on Ruth's joining the secret society
+of the Wild Irish Girls, they were obliged to submit.</p>
+
+<p>"We'd do anything in the world for our queen," said Susy Hopkins,
+talking to another foundation girl one day as they strolled along the
+road. "It is to-night we are to meet again, and she says she will bring
+the rules all drawn up, and she will read them to us. There are about
+thirty of us now, and more and more offer to join every day. The
+difficulty is that we have got to keep the thing from the knowledge of
+the teachers and the paying girls of the school. Kathleen is certain
+that it would be suppressed if it were known; and it must not be known,
+for it is the biggest lark and the greatest fun we ever had in all our
+lives."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 107 --><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a>"Yes," said Rosy Myers; "I feel now quite honored at being a foundation
+girl."</p>
+
+<p>"She does promise us wonderful things," said Kate Rourke. "She says when
+the summer comes we shall have all sorts of nice excursions. Of course,
+we can't do anything special in the daytime, unless sometimes on
+Saturday, when we have a whole holiday; but at least; she says, the
+nights are our own and we can do as we like. It really is grand. I
+suppose it is wicked, but then that makes it rather more fascinating."</p>
+
+<p>"We are in the queen's Cabinet, bless her, the duck!" said Susy Hopkins.
+"There are a dozen of us now, and there is talk of a sort of livery or
+badge for the members of the Cabinet; but we'll know all about it when
+we meet sharp at nine to-night. We are the twelve members of the
+Cabinet, and there are about twenty girls who are our sort of standing
+army. It is really most exciting."</p>
+
+<p>The girls talked a little longer and then parted. As Susy Hopkins was
+running home helter-skelter&mdash;for she wanted to get her lessons done in
+order to be fully in time for the meeting that evening&mdash;she met Ruth
+Craven. Ruth was walking slowly by with her usual demure and sweet
+expression.</p>
+
+<p>"Hullo!" called out Susy. "We'll meet to-night, sha'n't we?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"Aren't you coming? Why, you are sort of Prime Minister to the queen."</p>
+
+<p>"You don't think it right really, do you," said Ruth&mdash;"not from the
+bottom of your heart, I mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"Right or wrong, I mean to enjoy myself," said Susy Hopkins. "I suppose,
+if you come to analyse it, it is wrong, and not right. But, dear me,
+Ruth! what fun<!-- Page 108 --><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a> should we poor girls have if we were too particular on
+these points?"</p>
+
+<p>"It always seems to me that it is worth while to do right," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"So you say, but I don't quite agree with you. You will come to-night,
+in any case, won't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I will come to-night; but I am not happy about it, and I wish
+Kathleen&mdash;Oh, I know it is very fascinating, and Kathleen is just
+delightful, but I should not like our teachers to know."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course not," said Susy, staring at her. "They'd soon put a stop to
+it."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you certain? I know so little about the school."</p>
+
+<p>"Certain? I'm convinced. Why, they'd be furious. I expect we'd be
+expelled."</p>
+
+<p>"Then that proves it. I didn't know there was any strict rule about it."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, what are you made of, Ruth Craven?"</p>
+
+<p>"I thought," said Ruth, "that when we were not in school we were our own
+mistresses."</p>
+
+<p>"To a certain extent, of course; but we have what is called the school
+character to keep up. We have, as it were, to uphold the spirit of the
+school. Now the spirit of the school is quite against secrecy in any
+form. Oh dear, why will you drag all this out of me? I'd made up my mind
+not to think of it, and now you have forced me to say it. Of course you
+will come to-night. You have to think of Kathleen as well as the school,
+and she's gone to a fearful lot of expense. You could not by any
+possibility forsake her, could you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, of course not," said Ruth very slowly.</p>
+
+<p>She bade Susy good-bye and walked on; her attitude was that of one who
+was thinking hard.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 109 --><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a>"Ruth is very pretty," said Susy to herself, "but I don't know that I
+quite admire her. She is the sort of girl that everybody loves, and I am
+not one to admire a universal favorite. She is frightfully, tiresomely
+good, and she's just <i>too</i> pretty; and she's not a bit vain, and she's
+not a bit puffed up. Oh, she is just right in every way, and yet I feel
+that I hate her. She has got the sort of conscience that will worry our
+queen to distraction. Still, once she joins she'll have to obey our
+rules, and I expect our queen will make them somewhat stringent."</p>
+
+<p>A clock from a neighboring church struck the half-hour. Susy looked up,
+uttered an exclamation, put wings to her feet, and ran the rest of the
+way home. Susy's home was in the High Street of the little town of
+Merrifield. Her mother kept a fairly flourishing stationer's shop, in
+one part of which was a post-office. Some ladies were buying stamps as
+Susy dashed through the shop on her way to the family rooms at the back.
+Mrs. Hopkins was selling stationery to a couple of boys; she looked up
+as her daughter entered. Susy went into the parlor, where tea was laid
+on the table. It consisted of a stale loaf, some indifferent butter, and
+a little jam. The tea, in a pewter teapot, was weak; the milk was
+sky-blue, and the jug that held it was cracked.</p>
+
+<p>Susy poured out a cup of tea, drank it off at a gulp, snatched a piece
+of bread-and-butter from the plate, and sat down to prepare her lessons
+at another table. She had two hours' hard work before her, and it was
+already nearly six o'clock. The quarry was a little distance away, and
+she must tidy herself and do all sorts of things. Just then her mother
+came in.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Susy," she said, "I am so glad you have come! I want you to attend
+to the shop for the next hour. I am<!-- Page 110 --><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a> sent for in a hurry to my sister's;
+she has a bad cold, and wants me to call in. I think little Peter is not
+well; your aunt is afraid he is catching measles. Run into the shop the
+moment you have finished your tea, like a good child. You can take one
+of your lesson-books with you if you like. There won't be many customers
+at this hour."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, mother, I did really want to work hard at my lessons. They are very
+difficult, you know, and you promised that when I went to the Great
+Shirley School you'd never interfere with my lesson hours."</p>
+
+<p>"I did say so, and of course I don't mean to interfere; but this is a
+special case."</p>
+
+<p>"Can't Tommy go and stand in the shop? If any special customers come in
+I will attend to them."</p>
+
+<p>"No, Tommy can't. He has a headache and is lying down upstairs. You must
+oblige me this time, Susy. You can sit up a little longer to-night to
+finish your lessons if you are much interrupted while I am away."</p>
+
+<p>"You are sure you will not be more than an hour, mother?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, certain."</p>
+
+<p>"And I suppose in any case I may shut up the shop at seven o'clock,
+mayn't I?"</p>
+
+<p>"Shut the shop at seven o'clock!" said Mrs. Hopkins. "You forget that
+this is Wednesday. We always keep the shop, except the post-office part,
+open until past nine on Wednesdays; such a lot of people come in for
+odds and ends on this special night. But I will be back long before
+nine. Don't on any account shut the shop until I appear."</p>
+
+<p>Susy, feeling cross and miserable, all her bright hopes dashed to the
+ground, took a couple of books and went into the shop and sat behind the
+counter. The days were getting short and cold, and as the shop door was
+opened there<!-- Page 111 --><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a> was a thorough draught where she was sitting. Her feet
+grew icy cold; she could scarcely follow the meaning of her somewhat
+difficult lessons. No customers appeared.</p>
+
+<p>"How stupid I am!" thought the little girl. "This will never do."</p>
+
+<p>She roused herself, and bending forward, propped her book open before
+her. Presently she heard the clock outside strike seven.</p>
+
+<p>"Mother will be back now, thank goodness!" she thought. "If I work
+desperately hard, and stop my ears so that I needn't hear a sound, I may
+have done by nine o'clock."</p>
+
+<p>Just at that moment two ladies came in to ask for a special sort of
+stationery. Susy, who was never in the least interested in the shop, did
+not know where to find it. She rummaged about, making a great mess
+amongst her mother's neat stores; and finally she was obliged to say
+that she did not know where it was.</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind," said one of the ladies, kindly; "I will come in again next
+time I am passing. It doesn't matter this evening."</p>
+
+<p>Susy felt vexed; she knew her mother would blame her for sending the
+ladies away without completing a purchase. And they had scarcely left
+before she found the box which contained the stationery. She pushed it
+out of sight on the shelf, and sat down again to her book. Her mother
+ought to be coming in now. Susy would have to do a lot of exercises;
+these she could not by any possibility do in the shop. She had also some
+mathematical work to get through or she would never be able to keep her
+place in class. Why didn't Mrs. Hopkins return? Half-an-hour went by;
+three-quarters. It was now a quarter to eight. Susy felt quite
+distracted. With the exception of the two ladies, there had been no
+customer in the shop up to the present.<!-- Page 112 --><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a> The fact was, they did not
+begin to appear until soon after eight on Wednesday evenings. Then the
+schoolgirls and schoolboys and many other people of the poorer class
+used to drop in for penn'orths and ha'p'orths of stationery, for pens,
+for ink, for sealing-wax, &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p>"Mother must be in soon. I know what I will do," said Susy. "I will open
+the door of the parlor and sit there. If any one appears I can dash out
+at once."</p>
+
+<p>No sooner had the thought come to her than she resolved to act on it.
+She turned on the gas in the parlor&mdash;it was already brightly lighted in
+the shop&mdash;and sat down to her work.</p>
+
+<p>"An hour and a quarter before the meeting of the Wild Irish Girls," she
+said to herself. "Strange, is it not, that I should call myself a Wild
+Irish Girl when I am a Cockney through and through? Well, whatever
+happens, I shall be at the meeting."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2>
+
+<h3>THE WILD IRISH GIRLS' SOCIETY IS STARTED.</h3>
+
+
+<p>While Susy sat in the parlor a tramp happened to pass the brightly
+lighted shop. He was weather-beaten and slipshod, and altogether made a
+most disreputable appearance. A hand was thrust into each of his
+pockets, and these pockets were destitute of coin. The tramp was hungry
+and penniless. The little shop with its gay light and tempting articles
+of stationery, and books and sealing-wax displayed in the window, were
+quite to the man's taste. He could not see the parlor beyond, nor the
+peep-hole where Susy was supposed to be able to watch the shop; he only<!-- Page 113 --><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a>
+noticed that no one was within. The tramp was in the humor to do
+something desperate; he entered the shop under the pretense of begging;
+made straight for the till, pulled it open, and took out a handful of
+money. He had no time to count his spoils, but leaving the till-drawer
+still open, he dashed out of the shop.</p>
+
+<p>Now it so happened that Susy, just when the tramp stole in, had gone
+upstairs to fetch a fresh exercise-book. She noticed nothing amiss on
+her return, and went tranquilly on with her work. Eight o'clock struck.
+Susy was in despair.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't possibly fail Kathleen," she said to herself. "She started this
+splendid idea in order to help me and give me pleasure. I must be at the
+quarry whatever happens to-night. Something very unusual is detaining
+mother. I know what I'll do: I'll shut up the shop at half-past eight,
+leave a little note for mother, and then go to the quarry as fast as I
+can. I will tell mother that I am due at an important meeting, and she
+is sure not to question me; mother is always very kind, and gives me as
+much liberty as she can."</p>
+
+<p>Susy made a great struggle to keep her mind centered on her books, but
+with all her efforts her thoughts would wander. They wandered to
+Kathleen and the Wild Irish Girls' Society; they wandered to her other
+schoolfellows; they wandered to the hardship of having to take care of
+the shop when she wished to be otherwise employed; and finally they
+settled themselves on Ruth Craven. She could not help wondering what
+Ruth would do&mdash;whether she would continue to be a valuable aid to the
+queen of the new society, or whether she would give them up altogether.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd almost like her not to stay with us," thought Susy; "for then
+perhaps Kathleen would make me her Prime<!-- Page 114 --><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a> Minister. I'd like that.
+Kathleen is the dearest, truest, greatest lady I ever came across. She
+doesn't think anything of birth, nor of those sort of tiresome
+distinctions; she thinks of you for what you are worth yourself. And she
+is so splendid to look at, and has such a gallant sort of way. I do
+admire her just!"</p>
+
+<p>The shop-bell rang. Susy was out in a moment. A woman had called for a
+penn'orth of paper and an envelope. She put down her penny on the
+counter, and Susy supplied her from a special box.</p>
+
+<p>"I was in such a taking," said the woman. "I just remembered at the last
+moment that all the shops were shut. I don't know what I should have
+done if I hadn't recalled that Mrs. Hopkins kept hers open until nine
+o'clock. I am obliged to you, little girl. I have to send this letter to
+my son in India, and I'd miss the mail if it wasn't posted to-night. You
+couldn't now, I suppose, oblige me with a stamp."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I can," said Susy, cheerfully. "Mother always keeps a supply
+of stamps in the till."</p>
+
+<p>She turned to the till as she spoke, and for the first time noticed that
+the drawer was open.</p>
+
+<p>"How careless of me not to have shut it!" she thought.</p>
+
+<p>It did not occur to her to examine its contents, or to suppose for a
+single moment that any one had taken money out of it. She provided the
+woman with a stamp, and then, shut the drawer of the till. It was now
+half-past eight, and Susy determined to take the bull by the horns and
+to close the shop without further ado. She sent for the little maid in
+the kitchen to put up the shutters, and in a minute or two the shop was
+in darkness and Susy was racing through the remainder of her lessons. It
+would take her a quarter of an hour, running most of the way, to reach<!-- Page 115 --><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a>
+the old quarry, and she must have three or four minutes to dress. She
+stood up, therefore, at her work, in order, as she expressed it, to save
+time. She was so occupied when her mother came in.</p>
+
+<p>"Why have you shut the shop?" said Mrs. Hopkins in an annoyed voice. "It
+is only a very little past half-past eight, and I saw two poor women
+outside. They wanted a penn'orth of paper each. They said, 'We thought
+you always kept open until nine o'clock,' Now it will spread all over
+the place that I shut at half-past eight. Why did you do it, Susy? It's
+hard enough to make ends meet without adding any more difficulties."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Hopkins stood, looking very pale and perplexed, in the parlor. Susy
+glanced at her mother, and could not help reflecting that the poor woman
+was fit to drop.</p>
+
+<p>"Do sit down, mother," she said. "I was so distracted; I have to be a
+good way from here at nine o'clock, I couldn't think whatever kept you.
+I was obliged to shut the shop. I am sorry."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, never mind. You didn't tell me that you were going out. I wish
+you wouldn't go out so much in the evening, Susy; it does make it so
+hard for me. There's no one now to help me with a bit of mending, and
+all your things are getting so racketed through."</p>
+
+<p>"What kept you, mother?" said Susy, ignoring her mother's speech.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, it was your aunt. She's in such a taking about little Peter; she's
+quite certain he's in for measles or something worse. I'm persuaded that
+it's nothing but a cold. I never saw such a muddle-headed woman as your
+aunt Bessie. She hadn't a thing handy in the place. I had to stay and
+see the doctor, and then to fetch the medicine<!-- Page 116 --><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a> myself, and then put the
+child to bed. I assure you I haven't sat down since I left."</p>
+
+<p>"And I suppose she never thought of giving you as much as a cup of tea?"
+said Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"No," answered her mother; then catching sight of the teapot, she added,
+"You might have had the tea-things removed, Susy. I will make myself a
+fresh cup."</p>
+
+<p>Susy stood still for a moment. Temptation tugged at her heart. Her
+mother certainly required if ever a mother did require a daughter. But
+the Wild Irish Girls&mdash;surely they were pining for her in the distance!</p>
+
+<p>"I wish I could help you, mother. I would if I hadn't promised to go
+out. If you will give me the latchkey I can let myself in. You needn't
+wait up; I promise to lock up carefully."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well, dear," said Mrs. Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>She did not reproach Susy; that was not her way. She put a little kettle
+on the gas-stove, fetched a clean cup and saucer, and presently sat down
+to her belated meal.</p>
+
+<p>Susy dashed upstairs. She put on her hat and jacket, snatched up a pair
+of gloves, and the next moment was out of the house.</p>
+
+<p>"Free at last," she thought. "But, oh, what an evening I have had! I
+must say it is horrid to be poor. Now, if I was rich like Kathleen,
+wouldn't I have a gay time of it? Poor dear mother should drive in a
+carriage, and I'd ride on my pony by her side; and Tom should be a
+public school boy. There'd be no horrid shop then, and no horrid women
+coming in for ha'p'orths and penn'orths of paper."</p>
+
+<p>But as she ran through the autumn night-air she felt that, after all,
+there was something good in life. Her pulses, which had been languid
+enough in the stuffy little parlor at the back of the shop, now galloped
+fiercely. She<!-- Page 117 --><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a> arrived two or three minutes after nine, but still in
+fairly good time to see a number of dark heads surrounding a bright
+light. This light was caused by two lamps which had been placed on the
+ground in the old quarry; Kathleen had brought them herself in a hamper.
+She had managed to buy them that day, and had smuggled them off without
+any one being the wiser. A large bottle of crystalline oil accompanied
+the lamps. Kathleen, who had dressed lamps for pleasure at home, knew
+quite well how to manage them, and when Susy appeared they stood at each
+end of a wide patch of light. Kathleen herself was in the midst of the
+light, and the other girls clustered round the edge.</p>
+
+<p>"Isn't it scrumptious?" said Kate Rourke.&mdash;"Oh, is that you, Susy
+Hopkins? You are late."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I know I am. It's a wonder I could come at all," said Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"Ruth Craven hasn't come yet," said another voice.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, here she is," cried a third, and Ruth came and stood at the edge
+of the patch of light.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen flung off her hat, and the light from the lamps lit up her
+brilliant hair. Her cheeks were flaming with color, and her very
+dark-blue eyes looked as black as night. She faced her companions.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," she said, "here we are, and we call ourselves the Wild Irish
+Girls. I really wonder if you English girls who are assembled here in
+the old quarry to-night have the least idea what it means to be a wild
+Irish girl. If you don't know, I'd like to tell you."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, do tell us," cried several.</p>
+
+<p>"The principal thing that it means," continued Kathleen, raising her
+voice to a slightly theatrical pitch, and extending her arm so that the
+lamplight fell all over it&mdash;"the chief thing that it means is to be
+free&mdash;yes, free as the<!-- Page 118 --><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a> air, free as the mountain streams, free as the
+dear, darling, glorious, everlasting mountains themselves. Oh, to know
+freedom and then to be torn away from it! Girls, I will tell you the
+truth. I feel in your dull old England as though I were in prison. Yes,
+that's about it. I don't like England. I want you girls to join me in
+loving Ireland."</p>
+
+<p>"But we can't hate England," said Kate Rourke; "that is quite
+impossible. If Ireland is your native land, England is ours, and we
+cannot help loving her very, very much."</p>
+
+<p>"You have never known Ireland," continued Kathleen. "You are not cramped
+up in that favored spot; you are allowed to get up when you like and to
+go to bed when you like, to eat what you like, to read what books you
+like, to row on the lake, to shoot in the bogs, to gallop on your pony
+over the moors, and&mdash;and&mdash;oh, to live the life of the <i>free</i>."</p>
+
+<p>It was Ruth Craven who now interrupted the eager words of the queen of
+the new society.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't you tell us, Kathleen," she said, "how to get Ireland into
+England&mdash;how to introduce what is good of Ireland into England? That is
+the use of the society as far as I am concerned. With the exception of
+yourself we are all English girls."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Susy suddenly; "and we have very bad times most of us. I
+wish you knew what a dull evening I have just been living
+through&mdash;taking care of a tiny, very dull little shop. Mother was out
+looking after a sick child, and I had to mind the shop. Poor women came
+in for penn'orths of paper. I can tell you there wasn't much freedom
+about that; it was all horrid."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we have shops in Ireland too," continued Kath<!-- Page 119 --><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a>leen, "and I
+suppose people have to mind them. But what I want to say now is this. I
+have been sent over to this country to learn. My aunt Katie
+O'Flynn&mdash;she's the finest figure of a woman you ever laid eyes
+on&mdash;thought that I ought to have learning; mother thought so too, but
+the dad didn't much care. However, I needn't worry you about that. I
+have been sent here, and here I am. When I came to your wonderful school
+and looked all around me, I said to myself, 'If I'm not to have
+companions, why, I'll die; the heart of Kathleen O'Hara will be broken.
+Now, who amongst the schoolgirls will suit me? I saw that very dull
+Cassandra Weldon, and I noticed a few companions of hers who were much
+the same sort. Then I observed dear, pretty little Ruth Craven, and some
+one said to me, 'You won't take much notice of Ruth, for she's only a
+foundation girl.' That made me mad. Oh yes, it did&mdash;Give me your hand,
+Ruth.&mdash;That made my whole heart go out to Ruth. Then I was told that a
+lot of the girls were foundation girls, and they weren't as rich as the
+others, and they were somewhat snubbed. So I thought, 'My time has come.
+I am an Irish girl, and the heritage of every Irish girl, handed down to
+her from a long line of ancestors, is to help the oppressed,' So now I
+am going to help all of you, and we are going to found this society, and
+we are going to have a good time."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen's somewhat incoherent speech was received with shouts of
+applause.</p>
+
+<p>"We must make a few rules," she continued when her young companions had
+ceased to shout&mdash;"just a few big rules which will be quite easy for all
+of us to obey."</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly," said Kate. "And I have brought a note-book with me, and if
+you will dictate them, Kathleen, I will jot them down."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 120 --><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a>"That is easy enough," said Kathleen. "Well, I am queen."</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly you are!" "Who else could be?" "Of course you are queen!"
+"Darling!" "Dear!" "Sweet!" "Duck!" fell from various pairs of lips.</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," said Kathleen, looking round at them, her dark-blue eyes
+becoming dewy with a sudden emotion. "I think," she added, "I love you
+all already, and there is nothing on earth I wouldn't do for you."</p>
+
+<p>"Hear her, the dear! She is bringing a fine change into our lives, cried
+a mass of girls who stood a little out of the line of light.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Kathleen, "I am queen, and I have my Cabinet. Now the girls
+of my Cabinet are the following: Ruth Craven is my Prime Minister; Kate
+Rourke comes next in importance; then follow Susy Hopkins, Clara Sawyer,
+Hannah Johnson, Rosy Myers, and Mary Rand. Now all of you girls whom I
+have named are expected to uphold order&mdash;such order as is alone
+necessary for the Wild Irish Girls. You are expected on all occasions to
+uphold the authority of me, your queen. You are never under any
+circumstances to breathe a word against dear old Ireland. The other
+girls who join the society will be looked after by you; you will
+instruct them in our rules, and you will help them to be good members of
+a most important society. I believe there are a great many girls willing
+to join. If so, will they hold up their hands?"</p>
+
+<p>Immediately a great show of hands was visible.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Kate Rourke," cried Kathleen, "please take down the names of the
+girls who intend to become members of the Wild Irish Girls."</p>
+
+<p>The girls came forward one by one, and Kate took down their names; and
+it was quickly discovered that, out of<!-- Page 121 --><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a> the hundred foundationers who
+belonged to the Great Shirley School, sixty had joined Kathleen's
+society.</p>
+
+<p>"We shall soon get the remaining forty," said Mary Rand. "They will be
+all agog to come on. Their positions are not so very pleasant as it is,
+poor things!"</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps sixty are about as many as we can manage for the present," said
+Kathleen. "Now, girls, I intend to present you each with a tiny badge. I
+have a bag full of them here. Will you each come forward and accept the
+badge of membership?"</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen's badges were very much admired, the eager girls bending down
+towards the light of the lamps in order to examine them more thoroughly.
+She had strung narrow green ribbon through each of the little silver
+hearts, and the girls could therefore slip them over their heads at
+once.</p>
+
+<p>"You must hide them," said Kathleen. "The thing about these badges is
+that you will always feel them pressing against your hearts, and nobody
+else will know anything about them. They belong to Ireland and to me&mdash;to
+the home of the free and to Kathleen O'Hara. They seal you as my loving
+friends and followers for ever and ever."</p>
+
+<p>Girls are easily impressed, and Kathleen's words were so fervent that
+some of them felt quite choky about the throat. They received their
+badges with hands that very nearly trembled. Kathleen next handed a
+slightly handsomer badge, but with exactly the same device, to the
+members of her Cabinet. Finally, she took the box of pale-blue cashmere
+blouses and opened it in the light of the lamps. The enthusiasm, which
+had been extremely keen before the appearance of the blouses, now rose
+to fever-height. Whom were these exquisite creations meant for? Kathleen
+smiled as she handed one to Mary Rand, another<!-- Page 122 --><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a> to Ruth Craven, another
+to Kate Rourke, and finally to each member of her Cabinet.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish I could give you all a blouse apiece," she said to the other
+girls of the society, "but I am afraid that is not within my means. I
+chose these sweet blouses on purpose, because I know you could wear them
+at any time, girls," she added, turning to the members of her Cabinet.
+"Outsiders won't know. They will wonder at the beauty of your dress, but
+they won't know what it means; but <i>we</i> will know," she shouted aloud to
+her companions&mdash;"we will know that these girls belong to us and to old
+Ireland, and in particular to me, and they will be faithful to me as
+their queen."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh dear," said little Alice Harding, a pale-faced girl, who loved fine
+dress and never could aspire to it, "what means can I take to become a
+member of the Cabinet?"</p>
+
+<p>"By being a very good outside member, and trusting to your luck,"
+laughed Kathleen. "But the time is passing, and we must proceed to what
+little business is left for to-night."</p>
+
+<p>Each member of the Cabinet took possession of her own blouse, wrapped it
+up tenderly, and tucked it under her arm. Kathleen desired some one to
+throw the tell-tale box away, and then she collected her followers round
+her.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," she said, <i>"Rule One</i>. To stick through thick and thin each to
+the other."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes!" cried every voice.</p>
+
+<p><i>"Rule Two.</i> If possible, never to quarrel each with the other."</p>
+
+<p>This rule also was received with acclamations.</p>
+
+<p><i>"Rule Three.</i> To have a bit of fun all to ourselves at least once a
+week."</p>
+
+<p>This rule quite "brought down the house." They<!-- Page 123 --><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a> shouted so loud that if
+the spot had been less lonely some one would certainly have taken
+cognizance of their proceedings.</p>
+
+<p><i>"Rule Four.</i> That as far as possible we hold ourselves aloof from the
+paying members of the Great Shirley School."</p>
+
+<p>This rule was not quite as enthusiastically received. The foundationers
+were not altogether without friends amongst the other girls of the
+school. Ruth Craven in particular had several.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think that is a very fair rule," she said. "I am fond of Alice
+Tennant, and I am fond of Cassandra Weldon."</p>
+
+<p>"And I care for Lucy Sharp"; "And I am devoted to Amelia Dawson," said
+other members of the Cabinet.</p>
+
+<p>Nevertheless Kathleen was firm.</p>
+
+<p>"The rule must be held," she said. "In a society like ours there are
+always rules which are not quite agreeable to every one. My principal
+object in starting this society is to put those horrid paying girls in
+their proper places. There must not be friendship&mdash;not real friendship,
+I mean&mdash;between us and them."</p>
+
+<p>"You are a paying girl yourself," suddenly exclaimed Mary Rand.</p>
+
+<p>"I know. I wish I were not, but I can't help myself. You must allow me
+to stand alone; I am your queen."</p>
+
+<p>"That you are, and I love you," said Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"This rule must hold good," repeated Kathleen. "I must insist on my
+society adhering to it.&mdash;Ruth Craven, why are you silent?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because I earnestly wish I had not joined. I cannot give up Cassandra,
+nor Alice, nor&mdash;nor other girls."</p>
+
+<p>"Nonsense, Ruth! You dare not fail me now," said<!-- Page 124 --><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a> Kathleen, with
+enthusiasm. "I will make it up to you. You shall come with me to Ireland
+in the summer. You shall. Oh Ruth, don't fail me!"</p>
+
+<p>"I won't; but I hate that rule."</p>
+
+<p>"And, girls, I think we must part now," said Kate Rourke. "It is getting
+late, and it would never do for our secret meetings to be discovered."</p>
+
+<p>"Whatever happens, we must stick together," said Kathleen. "Well,
+good-night; we meet again this day week."</p>
+
+<p>There was quite a flutter of excitement along that lonely road as the
+Wild Irish Girls returned to their different homes. Susy Hopkins felt
+quite the happiest and most light-hearted of any. By-and-by she and Ruth
+Craven found themselves the only girls who were walking down the road
+called Southwood Lane. This road led right into the centre of the shops
+where Susy's mother lived.</p>
+
+<p>"What a good thing," said Susy, "that I took the latchkey with me! It is
+past ten o'clock. Mother would be wild if she had to sit up so late."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth was silent.</p>
+
+<p>"Aren't you happy, Ruthie? Don't you think it is all splendid?" cried
+Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes and no," said Ruth. "You see, I am a foundationer, and when she
+pressed me to join I hated not to; but now I am sorry that I have
+joined. What am I to do about Cassandra and about Alice?"</p>
+
+<p>"You think a great deal about Cassandra, don't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes; she is quite a splendid girl, and she has been so very good to
+me."</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose you are quite in love with her?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I don't think I am. It isn't my way to fall violently in love with
+girls, like some of the rest of you. But I like her; and I like Alice
+Tennant."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 125 --><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a>"All the same," said Susy, "it is worth sacrificing a little thing to
+belong to the Wild Irish Girls. Did you ever in all your life see any
+one look more splendid than Kathleen as she stood with the light of
+those big lamps upon her? She is a wonderful girl&mdash;so graceful, and with
+such a power of eloquence. And she has such a way of just taking you by
+storm; and her language is so poetic. Oh, I adore her! She is the sort
+of girl that I could die for. If all Irish girls are like her, Ireland
+must be a wonderful country to live in."</p>
+
+<p>"But they are not," said Ruth. "Half of them are quite commonplace. She
+happens to be rich and beautiful, and to have a taking way; but all the
+others are not like her, I am certain of it."</p>
+
+<p>"Anyhow, whether they are or not, I am glad to belong to the society,"
+said Susy. "It will give us great fun, and we need not mind now whether
+the paying girls are disagreeable to us or not. Then, too, think of the
+blouses we have got. Oh dear! oh dear! when I put mine on on Sunday
+mother will gape. I shall feel proud of myself in it. It was just sweet
+of her to get things like this to give us. And she knew we weren't well
+off. Oh, I do think she's one in a thousand! She must have thought of
+you, Ruth, when she ordered these sweet pale-blue colors, for that color
+is yours, isn't it?"</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose so," said Ruth. "Well, all the same, I feel rather anxious. I
+like her, of course, but I think she is mistaken. I must go on now, but
+I feel somehow&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"What?" said Susy, with some impatience.</p>
+
+<p>"As though I had not done right&mdash;as though I had something to conceal.
+Well, I can't help myself, only I won't hate the girls who are good to
+me. Good-night, Susy. We won't be in time for school in the morning if
+we stay talking any longer."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a><!-- Page 126 --><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2>
+
+<h3>THE BLOUSE AND THE ROBBERY.</h3>
+
+
+<p>Susy Hopkins shared none of Ruth Craven's scruples. To her the Wild Irish
+Girls' Society was all that was lovely. She trod on air as she went down
+the street, and when she finally let herself into her mother's little
+shop, locked the door after her, and went softly upstairs, her heart was
+beating so loud that she hardly knew herself. She slept in a tiny room
+just at the back of her mother's; it was sparsely furnished, and had a
+sloping roof at one side. The chest of drawers also did duty as a
+dressing-table, and there was a small square of looking-glass placed on
+the top. Susy had secured a candle in a tin candlestick, with which she
+had lighted herself to her bedroom, but when she got there she had no
+intention of putting up with such feeble illumination. She first of all
+drew the bolt to secure herself against intrusion, and then stepping on
+tiptoe, she unlocked a drawer and took from it several ends of candle
+which she had collected from time to time. These she stuck on the
+dressing-table, and when she had made her little garret almost as bright
+as day she unfolded her pale-blue blouse. She bent low over her
+treasure, examining the blue embroidery, which was rendered still more
+fascinating with small stitches of pink silk, looking with ecstacy at
+the real lace round the neck and cuffs and finally pressing the delicate
+color against her blooming cheek.</p>
+
+<p>Susy Hopkins was quite an ordinary-looking little girl. Her nose was
+decidedly snub, her mouth wide; but her eyes were dark and bright, and
+she had fairly good eye<!-- Page 127 --><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a>brows. She had a low forehead, rather nice curly
+hair, and a high color in her cheeks.</p>
+
+<p>"In this blouse I shall look a positive beauty," she thought. "Won't Tom
+respect me when he sees me in it on Sunday? I must try it on now; I
+really must."</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly she slipped off her bodice, and substituted the pale-blue
+cashmere blouse for the ugly and threadbare garment she had removed.
+Whether the blouse was becoming to Susy Hopkins or not remains to be
+proved, but it certainly delighted its wearer, causing her eyes to
+sparkle and the color in her cheeks to grow brighter.</p>
+
+<p>"It is the most beautiful thing I ever saw in my life," she thought.
+"Why, Kathleen is like a fairy godmother. And how well it fits! And what
+a perfect cut about the neck! And, oh! these darling little cuffs at the
+end of the sleeves, and this sweet pink embroidery and this little
+ruffle of lace round the neck. Oh! there never, never was anything made
+so beautifully before. I am in luck; I am&mdash;I am."</p>
+
+<p>Her mother's hand knocking on the wall brought her down from the clouds.</p>
+
+<p>"Go to bed, dear," called out her parent. "It is very late, and you are
+disturbing me."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, mother," called back Susy.</p>
+
+<p>She removed the blouse, folded it in tissue-paper, put it into her
+drawer, blew out the candles, and got into bed. But all through the
+remainder of the night Susy dreamt of her blouse. The blouse filled her
+thoughts, otherwise she might have been in raptures over her pretty
+silver locket and its green ribbon. But as this was for private wear,
+and must on no account be shown to any one who was not a member of the
+society, it did not give her the amount of rapture it would otherwise
+have done.</p>
+
+<p>"It is lovely too. It is a badge, and means a great deal,"<!-- Page 128 --><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a> she said to
+herself, and she closed her hand over it as she lay in bed. "It is
+tiresome that I cannot show it. It is a sweet little locket, and I might
+save up money enough to have it gilded over. People would think I had a
+gold locket. I have always nearly died to have one; but of course I
+couldn't do that, for it would displease our queen, the darling, and I
+wouldn't for all I am worth do anything to annoy her. Oh dear, things
+are turning out lovely! I am twice as happy a girl as I was before
+Kathleen O'Hara came to the school."</p>
+
+<p>At school next day the members of the new society looked a little
+conscious. Their eyes often met, and those eyes spoke volumes. Sometimes
+a girl would put her hand up to her neck in a somewhat significant way,
+and another girl would respond with a similar signal. There was a sort
+of suppressed excitement in the school; but the teachers remarked
+nothing. On the contrary, they were pleased with the way lessons were
+done, exercises gone through, and work accomplished. The girls were so
+completely in league with each other, so full of delight over the new
+amusement which Kathleen had started in their midst, that they had no
+time to be supercilious or disagreeable to the paying girls, who were
+left in peace. They were usually a good deal tormented by the
+foundationers, who took their revenge by small spiteful ways&mdash;by taking
+the ink when they did not want it, by removing good pens and putting bad
+ones in their places, by spilling ink on the blotting paper. In short,
+they had many ways of rendering the life of a paying girl anything but
+happy. To-day, however, all was peace and quiet. Kathleen walked in her
+radiant fashion through her lessons; her beautiful face could not but be
+an attraction. She was very bright and very smart, and even Alice gave
+her an approving glance.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 129 --><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a>"Mother is right," she thought. "She is a little better than she was.
+If only she would take a real interest in her work I should have hopes
+of her."</p>
+
+<p>Now Cassandra Weldon had come to the school that day with the intention
+of asking Ruth Craven to come home with her. She had a suggestion to
+make to Ruth. She knew that the little girl was very poor and very
+clever. Cassandra was working very hard for one of the big scholarships,
+and her mother had gone to the expense of getting a special coach to
+help her at home. Cassandra had spoken to her mother, and her mother had
+agreed that Ruth might come back with her each evening and also take
+advantage of the services of Miss Renshaw. If Ruth got a scholarship she
+would indeed be a happy girl, and it was Cassandra's, opinion that,
+although she had been such a short time in the school, she would have a
+very good chance if she got a little outside help.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly Cassandra waited for Ruth outside the school when lessons
+were over. During the morning her eyes had travelled in Ruth's direction
+pretty often, and her eyes had conveyed to the little girl all sorts of
+kind and friendly messages. But Ruth had avoided Cassandra's eyes. She
+had made up her mind.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't be two things," she said to herself. "I have elected to go with
+the foundationers and with Kathleen O'Hara, although I don't care for
+the society, and I don't want to belong to the girls who band themselves
+together against the paying girls. But if I do this I certainly can't
+take advantage of Cassandra's kindness. I do love her&mdash;I am sure I
+should love her dearly&mdash;but I can't have much to say to her now."</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, while Cassandra waited for Ruth, hoping that she would
+appear at any moment, and that she could<!-- Page 130 --><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a> tell her what a good thing she
+had arranged on her behalf, Ruth avoided Cassandra. Presently Kathleen
+O'Hara, dressed somewhat extravagantly, and with her blue velvet cap
+perched upon the back of her golden hair, strolled out of school. She
+had a crimson sash round her black velvet dress, and a wide lace collar
+encircled her neck. She was fastening a heavily embroidered coat of blue
+cashmere when Cassandra accosted her.</p>
+
+<p>"How do you do, Miss O'Hara?" she said.</p>
+
+<p>"How are you?" replied Kathleen, just raising her brows, and then
+turning to say something to Susy Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>Cassandra frowned.</p>
+
+<p>"How can Kathleen, who with all her eccentricities is a lady, waste her
+time talking to an insignificant little girl like Susy?" thought
+Cassandra.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen seemed to read her neighbor's thoughts, for she slipped her
+hand inside Susy's arm.</p>
+
+<p>"I will walk with you a little way," she said; "I have something I want
+to say."</p>
+
+<p>"One moment first," said Cassandra. "Have you seen Ruth Craven
+anywhere?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh yes; Ruth has left the school. Didn't you see her go? There she is,
+crossing the field. I suppose she is in a hurry to get home."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," said Cassandra.</p>
+
+<p>She caught up her books and started running in the direction of Ruth
+Craven.</p>
+
+<p>"How tiresome of her to have gone so fast!" she said to herself?</p>
+
+<p>Presently she shouted Ruth's name, and Ruth was obliged to stop.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Ruth," said Cassandra, "what is the matter with<!-- Page 131 --><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a> you? You
+generally wait to talk to me after school is over. Why are you in such a
+hurry?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am not," said Ruth, who was not going to get out of her difficulty by
+telling an untruth.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if you are not in a hurry, why are you running across this field
+at the rate of a hunt? It looks as if you were&mdash;" Cassandra paused, and
+the color came into her cheeks&mdash;"as if you were running away from me."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth was silent. Cassandra came close to her and looked into her face.</p>
+
+<p>"What is the matter, Ruth?" she repeated.</p>
+
+<p>"I have promised granny that I would help her with some darning this
+afternoon."</p>
+
+<p>"Your granny must do without you, for you have got to come back with
+me."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, indeed, I can't!"</p>
+
+<p>"But you must, my little girl. I have got the most heavenly plan to
+suggest to you."</p>
+
+<p>Cassandra laid her hand on Ruth's shoulder. Ruth started away.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it, Ruth? How queer you look! What is the matter?"</p>
+
+<p>"I must get home. I promised granny."</p>
+
+<p>"But listen before you decide. You know Miss Renshaw, don't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Maria Renshaw, the coach. Yes, I do."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you remember my pointing her out to you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I remember it, Cassandra; and she looked&mdash;oh, lovely!"</p>
+
+<p>"She is far more lovely than she looks&mdash;that is, if you mean she is
+clever and taking and all the rest. She is just perfectly splendid. She
+makes you see a thing at the first glance. She has a way of putting
+information into you<!-- Page 132 --><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a> so that you cannot help knowing. Oh, she is
+delightful! And mother says that I may have her to coach me for the big
+scholarship&mdash;the sixty-pounds-a-year scholarship. You know there are two
+of them. There is one quite in your line, and there is one in mine; and
+there is no earthly reason why you should not get one and I the other."</p>
+
+<p>"Well?" said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>Her beautiful, fair, delicately chiselled face had turned pale. She
+stood very upright, and looked full at Cassandra.</p>
+
+<p>"It could be easily done, dear little Ruth. Miss Renshaw would just as
+soon coach two girls as one, and mother has arranged it. Yes, she has
+arranged it absolutely. Miss Renshaw will coach you and me together. You
+are to come home with me every evening. She will give us both an hour.
+Isn't it too splendid?"</p>
+
+<p>Ruth did not speak.</p>
+
+<p>"Aren't you pleased, Ruth? Don't you think it is very nice of me to
+think of my friends? You are my friend, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh no," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"But what is it? What is the matter?"</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I can't."</p>
+
+<p>"You can. It will be madness to refuse. Think what a chance is offered
+you. If you get Miss Renshaw's instruction you are safe to get that
+scholarship; and it is for three years, Ruth. It would send you, with a
+little help from your grandfather, perhaps to Holloway College, perhaps
+to Somerville or Newnham, or even Girton. Perhaps you could try for a
+scholarship in one of these great colleges afterwards. You daren't
+refuse it. It means&mdash;oh, it means all the difference in your whole
+life."</p>
+
+<p>"I know," said Ruth. "Cassandra, I will write to you. I can't decide
+just now. I am awfully obliged to you; I<!-- Page 133 --><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a> can't express what I feel. You
+are good; you are very, very good."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth caught one of Cassandra's hands and raised it to her lips.</p>
+
+<p>"You are very good," she said again.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Kathleen O'Hara, after walking a very short way with Susy
+Hopkins, gave her an abrupt good-bye and started running in the
+direction of the Tennants' house. She did not care a bit for Susy; but
+being a member of the Wild Irish Girls, and not only a member, but one
+of the Cabinet, she must on all occasions be kind to her. Nevertheless a
+commonplace little girl like Susy Hopkins had not one thing in common
+with Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"Everything is going splendidly," she said to herself. "No fear now that
+I shall not have plenty of excitement in the coming by-and-by. I mean to
+write to father and ask him whether I may not invite some of the members
+of the Cabinet to Carrigrohane. Wouldn't they enjoy it? Kate Rourke, of
+course, must come; and dear little Ruth Craven. How pale and sweet Ruth
+looked to-day! She is far and away the nicest girl in the school. I am
+so glad I have taken steps to prevent that horrid friendship with
+Cassandra coming to anything! Ruth mustn't love anybody in the school
+very, <i>very</i> much except me. Oh, things are going well, and Alice little
+guesses what she is driving me to by her extraordinary behavior."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen entered the house, banging the door loudly after her, as was
+her fashion.</p>
+
+<p>Another little girl had also reached home, but she did not bang the
+door. She entered her mother's shop to encounter the flushed and
+much-perturbed face of her parent.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Susy," said Mrs. Hopkins, "I wouldn't have thought it of you."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 134 --><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a>"Why, what is it, mother?"</p>
+
+<p>"There's nineteen-and-sixpence taken out of the till," said Mrs.
+Hopkins. "Some one must have come into the shop, for the accounts are
+nineteen-and-sixpence short. When I left the house yesterday there were
+three pounds in the till&mdash;three pounds and fivepence-halfpenny. You
+sold, according to your own showing, a penn'orth of paper, which makes
+an extra penny; but when I went into the accounts this morning I found
+that the whole amount was only two pounds one shilling and a halfpenny.
+Nineteen-and-sixpence is missing. Susy, what does this mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am sure, mother, I can't tell you. No one came into the shop;
+certainly no one stole the money."</p>
+
+<p>"My dear child, seeing is believing. I assure you there are only two
+pounds one shilling and a halfpenny in the till. I scarcely took a penny
+this morning, and that nineteen-and-sixpence makes it impossible for me
+to pay my rent, as I meant to do, to-day. Who can have come in and
+stolen very nearly a pound's worth of my hard-earned money?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nobody, mother dear. Do let me examine the till."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you quite positive that no one came into the shop?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nobody, mother."</p>
+
+<p>"You did not leave the shop even for a moment?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; I went to sit in the parlor."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Susy? there you are! I trust you with my house and property, and
+you leave the shop without any one in it Did you lock the till?"</p>
+
+<p>Susy had an unpleasant memory of having found the till open when she
+returned to attend to a customer.</p>
+
+<p>"No" she said, hanging her head.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Hopkins uttered a heavy sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, dear!" she said. "And as you sat in the parlor<!-- Page 135 --><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a> you could see the
+shop. You did not leave the parlor, did you?"</p>
+
+<p>For one minute Susy remembered that she had gone upstairs for an
+exercise-book, but she determined not to tell her mother of this further
+enormity.</p>
+
+<p>"I was either in the shop or in the parlor all the time. I only went
+into the parlor because I could not do my exercises in the shop. But I
+sat where I could see everything."</p>
+
+<p>"You couldn't have done so. This money would not have gone without
+hands. How am I to manage I don't know. I have lost a large sum for such
+a poor woman."</p>
+
+<p>Susy pitied her mother, tried to assure her that the fault was not hers,
+was convinced that the money would be found, and went on talking a lot
+of nonsense until Mrs. Hopkins fairly lost her temper.</p>
+
+<p>"Examine the drawer for yourself" she said. "I tell, you what it is,
+Susy, I won't be able to buy you a new winter frock at all this year;
+and you will have to have your boots patched, for I can't afford a new
+pair. I was trying to collect a pound towards your winter things, but
+this puts a stop to everything."</p>
+
+<p>"Mother doesn't know what a lovely blouse I've got," thought Susy. "When
+she sees me in that she'll be quite cheered up."</p>
+
+<p>The moment she thought of the blouse the little girl felt a frantic
+desire to run upstairs to look at it.</p>
+
+<p>"Mother," she said, "I don't mind a bit about the winter dress; and if
+my boots are neatly patched and well blacked every day, I dare say I can
+do with them a little longer. And I will sit with you this afternoon,
+mother, and help you to sew. I can't understand who could have stolen
+the money. Perhaps it is a practical joke of Tom's;<!-- Page 136 --><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136"></a> you know he is fond
+of doing things of that sort now and then."</p>
+
+<p>"No, it isn't, for I asked him. Who can have come into the shop? Do you
+think you fell asleep over your work?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no."</p>
+
+<p>"Then it is a mystery past bearing. If nobody came in, and you never
+left either the shop or the parlor, that money was taken out of the till
+as though by magic."</p>
+
+<p>"We will find it, mother; we are sure to find it," said Susy; and the
+way she said these words aggravated poor Mrs. Hopkins, as she said
+afterwards, more than a little.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2>
+
+<h3>TOM HOPKINS AND HIS WAY WITH AUNT CHURCH.</h3>
+
+
+<p>It was quite true that Mrs. Hopkins could ill afford to lose so large a
+sum as nineteen-and-sixpence out of her small earnings. During her
+husband's lifetime the stationer's shop had gone well and provided a
+comfortable living for his wife, son, and daughter. But unfortunately,
+in an evil moment he had been induced to put his hand to a bill for a
+friend. The friend had, as usually is the case, become bankrupt. Poor
+Hopkins had to pay the money, and from that moment the affairs in the
+stationer's shop were the reverse of flourishing. In fact, the blow
+killed the poor man. He lingered for a time, broken-hearted and unable
+to rouse himself, and finally died about about three years before the
+date of this story. For a time Mrs. Hopkins was quite prostrate, but
+being a woman with a good deal of vigor and determination, she induced
+one of her relatives to lend her one hundred pounds, and<!-- Page 137 --><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></a> determined to
+keep on with the shop. She could not, of course, stock it as fully as
+she would have liked; she could never extend her connection beyond mere
+stationery, sealing-wax, pens, and a very few books, and Christmas cards
+in the winter. Still, she managed to support herself and Tom and Susy;
+but it was a scraping along all the time. She had to count every penny,
+and, above all things, to avoid going in debt. She was only in debt for
+the one hundred pounds, which had been lent to her by an aunt of her
+husband's, an old woman of the name of Church, who lived in a
+neighboring village about four miles away.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Church was quite rich, according to the Hopkinses' ideas of wealth.
+She lived alone and hoarded her money. She had not been at all willing
+to lend Mrs. Hopkins the hundred pounds; but as she had really been fond
+of Mr. Hopkins, and had at one time meant to make him her heir, she had
+listened to Mrs. Hopkins's lamentations, and desired her to send Tom to
+her to inspect him, and had finally handed over the money, which was to
+be paid back by monthly installments within the space of three years.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Hopkins was so relieved to get the money that she never thought at
+all of the terrible tax it would be to return it. Still, by working hard
+morning, noon, and night&mdash;she added to her gains by doing fine
+needlework for several ladies, who said that no one could embroider like
+Mrs. Hopkins&mdash;she managed to make two ends just meet together, and she
+always continued to send Mrs. Church her two pounds fifteen shillings
+and sevenpence on the first of every month. Tom was the one who
+generally ran across to the old lady's with the money; and so fond was
+she of him that she often gave him a piece of cake, and even on one or
+two rare occasions kept him to dinner. Tom enjoyed his visits to Mrs.
+Church, and Mrs. Hopkins<!-- Page 138 --><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138"></a> was sure to encourage him to go to her, as she
+hoped against hope that when the old lady died Tom would be left some of
+her money.</p>
+
+<p>It was on a Wednesday that Susy sat in the parlor and forgot all about
+the interests of the shop; it was on that very night that the tramp had
+come in and helped himself to a ten-shilling-piece and some silver out
+of the till; and it was on the following Saturday that Mrs. Hopkins, for
+the first time since she had borrowed the hundred pounds from Aunt
+Church, as she called the old lady, found that she could not return even
+a portion of what had just fallen due. She called Tom to her side.</p>
+
+<p>"Tom," she said, "you must go and see Aunt Church this afternoon as soon
+as ever you come in. You must go, and you must tell her."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I'll go, mother," answered the boy. "I always like going to
+Aunt Church's; she is very kind to me. She said next time I came along
+she'd show me things in her microscope. She has got a beetle's wing,
+mother, mounted on glass, and when you gaze down at it it seems to be
+covered with beautiful feathers, as long as though they were on a big
+bird. And she has got a drop of water full of wriggly things all alive;
+and she says we drink it by the gallon, and it is no wonder we feel bad
+in our insides. I'll go, right enough. I suppose you have the money
+ready?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, Tom, that's just what I have not got. I told you how that night
+when I had the misfortune to go and see your aunt and look after her
+sick child, some one came into the shop and stole nineteen-and-sixpence
+out of the till. I am so short from the loss of that money that I can't
+pay Aunt Church for at least another week. Ask her if she'll be kind
+enough to give me a week's grace,<!-- Page 139 --><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a> Tom; that's a good boy. I can't think
+how the money was stolen."</p>
+
+<p>"Why don't you put it into the hands of the police?" said Tom.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Tom," said his mother, looking at him with admiration, "you are a
+smart boy. Do you know, I never thought of that. I will go round to the
+police-station this very afternoon and get Police-Constable Macartney to
+take it up."</p>
+
+<p>"But, mother, the thief, whoever he is, has left the place long before
+now. The money was stolen on Wednesday, and this is Saturday morning."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Tom, there's no saying. Anyhow, I will go round to the
+police-station and lodge the information."</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, while Susy was again trying on her lovely pale-blue
+cashmere blouse behind locked doors upstairs, Tom and his mother were
+plotting how best to cover the loss of the nineteen-and-sixpence.
+Naughty Susy, having made up her mind to deny herself a new frock and
+new boots, had given the matter no further consideration. She was
+accustomed to the fact that her mother was always in money difficulties.
+As long as she could remember, this was the state of things at home. She
+had come to the conclusion that grown-up persons were always in a
+frantic state about money, and she had no desire to join these anxious
+ones herself. As she could not mend matters, she did not see why she
+should worry about them.</p>
+
+<p>Tom had a scrap of dinner and then ran off to see Aunt Church. He found
+the old lady sitting at her parlor window looking out as usual for him.
+She was dressed in rusty black; she had a front of stiff curls on her
+forehead, a white widow's-cap over it, and a small black crape
+handkerchief crossed on her breast. Mrs. Church was a<!-- Page 140 --><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"></a> little woman; she
+had very tiny feet and hands, and was very proud of them. She never
+thought of buying any new clothes, and her black bombazine dress was
+more brown than black now; so was her shawl, and so was the handkerchief
+which she wore round her neck. Her cap was tied with ribbons which had
+been washed so often that they were no longer white, but yellow.</p>
+
+<p>She came to the door to greet Tom when he arrived, and called him in.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, Tom!" she said, "I have got a piece of plumcake waiting for you;
+and if you are a really good boy, and will shoo the fowls into my
+backyard and shut the gate on them, you may look into my microscope."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, Aunt Church," said Tom. "Shall I go at once and shoo the
+fowls?"</p>
+
+<p>"You had best give me my money first. Here is the box; you drop it in:
+two pounds in gold&mdash;I hope to goodness your mother has sent the money in
+gold&mdash;two pounds in gold and the rest in silver. Now then, here is the
+box. Drop it in like a good child, and then you shall shoo the fowls,
+and have your plumcake, and look in the microscope."</p>
+
+<p>"But, Aunt Church&mdash;" said Tom. He planted himself right in front of the
+old lady. He was a tall boy, well set up, with a sandy head, and a face
+covered with freckles. He had rather shallow blue eyes and a wide mouth,
+but his whole expression was honest and full of fun. "I am desperately
+sorry, and so is mother."</p>
+
+<p>"Eh! What?" said the old lady. She put her hand to her ear. "I am a bit
+hard of hearing, my dear; come close to me."</p>
+
+<p>"Mother's awfully sorry, but she can't pay you to-day."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" said Mrs. Church; "can't pay me to-day! But<!-- Page 141 --><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a> it's the first of the
+month, and she was never behindhand&mdash;I will say that&mdash;in her payments
+before."</p>
+
+<p>"She's fretting past bearing," said Tom. "She'd give all the world to be
+able to pay you up, but she ain't got the money, and that's a fact. We
+have had a robbery in the shop, Aunt Church, and mother has took on
+dreadful."</p>
+
+<p>"A burglary?" said Mrs. Church. "Now tell me all about it. Stand here
+and pour your words into my ear. I am very much interested about
+burglaries. Was there attempted murder? Speak up, boy&mdash;speak up."</p>
+
+<p>Tom quite longed to say that there was. Had he been able to assure Mrs.
+Church that burglars with masks on their faces had burst into the shop
+at dead of night and penetrated to his mother's bedroom, and had held
+pistols to her throat and Susy's throat, and a great bare, glittering
+knife to his; and had he been further able to tell her that he himself,
+unaided, had grappled with the enemy, had wrested the knife from the
+hand of one, and knocked the loaded pistols from the hands of the
+others&mdash;then, indeed, he would have felt himself a hero, and the mere
+fact of not being able to return the money on the appointed day would
+not have signified.</p>
+
+<p>But Tom was truthful, and he had but a lame story to tell.
+Nineteen-and-sixpence had been abstracted from the till. Nobody knew how
+it had been done, and nobody had the least idea who was the thief. Mrs.
+Church, who would have given her niece unlimited time to return the
+money had there been a real, proper, bloodthirsty burglary, was not at
+all inclined to show mercy when the affair dwindled down into an unknown
+thief taking a small sum of money out of the till.</p>
+
+<p>"Why didn't you get it back?" she said. "Why didn't you send for the
+police? My word, this is a nice state of<!-- Page 142 --><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a> things! And me to be out of my
+money that I counted upon. Why, Tom, boy, I spend that money on my food,
+rent, and the little expenses I have to go to. I made up my mind when I
+drew that hundred pounds from my dear husband's hard-earned savings
+that, whatever happened, I'd make that sum last me for all expenses for
+three years. And I have done it, Tom&mdash;I have done it. I am in low water,
+Tom. I want the money; I want it just as much as your poor mother does."</p>
+
+<p>"But you have money in the bank, haven't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"That is no affair of yours, Tom Hopkins. Don't talk in that silly way
+to me. No, I don't want you to shoo the fowls into the yard, and I don't
+mean to give you any plumcake. I shall have to eat it myself, for I have
+no money to buy anything else. And I won't show you the beautiful wings
+of the beetle in the microscope. You can go home to your mother and tell
+her I am very much annoyed indeed."</p>
+
+<p>"But, Aunt Church," said Tom, "if you were to see poor mother you
+wouldn't blame her. She looks, oh, so thin and so tired! She's terribly
+unhappy, and she will be certain sure to pay you next week. It was silly
+of her, I will own, not to think of the police sooner; but she's gone to
+them to-day, ordered by me to do that same."</p>
+
+<p>"That was thoughtful enough of you, Tom, and I don't object to giving
+you a morsel of the stalest cake. I always keep three cakes in three tin
+boxes, and you can have a morsel of the stalest; it is more than two
+months old, but you won't mind that."</p>
+
+<p>"Not me," said Tom, "I like stale cakes best," he added, determined to
+show his aunt that he was ready to be pleased with everything. He was a
+very knowing boy, and spoke up so well, and was so evidently sorry
+him<!-- Page 143 --><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"></a>self, and so positive that as soon as ever the police were told they
+would simply lay their hands on the thief and the thief would disgorge
+his spoils, that Aunt Church was fain to believe him.</p>
+
+<p>In the end she and he made a compact.</p>
+
+<p>"I tell you what it is," he said. "You haven't been to see mother for a
+long time, and if you ain't got any money to buy a dinner for yourself,
+it is but fair you should have a slice off our Sunday joint."</p>
+
+<p>"Sunday joint, indeed!" snapped Mrs. Church.</p>
+
+<p>"You couldn't expect us not to have a bit of meat on Sunday," said Tom.
+"Why, we'd get so weak that mother couldn't earn the money she sends you
+every month."</p>
+
+<p>"And you couldn't do your lessons and be the fine big boy that I am
+proud of," said Mrs. Church. "Now, to tell the truth, I can't bear that
+sister of yours&mdash;Susy, you call her&mdash;but I have a liking for you, Tom
+Hopkins. What is it you want me to do?"</p>
+
+<p>"If you will let me come here to-morrow, I'll push you all the way to
+Merrifield in time for our dinner. Wouldn't you like that? And I'd bring
+you back again in the evening. There's your own old bath-chair that
+Uncle Church used to be moved about in before he died."</p>
+
+<p>"To be sure, there is," said Mrs. Church, her eyes brightening. "But the
+lining has got moth-eaten."</p>
+
+<p>"Who minds that?" said Tom. "I'll go and clean it after you have given
+me that bit of cake you promised me."</p>
+
+<p>Everything ended quite satisfactorily as far as Tom was concerned, for
+Mrs. Church forgot her anger in the interest that the boy's visit gave
+her. She consulted him about her fowls, and gave him a new-laid egg to
+slip into his pocket for his own supper. Later on she allowed him to
+munch some very poor and very stale plumcake. Finally<!-- Page 144 --><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a> she gave him his
+heart's delight, for he was allowed to peer into the old microscope and
+revel in the sight of the beetle's wings with thin, sweeping plumes, as
+he afterwards described them.</p>
+
+<p>It was rather late when Tom returned home. He burst into the parlor
+where his mother and Susy were sitting.</p>
+
+<p>"Mother," he said, "I have done everything splendidly; and she's coming
+to dine with us to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>"She's what?" said Mrs. Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Church is coming to dine with us. She was mad about the money, and
+nobody could have been nastier than she might have turned out but for
+me. But it's all right now. We must have a nice dinner for her. She is
+very fond of good things, and as she never gives them to herself, she
+will enjoy ours all the more."</p>
+
+<p>"She'll think that I am rich, when I am as poor as a church mouse," said
+Mrs. Hopkins. "But I suppose you have done everything for the best, Tom,
+and I must go around to the butcher's for a little addition to the
+dinner."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Hopkins left the house, and Tom sank into a chair by his sister.</p>
+
+<p>"It's golloptious for me," he said. "She's taking no end of a fancy to
+me. See this egg? She gave it to me for my supper. Mother shall have it.
+Mother is looking very white about the gills; a new-laid egg that she
+hasn't to pay for will nourish her up like anything."</p>
+
+<p>"So it will," said Susy. "We'll boil it and say nothing about it, and
+just pop it on her plate when she's having her supper. All the same,
+Tom, I wish you hadn't asked old Aunt Church here. She is such a queer
+old body; and the neighbors sometimes drop in on Sundays. And I have
+asked Miss Kathleen O'Hara to come in to-morrow, and she has promised
+to."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 145 --><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"></a>"What?" said Tom. "That grand beauty of a young lady, the pride of the
+school? Why, everybody is talking about her. At the boys' school they've
+caught sight of her, and there isn't a boy that hasn't fallen in love
+with her. They all slink behind the wall, and bob up as she comes by.
+You don't mean that <i>she's</i> coming here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; why not? She's very fond of me."</p>
+
+<p>"But she's no end of a howler. They say she's worth her weight in gold,
+and that her father is a sort of king in Ireland. Why should she take up
+with a little girl like you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Tom, some people like me, although you think but little of your
+sister. Kathleen is very fond of me. I invited her to have tea with us
+to-morrow, and she is coming."</p>
+
+<p>"My word!" said Tom. "To think that I shall be sitting at the same table
+with her! I'll be able to make my own terms now with John Short and
+Harry Reid and the rest of the chaps. Why, Susy, you must be a genius,
+and I thought you weren't much of a sort."</p>
+
+<p>"I am better than you think; and she is fond of me."</p>
+
+<p>"And you really and truly call her by her Christian name?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I do."</p>
+
+<p>Susy longed to tell Tom about the wonderful society; but its strictest
+rule was that it was never to be spoken about to outsiders. Susy, as a
+member of the Cabinet, must certainly be one of the last to break the
+rules.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Hopkins came back at that moment. She had added a pound of sausage
+and a little piece of pork to their usual Sunday fare. She had also
+brought sixpennyworth of apples with her.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 146 --><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146"></a>"These are to make a pudding," she said. "I think we shall do now very
+well."</p>
+
+<p>Susy and Tom quite agreed with their mother. Susy rose and prepared
+supper, and at the crucial moment the new-laid egg was laid on Mrs.
+Hopkins's plate. It takes, perhaps, a great deal of poverty to truly
+appreciate a new-laid egg. Mrs. Hopkins was delighted with hers; she
+thought Tom the noblest boy in the world for having denied himself in
+order to give it to her. Tears filled her tired eyes as she thanked God
+for her good children.</p>
+
+<p>Susy and Tom watched her as she ate the egg, and thought how delicious
+it must taste, but were glad she had it.</p>
+
+<p>The following day dawned bright and clear, with a suspicion of frost in
+the air. It was, as Tom expressed it, a perfect day. Susy went to church
+with her mother in the morning, the dinner being all prepared and left
+to cook itself in the oven. Tom started at about eleven o'clock on his
+walk to the tiny village where Mrs. Church lived.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Susy returned from her place of worship she helped her mother
+to get the little parlor ready. She put some autumn leaves in a jug on
+the center of the table. Her mother brought out the best china, which
+had not been used since her husband's death. The best china was very
+pretty, and Susy thought that no table could look more elegant than
+theirs. The best china was accompanied by some quite good knives and
+forks. The forks were real silver; Mrs. Hopkins regarded them with
+pride.</p>
+
+<p>"If the worst&mdash;the very worst&mdash;comes," she said to Susy, "we can sell
+them; but I cling to them as a piece of respectability that I never want
+to part from. Your<!-- Page 147 --><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a> dear father gave them to me on our wedding-day&mdash;a
+whole dozen of beautiful silver forks with the hall-mark on them, and
+his initials on the handle of each. I want them to be Tom's some day.
+Silver should always be handed on to the eldest son."</p>
+
+<p>Susy felt that she was almost worthy of Kathleen's friendship as she
+regarded the silver forks.</p>
+
+<p>"You must never part with them, mother," she said&mdash;until Tom is married.
+Then, of course, they will belong to him."</p>
+
+<p>"You are a good little girl, Susy," said her mother. "Of course, there
+never was a boy like Tom. It was sweet of him to give up his egg to me
+last night."</p>
+
+<p>Having seen that the table was in perfect order, and that the dinner was
+cooking as well as dinner could in the oven, Mrs. Hopkins went upstairs
+to put on a lace collar and a neat black silk apron.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Susy had locked herself into her own room. The crowning moment
+of her life had arrived. She had made up her mind that she would wear
+her new blouse at dinner that day. Susy's stockings were coarse, and
+showed darns here and there; Susy's shoes were rough, and could not
+altogether hide the disfiguring patches on the toes of each; Susy's
+skirt was dark-blue serge, fairly neat in its way. Altogether Susy from
+her waist down was a very ordinary little girl&mdash;the little daughter of
+poor people; but from her waist up she was resplendent.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! if I could only show my sweet, sweet little badge," she thought,
+"it would make me perfect. But I daren't. The queen commands that it
+should be hidden, and the queen's commands must be obeyed."</p>
+
+<p>Susy slipped into her blouse. She fastened it; she put a belt round her
+waist. She curtsied before her little<!-- Page 148 --><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a> glass. She bobbed here; she
+bobbed there. She looked at herself front view, then over her shoulder,
+then, with a morsel of glass, at her back; she surveyed herself, as far
+as the limited accommodation of her room afforded, from every point of
+view. Finally, with flushed cheeks and a very proud expression on her
+face, she tripped downstairs. The pale-blue cashmere blouse, with its
+real lace and embroidered trimmings, might have been worn by any girl,
+even in the highest station of life.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Hopkins was busy in the kitchen. She called to Susy:</p>
+
+<p>"Come and hold the vegetable dish, child. I hear Tom pushing Aunt Church
+in at the gate; I know he is doing it by the creak of the bath-chair.
+There never was a bath-chair that creaked like that. Hold this while
+I&mdash;Why, sakes alive, Susy! wherever did you get&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, it's my new blouse, mother."</p>
+
+<p>"Your new what?"</p>
+
+<p>"What you see, mother&mdash;my new blouse. Don't you admire it?"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Hopkins was so stunned that she could not speak for a moment. Her
+face, which had been quite florid, turned pale. She suddenly put up her
+hand and caught Susy by the arm.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, mother, don't!" said the little girl. "Your hand isn't clean. Oh,
+you have made a stain! Oh, mother, how could you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Run upstairs at once, child, and take it off. For the life of you don't
+let <i>her</i> see it; she'd never forgive me. It isn't fit for you, Susy; it
+really isn't. Wherever did you get it from? Where did you buy it?"</p>
+
+<p>Now Susy had really no intention of making a secret with regard to the
+blouse. She meant to tell her mother frankly<!-- Page 149 --><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a> that it was a present from
+Miss Kathleen O'Hara, but Mrs. Hopkins's manner and words put the little
+girl into a passion, and she was determined now not to say a word.</p>
+
+<p>"It is my secret," she said. "I won't tell you how I got it, nor who
+gave it to me. And I won't take it off."</p>
+
+<p>Just then there were voices, and Aunt Church called out:</p>
+
+<p>"Where are you, Mary Hopkins? Why don't you show yourself? Fussing over
+fine living, I suppose. Oh, there is your daughter. My word! Fine
+feathers make fine birds.&mdash;Come over and speak to me, my dear, and help
+me out of this chair. Now then, give me your hand. Be quick!"</p>
+
+<p>Susy put out her hand and helped Mrs. Church as well as she could out of
+the bath-chair. Tom winked when he saw the splendid apparition; then he
+stuck his tongue into his cheek, and coming close to his sister, he
+whispered:</p>
+
+<p>"Wherever did you get that toggery?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's nothing to you," said Susy.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Church glanced over her shoulder and looked solemnly at Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"It's my opinion," she said, speaking in a slow, emphatic, rather awful
+voice, "that you are a very, very bad little girl. You will come to no
+good. Mark my words. I prophesy a bad end for you, and trouble for your
+unfortunate mother. You will remember my words when the prophecy comes
+true. Help me now into the parlor. I cannot stay long, but I will have a
+morsel of your grand dinner before I leave."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a><!-- Page 150 --><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2>
+
+<h3>AUNT CHURCH AT DINNER AND THE CONSEQUENCES THEREOF.</h3>
+
+
+<p>When Mrs. Church was comfortably established in the easy-chair in the
+little parlor, with her feet on the fender, and a nice view of the
+street from the window near by&mdash;when her best widow's-cap was perched
+upon her head, and her little black mitts were drawn over her delicate,
+small hands&mdash;she looked around her and gave a brief sigh of
+satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>"Upon my word," she said, "I'm not at all sorry I came. There's nothing
+like seeing things for yourself. Most elegant damask on the table. Mary
+Hopkins, where did you get that damask?"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Hopkins, whose cheeks were flushed, and who looked considerably
+worried, replied that it had been left to her by her own mother.</p>
+
+<p>"My mother was a housekeeper in a nobleman's family," she said, "and she
+was given that cloth and two or three more like it. I have 'em in the
+linen-chest upstairs, and I wouldn't part with 'em to anybody."</p>
+
+<p>"I admire your pride," said Mrs. Church. "Next door to pride comes
+honesty. I am sometimes inclined to believe that it comes afore pride;
+but we needn't dispute that delicate point at present. And the silver
+forks. My word!&mdash;Tom, my boy, pass me a fork to examine."</p>
+
+<p>Tom took up a fork and handed it to Mrs. Church.</p>
+
+<p>"Hall-marked and all!" she said.</p>
+
+<p>She laid it down with emphasis.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps you know," she said, fixing her beady black eyes upon Mrs.
+Hopkins's face, "that I'll be very low as<!-- Page 151 --><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a> regards victuals for the rest
+of this week. But never mind; I am never one to press what it ain't
+convenient to return. Ah! and here comes the dinner. Well, I will say
+that I have a good appetite.&mdash;You can push me right up to the table,
+Tom, my boy."</p>
+
+<p>Tom did push the old lady into the most comfortable seat. She now
+removed her mittens, put a napkin on her lap, and bent forward with a
+look of appetite to regard the different dishes which Ellen, the tiny
+twelve-year-old servant, brought in. Ellen trembled very much in the
+company of the old lady, and Mrs. Hopkins trembled still more. But Susy,
+who saw no reason why she should bow down before Aunt Church, ate her
+good dinner with appetite, tossed her little head, and felt that she was
+making a sensation. Tom was very attentive to Mrs. Church, and helped
+her to a large glass of ginger-wine. She thoroughly enjoyed her dinner,
+and, while she was eating it, forgot all about Susy and the pale-blue
+cashmere blouse.</p>
+
+<p>But when the meat had been followed by the apple-pudding, and the
+apple-pudding by some coffee which was served in real china cups, and
+Mrs. Church had folded her napkin and swept the crumbs from her
+bombazine dress, and Mrs. Hopkins, assisted by Susy, had removed the
+cloth, and the little maid had swept up the hearth, Mrs. Church began to
+recollect herself. It is true she was no longer hungry nor cold, for the
+fire was plentiful, and the sun also poured in at the small window. But
+Mrs. Church had a memory and, as she believed, a grievance. In her tiny
+house on the common four miles away firing was scarce, and food was
+scarcer. The owner of the house did not care to spend more than a very
+limited sum of money on coals and food. There was nothing in the cottage
+for Mrs. Church's supper except a bit of stale cake,<!-- Page 152 --><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a> a hunch of brown
+bread, and a little tea. The tea would have to be drunk without milk,
+and with only a modicum of brown sugar, for Mrs. Church was determined
+to spend no money, if possible, until Mrs. Hopkins paid the debt which
+had been due on the previous day. It was one thing, therefore, for Mrs.
+Church's debtors to eat good roast beef and good boiled pork and good
+apple-pudding, but it was another thing for Mrs. Church to tolerate it.
+She fixed her eyes now on Susy in a very meaning way. Susy had never
+appealed to the old lady's fancy, and she appealed less than ever
+to-day.</p>
+
+<p>"Come right over here, little girl," said Mrs. Church, waving a thin arm
+and motioning Susy to approach.</p>
+
+<p>Susy Hopkins, remembering her blouse and her proud position as a member
+of the Cabinet of the Queen of the Wild Irish Girls, felt for a moment
+inclined to disobey; but Mrs. Church had a certain power about her, and
+she impelled Susy to come forward.</p>
+
+<p>"Stand just in front of me," she said, "and let me look at you. My word!
+I never did see a more elegant figure. Don't you think that you are
+something like a peacock&mdash;fine above and ugly below?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I don't, Aunt Church," said Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"Tut, tut, child! Don't give me any of your sauce, but just answer a
+straight question. Where did you get that bodice? It is singularly fine
+for a little girl like you. Where did you get it?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think it is any business of yours, Aunt Church."</p>
+
+<p>"Susy!" said her mother in a voice of terror. "Don't talk like that. You
+know very well you mustn't be rude to Aunt Church.&mdash;Don't mind her,
+aunt; she is a very naughty girl."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 153 --><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a>"I am not, mother," said Susy; "and it's awfully unkind of you to say
+it of me. I am not a bit rude. But it is not Aunt Church's affair. I
+didn't steal the blouse; I came by it honestly, and it wasn't bought out
+of any of Aunt Church's money."</p>
+
+<p>"That remains to be proved," said Mrs. Church. "Susan Hopkins, I don't
+like you nor your ways. When I was young I knew a little girl, and you
+remind me of her. She had a face summat like yours, no way pretty, but
+what you'd call boastful and conceited; and she thought a sight of
+herself, and put on gay dress that she had no call to wear. She strutted
+about among the neighbors, and they said, 'Fine feathers make fine
+birds,' and laughed at her past bearing. But she didn't mind, because
+she was a little girl that was meant to go to the bad&mdash;and she did. She
+learned to be a thief, and she broke her mother's heart, and she was
+locked up in prison. In prison she had to wear the ugly convict-dress
+with the broad-arrow stamped on all her clothes. Afterwards, when she
+came out again, her poor mother had died, and her grandmother likewise;
+and her brother, who was the moral image of Tom there, wouldn't receive
+her in his house. I haven't heard of her for a long time back, but most
+likely she died in the work-house. Well, Susan, you may take my little
+story for what it is worth, and much good may it do you."</p>
+
+<p>"I think you are very rude indeed, Aunt Church," said Susy. "I don't see
+that I'm bound to submit to your ugly, cruel words. I like this blouse,
+and I'll wear it whenever I wish."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, hoity-toity!" said the old lady; "impudent as well as everything
+else. That I should live to see it!&mdash;Mary Hopkins, can it be convenient
+to you to let me have the remainder of my hundred pounds? There wasn't
+any con<!-- Page 154 --><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a>tract but that I could demand it whenever I wanted it, and it is
+about convenient to me that I should have it back now. You owe me
+between thirty and forty pounds, and I'd like, I will say, to see the
+color of my money. It can't be at all ill-convenient to you to give it
+to me when you can afford blouses of that quality for your impudent
+young daughter. Real lace, forsooth! I know it when I see it. We'll say
+Wednesday week to receive the money, and I will come over in my
+bath-chair, drawn by Tom, to take it; and I will give Tom a whole
+shilling for himself the day I get it back. That will be quite
+convenient to you, Mary Hopkins, won't it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Susy," said poor Mrs. Hopkins, "for goodness' sake, leave the
+room.&mdash;Aunt Church, you know perfectly well that I am not responsible
+for the naughty ways of that naughty little girl. It's apologize to you
+she shall, and that before you leave this house. And you know that if
+you press me now to return the money in full I'll have to sell up the
+shop, and the children won't have anything to eat, and we'll all be
+ruined. You wouldn't be as cruel as that to your own flesh and blood,
+would you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Mary, I only said it to frighten you. I ain't at all a cruel
+woman. On the contrary, I am kind-hearted; but I can't stand the sauce
+of that little girl of yours. It's my opinion, Mary, that the lost money
+of yours is on the back of your Susan, and the sooner you get her to
+confess her sin the better it will be for us all."</p>
+
+<p>Now, before Mrs. Hopkins had time to utter a word with regard to this
+preposterous and appalling suggestion of Aunt Church's, there came a
+loud knock on the little street-door, and, listening in the parlor, the
+people within could distinctly hear the rustle of silk petticoats.</p>
+
+<p>"Who in the world can that be?" said Mrs. Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 155 --><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a>Tom turned first red and then white, and rushed into the passage. Susy,
+who had been crying in the shop, also appeared on the scene.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll open the door," said Tom. "Do wipe your eyes, Susy; don't let her
+see you crying. It's herself, of course."</p>
+
+<p>The knocker was just going to be applied to the door again, when Tom
+opened it with a flourish, and there stood, waiting on the steps, a very
+brilliant apparition. This was no less a person than Miss Kathleen
+O'Hara, in her Sunday best.</p>
+
+<p>Now, Kathleen tried to bear with Mrs. Tennant's advice with regard to
+her clothes in the week, but on Sundays she was absolutely determined
+that her love of finery should find full vent. Accordingly, from her
+store of rich and beautiful garments, she chose the gayest and the most
+likely to attract attention. On the present occasion she wore a crimson
+velvet toque. Her jacket was bright blue, and she had a skirt to match.
+On her neck she wore a rich necklet of flaming beads, which was
+extremely becoming to her; and thrown carelessly round her neck and
+shoulders was a boa of white fur, and she had a muff to match.
+Altogether her radiant dress and radiant face were quite sufficient to
+dazzle Tom. But Susy pushed past Tom and held out her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Kathleen," she said, "I am glad you have come. You'd best come into
+the shop with me; there's company in the parlor, and I don't think you'd
+care about it."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen, of course, was just as pleased to stay in the shop with Susy
+as to go into any other part of the house; but just then Mrs. Hopkins
+put a sad, distressed face outside the door, and Mrs. Church's voice was
+heard in high and grating accents:</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 156 --><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a>"I want to see the person who is talking in the passage."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! don't go in," said Susy. "It's Aunt Church, and she's dreadful."</p>
+
+<p>"An old lady?" cried Kathleen. "I love old ladies."</p>
+
+<p>She pushed past Susy and made her appearance in the parlor.</p>
+
+<p>Now, Mrs. Church was a person of discernment. She strongly objected to
+gay dress on the person of little Susy Hopkins; but, as she expressed
+it, she knew the quality. Had she not lived all her earlier days as
+housekeeper to a widowed nobleman? Could she ever forget the fine folk
+she helped to prepare for in his house? Now, Kathleen, standing in the
+tiny room, had a certain look of wealth and distinction about her. Mrs.
+Church seemed to sniff the fine quality air in a moment; she even
+managed to rise from her chair and drop a little curtsy.</p>
+
+<p>"If it weren't for the rheumatics," she said, "I wouldn't make so bold
+as to sit before you, miss."</p>
+
+<p>"But why shouldn't you? I'm sorry you suffer from rheumatism. May I
+bring a chair and come and sit near you? Are you Mrs. Hopkins&mdash;Susy
+Hopkins's mother?"</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed, my dear, I'm truly thankful to say I am not. And what may your
+name be, my sweet young lady?"</p>
+
+<p>"Kathleen O'Hara."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, dear, but it's a mouthful."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not English," said Kathleen; "I'm Irish. Do you know, in our
+country we have old ladies something like you. A good many of them have
+dresses like you; and they live in little cottages, and we bring them up
+to the castle and give them good food very, very often. There are twelve
+of them, and they all live in their tiny cottages close to each other.
+We make a great fuss about them. They love to come to the castle for
+tea."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 157 --><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a>"The castle!" said Mrs. Church, more and more impressed. "I should
+think they would like it. Who wouldn't like it? It's a very great honor
+for an old lady to be entertained to her tea in a castle. And so you
+live in a castle, my bonny young lady?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; my father owns Carrigrohane Castle."</p>
+
+<p>"Eh, love! it is a mouthful of a word for me to get round my lips. But
+never mind; it is but to look at you to see how beautiful and good you
+are."</p>
+
+<p>"And you are beautiful, too," said Kathleen. "I mean, you are beautiful
+for an old lady. I love the beauty of the old. But I want to see Mrs.
+Hopkins, and I want to see Susy. Susy is a great friend of mine."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Church opened her eyes very wide; her mouth formed itself into a
+round O. An eager exclamation was about to burst from her lips, but she
+restrained herself.</p>
+
+<p>"And a very good little girl Susan Hopkins is," she said, after a
+moment's pause; "and a particularly great friend of mine, being, so to
+speak, my grand-niece.&mdash;Mary, my dear, call your little girl in."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Hopkins, in some trepidation, crossed the room and called to Susy,
+who was still sulking in the shop.</p>
+
+<p>"My visitor and all," she kept saying. "And I wanted to have her all to
+myself; I had such a lot to say to her. I never saw anybody quite so
+horrible as Aunt Church is to-day."</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind, Susy; never mind," said her mother. "The young lady is
+pleasing your aunt like anything, and she has sent for you."</p>
+
+<p>"Come along in, Susan, this minute," called out Mrs. Church. "Come, my
+pet, and let's have a little talk."</p>
+
+<p>"Go, Susy, and be quick about it," said her mother.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 158 --><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a>By the aid of Tom and Mrs. Hopkins, who pushed Susy from behind, she
+was induced to re-enter the little parlor. There, indeed, all things had
+changed. Kathleen called to her, made room for her on the same chair,
+and held her hand. Mrs. Church glanced from one to the other. Only too
+well did she see the difference between them. One was a rather plain
+little girl, the daughter of her own relation; the other was a lady,
+beautiful, stately, and magnificently dressed.</p>
+
+<p>"I know her kind," thought Aunt Church. "I have aired beds for quality
+of that sort, and I have watched them when they danced in the big
+ballroom, and watched them, too, when their sweethearts came along, and
+seen&mdash;oh, yes, many, many things have I seen, and many, many things have
+I heard of those fair young ladies of quality. She belongs to them, and
+she likes that good-for-nothing, pert little Susy Hopkins! Yet it don't
+matter to me. Susy shall have my good graces if she has secured those of
+Miss Kathleen O'Hara."</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, Mrs. Church changed her tactics. She praised Susy in
+honeyed words to the visitor.</p>
+
+<p>"A good little girl, miss, and deserving of anything that those who are
+better off can do for her. She is a great help to her mother.&mdash;Mary
+Hopkins, come nigh, dear. You are very fond of your Susy, aren't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I am," said Mrs. Hopkins in an affectionate voice.</p>
+
+<p>Susy longed to keep up her anger, but she could not. She was soon
+smiling and flushing.</p>
+
+<p>"And what a neat little bodice my Susy is wearing!" said Mrs. Church.
+"And bought with her own hard-earned savings. You wouldn't think so,
+would you, miss?"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 159 --><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a>"It gives her great credit," said Kathleen in a calm voice. "I like
+people to wear smart clothes, don't you, Mrs. Church? If you lived on
+our estate, I would dress you myself. I love to see our old ladies gaily
+dressed. On Christmas Day they come to the castle and have dinner as
+well as tea. It is wonderful how smart they look."</p>
+
+<p>"They are very lucky ladies&mdash;very lucky," said Mrs. Church. "They don't
+wear old bombazine like this, do they?"</p>
+
+<p>"Your dress suits you very well, indeed," said Kathleen; "but my old
+ladies wear velveteen dresses. They save them, of course. We don't want
+them to be extravagant; but they always come up to the castle in
+velveteen dresses, with white caps, and white collars round their necks;
+and they look very nice. They have a happy time."</p>
+
+<p>"I am sure they have, miss."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, they have a very happy time. They want for nothing. There was an
+old lady belonging to our house who left a certain sum of money, and the
+old ladies get it between them. They get six shillings a week each, and
+a dear little house to live in. We are obliged to supply them with as
+much coal as they want, and candles, and a new pair of blankets on the
+first of every November, and a bale of unbleached calico on the first of
+May. You can't think how comfortable they are. And then, of course, we
+throw in a lot of extra things&mdash;the black velveteen dresses, and other
+garments of the same quality."</p>
+
+<p>"It must be a wonderful place to live in. Is it very difficult to get
+into one of these houses, missy?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. Would you like to come?"</p>
+
+<p>"That I would."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll write to father and ask him if you may."</p>
+
+<p>"Miss, it would be wonderful."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 160 --><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"></a>"You'd be very picturesque amongst them," said Kathleen, gazing at Mrs.
+Church with a critical eye. "And you'd have so much to tell them;
+because all the rest are Irish, and they have never gone beyond their
+own country. But you have seen such a lot of life, haven't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Miss, I can't express all the tales I could tell. I lived with the
+quality for so long. I lived with Lord Henshel until he died; I was
+housekeeper there. Oh, I could tell them lots of things."</p>
+
+<p>"It would be very nice if you came over; and I am almost sure there is a
+cottage vacant," said Kathleen in a contemplative voice. "It seems
+unfair to give the cottages entirely to Irish people. We might have one
+English old lady. You would enjoy it; you'd have such a lovely view! And
+you might keep your own little pig if you liked."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Church was not enamored with the idea of keeping a pig.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps fowls would do as well," she said. "I have a great fancy for
+birds, and I am fond of new-laid eggs."</p>
+
+<p>"Fowls will do just as well," said Kathleen, rising now carelessly from
+her seat. "Well, Mrs. Church, I will write to father and let you know if
+there is a vacancy; and you could come back with me in the summer,
+couldn't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, miss, it would be heaven!"</p>
+
+<p>"Can't we go out and have a walk now, Susy?" said Kathleen, who found
+the small parlor a little too close for her taste.</p>
+
+<p>Susy rushed upstairs, put on her outdoor jacket and a cheap hat, and,
+trying to hide the holes in her gloves, ran downstairs. Kathleen,
+however, was the last girl to notice any want in her companion's
+wardrobe. She had all her life been so abundantly supplied with clothes
+that,<!-- Page 161 --><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a> although she loved to array herself in fine garments, the want of
+them in others never attracted her attention.</p>
+
+<p>"Susy," she said the moment they got out of doors, "what is the matter
+with Ruth Craven?"</p>
+
+<p>"With Ruth Craven?" said Susy, who was by no means inclined to waste her
+time over such an uninteresting person.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. You must go to her house; you must insist on seeing her, and you
+must find out and let me know what is wrong. She has written me a most
+mysterious letter; she has actually asked me to let her withdraw from
+our society. Ruth, of all people!"</p>
+
+<p>"It is very queer of her," said Susy, "not to be grateful and pleased,
+for she is no better than the rest of us."</p>
+
+<p>"No better than the rest of you, Susy?" said Kathleen, raising her brows
+in surprise. "But indeed you are mistaken. The rest of you are not a
+patch on her. She is my Prime Minister. I can't allow her to resign."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, well," said Susy, "if you think of her in that way&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I think of her in that way, Susy. I like you very much, and I
+want to be kind to everybody; but to compare you or Mary Rand or Rosy
+Myers, or any of the others, with Ruth Craven&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"But she is no better."</p>
+
+<p>"She is a great deal better. She is refined and beautiful. She mustn't
+go; I can't allow it. But she has written me such a queer letter, and
+implored and besought of me not to come to see her, that I am forced to
+accede to her wishes. So you will have to go to her to-night and tell
+her that she must meet me on my way to school to-morrow. Tell her that I
+will go a bit of the way towards her house; tell her that I will be at
+the White Cross Corner at a<!-- Page 162 --><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a> quarter to nine. You needn't say more. Oh,
+Susy, it would break my heart if Ruth did not continue to be a member of
+our society."</p>
+
+<p>"I will do what you want, of course," said Susy. "I'd do anything in the
+world for you, Kathleen. It was so kind of you to come to see us this
+afternoon. You will keep your promise and come and have tea with us,
+won't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am very sorry, but I am afraid I can't. I do wish I had a home of my
+own, and then I'd ask you to have tea with me. But, Susy, how funnily
+you were dressed to-day, now that I come to think of it! You did look
+odd. That blouse is too smart for the coarse blue serge skirt you were
+wearing."</p>
+
+<p>"I know it is; but I can't afford a better skirt. Mother is rather
+worried about money just now. I know I oughtn't to tell you, but she is.
+And, do you know, before you came in Aunt Church was so horrid. She got
+quite dreadful about the blouse, and she tried to make out that I had
+stolen the money from mother to buy it. Wasn't it awful of her? I can
+tell you it was a blessing when you came in. You changed her altogether.
+What did you do to her?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Kathleen, "I rather like old ladies, and she struck me as
+something picturesque."</p>
+
+<p>"She's a horrid old thing, and not a bit picturesque. I hate her like
+poison."</p>
+
+<p>"That is very wrong of you, Susy. Some day you will get old yourself,
+and you won't like people to hate you."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that's a long way off; I needn't worry about it yet," cried Susy.
+"I do hate her very much indeed. And then, you know, when you appeared
+she began to butter me up like anything. I hated that the worst of all."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 163 --><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"></a>"I am sorry she is that sort of old lady," said Kathleen after a pause;
+"but I have promised to try and get her into one of our almshouses. It
+would be rare fun to have her there."</p>
+
+<p>"But she is not a bit poor. She oughtn't to go into an almshouse if she
+is rich," said Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course she mustn't go into an almshouse if she is rich; but she
+doesn't look rich."</p>
+
+<p>"She is quite rich. I think she has saved three hundred pounds. You must
+call that rich."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid I don't," said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>Susy was silent for a moment.</p>
+
+<p>"There are so many different views about riches," she said at last. "I
+am glad you are so tremendously rich that you think nothing of three
+hundred pounds. Mother and I often sigh and pine even for <i>one</i> pound.
+For instance, now&mdash;But I mustn't tell you; it would not be right.
+Perhaps Aunt Church will be a little nicer to me now that you have taken
+her up. I'll threaten to complain to you if she doesn't behave."</p>
+
+<p>Here Susy laughed merrily.</p>
+
+<p>"That's all right, Susan," said Kathleen. "I must go back now, for I
+have promised to go for a walk with Mrs. Tennant. No one ever thinks
+about her as she ought to be thought of; so I have some plans in my head
+for her, too. Oh, my head is full of plans, and I do wish&mdash;yes, I do,
+Susy&mdash;that I could make a lot of people happy."</p>
+
+<p>"You are a splendid girl," said Susy. "I wish there were others like you
+in the world."</p>
+
+<p>"No, I am not splendid," said Kathleen, her lovely dark eyes looking
+wistful. "I have heaps and lashons of faults; but I do like to make
+people happy. I always did since I was a little child. The person I am
+most anxious about at<!-- Page 164 --><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a> present is Ruth: I love Ruth so very much. You
+will be sure to see her this evening, won't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Sure and certain," said Susy. "I am very much obliged to you, Kathleen;
+you have made a great difference in my life."</p>
+
+<p>The two girls parted just by the turnstile. Kathleen passed through on
+her way across the common to Mrs. Tennant's house, and Susy went slowly
+back to the High Street and the little stationer's shop.</p>
+
+<p>She found Mrs. Church in the act of being deposited in her bath-chair,
+and Tom, looking proud and flushed, attending on her. Mrs. Hopkins was
+also standing just outside the shop, putting a wrap round the old lady
+and tucking her up. When Susy appeared her mother called out to her:</p>
+
+<p>"Come along, you ungrateful girl. Here's Aunt Church going, and
+wondering why you have deserted her during the last hour."</p>
+
+<p>"That's just like you, Mary Hopkins," said old Mrs. Church. "You scold
+when there's no occasion to, and you withhold scolding when it's due. I
+don't blame your daughter Susan for going out with that nice young lady.
+I am only too pleased to think that any daughter of yours should be
+taken notice of by a young lady of the Miss Kathleen O'Hara type. She's
+a splendid girl; and, to tell you the honest truth, none of you are fit
+for her to touch you with a pair of tongs."</p>
+
+<p>"Dear, dear!" said Susy. "But she has touched me pretty often. I don't
+think you ought to say nasty things of that sort, Aunt Church, for if
+you do I may be able to&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Church fixed her glittering black eyes on Susan.</p>
+
+<p>"Come here, child," she said.</p>
+
+<p>Susy went up to her somewhat unwillingly.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 165 --><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a>"My bark is worse than my bite," said old Mrs. Church. "Now look here;
+if you bring that charming young lady to see me, and give me notice a
+day or so before&mdash;Tom can run over and tell me&mdash;if you and Tom and Miss
+Kathleen O'Hara would come and have tea at my place, why, it's the
+freshest of the plumcakes we'd have, not the stalest. And the microscope
+should be out handy and in order, and with some prepared plates that my
+poor husband used, which I have never shown to anybody from the time of
+his death. I have a magnifying-glass, too, that I can put into the
+microscope; it will make you see the root of a hair on your head. And I
+will&mdash;Whisper, Susy!"</p>
+
+<p>Susy somewhat unwillingly bent forward.</p>
+
+<p>"I will give you five shillings. You'd like to trim your hat to match
+that handsome blouse, wouldn't you?"</p>
+
+<p>Susy's eyes could not help dancing.</p>
+
+<p>"Five shillings all to yourself; and I won't press your mother about the
+installment which was due to me yesterday. I'll manage without it
+somehow. But I want to see that beautiful young lady in my cottage, and
+you will get the money when you bring her. That's all. You are a queer
+little girl, and not altogether to my taste, but you are no fool."</p>
+
+<p>Susy stood silent. She put her hand on the moth-eaten cushion of the old
+bath-chair, bent forward, and looked into Mrs. Church's face.</p>
+
+<p>"Will you take back the words you said?"</p>
+
+<p>"Will I take back what?"</p>
+
+<p>"If not the words, at least the thought? Will you say that you know that
+I got this blouse honestly?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, child! I'd quite forgotten all about it. Now just see that you
+do what I want; and the sooner the better, you understand. And, oh,
+Susy, mum's the word with<!-- Page 166 --><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a> regard to me being well off. I ain't, I can
+tell you; I am quite a poor body. But I could do a kindness to you and
+your mother if&mdash;if certain things were to come to pass. Now that's about
+all.&mdash;Pull away, Tom, my boy. I have a rosy apple which shall find its
+way into your pocket if you take me home in double-quick time."</p>
+
+<p>Tom pulled with a will; the little bath-chair creaked and groaned, and
+Mrs. Church nodded her wise old head and she was carried over the
+country roads.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Susy entered the house with her mother.</p>
+
+<p>"What a blessing," said Mrs. Hopkins, "that that pretty young lady
+happened to call! I never saw such a change in any one as what took
+place in your aunt after she had seen her."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, mother, you know what it is all about," said Susy. "Aunt Church
+wants to get into one of those almshouses."</p>
+
+<p>"Just like her&mdash;stingy old thing!" said Mrs. Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want her to get in, I can tell you, mother; and when Kathleen
+and I were out I told Kathleen that she was a great deal too rich. She
+asked me what her means were, and I said I believed she has three
+hundred pounds put by. Now, mother, don't you call that riches?"</p>
+
+<p>"Three hundred pounds!" said Mrs. Hopkins. "That depends, child. To some
+it is wealth; to others it is a decent competence; to others, again, it
+is poverty."</p>
+
+<p>"Kathleen didn't think much of it, mother."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Mrs. Hopkins, "I have notions in my head. Maybe this very
+thing can be turned to good for us; there's no saying. I think if your
+aunt was sure and certain to get into one of those almshouses she might
+do a good turn to you, Susy; and she's sure and certain to help Tom a
+little. But there! we can't look into the future. I am<!-- Page 167 --><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a> tired out with
+one thing and another. Susan, my dear child, where did you get that
+beautiful pale-blue blouse?"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't get it through theft, mother, if that's what you are thinking
+of. I got it honestly, and I am not obliged to tell; and what's more, I
+won't tell."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Hopkins sighed.</p>
+
+<p>"Dear, dear!" she said, and she sat down in the easy-chair which Mrs.
+Church had occupied and stared into the fire.</p>
+
+<p>"I am not nearly as low-spirited as I was," she said after a pause. "If
+Miss Kathleen will do something for Aunt Church, it stands to reason
+that Aunt Church won't be hard on us."</p>
+
+<p>Susy made no answer to this. She stood quiet for a minute or two, and
+then she went slowly upstairs. She removed the beautiful blouse and put
+on a common one. She then wrapped herself in an old waterproof
+cloak&mdash;for the sunshiny morning had developed into an evening of thick
+clouds and threatening rain&mdash;and went downstairs.</p>
+
+<p>"Where in the world are you going?" said her mother in a fretful tone.
+"I did think you'd sit quietly with me and learn your collect. If you
+are going out, it ought to be to church. I don't see what call you have
+to be going anywhere else on Sunday evening."</p>
+
+<p>"I want to see Ruth Craven. Don't keep me, please; it is very
+important."</p>
+
+<p>"But I don't know who Ruth Craven is."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, mother, I thought every one knew her. She is the very, very pretty
+little granddaughter of old Mr. Craven, who lives in that cottage close
+to the station."</p>
+
+<p>"A handsome old man, too," said Mrs. Hopkins, "but I confess I don't
+know anything about him."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, he and his old wife have got this one beautiful<!-- Page 168 --><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a> grandchild, and
+she has joined the foundationers at the Great Shirley School. Miss
+Kathleen O'Hara has taken up with her as well as with me and other
+foundation girls, and instead of having a miserable, dull, down-trodden
+life, we are extremely likely to have the best life of any girls in the
+school. Anyhow, I have a message for Ruth and I promised to deliver it."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, child; don't be longer away than you can help."</p>
+
+<p>Susy left the house. The distance from her mother's shop to the Cravens'
+cottage was a matter of ten minutes' quick walking. She soon reached her
+destination, walked up the little path which led to the tiny cottage,
+and tapped with her fingers on the door. The door was opened for her by
+old Mrs. Craven. Mrs. Craven was in her Sunday best, and looked a very
+beautiful and almost aristocratic old lady.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you want my grandchild?" she said, observing Susy's size and dress.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; is she within?" asked Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"No, dear; she has gone to church. Would you like to wait in for her, or
+would you rather go and meet her? She has gone to St. James the Less,
+the church just around the corner; you know it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I know it," said Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"They'll be coming out now," said Mrs. Craven, looking up at the
+eight-day clock which stood in the passage. "If you go and stand by the
+principal entrance, you are safe to see her."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," said Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"You are sure you wouldn't rather wait in the house?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, really. Mother expects me back. My name is<!-- Page 169 --><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a> Susan Hopkins. My
+mother keeps the stationer's shop in the High Street."</p>
+
+<p>"To be sure," said Mrs. Craven gently. "I know the shop quite well."</p>
+
+<p>Susy said good-bye, and then stepped down the little path. What a humble
+abode the prime favorite, Ruth Craven, lived in! Susy's own home was a
+palace in comparison. Ruth lived in a cottage which was little better
+than a workman's cottage.</p>
+
+<p>"There can't be more than two bedrooms upstairs," thought Susy. "And I
+wonder if there is a sitting-room? Certainly there can't be more than
+one. The old lady looked very nice; but, of course, she is quite a
+common person. I should love to be Prime Minister to Kathleen O'Hara.
+And why should there be such a fuss made about Ruth? I only wish the
+post was mine&mdash;shouldn't I do a lot! Couldn't I help mother and Tom and
+all of us? And there is that stupid little Ruth&mdash;oh, dear! oh, dear!
+Well, I suppose I must give her the message."</p>
+
+<p>She hurried her steps as these last thoughts came to her, and presently
+she stood outside the principal entrance of the little church. St. James
+the Less was by no means remarkable for beauty of architecture or
+adornment of any sort; nevertheless the vicar was a man of great
+eloquence and earnestness, and in the evenings it was the custom for the
+little church to be packed.</p>
+
+<p>By-and-by the sermon came to an end, the voluntary rolled forth from the
+organ, and the crowd of worshippers poured out. Susy stretched out her
+hand and clutched that of a slim girl who was following in the train of
+people.</p>
+
+<p>"Ruth, it is me. I have something to say to you."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth's face, until Susy touched her, had been looking like a piece of
+heaven itself, so calm and serene were the<!-- Page 170 --><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a> eyes, and so beautiful the
+expression which lingered round her lips. Now she seemed to awaken and
+pull herself together. She did not attempt to avoid Susy, but slipping
+out of the crowd of people who were leaving the church, she found
+herself by the girl's side.</p>
+
+<p>"Come just a little way home with me," said Susy. "It won't take me long
+to say what I want to say."</p>
+
+<p>She linked her hand in her companion's as she spoke. Yes, there was
+little doubt of it, Ruth was lovable. One forgot her low birth, her low
+surroundings, when one looked at her. Susy had heard of those few people
+of rare character and rare natures who are, as it is expressed,
+"Nature's ladies." There are Nature's gentlemen as well, and Nature's
+ladies and Nature's gentlemen are above mere external circumstances;
+they are above the mere money's worth or the mere accident of birth.
+Now, Ruth belonged to this rare class, and Susy, without quite
+understanding it, felt it. She forgot the humble little house, the lack
+of rooms, and the workmanlike appearance of the whole place. She said in
+a deferential tone:</p>
+
+<p>"I have come to you, from Kathleen O'Hara. You have done something which
+has distressed her very much. She wants you to meet her to-morrow at the
+White Cross Corner on your way to school; she wants you to be there at a
+quarter to nine. That is all, Ruth. You will be sure to attend? I
+promised Kathleen most faithfully that I would deliver her message. She
+is very unhappy about something. I don't know what you have done to vex
+her."</p>
+
+<p>"But I do," said Ruth. "And I can't help going on vexing her."</p>
+
+<p>"But what is it?" said Susy, whose curiosity was suddenly awakened. "You
+might tell me. I wish you would."</p>
+
+<p>"I can't tell you, Susan; it has nothing to do with you.<!-- Page 171 --><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a> It is a matter
+between Kathleen and myself. Very well, I will meet her. There is no use
+in shirking things. Good-night, Susan. It was good of you to come and
+give me Kathleen's message."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2>
+
+<h3>RUTH RESIGNS THE PREMIERSHIP.</h3>
+
+
+<p>The next morning Kathleen O'Hara was downstairs betimes. She ran into
+the kitchen and suggested to Maria that she should help her to toast the
+bread. Maria, who was somewhat lazy, and who had already begun to
+appreciate Kathleen's extreme good-nature, handed her the toasting-fork
+and pointed to a heap of bread which lay cut and ready for toasting on
+the deal table in the center of the kitchen.</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me, Miss Kathleen!" she said; "if only Miss Alice was as
+good-natured as you, why, the house would go on wheels."</p>
+
+<p>"I often helped the servants at home," said Kathleen. "Why isn't Alice
+good-natured?"</p>
+
+<p>"She's made contrairy, I expect, miss."</p>
+
+<p>"Cut on the cross, I call it," said cook, who came forward at this
+juncture and offered a chair to Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if that's the case I'm sorry for her," said Kathleen. "It must be
+very unpleasant to feel sort of peppery-and-salty and cross-grained all
+the time."</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't what you ever feel, miss," said cook with an admiring glance
+at the young lady.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen fixed her deep-blue roguish eyes on the good woman's face.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 172 --><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a>"No," she said, "I don't think I am cross-grained. By the way, cook,
+wouldn't you like a black silk apron embroidered with violets to wear
+when you have done all your dirty work in the kitchen?"</p>
+
+<p>"Cooks don't wear black silk aprons embroidered with violets," was the
+good woman's answer.</p>
+
+<p>"But this cook might, if a nice Irish girl, who has plenty of money,
+gave it to her. I have it in the bottom of my trunk. I asked Aunt Katie
+O'Flynn to send it to me for your mistress, but your mistress doesn't
+care for it. I will give it to you, cook.&mdash;And, Maria, I've got a little
+toque for you. It is sky-blue with forget-me-nots. Have you a young man,
+Maria? Most girls have, haven't they? Wouldn't you like to walk out with
+him in a sky-blue toque trimmed with forget-me-nots?"</p>
+
+<p>"It puts me all in a flutter to think of it, miss," said Maria. "I am
+sure a sweeter young lady never came into this house."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen chatted on to the retainers, as she called cook and Maria,
+until she had toasted enough bread. She then went into the dining-room.
+Alice was there, looking pale and headachy. The day was a very cold one,
+and the fire was by no means bright. Kathleen's intensely rosy
+cheeks&mdash;for the fire had considerably scorched them&mdash;attracted Alice's
+attention.</p>
+
+<p>"I do wish you wouldn't do servant's work," she said. "You annoy me
+terribly by the way you go on."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, don't be annoyed, darling," said Kathleen softly. "Just regard me
+as a necessary evil. You see, Alice, however cross you are, I'd have the
+others all on my side. There's your mother and David and Ben and the two
+servants. It isn't worth while, Alice. If they all like me, why
+shouldn't you?"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 173 --><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a>Alice made no reply. Kathleen stood still for a moment; then she
+glanced at the clock. It was a quarter past eight. She must be out of
+the house in a little over a quarter of an hour if she was to meet Ruth
+Craven at the White Cross Corner. She sat down to the table, helped
+herself to a piece of toast, and spread some butter on it.</p>
+
+<p>"A cup of tea, please, Alice," she said.&mdash;"Oh, what letters are those?
+Any for me? David, if you give me a letter I'll&mdash;I'll love you ever so
+much. Ah, two! Dave, you are a treasure; you are a darling; you are
+everything that is exquisite."</p>
+
+<p>It was Alice's place to pour out the tea. She poured some out now, very
+unwillingly, for Kathleen, who drew the cup towards her, stirred it
+absently, and began to read her letters. Presently she uttered a little
+shriek.</p>
+
+<p>"It is from Aunt Katie O'Flynn, and she is crossing the Channel, the
+darling colleenoge. She is coming to London, and she wants me to see
+her. Oh, golloptious! What fun I shall have! Boys, aren't you delighted?
+It was Aunt Katie O'Flynn who sent me that wonderful trunk of clothes.
+Won't she give us a time now? I declare I scarcely know whether I'm on
+my head or my heels.&mdash;Alice, you'd best make yourself agreeable and join
+in the fun, for I can assure you it's theaters and concerts and teas and
+dinners and&mdash;oh! shopping, and every conceivable thing that can delight
+the heart of man or woman, boy or girl, that will be our portion while
+Aunt Katie&mdash;the duck, the darling, the treasure!&mdash;is in London. Let me
+see; what hotel is she going to? Oh, the M&eacute;tropole. Where is the
+M&eacute;tropole?"</p>
+
+<p>"In Northumberland Avenue. But, of course, we are not going up to
+London," said Alice. "We are only schoolgirls. We are at school and must
+mind our lessons. I am<!-- Page 174 --><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a> trying for my scholarship, and I mean to get it.
+And I don't suppose, even if your aunt is coming at a most inopportune
+time, that she is going to upset everything."</p>
+
+<p>"That remains to be proved," said Kathleen. "I am not going to have Aunt
+Katie so close to me without having my bit of fun. Oh, dear, dear! look
+at the time. I must be off."</p>
+
+<p>"Why are you going so early? It is only half-past eight."</p>
+
+<p>"I have business, darling&mdash;a friend to meet. Have you any objection?"</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen did not wait for Alice's answer. She dashed upstairs, and on
+the first landing she met Mrs. Tennant, who had been suffering from
+headache, and was in consequence a little late for breakfast.</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Tennant," shouted Kathleen, "I have the top of the morning as far
+as news is concerned. It is herself that is crossing the briny. She'll
+be in London to-night. Oh, did you ever hear of anything quite so
+scrumptious? But what's the matter, dear?"</p>
+
+<p>"Kathleen, I wish you wouldn't wear that really good dress going to
+school."</p>
+
+<p>"Is it my old lavender, and my old satin blouse?" said Kathleen, looking
+down at herself with a momentary glance. "Ah, then, my dear tired one,
+it isn't dresses I'll be thinking of when Aunt Katie is in London.
+She'll get me more than I can wear. She'll fig you all out, every one of
+you, if you like&mdash;you and Alice and David and Ben and cook and Maria.
+Maria is keeping company, she tells me, and would like a few fine
+clothes&mdash;naturally, the creature! Well, Mrs. Tennant, it's herself that
+is crossing, as I said; even now she is in the big steamer, coming
+nearer<!-- Page 175 --><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a> and nearer to England. Shan't we have fun when she arrives?"</p>
+
+<p>"You haven't told me who it is yet, dear."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, darling, you haven't been listening. It is the dear woman who sent
+me the box full of new clothes&mdash;Aunt Katie O'Flynn, at your service. But
+there! I must be off. I'll think of it all day, and it will make me so
+happy."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen dashed away to her own room, put on her outdoor things, and a
+moment or two later was running as fast as she could in the direction of
+the White Cross Corner. There she saw a silent, grave-looking girl, very
+quietly dressed, standing waiting for her.</p>
+
+<p>"Here I am," said Kathleen; "and here you stand, Ruth. And now, what
+have you got to say for yourself?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am sorry," said Ruth. "I thought when you sent Susy to me with your
+message that I might as well come here this morning; but I haven't
+changed my mind&mdash;not a bit of it."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen's eyes, always extraordinarily dark for blue eyes, now grew
+almost black. A flash of real anger shot through them.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you think it is rather mean," she said, "to give me up when you
+promised to belong to me&mdash;to give me up altogether and to go with those
+dreadful, proud paying girls?"</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't that," said Ruth, "and you know it. It is just this: I can't
+belong to two sides. Cassandra Weldon offers me an advantage which I
+dare not throw away. It is most essential to me to win the sixty-pounds
+scholarship. If I win it I shall be properly educated. When I leave
+school I'll be able to take the position my dear father, had he lived,
+would have wished for me. I shall be able to support granny and
+grandfather. You see for yourself,<!-- Page 176 --><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a> Kathleen, that I can't refuse it. It
+isn't a question of choice; it is a question of necessity. I love you.
+Kathleen&mdash;I will always love you and be faithful to you&mdash;but I can't
+give up the scholarship."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want you to," said Kathleen; "but why shouldn't you belong to
+me and yet take the scholarship? I don't want you to be with me all the
+time. You can go to that horrible, detestable girl when it is necessary,
+and have your odious coach to post you up. But I want you more than
+anybody else. Don't you know how I love you? Can't you do both? Think it
+over, Ruth."</p>
+
+<p>"I have thought it over, and I can't do it. I would if I could, but it
+isn't to be done. It wouldn't be right to you, nor right to Cassandra."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I think you are very mean; I think I hate you."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen turned aside. She was impulsive, high-spirited, and defiant,
+but where her passions were concerned her heart was very soft. She burst
+into tears now and flung her arms around Ruth's neck.</p>
+
+<p>"I like a lot of people," she said&mdash;"I like Mrs. Tennant, and even Susy,
+although she's not up to much, and two or three other girls&mdash;but I only
+<i>love</i> you. In the whole of England I only love you, and you are going
+to give me up."</p>
+
+<p>"No; I will still be your friend."</p>
+
+<p>"But you have refused to join my society; you have refused to belong to
+the Wild Irish Girls."</p>
+
+<p>"I can't help myself."</p>
+
+<p>"But you promised."</p>
+
+<p>"I know I did. I made a mistake. Kathleen, there is no help for it. I
+shall love you even if I don't belong to the society. Now there is
+nothing more to be said."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth disentangled herself from Kathleen's embrace, and<!-- Page 177 --><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a> putting wings to
+her feet, ran in the direction of the school. Kathleen stood just where
+she had left her; over her face was passing a rapid and curious change.</p>
+
+<p>"Do I love her any longer?" she said to herself. "Oh, I think&mdash;I think I
+love her still. But she has slighted me. She will be sorry some day. Oh,
+dear! The only girl in the whole of England that I love has slighted me.
+She has thrown ridicule upon me. She said that she would be my Prime
+Minister, and she has resigned everything for that horrible Cassandra.
+She will be sorry yet; I know she will."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2>
+
+<h3>THE SCHOLARSHIP: TROUBLE IS BREWING.</h3>
+
+
+<p>Over some of the girls of the Great Shirley School there passed that
+morning a curious wave of excitement. Those girls who had joined
+Kathleen's society were almost now more or less in a state of tension.
+Once a week they were to meet in the quarry; once a week, whatever the
+weather, in the dead of night, they were to meet in this sequestered
+spot. They knew well that if they were discovered they would run a very
+great chance of being expelled from the school; for although they were
+day scholars, yet integrity of conduct was essential to their
+maintaining their place in that great school which gave them so liberal
+an education, in some cases without any fees, in all other cases with
+very small ones. One of the great ideas of the school was to encourage
+brave actions, unselfish deeds, nobility of mind. Those girls who
+possessed any talent or any specially strong characteristic had<!-- Page 178 --><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a> every
+chance offered to them in the Great Shirley School; their futures were
+more or less assured, for the governors of the school had powers to give
+grants to the clever girls, to award scholarships for which all might
+compete, and to encourage industry, honesty, and charitable ideas as far
+as possible.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen, when she entered the school and started her society, had not
+the slightest idea that, while she was trying to help the foundationers,
+she was really leading them into very grave mischief. But several of the
+foundationers themselves knew this; nevertheless the fun of the whole
+thing, the particular fascination which Kathleen herself exercised over
+her followers, kept them her undeniable slaves, and not for the world
+would any of them have left her now that they had sworn fealty to her
+cause. So Kathleen had thought when she left the house that morning; but
+as she entered the school she knew that one girl, and that the girl whom
+she most cared for, had decided to choose the thorny path which led far
+from Kathleen and her company.</p>
+
+<p>"In addition to everything else, she is quite mean," thought the little
+girl, and during that morning's lessons she occupied herself far more in
+flashing angry glances in the direction of Ruth one minute, and at
+Cassandra the next, than in attending to what she was about. Kathleen
+had been given much by Nature. Her father was a very rich man; she had
+been brought up with great freedom, but also with certain bold liberal
+ideas as regards the best in life and conduct. She was a very beautiful
+girl, and she was warm-hearted and amiable. As for her talents, she had
+a certain charm which does more for a woman than any amount of ordinary
+ability; and she had a passionate and great love for music. Kathleen's<!-- Page 179 --><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a>
+musical genius was already spoken of with much approbation by the rest
+of the school. The girls used to ask her to improvise. Kathleen could
+improvise in almost any style, in almost any fashion. She could make the
+piano sob with her heart-rendering notes; and again she could bring
+forth music clear and fairy-like. Again she would lead the tender and
+solemn strains of the march; and again she would dance over the keys so
+lightly, so ravishingly, that the girls kept time with their feet to her
+notes. The music mistress was anxious that Kathleen should try for a
+musical scholarship, and she had some ideas of doing so herself. But
+to-day she felt cross, and even her music was at fault.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't do it," she said, looking Miss Spicer full in the face. "It
+means such drudgery, and I don't believe I'd play a bit better if I
+did."</p>
+
+<p>"That is certainly not the case, Kathleen," said Miss Spicer. "Knowledge
+must be of assistance. You have great talent; if you add to that real
+musical knowledge you can do almost anything."</p>
+
+<p>"But I don't think I much care to. I can play on the piano to imitate
+any birds that ever sung at home, and father loves that. I can play all
+the dead-marches to make mother cry, and I can play&mdash;oh, such dance
+music for Aunt Katie O'Flynn! It doesn't matter that I should know more,
+does it?"</p>
+
+<p>"I can't agree with you. It would be a very great pleasure to me if I
+saw you presented with a musical scholarship."</p>
+
+<p>"Would it?" said Kathleen, glancing at the thin and careworn face of the
+music teacher.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't know what it would mean to me," answered Miss Spicer. "It is
+seldom that one has the<!-- Page 180 --><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a> pleasure of teaching real talent, and I can't
+say how refreshing it is to me to hear you play as you do. But I want
+you to improve; I want you to be a credit to me."</p>
+
+<p>"I'd like to please you, of course," said Kathleen. She spoke gently,
+and then she added: "But there is only one piano at the Tennants', and
+that is in the drawing-room, and Alice or the boys or Mrs. Tennant are
+always there. I have not many opportunities to practice."</p>
+
+<p>"I live in the same terrace," said Miss Spicer eagerly, "and my piano is
+hardly ever used. If you only would come and make use of it. There is a
+fire in my sitting-room, and you could come at any hour whenever you
+have a fancy. Will you? It would be a great pleasure to me."</p>
+
+<p>"You are very kind. Yes, I will come."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen bent towards the music mistress and, somewhat to that lady's
+astonishment, printed a kiss on her forehead. The kiss went right down
+into Miss Spicer's somewhat frozen heart.</p>
+
+<p>Immediately after school that day Cassandra held out her hand to Ruth.
+Ruth went up to her gravely.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Ruth," she said, "have you decided? I hope you have. You told me
+you would let me know to-day."</p>
+
+<p>"I have, Cassandra," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen, who was standing not far away, suddenly darted forward and
+stood within a foot of the two girls.</p>
+
+<p>"Have you really decided, Ruth?" she said. Her tone was imperious. Ruth
+felt her gentle heart beat high. She turned and looked with dignity
+first at Kathleen and then at Cassandra.</p>
+
+<p>"I will join you, Cassandra," she said.&mdash;"Kathleen, I told you this
+morning what my decision was."</p>
+
+<p>"And I hate you!" said Kathleen. She tossed her head and walked away.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 181 --><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"></a>Cassandra waited until she was out of hearing.</p>
+
+<p>"You look very pale, dear Ruth," she said. "Come home with me, won't
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>Ruth did not speak. Cassandra laid her hand on her arm.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, you are trembling," she said. "What has that horrid girl done to
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing&mdash;nothing."</p>
+
+<p>"But she has."</p>
+
+<p>"Please, Cassie, she is not horrid."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, well, we won't discuss her. She is not my sort. Won't you come and
+have lunch with me, and we can arrange everything? You are going to take
+advantage of mother's offer?"</p>
+
+<p>"I can't help myself. It is much too good to be refused. It means&mdash;I
+can't tell you what it means to me, Cassie. If I can only get a
+scholarship I shall be able to help grandfather. And yet&mdash;I must tell
+you the truth&mdash;I was very nearly declining it."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think I should ever have spoken to you again if you had."</p>
+
+<p>"Even so, I was very nearly declining it; for you know I could not have
+accepted your offer and been friends with Kathleen O'Hara in the way she
+wants me to be. Now I am very fond of Kathleen, and if I could please
+myself I would retain her friendship. But you know, grandfather has lost
+some more money. He heard about it two nights ago, and that made me make
+up my mind. Of course I love you, Cassie. I have loved you ever since I
+came to the school. You have been so very, very kind to me. But had I
+the choice I would have stayed with Kathleen."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it is all a mystery to me," said Cassandra. "I<!-- Page 182 --><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a> don't like
+Kathleen; I will frankly say so. I don't think she has a good influence
+in the school. That sort of very rich popular girl always makes
+mischief. It is far better for the school not to have anybody like her
+in its midst. She has the power of attracting people, but she has also
+the power of making enemies. It is my opinion she will get into very
+serious trouble before she leaves Great Shirley School. I shall be sorry
+for her, of course."</p>
+
+<p>"But what do you mean? What sort of trouble can she get into?"</p>
+
+<p>"There are whispers about her that I don't quite understand. But if it
+were known that she does lead other girls astray, she would be had up
+before the governors, and then she would not find herself in a very
+pleasant position."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth did not say anything. Her face turned white. Cassandra glanced at
+her, uttered a quick sigh, and resumed:</p>
+
+<p>"Whether you like it or not, I am glad you are out of the whole thing. I
+should hate you to get into trouble. You are so clever, and so different
+from the others, that you are certain to succeed. And now let us hurry
+home. I must tell you all about our scheme. You must come to me every
+day; Miss Renshaw will be with us each evening from six to seven. Oh!
+you don't know how happy you are making me."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth smiled and tried to look cheerful.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Weldon came out to meet the two girls as they entered the pretty
+little cottage. Her face was smiling.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, Cassandra!" she said, "now you will be happy."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; Ruth has accepted our offer."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed I have, Mrs. Weldon," said Ruth; "and I scarcely know how to
+thank you."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 183 --><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></a>"Come in, dear, and have some dinner.&mdash;Cassandra, I have just heard
+from Miss Renshaw, and she is coming this afternoon.&mdash;You can either
+stay, Ruth, when dinner is over, or come back again."</p>
+
+<p>"I will come back," said Ruth. "Granny is not very well, and I ought not
+to have left her, even to have dinner here; but I couldn't help myself."</p>
+
+<p>Cassandra brought her friend into the house. They had a pleasant meal
+together, and Ruth tried to forget that she had absolutely quarrelled
+with Kathleen, and that Kathleen's heart was half-broken on her account.</p>
+
+<p>But Kathleen herself was determined not to give way to any real feelings
+of misery on account of Ruth's desertion.</p>
+
+<p>"I have no time to think about it," she said to herself.</p>
+
+<p>When she returned to the house she found a telegram waiting for her. She
+tore it open. It was from Aunt Katie O'Flynn:</p>
+
+<p>"I have arrived. Come and have dinner with me to-night at the M&eacute;tropole,
+and bring any friend you like."</p>
+
+<p>"What a lark!" thought Kathleen. "And what a chance for Ruth if only she
+had been different! Oh, dear! I suppose I must ask Alice to come with
+me."</p>
+
+<p>"Whom is your telegram from, dear?" asked Mrs. Tennant, coming up to her
+at that moment.</p>
+
+<p>Alice was standing in the dining-room devouring a book of Greek history.
+She held it close to her eyes, which were rather short-sighted.</p>
+
+<p>"It's from Aunt Katie O'Flynn. She has come, the darling!" said
+Kathleen. "She wants me to go to London to dine with her to-night. Of
+course I'll go.&mdash;- You will come with me, won't you, Alice? She says I
+am to bring some one."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 184 --><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></a>"No, I can't come," said Alice; "and for that matter no more can you.
+It takes quite thirty-five minutes to get to Charing Cross, and then you
+have to get to the M&eacute;tropole. We girls are not allowed to go to London
+by ourselves."</p>
+
+<p>"As if that mattered."</p>
+
+<p>"It matters to me, if it does not to you. Anyhow, here is a note for
+you. It is from Miss Ravenscroft, our head-mistress. I rather fancy that
+will decide matters."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen tore open the note which Alice had handed to her. She read the
+following words:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Miss O'Hara</span>,&mdash;I should be glad if you would come round
+     to see me at six o'clock this evening. I have something of
+     importance to say to you."</p></div>
+
+<p>"What can she mean?" said Kathleen. "I scarcely know Miss Ravenscroft. I
+just spoke to her the first day I went to the school."</p>
+
+<p>"She has asked me too. What can it be about?" said Alice.</p>
+
+<p>"Then you can take a message from me; I am not going," said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"What?" cried Alice. "I don't think even you will dare to defy the
+head-mistress. Why, my dear Kathleen, you will never get over it. This
+is madness.&mdash;Mother, do speak to her."</p>
+
+<p>"What is it, dear?" said Mrs. Tennant, coming forward.</p>
+
+<p>Alice explained.</p>
+
+<p>"And Kathleen says she won't go?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I won't go, dear Mrs. Tennant. On the contrary, you and I
+will go together to see Aunt Katie<!-- Page 185 --><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185"></a> O'Flynn. She is my aunt, and I
+wouldn't slight her for all the world. She'd never forgive me.&mdash;You can
+tell Miss Ravenscroft, Alice, that my aunt has come to see me, and that
+I have been obliged to go to town. You can manage it quite easily."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen did not wait for any further discussion, but ran out of the
+room.</p>
+
+<p>"I do wish, mother, you'd try and persuade her," said Alice. "I am sure,
+whatever her father may be, he can't want her to come to school here to
+get into endless scrapes. There is some mystery afoot, and Miss
+Ravenscroft has got wind of it. I know she has, because I have heard it
+from one or two of the girls."</p>
+
+<p>"But what mystery? What can you mean?" said Mrs. Tennant.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know myself," said Alice, "but it has something to do with
+Kathleen and a curious influence she has over the foundation girls. I
+know Kathleen isn't popular with the mistresses."</p>
+
+<p>"That puzzles me," said Mrs. Tennant, "for I never met a more charming
+girl."</p>
+
+<p>"I know you think so; but, you see, mere charm of manner doesn't go down
+in a great school like ours. Of course I am sorry for her, and I quite
+understand that she doesn't want to disappoint her aunt, but she ought
+to come with me; she ought, mother. I haven't the slightest influence
+over her, but you have. I don't think she would willingly do anything to
+annoy you."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I will see what I can do. She is a wayward child. I am sorry that
+Miss Ravenscroft expects her to go to see her to-day, as she is so
+devoted to her aunt and would enjoy seeing her."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Tennant left the room, and Alice went steadily on<!-- Page 186 --><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"></a> with her
+preparations. She wondered why her mother did not come back. Presently
+she looked at the clock. It wanted a quarter to six.</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me! I must go upstairs now and fetch Kathleen. She will have to
+tidy herself, and I must try to persuade her not to put on anything
+<i>outre</i>," thought Alice.</p>
+
+<p>She rushed upstairs. She opened the bedroom door. The bedroom was empty.</p>
+
+<p>"Where can she be?" thought Alice.</p>
+
+<p>There were signs of Kathleen's late presence in the shape of a tie flung
+on the bed, a hat tossed by its side, an open drawer revealing brushes
+and combs, laces and colored ties, and no end of gloves, handkerchiefs,
+&amp;c.; but not the girl herself.</p>
+
+<p>"She really is a great trial," thought Alice. "I suppose she has gone
+with mother to town. I wonder mother yields to her. Kathleen will get
+into a serious scrape at the school, that's certain."</p>
+
+<p>Alice went to her own part of the room, which was full of order and
+method. She opened a drawer, substituted a clean collar for the one she
+had been wearing during the day, brushed out her satin-brown hair
+neatly, put on her sailor-hat and a small black coat, snatched up a pair
+of gloves, and ran downstairs. On the way she met Mrs. Tennant.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, mother," cried the girl, "where is Kathleen? I didn't find her in
+her room, and I wondered what had become of her."</p>
+
+<p>"Where is she?" said Mrs. Tennant. "I thought she was going with you. I
+had a long talk with her. She did not say much, but she seemed quite
+gentle and not at all cross. I kissed her and said that I would go with<!-- Page 187 --><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a>
+her to London to see her aunt to-morrow, or that she might ask Miss
+O'Flynn here."</p>
+
+<p>"I am sorry you did that, mother."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, darling, it seemed the only thing to do; and the child took it
+very well. Isn't she going with you? She said she wouldn't be at all
+long getting ready."</p>
+
+<p>"She is not in her room, mother. I can't imagine what has happened to
+her."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Tennant ran upstairs in some alarm. Kathleen had certainly flown.
+The disordered state of the room gave evidence of this; and then on a
+nearer view Mrs. Tennant found a tiny piece of paper pinned in
+conventional fashion to the pin-cushion. She took it up and read:</p>
+
+<p>"Gone to London to Aunt Katie O'Flynn."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, she is a naughty girl. How troublesome! I must follow her, of
+course," said Mrs. Tennant. "Really this is provoking."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, mother, it isn't worth while fretting about her. She is quite
+hopeless," said Alice. "But there! I must make the best of it to Miss
+Ravenscroft, only I am sure she will be very angry with Kathleen."</p>
+
+<p>Alice flew to the school. She was met by a teacher, who asked her where
+she was going.</p>
+
+<p>"To see Miss Ravenscroft," replied Alice. "I had a note asking me to
+call at six o'clock. Do you know anything about it, Miss Purcell?"</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps she wants to question you about Miss O'Hara. There is some
+commotion in the school in connection with her. She seems to be
+displeasing some of those in authority."</p>
+
+<p>"Kathleen had a note too, asking her to call."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 188 --><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a>"Then it must be about her. But where is she? Isn't she going with
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>Alice threw up her hands.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't ask me," she said; "perhaps the less I say the better. I am late
+as it is. I won't keep you now, Miss Purcell."</p>
+
+<p>Alice ran the rest of the way. She entered the great school, and knocked
+at the front entrance. This door was never opened except to the
+head-mistress and her visitors. After a time an elderly servant answered
+her summons.</p>
+
+<p>"I am Alice Tennant," said the young girl, "and I have come at Miss
+Ravenscroft's request to see her."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh yes, miss, certainly. She said she was expecting two young ladies."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I am one of them. Can you let her know?"</p>
+
+<p>"Step in here, miss."</p>
+
+<p>Alice was shown into a small waiting-room. A moment later the servant
+returned.</p>
+
+<p>"Will you follow me, miss?" she said.</p>
+
+<p>They went down a passage and entered a brightly and cheerfully furnished
+sitting-room. There was a fire in the grate, and electric light made all
+things as bright as day. A tall lady with jet-black hair combed back
+from a massive forehead, and beautifully dressed in long, clinging
+garments of deep purple, stood on the hearth. Round her neck was a
+collar of old Mechlin lace; she wore cuffs of the same with ruffles at
+the wrist. Her hands were small and white. She had one massive diamond
+ring on the third finger. This lady was the great Miss Ravenscroft, the
+head of the school, one of the most persuasive, most fascinating, and
+most influential teachers in the whole realm of girlhood. Her opinion
+was asked by<!-- Page 189 --><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a> anxious mothers and fathers and guardians. The girls whom
+she took into her own house and helped with her own counsel were thought
+the luckiest in England. Even Alice, who was reckoned a good girl as
+good girls go, had never before come in personal contact with Miss
+Ravenscroft. The head-mistress superintended the management of every
+girl in the school, but she did not show herself except when she read
+prayers in her deep musical voice morning after morning, or when
+something very special occurred. Miss Ravenscroft did not smile when
+Alice appeared, nor did she hold out her hand. She bowed very slightly
+and then dropped into a chair, and pointed to another for the girl to
+take.</p>
+
+<p>"You are Alice Tennant?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, madam."</p>
+
+<p>"You are in the upper fifth?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Alice again.</p>
+
+<p>"I have had very good reports of you from Miss Purcell and Miss Dove and
+others; you will probably be in the sixth next year."</p>
+
+<p>"I hope so; it will be a very great delight to me."</p>
+
+<p>Alice trembled and colored, looked down, and then looked up again. Miss
+Ravenscroft was regarding her with kindly eyes. Hers was a sort of
+veiled face; she seldom gave way to her feelings. Part of her power lay
+in her potential attitudes, in the possibilities which she seldom,
+except on very rare occasions, exhibited to their fullest extent. Alice
+felt that she had only approached the extreme edge of Miss Ravenscroft's
+nature. Miss Ravenscroft was silent for a minute; then she said gently:</p>
+
+<p>"And your friend, Kathleen O'Hara? I wrote to her also. Why isn't she
+here?"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 190 --><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190"></a>"I am very sorry indeed," said Alice; "it isn't my fault."</p>
+
+<p>"We won't talk of faults, if you please, Alice Tennant. I asked you why
+your friend isn't here."</p>
+
+<p>"I must explain. She isn't my friend. She lives with mother&mdash;I mean she
+boards with mother."</p>
+
+<p>"Why isn't she here?"</p>
+
+<p>"She got your letter. I suppose she didn't understand; she is so new to
+schools. She is not coming."</p>
+
+<p>"Not coming? But I commanded."</p>
+
+<p>"I know, I tried to explain, but she is new to school and&mdash;and spoilt."</p>
+
+<p>"She must be."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Ravenscroft was silent for a minute.</p>
+
+<p>"We will defer the subject of Kathleen O'Hara until I have the pleasure
+of speaking to her," she said then. "But now, as you are here, I should
+like to ask you a few questions."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"What you say, Alice Tennant, will not be&mdash;I speak in judicial
+phrase"&mdash;here Miss Ravenscroft gave vent to a faint smile&mdash;"used against
+you. I should like to have what information you can give me. There is a
+disturbing element in this school. Do you know anything about it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing absolutely."</p>
+
+<p>"But you agree with me that there is a disturbing element?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am afraid I do."</p>
+
+<p>"It has been traced to Kathleen O'Hara."</p>
+
+<p>Alice was silent.</p>
+
+<p>"It is influencing a number of girls who can be very easily impressed,
+and who form a very important part of<!-- Page 191 --><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191"></a> this school. Special arrangements
+were made more than a hundred years ago by the founders of the school
+that they should receive an education in every way calculated to help
+them in life; the influence to which I allude undermines these good
+things. It must therefore be put a stop to, and the first way to put a
+stop to anything of the sort is to discover all about it. It is
+necessary that I should know all that is to be known with regard to the
+unruly condition of the foundationers of the Great Shirley School. The
+person who can doubtless tell me most is Kathleen O'Hara. The mere fact
+of her defying my authority and refusing to come to see me when she is
+summoned, shows that she is insubordinate as far as this school is
+concerned."</p>
+
+<p>Alice sat very still.</p>
+
+<p>"She has not chosen to appear, and I wish to take quick and instant
+steps. Can you help me?"</p>
+
+<p>"I could," said Alice&mdash;"that is, of course, I live in the same house
+with her&mdash;but I would much rather not."</p>
+
+<p>"You will in no way be blamed, but it is absolutely essential that you
+should give me your assistance. I am authorized to ask for it. I shall
+see Kathleen O'Hara, but from what you say, and from what I have heard,
+I am greatly shocked to have to say it, but I think it possible that she
+may not be induced to tell the exact truth. If, therefore, you notice
+anything&mdash;if anything is brought to your ears which I ought to know&mdash;you
+must come to me at once. Do not suppose that I want you to be a spy in
+this matter, but what is troubling the school must be discovered, and
+within the next few days. Now you understand. Remember that what I have
+said to you is said in the interest of the school, and absolutely behind
+closed doors. You are not to repeat it to anybody. You<!-- Page 192 --><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192"></a> can go now,
+Alice Tennant. Personally I am pleased with you. I like your manner; I
+hear good accounts of your attention to lessons. In pleasing me you will
+please the governors of the school, and doubtless be able to help
+yourself and your mother, a most worthy lady, in the long run."</p>
+
+<p>"I am very much obliged to you," said Alice. "You have spoken kind words
+to me; but what you have set me to do is not at all to my taste. It
+seems scarcely fair, for I must say that I don't like Kathleen. She and
+I have never got on. It seems scarcely fair that I should be the one to
+run her to earth."</p>
+
+<p>"The fairness or the unfairness of the question is not now to be
+discussed," said Miss Ravenscroft.</p>
+
+<p>She rose as she spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"You are unfortunately in the position of her most intimate friend," she
+continued, "for you and she live in the same house. Regard what you have
+to do as an unpleasant duty, and don't consider yourself in any way
+responsible for being forced into the position which one would not, as a
+rule, advocate. The simplest plan is to get the girl herself to make a
+full confession to me; but in any case, you understand, <i>I must know</i>."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2>
+
+<h3>KATHLEEN TAKES RUTH TO TOWN.</h3>
+
+
+<p>When Kathleen ran upstairs her heart was bubbling over with the first
+real fierce anger she had almost ever felt in her life. She was a
+spirited, daring girl, but she<!-- Page 193 --><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193"></a> also had a sweet temper. Now her anger
+was roused. Her heart beat fast; she clenched one of her hands.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, if I had Alice here, wouldn't I give it to her?" she said to
+herself. "If I had that detestable Miss Ravenscroft here, wouldn't I
+give her a piece of my mind? How dare she order me about? Am I not
+Kathleen O'Hara of Carrigrohane? Is not my father a sort of king in old
+Ireland? And what is she? I'll prove to her that I defy her. I will go
+to see Aunt Katie O'Flynn; nothing shall keep me back."</p>
+
+<p>Carried away by the wild wave of passion which consumed her, Kathleen
+dressed hastily for her expedition. She was indifferent now as to what
+she wore. She put on the first head-dress which came to hand, buttoned a
+rough, shabby-looking jacket over her velvet dress, snatched up her
+purse which lay in a drawer, and without waiting for either gloves or
+necktie, ran downstairs and out of the house.</p>
+
+<p>"I will go. I haven't the slightest idea how I am to get there, but I
+will go to Aunt Katie O'Flynn. I shall be in the train and far enough
+away before they have discovered that I have gone," was her thought.</p>
+
+<p>From Mrs. Tennant's house to the station was the best part of a mile,
+but Kathleen was fleet of foot and soon accomplished the distance. She
+was just arriving at the station when she saw Ruth Craven coming to meet
+her. Ruth had enjoyed her hour with Miss Renshaw, and was altogether in
+high spirits. Kathleen stopped for a minute.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Ruth," she said, "will you come to town with me? It would be so
+nice if you would. I am going to meet Aunt Katie O'Flynn. It would not
+be a bit wrong of you to come. Do come&mdash;do, Ruthie."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 194 --><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194"></a>"But I can't in this dress," said Ruth, who felt suddenly very much
+tempted.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course you can. Why, Aunt Katie is such a darling she'll take us out
+if we want things and buy them on the spot. And what does dress matter?
+We'll be back in no time. What time does your grandmother expect you
+home?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't know. I told granny I did not exactly know what time I
+should be back, but she certainly wouldn't expect me to be out late."</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind; you are doing me a kindness. I must go to see Aunt Katie,
+and it isn't convenient for the Tennants to go with me. If we go
+together it won't be a bit remarkable. Do come, Ruthie. You hurt my
+feelings awfully this morning; you needn't hurt them again."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well," said Ruth. "I don't know London at all, and I should like
+to go with you."</p>
+
+<p>The two girls now turned into the railway station. Kathleen gave a
+puzzled glance around her for a minute, then walked boldly up to a
+porter, asked him to direct her to the proper place to book for London.
+He showed her the right booking-office, and she secured two first-class
+single tickets for herself and Ruth. The girls were directed to the
+right platform, and in process of time found themselves in the train. It
+so happened that they had a compartment to themselves. Kathleen had now
+quite got over her burst of anger, and was in the highest spirits.</p>
+
+<p>"This is fun," she said. "It is so awfully nice to have met you! Do you
+know that Miss Ravenscroft&mdash;the Great Unknown, as we Wild Irish Girls
+call her&mdash;had the cheek to send me a letter?"</p>
+
+<p>Ruth looked attentive and grave.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 195 --><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195"></a>"She wanted me to go and see her at six o'clock. Well, it is half-past
+six now, and she will have to whistle for me. Ruth, darling, you don't
+know how pretty you look; and even though you have deserted me, and
+won't join my darling, beloved society, yet I shall always love you."</p>
+
+<p>Here Kathleen seated herself near Ruth and flung one arm around her
+waist.</p>
+
+<p>"But," said Ruth, disentangling herself from Kathleen's embrace, "you
+don't mean that Miss Ravenscroft&mdash;Miss <i>Ravenscroft</i>&mdash;wanted you to go
+and see her and you didn't go?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I didn't go. Why should I go? Miss Ravenscroft has nothing whatever
+to do with me."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Kathleen! she is your mistress&mdash;the head-mistress of the Great
+Shirley School."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, and what about that? Aunty&mdash;my darling, my own dear, sweet aunt
+Katie O'Flynn&mdash;sent me a telegram to meet her in town. She is at the
+H&ocirc;tel M&eacute;tropole. Ruth, do you know where it is?"</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't the most remote idea."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, well, we'll get there somehow. Never mind now; don't look so
+worried. I shall be sorry I asked you to come with me if you look any
+graver."</p>
+
+<p>"But you make me feel grave, Kathleen," said Ruth. "Oh, Kathleen, I
+can't tell how you puzzle me. Of course, I know that you are very pretty
+and fascinating, and that lots and lots of girls love you, and will
+always love you. You are a sort of queen in the school. Perhaps you are
+not the greatest queen, but still you are a queen, and you could lead
+the whole school."</p>
+
+<p>"That would be rather fun," said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"But you'd have to change a good bit. You'd have to<!-- Page 196 --><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196"></a> be just as
+fascinating, just as pretty, but different somehow&mdash;I mean&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, do tell me what you mean, and be quick. We'll be in London before
+long."</p>
+
+<p>"You wouldn't disobey Miss Ravenscroft if you were to be our real
+queen."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I'll not be your queen, darling, for I shall disobey Miss
+Ravenscroft when it comes to a case of obliging her or dear, darling,
+precious aunty."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth said no more. In her heart of hearts she was very much distressed.
+She was sorry for her own sake that she had met Kathleen, and that she
+was going with her to London; but on the other hand she was glad that
+she was with the girl, who by herself might have got into a serious
+scrape.</p>
+
+<p>Finally the two found themselves standing, very forlorn and slightly
+frightened, on one of the big platforms at Charing Cross.</p>
+
+<p>"Now what are we to do?" said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"We must ask the way, of course," was Ruth's answer. "Here is a porter
+who looks kind."</p>
+
+<p>She went up to the man.</p>
+
+<p>"Have you any luggage in the van, miss?" was the immediate inquiry.</p>
+
+<p>"No," she answered.</p>
+
+<p>Ruth was quietly although shabbily dressed; but she had on gloves, a
+neat hat, and a neat necktie. Kathleen had on a very shabby coat, a most
+unsuitable cap of bright-blue velvet on her clustering masses of curls,
+and no necktie and no gloves.</p>
+
+<p>"What could be the matter with the pretty young lady?" thought the man.</p>
+
+<p>Ruth spoke in her gentle tones.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 197 --><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197"></a>"We want to go to see a lady at the H&ocirc;tel M&eacute;tropole," she said. "Which
+is the H&ocirc;tel M&eacute;tropole?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, miss, it is quite close. You have only to go out of the station,
+take the second turning to your left, walk down Northumberland Avenue,
+and you'll be there."</p>
+
+<p>"But where is Northumberland Avenue? We don't know anything about
+London," interrupted Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"If you will allow me to put you two ladies into a cab, the cabman will
+take you to the H&ocirc;tel M&eacute;tropole. It's only a step away, but you'd better
+drive if you don't know your London."</p>
+
+<p>"We have never been in our London before," said Kathleen in a voice of
+intense pleasure.</p>
+
+<p>They now tripped confidently along by the side of the porter. He took
+them into the yard outside the station, and called a four-wheeler.</p>
+
+<p>"No, no; one of those two-wheeled things," said the little girl.</p>
+
+<p>A hansom was summoned, and the children were put in. The driver was
+directed to take them to the M&eacute;tropole, and they started off.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah!" said Kathleen, looking with great appreciation around her&mdash;"ah!
+the lights&mdash;aren't they just lovely? And see&mdash;see that water. That must
+be the Thames. Oh, Ruth, mayn't we stand up in the hansom? We could see
+ever so much better standing."</p>
+
+<p>"No; sit down," implored Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"Why? Surely you are not frightened. There never was any sort of
+conveyance that would frighten me. I wish I might drive that horse
+instead of the stupid old Jehu on the box. Isn't London a perfect place?
+Oh, this is lovely, isn't it, Ruth?"</p>
+
+<p>"Thank goodness I'm not always bothered by that dread<!-- Page 198 --><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"></a>ful speaking voice
+inside me that you seem to have got," said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>Here the cab drew up with a jerk at the M&eacute;tropole.</p>
+
+<p>"How much are we to pay you?" asked Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>The man was honest, and asked the customary shilling. A porter was
+standing on the steps of the hotel. He flung the doors wide, and the two
+entered. Presently a man came up and asked Kathleen what she wanted. The
+hour was just before dinner, and the wide hall of the hotel was full.
+Both men and women turned and stared at the children. Both were
+extremely pretty, Kathleen almost startlingly so. But what about the
+gloveless little hands and the untidy neck and throat?</p>
+
+<p>"Please," said Kathleen, "we have come to see my aunt, Miss O'Flynn. She
+is here, isn't she?"</p>
+
+<p>The man said he would inquire, and went to the bureau.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," he said after a minute's pause. "Will you come to the
+drawing-room, young ladies?"</p>
+
+<p>He conducted the children down some wide passages covered with thick
+Turkey carpets, opened the folding doors of a great drawing-room, and
+left them to themselves. There was a minute or two of agonized terror on
+the part of Ruth, of suspense and rapid heart-beating as far as Kathleen
+was concerned, and then a deep, mellow, ringing voice was heard, and
+Miss Katie O'Flynn entered the apartment.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I never!" she cried. "The top of the morning to you, my honey! God
+bless you, my darling! Oh, it is joy to kiss your sweet face again!"</p>
+
+<p>A little lady, all smiles and dimples, all curls and necklaces and gay
+clothing, extended two arms wide and clasped them round Kathleen's neck.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, aunty!" said Kathleen, "this is good. And I<!-- Page 199 --><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199"></a> ran away to see you. I
+did, darling; I did. I have got into the most awful scrape; nobody knows
+what will happen. See me&mdash;without gloves and without a necktie. And this
+dear little girl, one of my chosen friends, Ruth Craven, has come with
+me."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, now, how sweet of her!" said Miss O'Flynn, turning to Ruth.&mdash;"Kiss
+me, my darling. Why, then, you are as welcome as though you were the
+core of my heart for being so kind to my sweet Kathleen.&mdash;Come to the
+light, Kathleen asthore, and let me look at you. But it isn't as rosy
+you are as you used to be. It's a bit pale and pulled down you look. Do
+you like England, my dear? If you don't like it all at all, it's home
+you will come with me to the old castle and the old country. Now then,
+children, sit by me and let's have a talk. We'll have a good meal
+presently, and then I have a bit of a thought in the back of my head
+which I think will please you both. Sit here anyway for the present, and
+let us collogue to our hearts' content."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Katie O'Flynn and her two young charges, as she told the girls she
+considered them, drew a good deal of attention as they sat and talked
+together. The little lady was not young, but was certainly very
+fascinating. She had a vivacious, merry smile, the keenest, most
+brilliant black eyes in the world, and a certain grace and dignity about
+her which seemed to contrast with her rapid utterances and intensely
+genial manner.</p>
+
+<p>Dinner was announced, and the three went into the great dining-room.
+Miss O'Flynn ordered a small table, and they sat down together. Ruth
+felt unhappy; she keenly desired to go home again. She was more and more
+certain that she had done wrong to listen to Kathleen's persuasions. But
+Kathleen was enjoying herself to the<!-- Page 200 --><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"></a> utmost. She was an Irish girl
+again, sitting close to one of her very own. She forgot the dull school
+and the dreadfully dreary house where she now lived; she absolutely
+forgot that such a person as Miss Ravenscroft existed; she ceased almost
+to remember the Society of the Wild Irish Girls. Was she not Kathleen
+O'Hara, the only daughter of the House of O'Hara, the heiress of her
+beloved father's old castle? For some day she would be mistress of
+Carrigrohane Castle; some day she would be a great lady on her own
+account. Now Kathleen's ideas of what a great lady should be were in
+themselves very sensible and noble. A great lady should do her utmost to
+make others happy. She should dispense <i>largesse</i> in the true sense of
+the word. She should make as many people as possible happy. Her
+retainers should feel certain that they dwelt in her heart. She should
+love the soil of her native land with a passion which nothing could
+undermine or weaken. The sons of the soil should be her brothers, her
+kinsmen; the daughters of the soil should be her sisters in the best
+sense of the word. But not only should the great lady of Carrigrohane
+love her Irish friends, but men and women, both youths and children, but
+she should love others who needed her help. There never was a more
+affectionate, more generous-hearted girl than Kathleen; but of
+self-control she had little or no knowledge, and those who crossed her
+will had yet to find that Kathleen would not obey, for she was fearless,
+defiant, resolute&mdash;in short, a rebel born and bred.</p>
+
+<p>Ruth sat silent, perplexed, and anxious in the midst of the gay feast.
+Kathleen and Aunt Katie O'Flynn laughed and almost shouted in their
+mirth. Occasionally people turned to glance at the trio&mdash;the grave,
+refined, extremely pretty, but shabbily dressed girl; the radiant<!-- Page 201 --><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201"></a>
+child, and the vivacious little lady who might be her mother but who
+scarcely looked as if she was. It was a curious party for such a room
+and for such surroundings.</p>
+
+<p>"I think&mdash;" said Ruth suddenly. "Forgive me, Kathleen, but I think we
+ought to be looking out a train to go back by."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed, and that you won't," said Miss O'Flynn. "You are going to stay
+with me to-night. Why, do you think I'd let this precious darling child
+back again in the middle of the night? And you must stay here too&mdash;what
+is your name? Oh, Ruth. I can get you a room here, and you shall have a
+fire and every comfort."</p>
+
+<p>"I at least must go home," said Ruth. "My grandfather and grandmother
+will be sitting up for me."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, nonsense, child!" said Miss O'Flynn. "I can send a commissionaire
+down to tell your grandfather that I am keeping you for the night."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course, Ruth," said Kathleen. "Don't be silly; it is absurd for you
+to go on like that. And for my part I should love to stay."</p>
+
+<p>"I am sorry, Kathleen," said Ruth, "but I must go home. Perhaps one of
+the porters can tell me when there is a train to Merrifield. I must go
+back, for grandfather would be terrified if I didn't go home. You, of
+course, must please yourself."</p>
+
+<p>"My dear child, leave it to me," said Miss O'Flynn. "You can't possibly
+go back&mdash;neither you nor my sweet pet Kathleen. Oh, I'll arrange it,
+dear; don't you be frightened. You couldn't go so late by yourself; it
+wouldn't be right."</p>
+
+<p>Miss O'Flynn, however, had not come in contact with a character like
+Ruth's before. She could be as obstinate<!-- Page 202 --><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202"></a> as a mule. It was in that
+light Miss O'Flynn chose to consider her conduct.</p>
+
+<p>"I must go," she said. "I can't by any possibility stay."</p>
+
+<p>"Do, Ruth, for my sake," pleaded Kathleen, tears in her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"No, Kathleen, not even for your sake. And I think," added Ruth, "that
+you ought to come with me. It would be much better for you to see Miss
+Ravenscroft in the morning and explain matters to her."</p>
+
+<p>"Nonsense!" said Kathleen, now speaking with decided temper. "That is my
+affair. I like you very much, Ruth, but you really need not interfere
+with me."</p>
+
+<p>"I should think not indeed," said Miss O'Flynn. "I know nothing about
+you, Miss Craven, but you don't understand what a person of consequence
+my niece is considered in Ireland."</p>
+
+<p>"That may be," replied Ruth; "but at school Kathleen, sweet and dear as
+she is, has to obey the rules just like any other girl.&mdash;Please,
+Kathleen, do be persuaded and come back with me.&mdash;Indeed, Miss O'Flynn,
+if you will only believe me, it is considered a very grave offence to
+miss morning school or to be late when nine o'clock strikes; and
+Kathleen can't be at school in time unless she returns home now."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not going, so there!" said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps some one would tell me when the next train for Merrifield
+leaves Charing Cross," was Ruth's next remark.</p>
+
+<p>Before any one could reply to her, however, a servant entered and said
+something in a low tone to Miss O'Flynn.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, now," she said, speaking with eagerness, her face all smiles and
+dimples, "the way is made plain for you<!-- Page 203 --><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203"></a> at least, Miss Craven.&mdash;Who do
+you think has come, Kathleen? Why, the lady who has charge of you."</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Tennant? Oh, the dear tired one!" cried Kathleen. "She can never
+be cross, and I like her very much.&mdash;Where is the lady?" she added,
+turning to the waiter.</p>
+
+<p>"She is in the hall, miss."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen flew out, and before Mrs. Tennant, who was really feeling very
+angry, could prevent her, had flung her arms round her neck.</p>
+
+<p>"Thank goodness it is you!" said the young girl. "Now don't be angry,
+for you don't know how to manage it. If it was Alice, wouldn't she be in
+a tantrum? But you are all right; you haven't an idea of scolding me. I
+arrived here as safely as a girl could. And what do you think? I brought
+pretty Ruth Craven with me. She didn't much like it, but here she is;
+and she's on tenter-hooks to get home, so she can return with you, can't
+she?"</p>
+
+<p>"You must come too, Kathleen. You annoyed me very much indeed. You gave
+me a terrible fright. I did not know what might have happened to you,
+knowing how ignorant you are of London and its ways."</p>
+
+<p>"But I have got a head on my shoulders," laughed Kathleen. "And now that
+you have come we must have a bit of fun. I want to introduce you to
+aunty. It is Aunt Katie O'Flynn, you know, the lady who sent me the
+beautiful, wonderful clothes."</p>
+
+<p>But here Miss O'Flynn herself appeared on the scene. Kathleen did the
+necessary introducing, and the two ladies moved a little apart to talk
+together. By-and-by Miss O'Flynn called the two girls to her side.</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Tennant is not angry with you now, Kathleen. On the contrary, she
+loves you very much; and she will take Miss Ruth Craven back with her. I
+have been try<!-- Page 204 --><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204"></a>ing to induce her to stay here herself, but she won't; and
+as Ruth is anxious to return home, her escort has come very opportunely.
+As to you, darling, nothing will induce me to part with you until
+to-morrow morning."</p>
+
+<p>"But what will you do about school?" said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"That can be managed," said Miss O'Flynn. "It isn't the first time that
+Kathleen and I have got up with the sunrise. We'll get up to-morrow
+before it, I'm thinking, and take a train, and be in time to have a good
+breakfast at Mrs. Tennant's.&mdash;Then if you, my dear lady, will put up
+with me until lunch-time, I can see more of my Kathleen, and propound
+some plans for your pleasure as well as hers. If you must go, Mrs.
+Tennant, I am afraid you must, for the next train leaves Charing Cross
+for Merrifield at ten minutes past nine."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Tennant looked grave, but it was difficult to resist Miss O'Flynn,
+and the time was passing. Accordingly she and Ruth left the H&ocirc;tel
+M&eacute;tropole, and the aunt and niece found themselves alone.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2>
+
+<h3>MISS KATIE O'FLYNN AND HER NIECE.</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Now, Kathleen," said Miss O'Flynn, "you come straight up to my bedroom,
+where there is a cosy fire, and where we will be just as snug as Punch.
+We'll draw two chairs up to the fire and have a real collogue, that we
+will."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that we will," said Kathleen. "I have a lot of things to ask you,
+and a lot of things to tell you."</p>
+
+<p>"Come along then, dear child. My room is on the second floor; we won't
+wait for the lift."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 205 --><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"></a>Kathleen took Miss Katie O'Flynn's hand, and they ran merrily and as
+lightly as two-year-olds up the stairs. People turned to look at them as
+they sped upwards.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, the little old lady seems as young and agile as the pretty niece,"
+said one visitor to another.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, they're both Irish; that accounts for anything," was the answer.
+"The most extraordinary and the most lively nation on the face of the
+earth."</p>
+
+<p>The two vivacious Irishwomen entered their bedroom. Aunt Katie flung
+herself into a deep arm-chair; Kathleen did likewise, and then they
+talked to their heart's content. It is good to hear two Irishwomen
+conversing together, for there is so much action in the
+conversation&mdash;such lifting of brows, such raising of hands, such
+emphasis in tone, in voice, in manner. Imagery is so freely employed;
+telling sentences, sharp satire, wit&mdash;brilliant, overflowing,
+spontaneous&mdash;all come to the fore. Laughter sometimes checks the eager
+flow of words. Occasionally, too, if the conversation is sorrowful,
+tears flow and sobs come from the excited and over-sensitive hearts. No
+one need be dull who has the privilege of listening to two Irishwomen
+who have been parted for some time talking their hearts out to each
+other. Kathleen and her aunt were no exception to the universal rule.
+Kathleen had never been from home before, and Aunt Katie had things to
+tell her about every person, man and woman, old and young, on the
+Carrigrohane estate. But when all the news had been told, when the exact
+number of dogs had been recounted, the cats and kittens described, the
+fowls, the goats, the donkeys, the horses, the cows enumerated, it came
+to be Aunt Katie's turn to listen.</p>
+
+<p>"Now my love, tell me, and be quick, about all you have<!-- Page 206 --><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"></a> been doing. And
+first and foremost, how do you like school?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not at all, aunty; and I'm not learning anything."</p>
+
+<p>"My dear, that is sad hearing; and your poor father pining his heart out
+for the want of you."</p>
+
+<p>"I never wished to go to school," said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"You will have to bear it now, my pet, unless you have real cause for
+complaint. They're not unkind to you, acushla, are they?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, not really, Aunt Katie; but they're such dull people. The teachers
+are dull. I don't mind Miss Spicer so much; she's the music teacher. As
+to Miss Ravenscroft, I have never even seen her."</p>
+
+<p>"And who is she, darling?"</p>
+
+<p>"The head-mistress, and no end of a toff."</p>
+
+<p>"What's a toff, dear?"</p>
+
+<p>"It's a slang word they use in stupid old England."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't admire it, my love. Don't you demean yourself by bringing words
+of that sort home to Carrigrohane."</p>
+
+<p>"Not I. I shan't be a minute in the old place before the salt breezes
+will blow England out of my memory. Ah! it's I who pine to be home
+again."</p>
+
+<p>"It will broaden your mind, Kathleen, and improve you. And some of the
+English people are very nice entirely," said Miss O'Flynn, making this
+last statement in what she considered a widely condescending manner. "So
+your are not learning much?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am getting on with my music. Perhaps I'll settle down to work. I
+should not loathe it so much if it was not for Alice."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! she's the daughter of Mrs. Tennant. I rather took to Mrs. Tennant,
+the creature! She seemed to have a kind-hearted sort of face."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 207 --><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207"></a>"She's as right as rain, aunty; and so are the two boys. But Alice&mdash;she
+is&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"What, darling?"</p>
+
+<p>"A prig, aunty. Detestable!"</p>
+
+<p>"I never took to that sort," said Miss O'Flynn. "Wouldn't you like some
+oyster-patties and some plumcake to munch while you are talking,
+deary?"</p>
+
+<p>"I shouldn't mind."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll ring and order them."</p>
+
+<p>A servant appeared. Miss O'Flynn gave orders which resulted in a rich
+and most unwholesome supper being placed upon the table. Kathleen and
+her aunt ate while they talked.</p>
+
+<p>"And what occupies you, love, at all at all?" said Miss O'Flynn as she
+ate her second oyster-patty. "From your description it seems to be a
+sort of death in life, that town of Merrifield."</p>
+
+<p>"I have to make my own diversions, aunty, and they are sprightly and
+entertaining enough. Don't you remember when I told you to have all
+those little hearts made for me?"</p>
+
+<p>"To be sure, dear&mdash;the most extraordinary idea I ever heard in my life.
+Only that I never cross you, Kathleen, I'd have written to know the
+meaning of it."</p>
+
+<p>"It doesn't matter about you knowing."</p>
+
+<p>Here Kathleen briefly and in graphic language described the Society of
+the Wild Irish Girls.</p>
+
+<p>"It is the one thing that keeps me alive," she said. "However, I'm
+guessing they are going to make a fuss about it in the school."</p>
+
+<p>"And what will you do then, core of my heart?"</p>
+
+<p>"Stick to them, of course, aunty. You don't suppose I'd begin a thing
+and then drop it?"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 208 --><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208"></a>"No; that wouldn't be at all like you, you young rebel.".</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"I am all in a puzzle," she said, "to know where to hold the next
+meeting, for there is no doubt that some of the girls who hate us
+because they weren't asked to join spied last time; so I want the
+society to meet the night after next in a new place."</p>
+
+<p>"And I'll tell you what I've been thinking," said Aunt Katie; "that I'll
+be present, and bring a sparkle of old Ireland to help the whole affair.
+So you'll have to reckon with me on the occasion of the next meeting."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen sat very still, her face thoughtful.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing will induce me to give them up," she said, or to betray any
+girl of my society. Oh, aunty, there's such a funny old woman! I met her
+last Sunday. She's a certain Mrs. Church, and she lives in a cottage
+about four miles from Merrifield. We could have our meetings there&mdash;I
+know we could&mdash;and she'd never tell. Nobody would guess. She is the
+great-aunt of one of the members of the society, Susy Hopkins, a nice
+little girl, a tradesman's daughter."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, dear me, Kathleen! You don't mean to say you demean yourself by
+associating with tradesmen's daughters?"</p>
+
+<p>"I do so, aunty; and I find them very much nicer than the stuck-up girls
+who think no end of themselves."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, well," said Miss O'Flynn, "whatever you are, you are a lady born
+and bred, and nothing can lower that sort&mdash;nothing nor nobody. You must
+make your own plans and let me know."</p>
+
+<p>"I am sure I can manage the old lady, and I will tell you why. She wants
+to join our alms-women."</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 209 --><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209"></a>"You know what a snug time our dear old alms-women have. I was telling
+Mrs. Church about it last Sunday. She took a keen desire to belong to
+us, and I sort of half, in a kind of a way, promised her. Is there
+likely to be a vacancy soon, Aunt Katie?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, dear, there is a vacancy at the present moment. Mrs. Hagan
+breathed her last, poor soul! and was waked not a fortnight ago. We'd
+better wire to your father to keep the little cottage vacant until we
+know more. This is going to be interesting, and you may be quite sure
+that if there is going to be a lark that I'm the one to help you, my
+colleen bawn."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen and her aunt talked until late into the night, and when the
+young girl laid her head on her pillow she was lost immediately in
+profound slumber.</p>
+
+<p>It was not at all difficult for Kathleen to wake early, and accompanied
+by Miss O'Flynn, she arrived at Merrifield at half-past eight on the
+following morning. She had no time, however, to change her dress, but
+after washing her hands and smoothing out her tangled hair, and leaving
+Miss O'Flynn in the care of Mrs. Tennant&mdash;who, to tell the truth, found
+her considerably in the way&mdash;Kathleen, accompanied by Alice, started for
+school.</p>
+
+<p>"You'll catch it," said Alice.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that's very likely, darling," said Kathleen; "but I don't think I
+much care. Did you see Miss Ravenscroft last night, and was she very,
+very angry?"</p>
+
+<p>"I saw her, and she was more than angry&mdash;she was astonished. I think you
+will have to put up with a rather serious conversation with her this
+morning. She asked me questions with regard to you and your doings
+which, of course, I could not answer; but you will have to answer them.
+I don't think particularly well of you, Kathleen;<!-- Page 210 --><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></a> your ways are not my
+ways, nor your ideas mine; but I don't think, bad as you are, that you
+would tell a lie. You will have to speak out the truth to Miss
+Ravenscroft, Kathleen, and no mistake about it."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," replied Kathleen. "I think I can manage my own affairs,"
+she added, and then she was silent, not exactly cross, but lost in
+thought.</p>
+
+<p>The girls reached the school without any further adventure. Prayers were
+held as usual in the great hall, and then the members of the different
+classes went to their places and the work of the morning began. The work
+went on, and to look at those girls, all steadfast and attentive and
+studious-looking, it was difficult to realize that in some of their
+hearts was wild rebellion and a naughty and ever-increasing sense of
+mischief. Certainly it was difficult to realize that one at least of
+that number was determined to have her own way at any cost; that another
+was extremely anxious, resolved to tell the truth, and hoping against
+hope that she would not be questioned.</p>
+
+<p>School had very nearly come to an end when the dread summons which both
+Ruth Craven and Alice Tennant expected arrived for Kathleen. She was to
+go to speak to Miss Ravenscroft in that lady's parlor.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Ravenscroft is waiting," said the mistress who brought Kathleen
+the message. "Will you be quick, Kathleen, as she is rather in a hurry?"</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen got up with apparent alacrity. Her face looked sunshiny and
+genial. As she passed Ruth she put her hand on her shoulder and said in
+her most pleasant voice:</p>
+
+<p>"Extraordinary thing; Miss Ravenscroft has sent for me. I wonder what
+for."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth colored and looked down. One or two of the<!-- Page 211 --><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></a> girls glanced round at
+Kathleen in amazement. She did not say anything further but left the
+room. When she got into the passage she hummed a little air. The teacher
+who had summoned her had gone on in front. Kathleen followed her at a
+respectful distance, and still humming "The wearing of the Green," she
+knocked at Miss Ravenscroft's door.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Ravenscroft was standing by her window. She turned when Kathleen
+appeared, and desired her to sit down. Kathleen dropped into a chair.
+Miss Ravenscroft did likewise. Then Miss Ravenscroft spoke gently, for
+in spite of herself Kathleen's attractive face, the wilful, daring, and
+yet affectionate glance in the eyes, attracted her. She had not yet had
+a full and perfect view of Kathleen. She had seen, it is true, the
+pretty little girl in a crowd of others; but now she saw Kathleen by
+herself. The face was undoubtedly sweet&mdash;sweet with a radiance which
+surprised and partly fascinated Miss Ravenscroft.</p>
+
+<p>"Your name?" she said.</p>
+
+<p>"Kathleen O'Hara," replied Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>She rose to her feet and dropped a little bobbing curtsy, then waited to
+be asked to sit down again. Miss Ravenscroft did not invite her to
+reseat herself. She spoke quietly, turning her eyes away from the
+attractive little face and handsome figure.</p>
+
+<p>"I sent for you last night and you did not obey my command. Why so?"</p>
+
+<p>"I did not mean to be rude," said Kathleen. "You see, it was this way.
+My aunt from Ireland (Miss O'Flynn is her name&mdash;Miss Katie O'Flynn) was
+staying at the M&eacute;tropole. I had a telegram from her desiring me to go to
+her immediately in town. I got your note after I had read the telegram.
+It seemed to me that I ought<!-- Page 212 --><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212"></a> to go first to my aunt. She is my mother's
+own sister, and such a darling. You couldn't but love her if you saw
+her. You might think me a little rude not to come to you when you sent
+for me, but Aunt Katie would have been hurt&mdash;terribly, fearfully hurt.
+She might even have cried."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen raised her brows as she said the last word; her face expressed
+consternation and a trifle of amazement. Miss Ravenscroft felt as though
+smiles were very near.</p>
+
+<p>"Even suppose your aunt had cried," she said, "your duty was to me as
+your head-mistress."</p>
+
+<p>"Please," said Kathleen, "I did not think it was. I thought my duty was
+to my aunt."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Ravenscroft was silent for a minute.</p>
+
+<p>"My dear," she said then gently, "you are new to the school. You have
+doubtless indulged in a very free-and-easy and unconventional life in
+your own country. I was once in Ireland, in the west, and I liked the
+people and the land, and the ways of the people and the looks of the
+land, and for the sake of that visit I am not going to be hard on a
+little Irish girl during her first sojourn in the school. In future,
+Kathleen O'Hara, I must insist on instant obedience. I will forgive you
+for your disregard of my message last night, but if ever I require you
+again I shall expect you to come to me at once. For the present we will
+forget last night."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, madam. I am sure I should love you very much if I knew you
+well."</p>
+
+<p>"That is not the question, my dear. I must insist on your treating me
+with respect. It is not very easy to know the head-mistress; the girls
+know her up to a certain point, but personal friendship as between one
+woman<!-- Page 213 --><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213"></a> and another cannot quite exist between a little girl and her
+head-mistress. Yes, my dear, I hope you will love me, but in the sense
+of one who is set in authority over you. That is my position, and I hope
+as long as I live to do my duty. Now then, Kathleen, I will speak to you
+about the other matter which obliged me to send you a message last
+night."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, ma'am," said Kathleen. She looked down, so that the fun in
+her eyes could not be seen.</p>
+
+<p>"I am sure from your face that you will not tell me a lie."</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Kathleen, "I won't tell you a lie."</p>
+
+<p>"I must, however, ask you one or two direct questions. Is it true that
+you have encouraged certain girls in this school&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I encourage all the girls, I know. Poor things! I&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't interrupt me, Kathleen; I have more to say. Is it true that you
+encourage certain girls in this school"&mdash;here Miss Ravenscroft put up
+her hand to check Kathleen's words&mdash;"to rebellion and insubordination?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what insubordination is," said Kathleen, shaking her head.</p>
+
+<p>"Is it true," continued the head-mistress, "that you have started a
+society which is called by some ridiculous name such as The Wild Irish
+Girls, and that you meet each week in a quarry a short distance from
+town; that you have got rules and badges; that you sing naughty songs,
+and altogether misbehave yourselves? Is it true?"</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen closed her lips firmly together. Miss Ravenscroft looked full
+at her. Kathleen then spoke slowly:</p>
+
+<p>"How did you hear that we do what you say we do?"</p>
+
+<p>"I do not intend to name my informant. The girls<!-- Page 214 --><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214"></a> who have joined your
+society and are putting themselves under your influence are the sort of
+girls who in a school like this get most injured by such proceedings.
+They have never been accustomed to self-restraint; they have not been
+guided to control themselves. Of all the girls in the school whom you,
+Miss O'Hara, have tried to injure, you have selected the foundationers,
+who have only been to Board schools before they came here. They look up
+to you as above them by birth; your very way, your words, can influence
+them. Wrong from your lips will appear right, and right will appear
+wrong. You yourself are an ignorant and unlearned child, and yet you
+attempt to guide others. This society must be broken up immediately. I
+will forgive you for the past if you promise me that you will never hold
+another meeting, that as long as you are at the school you will not
+encourage another girl to join this society. You will have to give me
+your word, and that before you leave this room. I do not require you to
+betray your companions; I do not even ask their names. I but demand your
+promise, which I insist on. The Irish Girls&mdash;or the Wild Irish Girls,
+whatever you like to call them&mdash;must cease to exist."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Ravenscroft ceased speaking.</p>
+
+<p>"Is that all?" said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean? I want your promise."</p>
+
+<p>"But I have nothing to say."</p>
+
+<p>"You are not stupid, Kathleen O'Hara&mdash;I can see that&mdash;and I should hope
+you were too much of a lady to be impertinent. What do you mean to do?"</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed," said Kathleen, "I don't mean to be impertinent, and I don't
+want to tell a lie. The best way on the present occasion is to be
+silent. I can't give myself or the other girls in the school away. You
+ask me to make<!-- Page 215 --><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215"></a> you a promise. I cannot make that promise. I am sorry.
+Perhaps I had better leave the school."</p>
+
+<p>"No, Kathleen, you cannot leave it in the ordinary way. You are
+connected with other girls now; your influence must be publicly
+withdrawn. I had hoped to spare you this, but if you defy me you know
+the consequences."</p>
+
+<p>"May I go now?" said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"You may&mdash;for the present. I must consult with the other teachers. It
+may even be necessary to call a meeting of the Board of Governors. Your
+conduct requires stringent measures. But, my child"&mdash;and here Miss
+Ravenscroft changed her voice to one of gentleness and entreaty&mdash;"you
+will not be so silly, so wicked, so perverse. Kathleen, it is sometimes
+a hard thing to give up your own way, but I think an Irish girl can be
+noble. You will be very noble now if you cease to belong to the Irish
+Girls' Society."</p>
+
+<p>"'Wild Irish Girls' is the name," said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"You must give it up. It was a mad and silly scheme. You must have
+nothing more to do with it."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen slightly shook her head. Miss Ravenscroft uttered a deep sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"I am afraid I must go," said Kathleen. "I think you have spoken to me
+very kindly; I should like to have been able to oblige you."</p>
+
+<p>"And you won't?"</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen shook her head again. The next moment she had left the room.</p>
+
+<p>The school was nearly over; but whether it had been or not, Kathleen had
+not the slightest idea of returning to her class-room. She stood for a
+moment in one of the corridors to collect her thoughts; then going to
+the room where the hats and jackets hung on pegs, she took down her<!-- Page 216 --><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216"></a>
+own, put them on, and left the school. She walked fast and reached Mrs.
+Tennant's house at a quarter to one. Both Mrs. Tennant and Miss O'Flynn
+were out. There was a message for Kathleen to say that Miss O'Flynn
+expected her to be ready to go to town with her immediately after
+dinner. Kathleen smiled to herself.</p>
+
+<p>"Dear Aunt Katie! She must get me out of this scrape. But as to thinking
+of giving up girls whom I meant to help, and will help, I wouldn't do it
+for twenty Miss Ravenscrofts." She stood at the door of the house; then
+a sudden idea struck her, and as she saw the girls; filing out of the
+school, she crossed the common and met Susy Hopkins, her satchel of
+books flung across her shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, Susy, here I am. I want to speak to you."</p>
+
+<p>Susy ran up to her in excitement. It was already whispered in the school
+that their secret proceedings were becoming known. It had also been
+whispered from one to another that Kathleen had undergone a formidable
+interview with Miss Ravenscroft that very morning.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it, Kathleen?" said Susy. "Was she very, very cross?"</p>
+
+<p>"Who do you mean?" asked Kathleen, instantly on the defensive.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Ravenscroft. You went to see her; every one knows it. What did she
+say?"</p>
+
+<p>"That is my affair. But, Susy, I want you to do something. We must not
+go to the quarry to-morrow evening. We want to have the meeting at your
+aunt's. I want to go to Mrs. Church's. You must run round this afternoon
+and make arrangements. There'll be about thirty or forty of us, and we
+must all be smuggled into the cottage."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 217 --><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"></a>"Oh, dear!" said Susy. "But how are we to get there? It's four miles
+away."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I suppose those who are really interested can walk four miles. I
+certainly can. Susy, you had better not miss it to-morrow night, for
+Aunt Katie O'Flynn is to be present, and there's no saying what she will
+do. She will help us if any one can. She is ever so kind, and so
+interested. It will be the greatest meeting the society has ever had; I
+wouldn't miss it myself for the world."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, hurrah!" said Susy. "You certainly are a splendid girl, Kathleen.
+And won't Aunt Church be pleased?"</p>
+
+<p>"Tell her that if she wants to get one of the little almshouses she had
+better oblige us as far as she can," said.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen. "Now I must rush back to dinner. I am going to town
+afterwards."</p>
+
+<p>Without waiting for Susy's reply, Kathleen turned on her heel and
+returned home. Susy watched her for a minute, then slowly and gravely
+went in the direction of her mother's shop. Mrs. Hopkins was getting in
+fresh stock that morning, and the little shop looked brighter and
+fresher than it had done for some time. It was a beautiful day in the
+beginning of winter, with that feeling of summer in the air which comes
+to cheer us now and then in November. Susy marched through the shop,
+still swinging her satchel.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish you wouldn't do that, Susy," said her mother. "And I wish, too,
+that you wouldn't always be late home. Be quick now; there's
+pease-pudding and pork for dinner. Tom is in a hurry to be off to his
+football."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, bother!" said Susy.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Hopkins frowned. Susy, in her mother's opinion, was not quite so
+nice and comforting as she once had been. But it was not Mrs. Hopkins's
+way to reproach her chil<!-- Page 218 --><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218"></a>dren; she bore her burden with regard to them
+as silently and patiently as she could.</p>
+
+<p>Susy ran up to her room, tossed off her hat, washed her hands, and came
+down. Soon the three were seated at their frugal dinner.</p>
+
+<p>"You seem to have got in a lot of fresh goods, mother," said Tom.</p>
+
+<p>"I have," said Mrs. Hopkins, with a groan; "but I haven't paid for one
+of them. Parkins says he will trust me for quite a month; but however I
+am to pay your Aunt Church, and keep enough money for the new goods,
+beats me. Sometimes I think that my burden is greater than I can bear. I
+have often had a feeling that I ought to give up the shop and take
+service somewhere. I used to be noted as the best of good housekeepers
+when I was young."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no, mother, you mustn't do that," said Susy. "What would Tom and I
+do?"</p>
+
+<p>"If it wasn't for you and Tom I'd give notice to-morrow," said the
+widow. "But there! we must hope for the best, I suppose. God never
+forsakes those who trust Him."</p>
+
+<p>"Mother," said Susy suddenly, "I hope you will be able to spare me this
+afternoon. I want to go and see Aunt Church."</p>
+
+<p>"Why should you do that, child? There's no way for you to go except on
+your legs, and it's a weary walk, and the days are getting short."</p>
+
+<p>"All the same, I must go," said Susy. "I suppose you couldn't shut up
+the shop and come with me, could you, mother?"</p>
+
+<p>"Shut up the shop!" said Mrs. Hopkins. "What next will the child ask?
+Not a bit of it, Susan. But what do you want to see your aunt for?"</p>
+
+<p>"It is a little private message in connection with Miss<!-- Page 219 --><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219"></a> Kathleen
+O'Hara. It means money, mother; of that I am certain. It means that Aunt
+Church will forgive you last month's installment of the debt, and
+perhaps next month's, too. You had best let me go, mother. I am not
+talking without knowledge, and I can't tell you what I know."</p>
+
+<p>"I know something," said Tom, and he gave utterance to a low whistle.</p>
+
+<p>Susy turned and glanced at her brother in some uneasiness.</p>
+
+<p>"There are a deal of funny things whispered about your school just now,"
+he said. "I'm not going to peach, of course; only you'd best look out.
+They say if it got to the governors' ears every foundationer in the
+place would be expelled. It is something that ought not to be done."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't mind him, mother. Do you think I'd do anything to endanger my
+continuing at the school, after all the trouble and care and anxiety you
+had in getting me placed there?"</p>
+
+<p>"Really, child," said Mrs. Hopkins, "I don't know. The wilfullness of
+young folks in these days is past enduring. But you had better clearly
+understand, Susy, that if for any reason you are dismissed from the
+school there is nothing whatever for you but to take a place as a
+servant; and that you wouldn't like."</p>
+
+<p>"I should think not, indeed. Well, mother, to avoid all these
+consequences I must go as fast as I can to see Aunt Church."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a><!-- Page 220 --><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2>
+
+<h3>SUSY HOPKINS PERSUADES AUNT CHURCH.</h3>
+
+
+<p>Mrs. Hopkins said nothing more. Susy saw that she could have her own
+way, and as soon as dinner was over, without even waiting to help her
+mother to put the place in order, she started on her walk. She felt
+pleased and self-important. The day was a frosty one, and the sunset
+promised to be glorious. The road to Mrs. Church's house was flat and
+long and pleasant to walk on. Susy had no particular eye for pretty
+views, or she might have pleased herself with the wonderful tints of the
+sky, and the autumnal shades which had not altogether deserted the
+neighboring woods. Susy's thoughts, however, were occupied with very
+different matters.</p>
+
+<p>"Mother is always grumbling," she said to herself; "and for that matter,
+so is Tom. As if I'd demean myself by taking a place! The idea of my
+being a servant. Why, I know I shall do very well in the future. I look
+high. I mean to be a lady, as good as the best. Would Miss Kathleen
+O'Hara take so much notice of me if I was not a very nice, lady-like sort
+of a girl? I am sure no one could look sweeter than I do in my pale-blue
+blouse. Even Tom says so. He said I looked very genteel, and that he'd
+like his great friend, Walter Amber, to see me. I don't want to have
+anything to do with Tom's friends. Poor Tom! if mother can apprentice
+him to somebody, that is the most that can be expected. But as for me,
+the very lowest position I intend to take in life in the future is that
+of a teacher. I shall probably be a teacher in this very school, and get
+my couple of hundred a year. A place indeed! Poor dear mother doesn't
+know what she is talking about."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 221 --><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221"></a>Occupied with her own thoughts, the road did not turn out long to Susy.
+She reached Mrs. Church's very humble abode between three and four
+o'clock. It was still daylight. The little old lady was seated in her
+window; she looked very much, surprised when she saw Susy, and limped to
+the door and opened it.</p>
+
+<p>"Come in, Susy Hopkins," she said. "I suppose your mother has sent me my
+money. If so, it is very thoughtful of her. If you have brought the
+money, Susy, you shall have a cup of tea before you start on your
+homeward walk. It is a fine day, child, and your cheeks look very fresh.
+Come in, dear; come in."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Church hobbled back again into her small sitting-room. She got back
+into her chair, and motioned to Susy to take one opposite to her.</p>
+
+<p>"If that is the money you have in your hand," she said, noticing that
+the child held a small parcel, "you may give it to me, and then go over
+there and get me that black cash-box. I will put the gold and silver in
+immediately. It is never safe to leave money about."</p>
+
+<p>"But I haven't got the money, Aunt Church. Mother couldn't have saved it
+in the time."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Church's face became very bleak and decidedly wintry in
+appearance.</p>
+
+<p>"Then what have you come for, Susan?" she said. "You needn't suppose I
+am going to waste my good tea on you if you haven't brought the money.
+If you think so, you are fine and mistaken."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think so, really, Aunt Church; but perhaps when you know all
+you will give me a cup of tea, and perhaps you won't be so cross the
+next time I wear my pale-blue blouse."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, my dear, I wasn't cross at the end of the time, al<!-- Page 222 --><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222"></a>though I did
+think it a bit suspicious: your mother losing nineteen-and-sixpence of
+my own money out of her till&mdash;you forget that fact, Susan Hopkins; it
+was my money&mdash;and then you decking yourself out in the most unsuitable
+garment I ever saw on a little girl of your age and station. It has
+pleased the Almighty, Susan, to put you in a low walk of life, and in
+that walk you ought to remain, and dress according&mdash;yes, dress
+according. But, as I said, I was not displeased at the end. That was a
+very bonny young lady who came into your mother's shop&mdash;miles and miles
+above you, Susan. And how she can demean herself to call you her friend
+passes my comprehension."</p>
+
+<p>"You are very rude, Aunt Church," said Susy; "but I am not going to be
+angry with you, for I want you to help us. I have got news for you, and
+very good news, too. But I will only tell it to you on condition."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Church looked first skeptical, then curious, then keenly desirous.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, child?" she said. "Maybe you might as well put the kettle on the
+fire; it takes a good long time to boil. It's a very bobbish little
+kettle, and it has cranky whims just as though it were a human. There's
+a good child, Susan; take it out and fill it at the tap, and put it on
+the fire to boil up while you are telling me the rest of the story. I
+always liked you very well, Susan; not so much as Tom, but you are quite
+to my liking, all things considered."</p>
+
+<p>"No, you never liked me, Aunt Church," said Susy; "but I will fill the
+kettle if you have a fancy&mdash;although perhaps I won't be able to stay to
+have that cup of tea that you seem all of a sudden willing to give me."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Church said nothing. Susy left the room with the kettle.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 223 --><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223"></a>"I could fly out at her," thought the old lady; "but where's the good?
+She's hand and glove with that beautiful Miss O'Hara, and for the sake
+of the young lady I mustn't get her back up too much."</p>
+
+<p>So Susy put the kettle on to boil, and then resumed her place opposite
+Mrs. Church.</p>
+
+<p>"Susan," said the old lady, "while the kettle is boiling you might as
+well lay the cloth and get out the tea-things."</p>
+
+<p>"No, no," said Susy; "I haven't come here to act servant to you, Aunt
+Church."</p>
+
+<p>"You have a very nasty manner, Susan; and whatever the Almighty may mean
+to do with you in the future, you had best change your tune or things
+will go ill with you."</p>
+
+<p>Susy sat quite still, apparently indifferent to these remarks.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if you won't lay the cloth, and won't help your own poor old
+aunt, you may as well tell me what you came for."</p>
+
+<p>"Not yet. I will presently."</p>
+
+<p>Susy was now thoroughly enjoying herself. Mrs. Church edged her chair a
+little nearer; her beady black eyes seemed to read Susy through and
+through.</p>
+
+<p>"Go on, child; speak. 'Tain't right to keep an old body on
+tenter-hooks."</p>
+
+<p>"I will tell you if you will promise me something. I have brought you a
+little bag that I made my own self, and you shall have it if you promise
+me something. It is a bag for your knitting. You know you said that you
+were always losing the ball; it would keep running under your chair, and
+you could never get it without stooping and hurting yourself."</p>
+
+<p>"To be sure I did, child, and it is thoughtful of you to think of me.
+Well, but we'll talk of the bag when you<!-- Page 224 --><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224"></a> have said whatever else you
+have got at the back of that wise little head of yours."</p>
+
+<p>"I have got news that may mean a great deal to you, but before I tell it
+I want you to give me a promise. I want you to let mother off this
+month's installment of her debt."</p>
+
+<p>"What?" cried Mrs. Church, turning very pale. "The money that she owes
+me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, the money she owes you. A thief came into the shop and took some
+of her money, and she is very short of money and very worried. I will
+tell you the news if you will forgive mother."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Mrs. Church, "of all the impertinent, bare-faced, wicked
+little girls, you beat them all. My answer to that, Susan Hopkins, is
+no; and you can leave the house, for that is the last word you will
+get."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, Aunt Church," said Susy. "I will leave it. It doesn't matter
+whether you hear the message I have come to give you or not. It is from
+Miss Kathleen O'Hara, but that don't matter, either. What have you to do
+with a young lady like Miss Kathleen O'Hara. She's as unsuitable to be
+with you as she is to be with me. Good-bye, Aunt Church; good-bye."</p>
+
+<p>Susy got as far as the door when Mrs. Church called her back.</p>
+
+<p>"Come here, you bad little thing," she said. "Sit down on that chair.
+Now, what do you mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"I say I will give you my message if you will forgive mother."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I won't. I will never hear your message."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, I will go," said Susy. "I'll tell Miss Kathleen; she will be
+disappointed, so to speak. It was about those almshouses, but&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 225 --><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225"></a>"Look here, child; you tell me first, and then I'll consider."</p>
+
+<p>"No, no," said Susy. "I know something better than that. You make the
+promise first, faithfully and truly, and then I will tell you."</p>
+
+<p>After this there was a considerable wrangle between the old woman and
+the young girl, but all in good time Susy won her desire, and Mrs.
+Church made the required promise.</p>
+
+<p>"Now speak," she said. "There's that kettle singing like mad, and it
+will boil over in a minute. You shall have a cup of tea and a nice sweet
+bun with it, and what more can a poor old body like myself offer? What
+about Miss Kathleen O'Hara?"</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Church, you can help Miss Kathleen, and she is worthy of being
+helped. She wants you to do something for her."</p>
+
+<p>"Me?" said Mrs. Church. "And what can a poor body like me do to help
+her? Things ought to be the other way round; it's she who ought to help
+me."</p>
+
+<p>"And so she will, and she said as much. She said she'd do what she could
+to put you into one of those sweet little almshouses; and when Miss
+Kathleen says a thing she means it. And there's an aunt of hers has come
+over from Ireland&mdash;and from all accounts she must be a perfect
+wonder&mdash;and she's coming, too. Oh, Aunt Church, you are in luck!"</p>
+
+<p>"You are enough to distract any one, child. Susy, I told you the kettle
+would boil before we were ready for tea. Take it off and put it on the
+hob; and be careful, for goodness' sake, Susy Hopkins, or you'll scald
+yourself."</p>
+
+<p>Susy removed the kettle from its position on the glowing bed of coals,
+and then resumed her narrative.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 226 --><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226"></a>"They're all coming," she said, "and you will have to get them in by
+hook or crook."</p>
+
+<p>"You're enough to deave a body. Who's coming, and where are they coming
+when they do come?"</p>
+
+<p>"They're coming here, Aunt Church, a lot of them&mdash;girls like me&mdash;big
+girls and little girls, old girls and young girls, bad girls and good
+girls; girls who'll laugh at you, and girls who'll respect you; some
+dressed badly, and some dressed fine. They are all coming, up to forty
+of them in number, and Miss Kathleen O'Hara is the queen amongst them.
+Miss Katie O'Flynn is coming, too, and it's to your house they're to
+come; and it's to happen to-morrow night."</p>
+
+<p>"Really, Susy, of all the impertinent children, I do think you beat all.
+Forty people coming into this tiny house, where we can scarcely turn
+round with more than two in the house! You are talking pure nonsense,
+Susan Hopkins, and I'll break my word if that's all you have to tell."</p>
+
+<p>"It's true enough. Have you never heard of our society? Well, of course
+not, so I will tell you. It is this way, Aunt Church: When Miss Kathleen
+came to the school she took pity on us foundationers. She founded a
+society, and we used to meet in the old quarry just to the left of
+Johnson's Field; and right good times we had. She promised us all sorts
+of things. It was she who gave me that blouse that you seemed to think I
+had bought with the money which was taken from mother's till. And she
+gave me this. See, Aunt Church; if you look you will believe."</p>
+
+<p>Here Susy pulled from the neck of her dress a little heart-shaped locket
+with the device and name of the society on it.</p>
+
+<p>"Look for yourself," she said.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Church did look. She put on her spectacles and read the words, "The
+Wild Irish Girls, October, 18&mdash;."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 227 --><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227"></a>"Whatever does this mean?" she said. "The Wild Irish Girls! It doesn't
+sound at all a respectable sort of name."</p>
+
+<p>"I am one," said Susy, beginning to skip up and down. "I am a Wild Irish
+Girl."</p>
+
+<p>"That you ain't. You don't know the meaning of the thing. You are
+nothing but a little, under-bred Cockney."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, Aunt Church. I do feel obliged for your kind opinion of me.
+But now, are you going to help Miss Kathleen, or are you not? She can't
+have the girls&mdash;the Wild Irish Girls, I mean&mdash;any longer at the quarry,
+for it's getting noised abroad in the school, and there are those who'd
+think very little of telling on us; and then we might all be expelled,
+for it's contrary to the rules of the governors that there should be
+anything underhand or anything of that sort in the place. So it is this
+way: we have got into trouble, we Wild Irish Girls, and dear Miss
+Kathleen is determined that, come what will, the society must not
+suffer; and she thinks you could help. And if you help in any sort of
+fashion, why, she'll take precious good care that you get into one of
+those little almshouses. She said I was to see you to-day, and I was to
+take her back the answer. And now, will you help or will you not?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I never!" said Mrs. Church.</p>
+
+<p>When she had uttered these words she sank back in her chair. Her
+knitting was forgotten; her old face looked pale with anxiety.</p>
+
+<p>"Have a cup of tea; it will help you to think more than anything," said
+Susy, and in a brisk and businesslike fashion she dived into the
+cupboard, took out the cups and saucers, a little box of biscuits, a
+tiny jug of milk, a caddy of tea, and proceeded to fill the little
+teapot. By-and-by tea was ready, and Susy brought a cup to the old lady.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 228 --><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228"></a>"There, now," she said. "You see what it means to have a nice little
+girl like me to wait on you. You'd have taken an hour hobbling round all
+by yourself. Now what will you do?"</p>
+
+<p>"What shall I do?" said Mrs. Church. "Look round, Susan Hopkins, and ask
+me what I am to do! How many of those forty can be squeezed into this
+room?"</p>
+
+<p>"Let me think," said Susy.</p>
+
+<p>She looked round the room, which was really not more than twelve feet
+square.</p>
+
+<p>"We couldn't get many in here," she said. "Four might stand against the
+wall there, and four there, and so on, but that wouldn't go far when
+there are forty. We must have the backyard."</p>
+
+<p>"What! and upset the pig?" said Mrs. Church.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Aunt Church, you really can't think of Brownie at a moment like
+this! They must all congregate in the yard, and you shall look on. Oh,
+you'll enjoy it fine! But you ought to have tea for Miss O'Hara and Miss
+Katie O'Flynn; you really ought. Think, Aunt Church; it is quite worth
+while when you have an almshouse in view; and you know that for all the
+rest of your life you are to have a house rent-free, coal and light, and
+six shillings a week."</p>
+
+<p>"It's worth an effort," said Mrs. Church; "it is that. But I doubt me,
+now that the thing seems so near, whether I shall like the crossing. I
+can't abide finding myself on the salty sea. I have that to think over,
+and that is against the scheme, Susy Hopkins."</p>
+
+<p>"And what do a few hours' misery signify," said Susy, "when you have all
+the rest of your life to live in clover?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's true&mdash;that's true," said the old lady. "If you are positive that
+it won't upset Brownie&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 229 --><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229"></a>"You can lock Brownie up; I will take charge of the key."</p>
+
+<p>"And have him grunting like anything."</p>
+
+<p>"He won't be heard with forty of them."</p>
+
+<p>"It does sound very insurrectionary and wrong," said Mrs. Church; "but
+if you are certain sure she will keep her word&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"If I am sure of anybody, it is Miss Kathleen."</p>
+
+<p>"She looks a good sort."</p>
+
+<p>"And then, you know, Aunty Church, you can clinch matters by having a
+nice little tea for her; and afterwards, if you don't speak up, I will.
+I'll tell her you expect to get the almshouse after doing so much as to
+entertain forty of her guests."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, look here, Susy, you have thrust yourself into this matter, and
+you must help me out. I suppose I must have a tea, but it must be a very
+plain one."</p>
+
+<p>"No; it must be a very nice tea. Oh, I'll see to that. Mother shall send
+over some things from town&mdash;a little pink ham cut very thin, and
+new-laid eggs&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"And water-cress," said Mrs. Church. "I have a real relish for
+water-cress, and it's a very long time since I had any."</p>
+
+<p>"You have got your own fowls," said Susy, "so they will supply the eggs;
+and for the rest I will manage. You are very good indeed, aunty, and
+mother will be so pleased. Kiss me, Aunt Church. I must be off or I'll
+be getting into a terrible scrape."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a><!-- Page 230 --><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2>
+
+<h3>RUTH'S TROUBLES AND SUSY'S PREPARATIONS.</h3>
+
+
+<p>The next day the suppressed excitement in the school grew worse. It is
+sad to relate, nevertheless it is a fact, that Kathleen O'Hara openly
+neglected her lessons. She kept glancing at Susy Hopkins, and Susy
+Hopkins once very boldly winked at her; and when she did this one of the
+under teachers saw her. Now, there were certain rules in the school
+which all the girls were expected to keep, and winking and making faces
+were always prohibited. But the teacher on this occasion did not
+complain of Susy; there were so many other things to be considered that
+she thought she would let the matter pass.</p>
+
+<p>Ruth Craven was in her class, and more than one girl remarked on Ruth's
+appearance. Her face was ghastly pale, and she looked as though she had
+been crying very hard. Alice Tennant was also in her class, and she
+looked very bold and upright and defiant. Nothing ever induced Alice to
+neglect her studies, for did not the scholarship depend on her doing her
+very utmost? She worked just as assiduously as though nothing was
+happening. But each foundation girl&mdash;at least each who had joined the
+Wild Irish Girls&mdash;pressed her hand against the front of her dress, so as
+really to be certain that the little locket, the dear little talisman of
+her order, was safe in its place; and each girl felt naughty and good at
+the same time, anxious to please Kathleen and anxious to adhere to the
+rules of the school, and each girl resolved that, if she had to choose
+between the school and Kathleen, she would throw the school over and
+give allegiance to the queen of the society.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 231 --><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231"></a>But Ruth's unhappy face certainly attracted attention. Cassandra Weldon
+noticed it first of all. In recess she went up to her and took her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Ruth," she said, "you must come home with, me to dinner. Afterwards we
+can have a good chat; and then you shall have a room to yourself in
+order to work up your lessons for Miss Renshaw. But what is the matter,
+Ruth? You don't look well."</p>
+
+<p>"I am quite well," answered Ruth; "but I don't think I'll be able to
+come back with you to-day, Cassie."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, what a pity, dear! Is your grandmother ill?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; she's quite well."</p>
+
+<p>"And your grandfather?"</p>
+
+<p>"They are both quite well. It is&mdash;no, it's not nothing, for it is
+something; but I can't tell you. Please don't ask me."</p>
+
+<p>"You look very sad."</p>
+
+<p>"I feel miserable."</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder&mdash;" said Cassandra thoughtfully.</p>
+
+<p>Ruth looked at her. There was absolute despair in the eyes generally so
+clear and steadfast and bright. At this moment Kathleen O'Hara was seen
+passing through the playground in a sort of triumphal progress. She was
+accompanied by quite a tail of girls: one hung on her right arm, another
+on her left; a third danced in front of her; and other girls followed in
+a thick procession.</p>
+
+<p>"I feel like a queen-bee that has just swarmed," she remarked <i>en
+passant</i> to Cassandra Weldon.</p>
+
+<p>Her rude words, the impertinent little toss of her head, and the defiant
+glance out of her very dark-blue eyes caused Cassandra to stamp her
+foot.</p>
+
+<p>"Ruth," she said, "I don't like your friend Kathleen O'Hara."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 232 --><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232"></a>"But I love her," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"That is just it. She makes you all love her and then she gets you into
+trouble."</p>
+
+<p>"But getting into trouble for a friend doesn't make you hate that
+friend," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I fail to understand her. I agree with Alice Tennant about her. A
+girl of that sort&mdash;fascinating, handsome, dangerous&mdash;works havoc in a
+school."</p>
+
+<p>"Listen, Cassie," said Ruth suddenly. "A good many people will be saying
+bad things about Kathleen before long, and perhaps you will be
+questioned. I know that Alice Tennant has been questioned already. Will
+you promise me something, Cassie?"</p>
+
+<p>"You look so imploring that I'd like to promise you anything; but what
+is it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Do take her part when the time comes. You are certain to be asked."</p>
+
+<p>"But I don't know her. How can I take her part?"</p>
+
+<p>"You can say&mdash;oh, the kindest things. You can explain that she has
+always been bright and gay and loving and kind."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know that she has."</p>
+
+<p>"Cassie," said Ruth, "your goodness to me has been almost past
+understanding; but I could hate you if you spoke against her, for I love
+her."</p>
+
+<p>Just then a teacher came out, touched Ruth Craven on her arm, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Will you go at once to see Miss Ravenscroft?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, have you got into a scrape, Ruth? Is that why you look so pale and
+excited and distressed?" said Cassandra.</p>
+
+<p>She spoke in a whisper. Ruth's eyes looked full into hers.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 233 --><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233"></a>"God help me," she said under her breath.&mdash;"Cassie, if you knew, if you
+could guess, you'd pity me."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth turned away and followed the teacher into the school. A moment
+later she was standing before the head-mistress.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Ruth," said that lady, "I have given you as long a time as
+possible. Are you prepared to tell me what you know of the Wild Irish
+Girls?"</p>
+
+<p>Ruth was silent.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't give you any further time. There is to be a meeting of the
+governors at four o'clock this afternoon&mdash;a special meeting, convened in
+a hurry in order to look into this very matter. If you don't tell me in
+private what you can tell me, I shall be obliged to ask you to appear
+before the governors. In that case it would be a matter of insurrection
+on your part, and it is very doubtful if you would be allowed to remain
+in the school."</p>
+
+<p>"It is very cruel to me," began Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"My dear, the path of right is sometimes cruel. We must put this matter
+down with a strong hand. Do you or do you not know where Kathleen O'Hara
+and her society are to meet this evening?"</p>
+
+<p>"I've been thinking it out," said Ruth; "I have had no one to consult.
+If I were to tell I should be a traitor to Kathleen. I did not care for
+the society, although I love her. I joined it at first&mdash;I can't quite
+tell you how&mdash;but afterwards I left it. I left it entirely for my own
+benefit. There is a girl in this school whom you all love and respect. I
+don't suppose any other girl in the whole school bears such a high
+character. Her name is Cassandra Weldon."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I know Cassandra Weldon," said the head-mistress. "She is our
+head girl."</p>
+
+<p>"She is; and she is not proud, and she is&mdash;oh, so kind!<!-- Page 234 --><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234"></a> She offered me
+a very great help. She presented to me a tremendous temptation."</p>
+
+<p>"What was that, Ruth?"</p>
+
+<p>Miss Ravenscroft began by being cold and indifferent; she was now really
+interested.</p>
+
+<p>"You can sit down if you like," she said.</p>
+
+<p>But Ruth did not sit; she only put one pretty little hand on the back of
+a chair as though to steady herself.</p>
+
+<p>"I will tell you everything that concerns myself," she said. "I don't
+mind how badly you think of me. I had joined the other foundationers as
+a member of Kathleen's society. Then Cassandra presented the temptation.
+She offered to give me the services of her coach, Miss Renshaw, to work
+up for the Ayldice Scholarship. That means sixty pounds a year. We are
+poor at home, Miss Ravenscroft. My grandfather and grandmother are very
+poor people; but my father was a gentleman, and my mother was a lady,
+and their great longing in life was to have me well educated. My
+grandparents can scarcely afford the expense of keeping me in this
+school. I know I am a foundationer and my education is free; but there
+are other small expenses that have to be met. Even for me to live at
+home is almost more than they can compass. You can therefore imagine the
+great and wonderful delight of being able to secure a scholarship of
+sixty pounds a year. I could scarcely have managed it without this help.
+It was noble of Cassandra to offer it, and I&mdash;I accepted it, Miss
+Ravenscroft. After that, of course, I couldn't remain in Kathleen's
+society, for Kathleen and Cassandra hate each other, and I couldn't be
+one moment with one girl and another with the other; so I gave up the
+society and joined Cassandra. But I can't now betray those who were my
+friends. I have made up my mind; I can't."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 235 --><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235"></a>"You have really made up your mind?"</p>
+
+<p>"Quite&mdash;quite; indeed I cannot."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know what this means?"</p>
+
+<p>"I can guess."</p>
+
+<p>"We shall be obliged to call a meeting of the governors. You will be had
+up before them. If you still persist in keeping your knowledge to
+yourself they will be obliged to strike your name off the school roll.
+You will not then be able to get the Ayldice Scholarship. You are a
+clever girl, Ruth. My dear child, the whole thing is a mistake. You do
+wrong to conceal insurrection. I can tell your special friend Kathleen,
+who will no longer be queen of the Wild Irish Girls, to-morrow morning,
+that I have forced this confession out of you. She will not hate you;
+she will forgive you. She will understand. My dear, why should you
+sacrifice everything for the sake of this naughty Irish girl?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because I love her, and because it would be mean," answered Ruth, and
+now she burst into tears.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Ravenscroft talked to her a little longer, but Ruth was firm. When
+she left the head-mistress's presence she felt a certain sense almost of
+elation.</p>
+
+<p>"Now I don't feel so absolutely horrible," she said to herself. "Of
+course I will face the governors. I will just say that I know but that I
+can't tell. Yes, I believe I have done right. Anyhow, I don't feel quite
+so bad as before I went to see Miss Ravenscroft."</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Susy Hopkins was having a busy time. She went to school in the
+morning, but as soon as ever lesson hours were over she flew back to her
+mother's shop. There Mrs. Hopkins awaited her with a tray full of good
+things.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Susy," she said, "Tom will help you, for I have got him to
+promise. He will borrow a wheelbarrow, and all<!-- Page 236 --><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236"></a> the things can be
+stacked away tidily into it, and he will take them straight off to Aunt
+Church's house with you immediately after dinner. You had best spend the
+afternoon with the old lady and encourage her all you can. It is a
+blessed relief to have two months of that debt wiped out, and I am very
+much obliged to you, child, and I will help you all I can."</p>
+
+<p>"You can't think how exciting it is, mother," said Susy. "And you know
+the best of the fun is, they are making no end of a fuss in the school.
+They're trying to find out all about poor Kathleen's society, in order
+to put a stop to it and to call the foundationers to order; but the only
+effect of the fuss is to make more and more of the girls want to join. I
+saw Kathleen for a few minutes this morning, and she said that she had
+twelve applications for badges already to-day, but she told the new
+girls that they had best not come to the meeting to-night, as there
+wouldn't be room for them. Kathleen is in the highest spirits; she is
+just laughing and dancing about and looking like a sunbeam."</p>
+
+<p>"Dear, dear!" said Mrs. Hopkins. "I do hope it's nothing wicked. You
+girls of the present day are so queer, there's no being up to half your
+pranks. It would be a sorry day for me if you were banished from the
+school, Susy."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I won't be. It will be all right. Anyhow, this is delicious fun,
+and I mean to go on with it. What have you got for the old lady's tea,
+mother?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, now, look here. Of course, she's only going to give tea to Miss
+O'Hara and Miss O'Flynn&mdash;I haven't seen that lady&mdash;and yourself and Tom.
+That's about all."</p>
+
+<p>"And Tom will have a pretty keen appetite," said Susy. "I'll tell Miss
+Kathleen that she is to be at Aunt Church's house quite half-an-hour
+before the rest of the girls, so<!-- Page 237 --><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237"></a> that aunty can have her talk with her
+and arrange about the almshouse, and also that Kathleen and Miss O'Hara
+may have their meal in comfort. What's the grub, mother? Tell me at
+once."</p>
+
+<p>"Bread-and-butter," said Mrs. Hopkins, beginning to count on her
+fingers, "a pot of strawberry-jam&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, golloptious!" burst from Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"A plumcake&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Better and better!" cried Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"A little tin of sardines&mdash;some ladies are fond of a savory&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, mother; quite right. And so is aunty, for that matter. You haven't
+forgotten the water-cress, have you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Here's a great bunch of it. You must turn the tap over it and wash it
+as clean as clean. And what with new-laid eggs, and tea with cream in
+it, and loaf-sugar, why, I think that's about enough."</p>
+
+<p>"So it is, mother; and it's beautiful. But, mother, I do think Aunt
+Church would relish a pound of sausages. It isn't often she has anything
+of that kind to eat; she lives very penuriously, you know, mother."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I suppose I can fling in the sausages. I'll just run round to the
+shop and buy them. Now then, eat your own dinner, Susy, and be quick.
+Tom has eaten his, and has gone to fetch the wheelbarrow from Dan Smith,
+the cartwright."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Hopkins's programme was carried out. Tom arrived at the door with
+the wheelbarrow about two o'clock. The provisions were stowed safely
+away in the bottom and covered over with a piece of old matting, and
+then Tom and Susy started off. Both boy and girl were in high spirits.
+The day was as fine as it had been on the previous day, and Susy
+chattered to her heart's content.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 238 --><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238"></a>"My word," said Tom, "I must be in it!"</p>
+
+<p>"But you can't, Tom. You are a boy. That would be the final straw. If
+the ladies of the school and those awful governors were to come along
+and to see a boy in the midst of forty girls, I do believe we'd all be
+put in prison. You must clear out, Thomas; make up your mind to that as
+soon as ever you have handed over the things to Aunt Church."</p>
+
+<p>"You wait and see," said Tom. "You may suppose you are a favorite with
+Aunt Church, but you are nothing at all to me; I can just twist her
+round my fingers. It's a fine time I mean to have. I won't worry you at
+all when you are having your commotion in the yard. For the matter of
+that, I'll creep into the pig-sty with Brownie, and we can look over the
+doorway."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Tom, you are certain to be discovered. And you'll just pinch that
+pig and make him squeal like anything."</p>
+
+<p>Tom laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"I mean to have my fun," he said; "and don't you suppose for a moment
+I'm going to funk a lot of stupid, silly girls. How much do you think
+I'm going to eat, miss?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure you are going to be horribly greedy. But perhaps when you see
+Miss O'Hara and Miss O'Flynn you'll take a fit of shyness. It's to be
+hoped you will."</p>
+
+<p>"Shyness!" cried Tom. "What's that?"</p>
+
+<p>"It's what you ought to have, Tom, and it's to be hoped you will have it
+when the time comes."</p>
+
+<p>"Looks like it!" cried Tom, rubbing his hands in a meaning way. "Never
+frightened of anybody in the whole course of my life. Mean to have a
+lark with your pretty Miss Kathleen; mean to get a sov. or two out of
+that charming Miss O'Flynn; mean to coax Aunty Church to give me that
+microscope when she moves across the sea to<!-- Page 239 --><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239"></a> Ireland. Tell you, Susy,
+I'm up to a lark, and the best of the supper goes down my throat. Now
+you know, and there's no use worriting, for what can't be cured must be
+endured. Tom Hopkins is part and parcel of this 'ere feast, and the
+sooner you make up your mind to endure me the better."</p>
+
+<p>Susy felt slightly alarmed, but she knew from experience that Tom's bark
+was worse than his bite; and she trusted to Aunt Church desiring him in
+a peremptory manner to go when the time approached, and to Tom's being
+forced to obey her.</p>
+
+<p>They arrived in good time at their destination, and Mrs. Church received
+them figuratively with open arms. And now began the real fuss and the
+real preparation. Tom took a brush and kicked up, as Aunt Church
+expressed it, no end of a shindy. The little sitting-room was a cloud of
+dust. The table, the chairs, and the little sideboard were pushed about;
+everything seemed to be at a loss until Susy peremptorily took the
+duster out of Tom's hand and reduced chaos to order. Then the tea was
+unpacked. A very white cloth from Mrs. Hopkins's most precious store was
+produced; real silver spoons&mdash;from the same source&mdash;made their
+appearance; a few cups and saucers of good old china were added. The
+table looked, as Tom expressed it, "very genteel." Then the provisions
+were placed upon the board.</p>
+
+<p>"Now we are ready," said Mrs. Church; "and I must say," she added, "that
+I am pleased. I have known good genteel living in my lifetime, and I
+expect that Providence means me to know it again before I die. Susy and
+Tom, you are both good children. You have your spice of wickedness in
+you, but when all is said and done you mean well, and I may as well
+promise you both now that when I get<!-- Page 240 --><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240"></a> to Ireland I will have you over in
+the holidays. You will enjoy that&mdash;won't you, Thomas?"</p>
+
+<p>"See if I don't, Aunt Church. And I always was your own boy, wasn't I?
+And you won't mind, old lady&mdash;say you won't mind&mdash;leaving me the
+microscope when you cross the briny? I'm fairly taken with that
+microscope. I dream of it at night, and think of it every minute of the
+day."</p>
+
+<p>"Come here and look me in the eyes, Tom," said Mrs. Church.</p>
+
+<p>Tom went over. Out of his freckled face there beamed two honest
+light-blue eyes. His forehead was broad and slightly bulgy; his carroty
+hair was cut short to his head. Mrs. Church raised her wrinkled old hand
+and laid it for a minute on Tom's forehead.</p>
+
+<p>"You resemble your great-uncle, my husband," she said. "He was the
+cleverest man I ever came across. He had a real turn for the
+microscope."</p>
+
+<p>"Then, of course, you will leave it behind you; of course you will give
+it to me," said Tom, quite triumphant with eagerness.</p>
+
+<p>"No, my boy, that I won't. If you are a good boy, and do me credit, and
+get on with your books, and do well in that calling which Providence
+means you to work in, why, I may leave it to you when I am called hence,
+Tom."</p>
+
+<p>"There, Tom!" said Susy, coming forward. "Don't worry Aunt Church any
+more. She's got plenty to think about.&mdash;Won't you turn him out now, Aunt
+Church? It is time for you to be dressing, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"So it is," said Mrs. Church, looking round her in some alarm. "Whatever
+is the hour, child?"</p>
+
+<p>"It is going on for six o'clock; and they will be here at half-past
+seven at the latest."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 241 --><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241"></a>"Very well," said Tom; "if I must go I will have a talk with Brownie."</p>
+
+<p>He looked at Susy as if he meant to defy her, but Susy was too wise to
+anger him at that moment. As soon as ever he was out of the house she
+fetched hot water, soap and a clean towel. Having helped old Mrs. Church
+with her ablutions, she produced a clean cap and a little black shawl.
+The old lady said that she felt very smart and refreshed, and altogether
+in a state to do honor to that dear little almshouse.</p>
+
+<p>"I am quite taking to you, Susy," she said. "But I do hope you will
+marshal those dreadful girls into the backyard without frightening my
+hens or Brownie."</p>
+
+<p>"Pigs aren't remarkable for sensitiveness," said Susy. "But I tell you
+what, Aunt Church; Tom's after mischief; he means to witness all the
+proceedings of dear Miss Kathleen's great society, and we oughtn't to
+let him. It would do a lot of mischief if the school heard of it, and we
+would most likely be expelled. He don't mind a word I say, so will you
+talk to him, aunty?"</p>
+
+<p>"But he can't be in the yard without being seen; you say that they are
+bringing lamps and will make the place as bright as day."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but he will be in the sty with Brownie; and he as good as said
+he'd give her a pinch to make her squeal."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, indeed! I'm afraid that must be put a stop to," said the old lady.
+"Send him to me this minute."</p>
+
+<p>Susy went out and called her brother. There was no answer for a minute;
+then Tom appeared, looking somewhat rakish and disheveled.</p>
+
+<p>"Brownie and I were chumming up like anything," he said; then he pushed
+Susy aside and walked into the old lady's presence.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 242 --><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242"></a>What she said to him even Susy did not hear, but when the little girl
+returned to Mrs. Church, Tom was nowhere to be seen.</p>
+
+<p>"Has he gone home, Aunt Church," she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"You leave the boy alone," was Mrs. Church's answer. "He's a good boy,
+and the moral of his grand-uncle; and I'll leave him that microscope.
+See if I don't."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2>
+
+<h3>THE GOVERNORS OF THE SCHOOL EXAMINE RUTH.</h3>
+
+
+<p>At four o'clock that afternoon the governors of the Great Shirley School
+met in the room set aside for the purpose. There were six governors, and
+they were all ladies. Their names were Miss Mackenzie, Mrs. Naylor, Mrs.
+Ross, the two Misses Scott, and Miss Jane Smyth. The founders of the
+Great Shirley School had ordained that it should always be governed by
+women&mdash;that women should conduct its concerns, should see to the best
+possible education of its pupils, and should manage these things to the
+best of their ability. Even the trustees of the trust fund were women.</p>
+
+<p>Amongst these ladies Miss Mackenzie was reckoned as head. She was a
+tall, strong-minded woman, with iron-gray hair, false teeth, a prominent
+nose, and small steel-gray eyes. Miss Mackenzie was between sixty and
+seventy years of age; she always dressed in the severest and most
+old-fashioned manner, and wore her iron-gray hair in ringlets on each
+side of her head. She was an excellent woman of business, and was
+dreaded not only by the schoolgirls, but also by one or two of the
+ladies of the committee; those who most feared her were the two Misses
+Scott and Miss<!-- Page 243 --><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243"></a> Jane Smyth. Mrs. Ross was a fashionable woman who went a
+good deal into London society, talked about the Great Shirley School to
+her different friends, and was considered an expert on the subject of
+girls' education. Mrs. Ross had a husband and a beautiful home; she
+dressed remarkably well, and was looked down on in consequence by Miss
+Mackenzie. Mrs. Naylor was the oldest of the governors. She was a
+little, wizened lady with a face like a russet apple, a kindly smile,
+and a sweet voice.</p>
+
+<p>It was the custom of the governors to meet four times a year as a matter
+of course, and as a matter of expediency they met about as many times
+again. But a sudden meeting to be convened within forty-eight hours'
+notice was almost unheard of in their experience.</p>
+
+<p>When they were all seated round the table Miss Mackenzie, who was
+chairwoman, took out the agenda and read its contents aloud. These were
+brief enough:</p>
+
+<p>"To inquire into the insurrection amongst the foundationers, and in
+particular to cause full investigation to be made with regard to the
+Irish girl, Kathleen O'Hara."</p>
+
+<p>"This is really very astonishing," said Miss Mackenzie, turning to the
+other governors. "An insurrection amongst the foundationers! Had we not
+better summon Miss Ravenscroft, who will tell us what she means?"</p>
+
+<p>A clerk who attended the meetings (also a woman) went away now to summon
+Miss Ravenscroft. She appeared in a few minutes, was asked to seat
+herself, and was requested to give a full explanation. This she did very
+briefly.</p>
+
+<p>"At the beginning of the term," she said, "a girl of the name of
+Kathleen O'Hara joined our number. She was eccentric and untrained. She
+came from the south-west of Ireland. I had her examined, and found that
+she knew<!-- Page 244 --><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244"></a> extremely little. We were forced to put her into much too low
+a class for her years and general appearance."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Miss Smyth, "that, after all, isn't a crime. I don't quite
+understand."</p>
+
+<p>"If you will kindly resume your story we shall be obliged, Miss
+Ravenscroft," said Miss Mackenzie.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Ravenscroft did resume it. She traced Kathleen's conduct from the
+first day of her arrival to the present hour. Short as the time was&mdash;not
+more than six weeks&mdash;she had worked havoc in the school. Her influence
+was altogether felt amongst the foundationers. They crowded round her at
+all hours; a glance from her eyes was sufficient to compel them to do
+exactly what she wished. They ceased to be attentive to their lessons;
+they were often discovered in school in a state of semi-drowsiness; they
+were rebellious and impertinent to their teachers&mdash;in short, they were
+in a state of insurrection.</p>
+
+<p>"And you trace this disgraceful state of things to the advent of the
+Irish girl?" said Miss Mackenzie.</p>
+
+<p>"I am sorry to say, Miss Mackenzie, that I do. When I noticed that
+Kathleen O'Hara had a disturbing influence over the girls I caused
+further inquiries to be made, and I then made a discovery which
+distressed me very much. My eyes were first opened by the fact that one
+of our teachers picked up off the floor, just where a certain Clara
+Sawyer, one of the best and most promising of the foundationers, was
+sitting, a small locket, evidently a badge. She brought it to me, and I
+now hand it to you ladies for inspection."</p>
+
+<p>The little silver heart-shaped badge was passed from one lady to
+another. The Misses Scott thought it pretty and quaint. Miss Jane Smyth
+murmured the words "Wild Irish Girls" under her breath. Mrs. Ross pushed
+it away<!-- Page 245 --><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245"></a> from her as though it was beneath notice. Mrs. Naylor said:</p>
+
+<p>"Very pretty; quite touching, isn't it? Heart-shaped. I always think
+that such a sweet emblem, don't you, Miss Mackenzie?"</p>
+
+<p>But Miss Mackenzie, with a sniff, took up the little talisman and turned
+it from right to left.</p>
+
+<p>"'Wild Irish Girls,'" she said aloud. "What can this mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"I can throw some light on the subject, but not much," said Miss
+Ravenscroft. "It is quite evident that a society calling itself by this
+name exists, and that it has been instituted and formed altogether by
+Kathleen O'Hara, who has induced a great number&mdash;I should say fully
+half&mdash;of the foundationers to join her. They meet, I have discovered, at
+night; their rendezvous being, up to the present, a certain quarry a
+short distance out of town. What they do at their meetings I cannot
+tell, but I believe they are very riotous, with singing and dancing and
+sports of all sorts. Of course, as you know, Miss Mackenzie, such
+proceedings are altogether prohibited in our school."</p>
+
+<p>"But this takes place out of school," said Mrs. Naylor.</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Naylor, I should be much obliged if you would allow Miss
+Ravenscroft to continue," said Miss Mackenzie.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Ravenscroft did continue.</p>
+
+<p>"Putting aside that question," she said, "the effect on the girls is
+most disastrous. They are completely out of my control, and I know for a
+fact that they do not care to please any one except Kathleen O'Hara."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course our duty is plain," said Miss Mackenzie. "We must get the
+ringleader into custody, so to speak, and either bind her over to break
+up the society, and so keep the peace, or expel her from the school."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 246 --><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246"></a>"She is a difficult girl to deal with," said Miss Ravenscroft. "She has
+a great deal that is good in her; she is handsome and rich, very
+affectionate, and full of spirit."</p>
+
+<p>"But what has a girl who is handsome and rich to do in a school like the
+Great Shirley?" asked Mrs. Ross.</p>
+
+<p>"That is the curious part of it. Kathleen's mother was educated in this
+school, and she made up her mind that her daughter should never go to
+any other. Kathleen lives with the Tennants. I should be sorry if she
+were expelled; there is so much that is good in her. It would be a pity
+to harden her or hold her up to public disgrace. I hope some other way
+may be discovered of bringing her to order."</p>
+
+<p>"You are quite right. Miss Ravenscroft," said Miss Smyth. "I never did
+hold with the severe hardening process."</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly in the case of Kathleen it would do no good," said Miss
+Ravenscroft.</p>
+
+<p>"But what do you propose to do, then?" said Miss Mackenzie. "You have
+not, I presume, asked us to come here without having some plan in your
+head."</p>
+
+<p>"The first thing to do is to get hold of all possible facts," said Miss
+Ravenscroft. "Now, there is one girl in the school who could tell us&mdash;a
+charming girl, a new girl&mdash;for she also only joined this term&mdash;but in
+all respects the opposite of Kathleen O'Hara. She for a short time
+belonged to the rebels, as I must call the Wild Irish Girls, but she saw
+the folly of her conduct and left them. She could tell us all about them
+if she liked, and help us to bring the insurrection to an end."</p>
+
+<p>"Then that is capital," said Miss Mackenzie in a tone of enjoyment.
+"Have the girl summoned, please, Miss Ravenscroft."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Ravenscroft turned to the clerk, who went away at<!-- Page 247 --><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247"></a> once in search
+of Ruth. Ruth came in looking very white, her face dogged, her usual
+beauty and charm of manner having quite deserted her. She wore her
+little school-apron and she kept folding it between her fingers as she
+stood in the presence of her judges.</p>
+
+<p>"Your name?" said Miss Mackenzie.</p>
+
+<p>"Ruth Craven."</p>
+
+<p>"Your age?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am fourteen."</p>
+
+<p>"Where do you live?"</p>
+
+<p>"In No. 2 Willow Cottages."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I know," said Miss Mackenzie, looking with more approval at the
+child. "I have often met your grandfather. You live with him and his
+wife, don't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, madam."</p>
+
+<p>"And you have been admitted here as a foundationer?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, madam."</p>
+
+<p>"In what class is Ruth Craven, Miss Ravenscroft?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ruth is a very diligent pupil. She is in the third remove," replied
+Miss Ravenscroft, looking with kindly eyes at the child.</p>
+
+<p>Ruth just glanced at her teacher, and then lowered her eyes. Her
+beautiful little face was beginning to have its usual effect upon most
+of the ladies present. Some of the stony despair had left it; the color
+came and went in her cheeks. She ceased to fiddle with her apron, and
+clasped her two little white hands tightly together.</p>
+
+<p>"My child," said Mrs. Naylor, "your object in coming to school is
+doubtless the best object of all."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth raised inquiring eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"I mean," said the little old lady, "that you want to learn all you
+can&mdash;to gain knowledge and wisdom, to learn goodness and forbearance and
+long-suffering and charity."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 248 --><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248"></a>"Oh, yes," said Ruth, her eyes dilating.</p>
+
+<p>"If," continued Miss Mackenzie, interrupting Mrs. Naylor, and speaking
+in a very firm tone&mdash;"if, instead of these pleasant things happening, a
+little girl learns to join insurrectionists, to forget those to whom she
+is indebted for such tremendous advantages, then how do matters
+stand&mdash;eh, Ruth Craven?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't understand," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>Her trembling and fear had come back to her.</p>
+
+<p>"The dear child is frightened, Miss Mackenzie," said Mrs. Naylor.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope not," said Miss Mackenzie; "but I as chairwoman am obliged to
+question her.&mdash;Ruth Craven, is it true that you became a member of a
+silly schoolgirl society called the Wild Irish Girls, and that you wore
+a badge like this?"</p>
+
+<p>Ruth nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't nod to me. Speak."</p>
+
+<p>"It is true," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you now a member of that society?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"Why did you join it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because I loved Kathleen O'Hara."</p>
+
+<p>"She is the promoter, then?"</p>
+
+<p>Ruth was silent.</p>
+
+<p>"You have heard me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, madam."</p>
+
+<p>"Kathleen O'Hara is the promoter?"</p>
+
+<p>Again Ruth was silent. Miss Mackenzie glanced at the other ladies. After
+a pause she continued:</p>
+
+<p>"We will leave that matter for the present. Please write down, Miss
+Judson"&mdash;here she turned to the clerk&mdash;"that Ruth Craven has refused to
+answer my question with regard<!-- Page 249 --><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249"></a> to Kathleen O'Hara. We will return to
+that point later on.&mdash;Why did you leave the society?"</p>
+
+<p>"I did so because I wanted to join a scheme proposed by a girl who was
+not a foundationer and not a member of the society. Her name is
+Cassandra Weldon."</p>
+
+<p>"One of our best and most promising pupils," interrupted Miss
+Ravenscroft.</p>
+
+<p>"I know her," said Miss Mackenzie. "We have every reason to be proud of
+Cassandra Weldon.&mdash;And so she, this charming and excellent Cassandra
+Weldon, is your friend, little Ruth Craven?"</p>
+
+<p>"She has been extremely good to me, madam. She offered me the services
+of her own coach in order that I might work up for the Ayldice
+Scholarship."</p>
+
+<p>"And do you think you have a chance of getting it?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. I mean to try."</p>
+
+<p>Her dark-blue eyes flashed with intelligence and longing as she uttered
+these words.</p>
+
+<p>"I think we are now in possession of the facts," said Miss Mackenzie.
+"Is that not so, Mrs. Ross? Ruth Craven was a member of the
+objectionable society; she very wisely left it, knowing that she would
+better herself by doing so.&mdash;Now then, Ruth, we expect you to tell us
+all about the society&mdash;where it meets, and as much as you know about its
+rules. And you must also acquaint us with the names of the girls who are
+members."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth again was silent, but now she held herself erect and looked full at
+Miss Mackenzie.</p>
+
+<p>"You hear me, child. Speak. You can make your narrative brief. Where
+does the society meet? What does it do? What are its rules? Go on; you
+are not stupid, are you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, Miss Mackenzie," said Ruth, "I am not stupid;<!-- Page 250 --><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250"></a> and I am very, sorry
+indeed to seem rude, but I cannot answer your questions. You know that
+Kathleen's society exists; that fact I cannot hide from you, but you
+will not hear anything more from me. It would be a very terrible thing
+for me to be expelled from this school; it would mean great sorrow to my
+grandfather and grandmother; but I cannot betray my friend Kathleen, nor
+any of the other girls of the society."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Mackenzie was silent for quite a minute. The other ladies fidgeted
+as they sat. Ruth, having delivered her soul, looked down. After a long
+pause Miss Mackenzie said quite gently:</p>
+
+<p>"Ruth Craven, you scarcely realize your own position. We cannot possibly
+let a little girl who is rebellious, who keeps secrets to herself which
+she ought to tell for the benefit of the school, continue in our midst.
+We will give you three days to think over this matter. If at the end of
+three days you are still obstinately silent, there is nothing whatever
+for it but that you should be expelled from the school. Do you
+understand what that means?"</p>
+
+<p>"It means that I must go, that I shall lose all the advantages," said
+Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"It means that and more. It means that in the presence of the whole
+school you are pronounced unworthy, that you leave the school publicly,
+being desired to do so by your teacher. It is an unpleasant ceremony,
+and one which you will never be able to forget; it will haunt you for
+life, Ruth Craven. I trust, however, my dear child, that such extreme
+measures will not be necessary. You think now that you are honorable in
+making yourself a martyr, but it is not so. We who are old must know
+more than you can possibly know, Ruth, with regard to the benefits of a
+great establishment like this. Insurrection must be put down<!-- Page 251 --><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251"></a> with a
+firm hand. You will see for yourself how right we are, and how wrong and
+silly and childish you are.&mdash;Miss Ravenscroft, a special meeting of the
+governors will take place in this room on Saturday morning. This is
+Wednesday. Until then we hope that Ruth Craven will carefully consider
+her conduct, and be prepared to answer the very vital questions which
+will be put to her.&mdash;You can go, Ruth."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth left the room.</p>
+
+<p>"An extraordinary child," said Miss Mackenzie.</p>
+
+<p>"A sweet child, I call her," said Mrs. Naylor. "What a beautiful face!"</p>
+
+<p>"My dear Mrs. Naylor, does the beauty of Ruth Craven's face affect this
+question? She is, in my opinion, extremely silly, and a very naughty
+child.&mdash;Miss Ravenscroft, we leave it to you to bring the little girl to
+reason. I have known her grandfather ever since he kept a grocer's shop
+in the High Street. I have respected him more than any man I ever knew.
+This child in appearance is one of Nature's ladies, but we must get her
+to see things in the right light, and if necessary she must be made an
+example of. It will be very painful, but it must be done."</p>
+
+<p>"I will do what I can," said Miss Ravenscroft; "but from the little I
+have seen of Ruth, I imagine she would go to the stake before she would
+betray those who are kind to her. I will, however, confide in Cassandra;
+she is extremely fond of Ruth, and she may influence her where others
+fail. I can't help saying, Miss Mackenzie, that it would be a very
+terrible thing, and would, I believe much injure the school, if a girl
+like Ruth were expelled. The other foundationers would feel it; there
+would be a sense of martyrdom. Sides would be taken for and against her.
+I trust that this extreme step will not be necessary."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 252 --><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252"></a>"If she does not tell us what she knows, it will be not only necessary,
+but it will be carried into effect, and in my presence," said Miss
+Mackenzie. "But now to return to the more immediate business. You say
+these girls meet in a quarry?"</p>
+
+<p>"I have heard rumors to that effect."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think they meet there every night? Are their scandalous
+proceedings a nightly occurrence?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no; I do not think they meet oftener than once a week."</p>
+
+<p>"Have you any idea what night they choose?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am rather under the impression that this is the night."</p>
+
+<p>"Then send some one to see, Miss Ravenscroft. One or two of the teachers
+would be the best. They could go to the quarry to-night and wait there
+in order to see if the girls arrive. If they do, my orders are that they
+take no apparent notice of them, but write down the names of all
+present. If that can be done, and you are successful in finding the
+girls, we shall have the matter, as it were, in a nutshell, and we shall
+soon crush this disgraceful rebellion."</p>
+
+<p>"And what about Kathleen?" asked Miss Ravenscroft.</p>
+
+<p>"There is very little doubt that she will have to be expelled. Such a
+girl as that is a firebrand in a school, and however rich she may be,
+and however well-born, the sooner she leaves us the better."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a><!-- Page 253 --><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2>
+
+<h3>THE SOCIETY MEETS AT MRS. CHURCH'S COTTAGE.</h3>
+
+
+<p>That evening at about a quarter to eight a band of perfectly silent
+girls might have been seen walking along the road that led to Mrs.
+Church's cottage. They walked as much as possible on the grass, and
+glided in single file. Each one, as they expressed it, had her heart in
+her mouth. Occasionally they looked behind them; sometimes they started
+at an ordinary shadow, thinking that a policeman at least would be
+waiting for them. The foundationers who called themselves the Wild Irish
+Girls had very little doubt what it would mean if their scheme was
+discovered. They knew, of course, that Miss Ravenscroft would be
+furiously angry, that the governors would have something to say to them,
+and that they might be dismissed from the school unless they promised to
+cease to belong to the society. Perhaps there were worse things than
+that. There was a timid little girl called Janey Ford, who whispered to
+her friend that the Wild Irish Girls belonged to the rebels in Ireland,
+and that it might be considered necessary by the government of the
+country to have them taken up and put into prison. Nobody for a single
+moment believed Janey Ford's silly remarks, but nevertheless they gave a
+sort of thrill to the occasion. It was all delightful, this stealing
+away in the dark, this pressing one against another as they walked down
+the little road. And then Kathleen was so fascinating; her eyes were so
+bright; she was such a valiant sort of leader. If they were men and she
+was a man, Janey Ford had whispered to her great friend Edith Hart, they
+would follow her to the death.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 254 --><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254"></a>"We'd form a crusade for her," Edith had whispered, back. "She is
+magnificent."</p>
+
+<p>And then both girls felt the little heart-shaped lockets round their
+necks and thought of themselves as heroines.</p>
+
+<p>The entire party, numbering about forty-three in all, arrived at the
+cottage. Susy suddenly put in her appearance.</p>
+
+<p>"Girls," she said, "it isn't at all certain that we are safe. I saw a
+man going by not ten minutes ago, and he looked suspiciously at the
+house. Miss Ravenscroft would do anything to catch us; but Aunt Church
+says that if you go into the yard she doesn't think you will be seen or
+heard.&mdash;May I take the girls into the yard, Kathleen? And may I take you
+and Miss O'Flynn into the house to see Aunt Church?"</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen nodded in reply. She also felt excited and pleased and
+completely carried out of herself.</p>
+
+<p>Susy ushered her visitors with great pride and pomp into Mrs. Church's
+little sitting-room. Really she felt herself quite rising in the social
+scale as she saw her old relative dressed in her best, with the manners
+she used to wear when she was housekeeper at Lord Henshel's, and with
+that most appetizing, most <i>recherch&eacute;</i> tea on the table.</p>
+
+<p>"I will be back in a minute," said Susy.&mdash;"Aunt Church, here they are,
+and I know you will give them welcome."</p>
+
+<p>"I am proud to do that," said Mrs. Church. "I presume I am talking to
+Miss O'Flynn? Will you take a chair here by the fire, miss? I'm afraid
+the night is a little bit chilly.&mdash;Miss Kathleen, I wish I could get up
+and offer you a seat, but as it is&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, nonsense!" said Kathleen. "What are young legs for if not to wait
+on old legs? Oh, what a heavenly, de<!-- Page 255 --><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255"></a>licious tea! What is that I see?
+Honey! Oh, don't I just adore honey? Don't you, Aunt Katie?"</p>
+
+<p>"That I do," said Miss O'Flynn; "and I eat it comb and all. It never yet
+disagreed with me; but then I've got the digestion of an ostrich."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed, then, madam, I think you are rather silly to eat the comb,"
+said Mrs. Church; "and you ought always to put butter on your bread when
+you eat honey. My poor mother told me so, and I have always followed in
+her steps. If you butter your bread and don't eat the comb, honey agrees
+with you as well as anything else."</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Church," said Kathleen, "you are perfectly sweet, and I can't tell
+you how grateful we are; but we are in something of a hurry, so perhaps
+you wouldn't mind telling the rest of that story about butter and honey
+to Aunt Katie when you are in Ireland. Have you made the tea, Mrs.
+Church? Shall I make it?"</p>
+
+<p>"The tea is in that little brown caddy," said Mrs. Church, "and there's
+a measuring spoon close to it. I allow&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I know," said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>She began to ladle out spoonful after spoonful and put it into the
+little brown teapot, which she then filled up with hot water. Mrs.
+Church looked on with a mingled feeling of approval and disapproval. She
+was being carried completely off her feet. She to give up her dear
+little neat house in this reckless way; she to give up her most precious
+tea to be absolutely wasted and practically lost&mdash;for Kathleen put in
+quite three times too much tea into the little teapot; she to forgive
+Susy's mother two months of that debt which she owed her. Oh, what did
+it mean? She was going to be ruined in her old age!</p>
+
+<p>"I'd just like to say, miss," she said, looking at Miss<!-- Page 256 --><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256"></a> O'Flynn and
+then at Kathleen&mdash;"I'd like to say that I am willing to help the young
+ladies, and the old ladies too for that matter, but I want to know if it
+is settled that I am to have the almshouse and six shillings a week. I
+am a plain-spoken body and I'd like to know it; for if so it can be
+done, I ought to give notice to the landlord of this little house, where
+I have lived in peace and comfort for over twelve years. I'd like to
+know, and as soon as possible."</p>
+
+<p>"We have written about it, Mrs. Church," said Miss O'Flynn. "I wrote to
+my brother-in-law this very day, and I expect an answer soon. Of course,
+we can't tell you to a certainty whether the house is still to be had,
+but I didn't hear that it was let. We must hope for the best."</p>
+
+<p>"And if it is let," said Kathleen suddenly, running up to the old lady
+and whispering in her ear, "I'll get Dad to send me a cheque, and you
+shall have it, so you won't lose one way or the other."</p>
+
+<p>This whisper of Kathleen's was very soothing to Mrs. Church. She nodded
+her head twice and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, dear," and just then Susy returned, and tea began in real
+earnest.</p>
+
+<p>While the ladies were enjoying their meal they did not observe that a
+round boyish face occasionally appeared at the little glass partition
+which divided Mrs. Church's sitting-room from her bedroom. The glass
+reached down about two feet from the ceiling, and was the only light the
+bedroom had. The boyish face bobbed up now and again, made appealing
+faces in Mrs. Church's direction, and then disappeared. Mrs. Church
+shook her head at the apparition, but for a time no one noticed the
+circumstance. Then Susy began to observe it.</p>
+
+<p>"What can it mean?" she thought, and she turned and looked.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 257 --><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257"></a>The face appeared, the tongue now stuck into the cheek, one eye winking
+furiously.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I never!" said Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"What are you saying, 'Well, I never!' for?" asked Kathleen. "And why do
+you and Mrs. Church keep gazing up at that ugly glass across the room?
+What is the glass for?"</p>
+
+<p>"It is the window that lights my bedroom, miss," said Mrs. Church. "And
+I don't see," she added, "why I may not look at any part of my own house
+that I take a fancy to."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course," said Kathleen. But Tom was now making pantomimic signs for
+refreshments. He was touching his mouth, which he opened into a round O,
+pointing at the cake and honey, and going on altogether in a way that
+distracted poor Susy. And just as Susy looked up Kathleen looked up, and
+the latter burst into a loud laugh, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"I do declare there's a boy in there."</p>
+
+<p>The next instant she had burst into the bedroom and dragged Tom out.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you are Tom Hopkins," she said; "you are Susy's brother. Now sit
+down here and have a right good meal. It was silly of you to hide in
+there; as if we minded."</p>
+
+<p>"But Kathleen, you ought to mind," said Susy; "for it would be the very
+last straw if we were discovered and there is a boy found amongst us. I
+declare I never felt so nervous in my life.&mdash;Do go back to the bedroom,
+Tom.&mdash;Aunt Church, oughtn't he to go?"</p>
+
+<p>"Come and sit by me," said Mrs. Church. "And here's a fresh egg for you.
+Take your place, Tom; and when the others go into the yard for their
+foolish mummeries&mdash;for I can't make out that there's a bit of sense in
+this<!-- Page 258 --><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258"></a> scheme from first to last&mdash;why, you and I will finish up what is
+left of the good things."</p>
+
+<p>"You are a brick, Aunt Church," said Tom.</p>
+
+<p>He took a seat at the table, and gazed with wonder, delight, and
+admiration at Kathleen. He told his school-fellows that at that moment
+he lost his heart to Kathleen. He said that she bowled him over
+completely.</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't a scrap of heart in my body to-day," he remarked to his
+chosen friends. "I took it out and put it at her feet; and if you'll
+believe me, she spurned it. That's the way of girls. Don't you have
+anything to do with them, boys."</p>
+
+<p>But the boys only begged more earnestly than ever to have a look at
+Kathleen. Tom finally promised to secure her photograph by hook or by
+crook, and to show it to them.</p>
+
+<p>When the meal, which was but a short one after all, came to an end, Miss
+O'Flynn and Kathleen got up and were preparing to go to the yard at the
+back of the house, when there came the sound of horse's hoofs on the
+stones outside. They stopped at the cottage, and a loud knock at the
+door was next heard.</p>
+
+<p>"They have come," said Susy, her face white as a sheet. "I knew they
+would. I wonder what will happen, Kathleen. Aren't you awfully
+frightened?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not I," said Kathleen. "Why should I be afraid? Whoever is there has
+nothing to do with us."</p>
+
+<p>Susy's state of panic amused both Miss O'Flynn and Kathleen, and Tom was
+the only one found brave enough to go to the door in answer to the
+knock. He came back the next instant with a telegram, which was
+addressed to Miss O'Flynn. She tore it open, and gave a loud scream.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 259 --><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259"></a>"It's my poor cousin Peggy Doharty. She has fallen from her horse and
+has concussion of the brain. I must go to her at once. Oh, alannah,
+alannah! What is to be done?"</p>
+
+<p>Here Miss O'Flynn turned a face of anguish in Kathleen's direction.</p>
+
+<p>"It is I that must leave you, my darling," she said. "I will go back to
+town with the messenger, get off to London to-night, and cross in the
+morning. Ah, the creature! And she's my dearest friend. Let us hope that
+Providence will spare her precious life. Oh dear, dear, dear! This is
+awful!"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see why you should go, Aunt Katie," said Kathleen. "I want you
+very badly indeed just now."</p>
+
+<p>"Then, my sweet child, come straight away with me to Dublin; for as to
+leaving Peggy in her hour of extremity, I wouldn't do it even for you,
+Kathleen, and that's saying a good deal."</p>
+
+<p>"But how can I come? I have my society and&mdash;and the school."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then, stay, love; only don't keep me now. Good-bye to you, pet; I
+haven't a minute to lose&mdash;Tom&mdash;is that your name?&mdash;go out and tell the
+messenger that I will go back with him to Merrifield."</p>
+
+<p>"And what about my almshouse?" screamed out Mrs. Church. "This is a nice
+state of things, I must say. Who minds what a slip of a young lady
+says?&mdash;meaning no offence to you, miss; but I have been spending my
+money right and left, getting tea that beats all for gentility, and now
+one of the ladies is off as it were in a flash of an eye. What about my
+almshouse?"</p>
+
+<p>Miss O'Flynn looked rather indignant.</p>
+
+<p>"You shall have your almshouse if it can be got. How<!-- Page 260 --><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260"></a> unfeeling you are
+to think only of yourself when my dearest friend may be at death's door.
+Here's a sovereign, which will more than cover the expenses of the
+tea.&mdash;Good-bye, Kathleen, core of my heart.&mdash;Good-bye, all of you."</p>
+
+<p>Miss O'Flynn flung a sovereign on the table. Mrs. Church made a grab at
+it, and held it tightly in her hand, which was covered by a black
+mitten. The next moment the good lady had departed, and Kathleen,
+looking thoroughly bewildered, was left alone.</p>
+
+<p>"Dear, dear!" she said. "Yet I am an Irish girl, and I'm not going to
+show funk. There are all those poor girls waiting in the yard so long. I
+will go to them at once. Come with me, Susy."</p>
+
+<p>There were about forty girls in the yard, and they sat close together.
+The night was sufficiently cold to make them somewhat chill, and the
+fears which little Janey Ford had put into their hearts began to grow
+greater and more fixed each moment. When Kathleen appeared all was
+immediately changed. Susy preceded her, carrying the little paraffin
+lamp. This was placed on the table which was arranged in the yard for
+the purpose, and its light fell now on the vivid coloring and beautiful
+face of the Irish girl. She took off her favorite blue velvet cap and
+pushed her hand through her masses of radiant hair, and then flung
+herself into what she was pleased to call an attitude, but which was
+really a very graceful and natural pose. Then she said, speaking aloud:</p>
+
+<p>"Girls of the society, Wild Irish Girls, I am sorry to tell you that my
+aunt, Miss O'Flynn&mdash;Miss Katie O'Flynn&mdash;who I hoped would have joined
+our numbers to-night, and would have been a perfect rock of strength for
+us all, has been obliged to suddenly go back to Ireland,<!-- Page 261 --><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261"></a> owing to an
+accident that has happened to her dearest friend."</p>
+
+<p>"Dear, dear, how sad!" said one or two.</p>
+
+<p>"So we are without her, girls," continued Kathleen. "And now I want to
+know if you are prepared to stand by me through thick and thin?"</p>
+
+<p>"That we are!" was shouted in one vivid, clear girlish note.</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad to hear it. And if you will stand by me, you may be quite
+sure that I will stand by you. It is whispered in the school that we are
+found out, and the school, bless it! is angry. It doesn't want us, you
+foundationers and me, to have our fun&mdash;our little bit of innocent fun."</p>
+
+<p>"Very mean of it!" said one or two, while the others groaned.</p>
+
+<p>"It wants to crush us," continued Kathleen. "We mean the school no harm,
+and why shouldn't it let us alone? All we want is our fun, a little bit
+of liberty, and to show those companions who look down upon us that we
+are as good as they, and that we will fight for each other, and have our
+own way, and meet when we please, and do as we like out of school hours.
+It is a sort of Manifesto of Independence, that is what it is, girls,
+and I want to know if you will stick to it."</p>
+
+<p>All the hands were raised up at this juncture, and all the voices said:</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, yes, yes."</p>
+
+<p>"That's splendid," said Kathleen. "I didn't know I had such an
+enthusiastic following. Well girls, we'll have to run a certain risk. We
+will have to conceal all we can about this society; we'll have to be
+true to each other, whatever happens; and we'll meet wherever we like,
+girls.<!-- Page 262 --><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262"></a> Let the head-mistress and the governors say what they please."</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah for Kathleen O'Hara! Hurrah for the Wild Irish Girls for ever!"
+they shouted.</p>
+
+<p>"That's about it," said Kathleen. "I called you all to-night to tell you
+that we are suspected, and we are called insurrectionists; but let them
+call us what they like."</p>
+
+<p>"Please," here put in the timid voice of Janey Ford, "are we likely to
+be put in prison? For that would break mother's heart, and do none of us
+any good."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you little goose!" cried Kathleen, with her ringing laugh. "Not a
+bit of it. The worst that could happen to us is to be expelled from the
+school."</p>
+
+<p>Now this worst, which was really a matter of little importance in the
+eyes of Kathleen, was somewhat serious to the other girls. To be
+expelled meant to deprive them of their chance of being well educated
+and of earning a decent living by-and-by. They all felt very grave, and
+Kathleen, who had a great power of reading what went on in the hearts of
+those in whom she was interested, felt somehow that their enthusiasm had
+abated.</p>
+
+<p>"But nothing will happen," she cried, "if we are faithful to each other,
+stand shoulder to shoulder, and do not whatever happens, betray each
+other. Why girls, Miss Ravenscroft and the governors can do nothing to
+us unless they have proof, and they will have no proof if we are all
+true to each other. Now that's the whole of it for to-night. We'll meet
+in the quarry on Saturday night, and then we'll make a plan for a great
+expedition all by ourselves to London in the course of next week."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh dear," said Susy, "doesn't it make your heart throb?"</p>
+
+<p>"And I want to add," continued Kathleen, "that I will<!-- Page 263 --><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263"></a> frank you. I
+can't do it always, but I will on this occasion. Aunt Katie O'Flynn has
+given me some money for that purpose. So you will stick to me, won't you
+girls?"</p>
+
+<p>"That we will!" came from the mouths of all.</p>
+
+<p>"And I am your captain, am I not girls?"</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed you are. We could die for you," said one or two. "And we'll
+never betray you or one another."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2>
+
+<h3>RUTH'S HARD CHOICE: SHE CONSULTS HER GRANDFATHER.</h3>
+
+
+<p>The next morning Cassandra Weldon was much surprised, on arriving at the
+school, to receive a message asking her to step into Miss Ravenscroft's
+special sanctum. She went there at once, wondering if the head-mistress
+wanted to give her particular instructions with regard to the great
+scholarship examination which would take place at the end of the term.
+Cassandra was remarkable for her calm and somewhat stately bearing; she
+was the sort of girl who never gave herself away. She was admired rather
+than passionately loved by her companions. No one could help giving her
+a most sincere respect. But one or two adored her, and amongst these was
+Florence Archer, a handsome, bright-faced, original sort of girl who was
+in the same form as Cassandra.</p>
+
+<p>"Be sure you come and tell me afterwards what it all means, Cassie,"
+said Florence, touching her friend affectionately on the shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>Cassandra nodded. She did not suppose the matter was of special import.
+The rest of the girls proceeded to<!-- Page 264 --><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264"></a> their different classes, and
+Cassandra found herself in Miss Ravenscroft's presence. Now to Kathleen
+the fact of being interviewed by Miss Ravenscroft only caused a sense of
+annoyance, and unwonted irritation; Ruth was surprised, partly delighted
+and partly afraid; but Cassandra, whose father had been a teacher, and
+who lived all her life in the scholastic world, considered it an honor
+almost too great for words that she should be specially interviewed by
+so great a person as Miss Ravenscroft. She made, therefore, a most
+respectful curtsy, and stood modestly before the head-mistress.</p>
+
+<p>"Sit down, dear," said Miss Ravenscroft kindly. "I have sent for you,
+Cassandra, neither to reprove nor to give you ordinary counsel. I have
+sent for you to consult you, my dear child."</p>
+
+<p>"You are very good," said Cassandra, flushing all over her delicate
+face; "and I am sure," she added, "if it is possible for me to help one
+like you, I should be only too proud."</p>
+
+<p>"That is what I feel; and I think you can help me. We are at present in
+a very unpleasant position in the school. The unanimity and harmony of
+this entire large place is in danger, and the foundationers are in
+extreme peril. You perhaps know to what I allude."</p>
+
+<p>"I could not be in the school without having heard rumors of a sort of
+insurrection which seems to be spreading a good deal," said Cassandra.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course," said Miss Ravenscroft. "It has been brought to our ears
+that a society has been formed by an Irish girl of the name of Kathleen
+O'Hara. She has called it the Wild Irish Girls. There are several
+members, and she herself is the leader. Now, Cassandra, without going
+into particulars, it is the firm intention, not only of myself<!-- Page 265 --><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265"></a> as
+head-mistress, but also of the governors, to crush this matter in the
+bud. It is true that the bud is rapidly blossoming into most dangerous
+flower and fruit, but if we are in time we shall stop all further
+mischief. Now to do this we must get all particulars. There is one girl
+who can furnish us will all we want to know, but she dreads, doubtless
+from conscientious motives, to betray her late companions. I allude to
+Ruth Craven."</p>
+
+<p>"Poor little Ruth!" said Cassandra. "I thought as much. The child is
+very unhappy. I take a great&mdash;- very great&mdash;interest in Ruth, Miss
+Ravenscroft. She is a most sweet girl; she is a lady placed in a
+position which a lady should scarcely occupy, but through it all she
+will never betray the true instincts of her nature."</p>
+
+<p>"I am sure of that. I quite like the child myself," said Miss
+Ravenscroft; "and your opinion of her, Cassie, confirms my own. She told
+me, too, that you have been extremely kind to her. I quite expect that
+is the case. But, my dear, the time has come when Ruth will either have
+to tell us what she knows or to resign her place in the school."</p>
+
+<p>Cassandra's face looked troubled.</p>
+
+<p>"There are no two opinions on the matter," continued Miss Ravenscroft.
+"Yesterday a meeting of the governors was convened. They assembled in
+the committee-room, and I was present. Ruth was sent for and questioned
+by Miss Mackenzie, our chairwoman. She was asked certain questions,
+which she absolutely refused to answer. The only thing we could get out
+of her was that she had been a member of the society but was one no
+longer."</p>
+
+<p>"She left them because of me," said Cassandra. "She felt she could not
+be with me and with those who do not approve of the paying girls."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 266 --><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266"></a>"There you are!" said Miss Ravenscroft. "Think of the monstrous
+mischief that is going on in our midst. Children like the foundationers,
+who are received at the school without being expected to pay anything,
+who get the most admirable education free of all cost, daring to set up
+their opinion against girls who, without being in any sense their
+superiors&mdash;one doesn't want to imply that for an instant&mdash;are yet vastly
+superior in numbers. The thing must be put a stop to, and with a high
+hand; and to show you, my dear, what we mean to do, we have presented an
+ultimatum to Ruth Craven. She will either tell publicly what she knows
+of the Wild Irish Girls or be publicly expelled."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, poor Ruth!" said Cassandra.</p>
+
+<p>"We are naturally most anxious that such a painful scene should not take
+place," said Miss Ravenscroft. "I beg of you, therefore, Cassie, to see
+her and use your influence to induce her, not from quixotic motives, to
+ruin herself and injure the other girls of the school."</p>
+
+<p>"I will do what I can. But Ruth is peculiar. She is, with all her
+sweetness, very obstinate. Still, I faithfully promise to do what I
+can."</p>
+
+<p>Cassandra left the presence of Miss Ravenscroft and returned to her
+place in class. Nothing would induce her not to work with her usual
+diligence, but when on certain occasions she raised her head she saw
+that Florence Archer was watching her with curiosity and affection, and
+that Ruth darted quick glances at her and then bent her head, with its
+curly hair falling over her face, to resume her lessons.</p>
+
+<p>This was a half-holiday, and the classes broke up at twelve o'clock.
+Cassandra hoped to have a talk with Ruth before she went home, but when
+she looked round for<!-- Page 267 --><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267"></a> her little favorite she could not find her
+anywhere. The foundationers were standing in knots talking eagerly to
+each other. There was a sort of buzz or whisper going on in their midst.
+Kathleen O'Hara darted from one group to another, smiled at one set of
+girls, patted the shoulder of a favorite girl in another group, laughed
+one time, said an emphatic word to another, and presently disappeared,
+accompanied by Susy Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>Alice Tennant was standing by herself; she looked dull and depressed.
+Cassandra went up to her.</p>
+
+<p>"It there anything the matter, Alice?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Matter!" replied Alice. "Surely you must know that for yourself. Have
+you not heard what a condition the school is in?"</p>
+
+<p>"I have, of course, heard about the Wild Irish Girls," said Cassandra,
+lowering her voice. "But surely the fact that there are a few naughty
+girls in our midst need not upset the whole school?"</p>
+
+<p>"It upsets me, anyhow," said Alice, "for I feel that I have brought it
+on the school. I could cry. I only wish that mother had never been
+induced to take Kathleen as a boarder. She is worse than troublesome;
+she is a girl without principle."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't think quite so bad as that, dear," said a gay voice at that
+moment; and turning, Alice saw the piquant and beautiful face of the
+girl she loathed. "I guessed, of course, that you must be alluding to
+me," said Kathleen. "I am bad, but I have my own principles&mdash;and a good
+old-fashioned set, worth a great deal."</p>
+
+<p>She nodded impertinently to both the girls, and then reentered the
+school.</p>
+
+<p>"I left my satchel and came back for it," she said as she vanished from
+their view.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 268 --><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268"></a>"Yes," said Alice, "that is just like her&mdash;just the sort of thing she
+would do. She is always daring every one. I do wish some strong
+influence could be brought to bear on her. There is no doubt she is very
+clever, and when she likes she can be extremely agreeable."</p>
+
+<p>"She is extremely pretty, you know, and that goes a long way."</p>
+
+<p>"Not with me, thank goodness!" said Alice. "In fact, I almost hate her
+face. I detest people who are always grinning and smiling and showing
+themselves off. My opinion is that schoolgirls ought to be modest, and
+attentive to their books, and not thinking of giving themselves airs.
+But there! no one agrees with me. Mother and the boys are fairly mad on
+Kathleen; and as to the servants, there's nothing they wouldn't do for
+her. Every one combines to spoil her; I don't see that she has the least
+chance."</p>
+
+<p>Cassandra talked a little longer to Alice, and then prepared to go home.
+She was disappointed that she had not seen Ruth; but Ruth had promised
+to be with her quite early in the afternoon. They were both to work for
+two hours, and afterwards their coach was to arrive. Ruth would spend
+the entire afternoon at Cassandra's home. On her way back Florence
+Archer suddenly joined her.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Cassie," she said, "what is it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, can't you guess for yourself, Flo? It is this. The school has got
+into trouble, and the governors and Miss Ravenscroft mean to sift the
+matter to the very bottom. It is pretty bad when all things are
+considered, for if the girls won't tell they will be expelled&mdash;expelled
+without any hope of returning. And I rather fancy Kathleen is the sort
+of girl whom no one will betray. It is extremely awkward, and I feel
+very miserable about it."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 269 --><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269"></a>"You look it; and yet it isn't your affair. Your place in the school is
+secure enough."</p>
+
+<p>"What does that matter, Flo, when those you love are in danger?"</p>
+
+<p>"Those you love in danger, Cassie! What do you mean now?"</p>
+
+<p>"I mean just what I say. I am decidedly fond of little Ruth Craven. She
+is placed in a hard position, but she is so clever and so pretty that
+she could do anything. Well, I am certain that Ruth won't betray her
+companions."</p>
+
+<p>"I forgot," said Florence, "that she did belong to that silly society.
+What a little goose she was!"</p>
+
+<p>"She was led into it by Kathleen. They all were for that matter.
+Kathleen seems to have a singular power over them."</p>
+
+<p>"But Ruth doesn't belong to it now."</p>
+
+<p>"No. I can't in justice to her explain any further, Florence. I will
+tell you all I can, of course; but may I say good-bye now, for I have a
+good deal to do before dinner?"</p>
+
+<p>"You are not half as friendly as you used to be," said Florence,
+pouting. "You hardly ever ask me to your house, and when I ask you to
+mine you always have an excuse ready. It is somewhat hard on me that
+Ruth Craven should have come between us."</p>
+
+<p>"But she hasn't. I wish that you would believe that she hasn't. I have
+to give her a sort of protecting love; but you and I, Flo, are equal in
+our love. Surely we can afford to be kind to a little girl who has not
+our advantages."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, if you put it in that way, I don't mind a bit,"<!-- Page 270 --><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270"></a> said Florence
+cheerfully. "Well, good-bye for the present. We'll meet to-morrow
+morning."</p>
+
+<p>The girls parted, and Florence went on her way home.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Ruth had also gone on her way. She walked slowly. Once or
+twice she stopped. Once when in a somewhat narrow and lonely path she
+paused and looked up at the sky, and then down at the ground beneath her
+feet. Once she uttered a short, expressive sort of sigh; and once she
+said half-aloud:</p>
+
+<p>"I do hope God will help me. I do want to do just what is right."</p>
+
+<p>Thus, lagging as she walked, she by slow degrees reached her home. Mrs.
+Craven happened to be out, but old Mr. Craven was seated by the fire. He
+was feeling rather poorly to-day. He had a large account-book open in
+front of him, and when Ruth entered he laid down the pen with which he
+had been summing up his figures.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't make them quite right," he said slowly.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, grandfather, what is the matter?" said Ruth in some surprise.</p>
+
+<p>The old man's large clear blue eyes were fixed on the child.</p>
+
+<p>"I had a curious feeling this morning," he said; "but I know now it was
+only a dream. I thought I was back in the shop again. I was up, my dear;
+I had taken a bit of a walk, and I came in and sat down by the fire. It
+came over me all of a sudden how lazy I was, and how wrong to neglect
+the shop and not give your grandmother a bit of help with the customers;
+and so strong was the notion over me that I unlocked the old bureau and
+took out the account-books. I said to myself I can at least square
+everything up for her, and that will help her as much as anything. She
+was always a rare one to see a<!-- Page 271 --><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271"></a> good balance at the end of the week. If
+she had a good balance and all things nicely squared up, we'd have a
+nice little joint for Sunday; and she'd put on her little bonnet and
+best mantle, and we'd go for a walk in the country arm-in-arm, just like
+the Darby and Joan we were, Ruthie, and which we are. But if the balance
+didn't come out on the right side she'd stay at home. She'd never cry or
+despair; that wasn't her way, bless you! She'd say, 'We must think of
+some way of saving, John, or we must do a bit more selling of the
+stock.' She was a rare one to contrive."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth had heard this story of her grandmother many and many a time
+before, but her grandfather's look frightened her. She went up to him
+and closed the big account-book.</p>
+
+<p>"You have balanced things a long time ago," she said. "Don't fret now.
+May I put the account-book aside?"</p>
+
+<p>"You may, darling; you may. But the accounts ain't balanced, Ruthie; we
+are on the wrong side of the ledger, my love&mdash;on the wrong side of the
+ledger."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth said nothing more. She put the book back into the drawer and locked
+it. Then she sat down by her grandfather's side.</p>
+
+<p>"Would you rather I got you your dinner," she said, "or would you rather
+I talked to you for a little?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'd a sight rather my little Ruth sat near me and let me place my hand
+on her hair. Your hair is jet-black, Ruthie&mdash;almost blue-black. So was
+your father's hair, my child. He was a very handsome boy. I never looked
+for it that he would die in the foreign parts and leave you to your
+grandmother and me. But you have been a rare blessing to us&mdash;a rare
+blessing."</p>
+
+<p>"Sometimes I think," said Ruth slowly, "that I have<!-- Page 272 --><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272"></a> been a great care.
+It must have cost you a great deal to feed and clothe me."</p>
+
+<p>"No, no, child; far from that. You were always the bit of good luck&mdash;on
+the right side of the balance&mdash;always, always."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth took the old man's hand and pressed it between both her own.
+Presently she rubbed her cheeks softly against it.</p>
+
+<p>"Grandfather," she said, "are you all right now&mdash;quite wide awake, I
+mean? Has the dream about the shop and the wrong accounts passed out of
+your head?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, yes, darling; of course it was only a dream."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I'd like to ask you something."</p>
+
+<p>"Ask away, my little Ruth. You are such a busy little maid now, what
+with your school, and what with your lessons, and what with that big
+scholarship&mdash;sixty pounds a year. Ah! we shall have a fine right side of
+the ledger when little Ruth has brought home sixty pounds a year."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth stifled a groan.</p>
+
+<p>"I am rather puzzled," she said, "and I want to put a question to you."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, my darling; I am prepared to listen."</p>
+
+<p>"I know a girl," said Ruth after a pause&mdash;she thought that she would
+tell her story that way&mdash;"I know a girl at school, and she has been
+kindly treated. She is one of the foundation girls, but some of the
+girls who are not foundationers have singled her out and been specially
+good to her."</p>
+
+<p>"Eh, eh! Well, that's good of them," said old Mr. Craven.</p>
+
+<p>"They have been very good to her; but that Irish girl whom I told you
+about, she started a society&mdash;no special harm in itself&mdash;at least it
+didn't seem harm to the girl<!-- Page 273 --><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273"></a> I have been telling you about, and she
+joined it. She joined it for a bit, and she liked it&mdash;that is, on the
+whole&mdash;but afterwards a girl who had not joined the society and did not
+belong to the foundationers, one whom I am sorry to say the
+foundationers did not care for at all, offered a great kindness to this
+girl&mdash;a very special and tremendous kindness&mdash;and the girl in her own
+mind decided that she would be doing wrong not to accept it. So she did
+accept it, and&mdash;Are you listening, grandfather?"</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed I am, little maid. Go on, my child; I'm attending to every
+word."</p>
+
+<p>"The girl decided to accept the kindness from the paying girl, and to do
+that she had to give up the society. She was sorry to give it up, but it
+seemed to her that it was the only right and honorable thing to do. She
+could not belong to both&mdash;to one side of the school and to the other;
+she must take her stand with one or the other; so she decided for her
+own special benefit to take her stand with the paying girls."</p>
+
+<p>"On the whole, perhaps, she was right," said the old man. "Can't say
+unless I know everything; but on the whole, perhaps, she was right."</p>
+
+<p>"I think she was, grandfather," said Ruth slowly. "But now please
+listen. The head-mistress at the school and the governors have found out
+about the secret society. They have found out that it exists, but they
+don't know much more. They know, however, that its influence is bad in
+the school, and they are determined to crush it out. In order to do this
+they must get full particulars. They must get the name of the leader. I
+am afraid that they know the name of the leader, but they must also get
+the names of her companions&mdash;all the names&mdash;and as much<!-- Page 274 --><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274"></a> as possible of
+the rules of the society. Now the only girl not a member of the society
+who can give those particulars is the girl I have been talking about;
+for, of course, she knows, as she belonged to it at one time although
+she has now left it. And the governors and the head-mistress sent for
+this girl and asked her to betray her companions&mdash;those girls to whom
+she had sworn fealty&mdash;and the girl refused."</p>
+
+<p>"Quite right," said old Mr. Craven.</p>
+
+<p>The color rushed into Ruth's cheeks. She clasped her grandfather's hand
+firmly.</p>
+
+<p>"She thought it right, but something dreadful is going to happen. It
+will be terribly hard for the girl if she sticks to her resolve, for the
+governors of the school have presented what they call an ultimatum to
+her; they have given her from now till Saturday to make up her mind, and
+if she refuses on Saturday grandfather, she is to be expelled publicly.
+Her sentence will be proclaimed in the presence of all the school, and
+she will be watched walking out of the schoolroom and out of the big
+gates, which will close behind her for ever, and all her chance
+goes&mdash;all her golden prospects. Nevertheless, grandfather, speaking to
+me from your own heart, ought the girl to betray her companions?"</p>
+
+<p>"Upon my word!" said the old man, who was intensely moved by Ruth's
+story. It did not occur to him for one moment that the little girl was
+talking about herself. "I tell you what, Ruth," he said; "I must think
+over it. I pity that poor girl. I don't think the governors ought to put
+any girl in such a position."</p>
+
+<p>"They are sorry, but they say they must. They must get at the truth;
+they must crush out the insurrection."</p>
+
+<p>"But it is turning king's evidence," said the old man.<!-- Page 275 --><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275"></a> "I don't see how
+a girl is to be expected to betray her companions."</p>
+
+<p>"That is the position, grandfather. And now I think I will get you your
+dinner."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth went out of the room into the little kitchen. For a minute she
+pressed her hands against her face.</p>
+
+<p>"Grandfather agrees with me," she said to herself. "I am glad I
+consulted him. No one ever had a clearer head for business or for right
+and wrong than grandfather when he is at his best. He was at his best
+just now. I feel stronger. I won't betray Kathleen O'Hara."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2>
+
+<h3>RUTH WILL NOT BETRAY KATHLEEN.</h3>
+
+
+<p>Soon after dinner Ruth walked over to Cassandra's house. Cassandra was
+so anxious to see her, so determined to use her influence on what she
+considered the scale of right, that she was waiting for Ruth at the
+little gate.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! here you are," she said. "I am so glad to see you. Mother has gone
+out for the day; we will have a whole delightful afternoon to ourselves.
+We can do some good work."</p>
+
+<p>"Let us," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>She felt feverish and excited. As a rule she was very calm, but now her
+heart beat too fast. She was thinking of her grandfather, and of what it
+would mean to him and the old grandmother when she came back on Saturday
+a disgraced girl, expelled from her high estate, her golden chance
+snatched from her. Nevertheless she had always been pretty firm, and
+pretty well resolved to do what she<!-- Page 276 --><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276"></a> thought right. She was firmer now,
+and quite resolved.</p>
+
+<p>"Shall we go in at once and set to work?" she said. "I want to read that
+bit of Tasso over again before Miss Renshaw comes."</p>
+
+<p>"No, no," said Cassandra. "You are always in such a fidget to learn,
+Ruth. Come into the garden; I want to talk to you."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth looked full round at her companion. She saw something in
+Cassandra's eye which made her slightly shiver. Then she said:</p>
+
+<p>"Very well."</p>
+
+<p>Cassandra opened the little gate which led into the tiny fruit and
+vegetable garden. There was a narrow path, bordered on each side with a
+box-hedge, down which the girls walked. Presently Cassandra slipped her
+arm round Ruth's waist.</p>
+
+<p>"You knew, of course," she said, "how much I love you."</p>
+
+<p>"You are awfully good to me, Cassie."</p>
+
+<p>"As a rule I am not fond of what schoolgirls call falling in love,"
+continued Cassandra; "but I love you. There is nothing I wouldn't do for
+you."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," said Ruth again.</p>
+
+<p>She wondered what Cassandra would say on Saturday. Surely after Saturday
+no girl who belonged to the Great Shirley School would like to speak to
+her.</p>
+
+<p>"Now I want to tell you something," continued Cassandra. "I saw Miss
+Ravenscroft this morning. She told me about you and your position with
+the governors."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, need we talk of that?" said Ruth coloring, stopping in her walk,
+and turning to face Cassandra.</p>
+
+<p>"Why shouldn't we? I wish you would tell me everything. Why are you
+going to be so obstinate? But of<!-- Page 277 --><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277"></a> course you won't be. You will&mdash;you
+must&mdash;change your mind. She told me&mdash;Miss Ravenscroft did&mdash;because she
+likes you, Ruth, and she would be so terribly sorry if you got into
+trouble over this matter. She said you are certain to get into most
+serious, terrible trouble, for the governors will on no account depart
+from their firm resolve to expel you from the school. You will have
+defied their authority, and that is what they cannot permit. It is on
+that ground they will expel you, but it is strong enough; no one can
+suppose for a moment that they are acting with injustice."</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad it is on that ground," said Ruth softly.</p>
+
+<p>"Then of course you will be wise, Ruth. It is silly and quixotic, for
+the sake of a girl like Kathleen O'Hara, to ruin all your own
+prospects."</p>
+
+<p>"It is scarcely that&mdash;and yet it is that," said Ruth slowly. "It is
+because I will not be a traitor," she added, lowering her voice, then
+flinging up her head and gazing proudly before her.</p>
+
+<p>"I knew you were quixotic. I knew that was at the bottom of it," said
+Cassandra. "But you will think it over, Ruth. It would be too terrible
+to see you denounced in the presence of the whole school, and sent out
+of the school for ever. Think of losing your scholarship. Think of the
+help you want to give your grandparents. Think of your own future."</p>
+
+<p>"I think of them all," said Ruth; "but I also think of what father would
+have said if he were alive. You see Cassandra, before all things he was
+a gentleman."</p>
+
+<p>Cassandra started. She looked full at Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"Is that a slap at me?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"No; I did not mean it as a slap at you or anybody. I only see how the
+matter looks to me, and how it would<!-- Page 278 --><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278"></a> have looked to father, and how it
+looks to grandfather. There are some people born that way; I think,
+after a fashion, I am one of them. There are others who would look at
+the thing from a different point of view, but I don't think I envy those
+others. Shall we go in now and set to work?"</p>
+
+<p>"You are an extraordinary girl," said Cassandra. "I really don't know
+whether I love you or hate you most for being such a little goose. Well,
+Ruth, if that is your mind, I don't know why you care to go in to work,
+for it will be all over in a day or two&mdash;all over&mdash;and your fate
+sealed."</p>
+
+<p>"Nevertheless I should like to read that piece of Tasso, and do my work
+with Miss Renshaw. Shall we go in?" said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>Cassandra somehow did not dare to say any more. Afterwards, when Ruth
+had returned to her own home, Cassandra sat with her head in her hands
+for the best part of an hour. Her mother asked her what ailed her.</p>
+
+<p>"I have a headache," she replied. "I was with a girl to-day who is fifty
+times too good for me."</p>
+
+<p>"What nonsense you are talking, Cassandra! There are few people good
+enough for you."</p>
+
+<p>"To think of her gives me a headache," continued Cassandra. "If you
+don't mind, mother, I will go to bed now."</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile things were moving rather rapidly in another direction.
+Kathleen O'Hara, walking home that day in the company of Susy Hopkins,
+eagerly questioned that young lady.</p>
+
+<p>"How prim and proper every one looked in the school to-day!" she said.
+"What is wrong?"</p>
+
+<p>"There is plenty wrong," said Susy. "I tell you what<!-- Page 279 --><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279"></a> it is, Kathleen, I
+feel rather frightened. I suppose it will come to our all being
+expelled."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, not a bit of it," said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it looks rather like it," said Susy. "Do you know what they are
+doing?"</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"They are bringing pressure to bear upon Ruth Craven. The governors
+convened a special meeting yesterday; they had Ruth before them, and
+then tried by every means in their power to get her to tell. You see,
+she is in the position of the person who knows everything. She belonged
+to us for a time, and now she doesn't belong to us."</p>
+
+<p>"Well?" said Kathleen, feeling interested and a little startled.</p>
+
+<p>"She wouldn't tell."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course she wouldn't. She is a brick. The Ruth Cravens of the world
+are not traitors," said Kathleen. "And so that is what the governors are
+doing&mdash;horrid, sneaky, disagreeable things! But they are not going to
+subdue me, so they needn't think it. I tell you what it is, Susy. Why
+should we put off till next week our picnic to town? Can't we have it
+this week?"</p>
+
+<p>"I wish we could," said Susy. "It would be glorious," she continued. "I
+do think somehow, Kathleen, that they will catch us in the long run. It
+might be dangerous to put off our glorious time till next week."</p>
+
+<p>"It might? It certainly would," said Kathleen. "We will go to-morrow
+evening. School is always over at four. We can meet at the railway
+station between five and six, and go off all by ourselves to&mdash;But where
+shall we go when we get to town?"</p>
+
+<p>"Couldn't we go to a theatre&mdash;to the pit at one of the theatres?"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 280 --><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280"></a>"If only Aunt Katie O'Flynn was with us it would be as right as right,"
+said Kathleen; "but dare we go alone?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am sure we dare. I shouldn't be frightened. I think some of the girls
+know exactly how to manage."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I tell you what. You know most of the names of the members. Go
+round to-day and see as many as you can. Tell them that I am game for a
+real bit of fun, and that I will stand treat. We will go to town by the
+quarter-to-six train to-morrow evening. We will have some refreshments
+at a restaurant, and then we will go to the pit of one of the theatres.
+It will be a lark. There will be about forty of us altogether."</p>
+
+<p>"We are sure to be found out. It is too risky; and yet I think we'll do
+it," said Susy. "Oh, there never was such a lark!"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing could happen to forty of us," said Kathleen. "I am going to do
+it just to defy them. How dare they try to make dear little Ruth betray
+us? But she won't. I am certain she won't."</p>
+
+<p>Susy talked a little longer to Kathleen, and finally agreed to take her
+message to as many of the Wild Irish Girls as she could possibly reach.</p>
+
+<p>"They will all hear of it safe enough," said Susy. "The whole forty of
+us will meet you at the station to-morrow night. Oh dear! of course it
+is wrong."</p>
+
+<p>"It is magnificently wrong; that is the glorious part of it," said
+Kathleen. "Oh dear! I feel almost as jolly as though I were in old
+Ireland again."</p>
+
+<p>She laughed merrily, parted from Susy, and ran all the rest of the way
+home.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a><!-- Page 281 --><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2>
+
+<h3>KATHLEEN AND GRANDFATHER CRAVEN.</h3>
+
+
+<p>Friday was emphatically a summer's day in winter. The sky was cloudless;
+the few leaves that still remained on the trees looked brilliant in
+their autumn coloring. The ground was crisp under foot; the air was
+soft, gentle, and pleasant. Girls, like all other creatures, are
+susceptible to weather; they do their best work and have their best
+feelings aroused when the sun shines and the day looks cheerful. The
+sunshiny weather puts heart into them. But it is sad to relate that when
+a girl is bent on mischief she is even more mischievous, more daring,
+more defiant when the sun shines and the earth looks gay.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen awoke on the special morning after a night of wild dreams. She
+raised herself on her elbow and looked across at Alice.</p>
+
+<p>"What a lovely day! Why, I see sunshine quite plainly from where I am
+lying. Wake up, won't you, Alice?" she said.</p>
+
+<p>"How tiresome of you to rouse me!" said Alice, opening her eyes and
+looking crossly at Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen smiled back at her. Her face was rosy. Her hair was tossed in
+wild confusion about her head and shoulders; it tumbled also over her
+forehead, and made her eyes look more dancing and mischievous than ever
+beneath its heavy shadow.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder&mdash;" said Kathleen softly.</p>
+
+<p>If she had spoken in a loud voice Alice would have taken no notice, but
+there was something pathetic and beautiful in her tone, and Alice raised
+herself and looked at her.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 282 --><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282"></a>"I wonder," she said "why you hate me so much?'</p>
+
+<p>"Fudge!" said Alice.</p>
+
+<p>"But Alice, it isn't fudge. Why should I have made myself so terribly
+obnoxious to you? The others are fond of me; they don't think me
+perfect&mdash;and indeed I don't want them to&mdash;but they love me for those
+qualities in me which are worthy of love."</p>
+
+<p>"How you chatter!" said Alice. "I have hitherto failed to perceive the
+qualities in you that are worthy of love. It wants another quarter of an
+hour before our hot water is brought in. Do you greatly object to my
+sleeping during that time?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, cross patch," said Kathleen, turning angrily on her pillow. "You
+may sleep till doomsday as far as I am concerned."</p>
+
+<p>"Polite," muttered Alice.</p>
+
+<p>She shut her eyes, folded her arms, and prepared for further slumber;
+but somehow Kathleen had effectually aroused her. She could not get the
+radiant face out of her head, nor the words, a little sad in their
+meaning, out of her ears. She looked up as though moved to say
+something.</p>
+
+<p>"As you have asked me a question, I will give you an answer. I know a
+way in which you can secure my good opinion."</p>
+
+<p>"Really!" said Kathleen, who was too angry now to be properly polite.
+"And what may that way be?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, this: if you will tell the truth about your horrible society, and
+spare dear little Ruth Craven, and make Cassandra Weldon happy."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't care twopence about your tiresome Cassandra; but little
+Ruth&mdash;what ails her?"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 283 --><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283"></a>"The governors are going to insist upon her telling what she knows."</p>
+
+<p>"But she won't," said Kathleen, laughing merrily. "She is too much of a
+brick."</p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll be expelled."</p>
+
+<p>"What nonsense!"</p>
+
+<p>"You wait and see. You don't know the Great Shirley School as well as I
+do. However, I have spoken; I have nothing more to say. It is time to
+get up, after all."</p>
+
+<p>The girls dressed in silence. Alice had long ceased to torment Kathleen
+about her own side of the room. Provided Alice's side was left in peace,
+she determined to shut her eyes to untidy wardrobes, to the chest of
+drawers full to bursting, to a boot kicked off here and a shoe
+disporting itself there, to ribbons and laces and handkerchiefs and
+scarves and blouses scattered on the bed, and even on the floor. Alice
+had learnt to put up with these things; she turned her back on them, so
+to speak.</p>
+
+<p>The two girls ran downstairs together. Just for a moment Kathleen had
+felt frightened at Alice's words, but then she cast them from her mind.
+It was quite, quite impossible to suppose that anything so monstrously
+unfair as that a little girl should be expelled from the school could
+happen. Ruth, too, of all the girls&mdash;Ruth who was absolutely goodness
+itself. So Kathleen ate her breakfast with appetite, remarked on the
+brightness of the day to Mrs. Tennant and the boys, and then with Alice
+started off to school with her satchel of books slung over her shoulder,
+her gay, pretty dress making her look a most remarkable figure amongst
+all the girls who were going towards the great school, and her saucy
+bright face attracting attention on all sides. There was nothing about
+Kathleen to indicate that that evening she meant to steal<!-- Page 284 --><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284"></a> from home
+and, in company with forty companions, go to London. She was able to
+keep her own counsel, and this last daring scheme was locked tightly up
+in her heart. On her way to school she met Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"There is Ruth," she said, turning to Alice. "Oh! and there's Susy in
+the distance. I want to speak to them both. You can go on, of course,
+Alice; I will follow presently."</p>
+
+<p>"We are rather late as it is," said Alice. "In addition to your
+misdemeanors, I should advise you not to be late for prayers just at
+present."</p>
+
+<p>"Thanks so much!" said Kathleen in a sarcastic tone.</p>
+
+<p>She left Alice and ran towards Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Ruth," she said, "you do look pale."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I am all right," said Ruth, brightening at the sight of Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"Then you don't look it. Ruth, is it true that they want you to tell?"</p>
+
+<p>"They want me to, Kathleen," said Ruth; "but I am not going to. You can
+rest quite satisfied on that point."</p>
+
+<p>"You are a splendid, darling brick," said Kathleen, "and I love you to
+distraction. Dear Ruth, what can I do for you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Give up the society as fast as you can," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"What? And yet you won't tell!"</p>
+
+<p>"It's because it's dishonorable to tell," said Ruth. "Don't keep me now,
+Kathleen; I want to get into school in good time. Grandfather is not
+well, and I must hurry back to him."</p>
+
+<p>"Your nice white-haired grandfather that you have talked to me about?"</p>
+
+<p>"He was ill all night. He talked about you a little. Do you know,
+Kathleen, I think he'd like to see you.<!-- Page 285 --><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285"></a> Would you greatly mind coming
+back with me after school, just to see him for a minute? I have told him
+so much about you, and I have told granny too, and they both picture you
+somewhat as you are. Do you think you could come, just to give them both
+pleasure?"</p>
+
+<p>"Come?" said Kathleen gaily. "Why, of course I'll come, heart of my
+life. I'd do anything on earth to please you. I'll join you after
+school, and well go straight away. It doesn't matter a bit about my
+being late for dinner at the Tennants'. Ah! there's Susy. I want to have
+a word with her."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen pushed past Ruth and ran up to Susy. Susy was looking intensely
+agitated: there were vivid spots of color on her cheeks, and her eyes
+were as bright as stars.</p>
+
+<p>"I have managed everything," she said in a whisper. "It's all right;
+it's splendidly right. We are all coming; not one of us will stay
+behind. We know what it means, of course."</p>
+
+<p>"You look very mysterious," said Kathleen. "I wonder why you talk like
+that. What does it mean, in your opinion?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Kathleen, can't you understand? And one does it sometimes in life.
+I have read about it in story-books, and there are cases of it in
+history; you have one great tremendous fling; you do what is wrong; you
+have a good&mdash;a very good&mdash;time, and you know it won't last; you know
+that afterwards will come&mdash;the deluge."</p>
+
+<p>"You are a silly!" said Kathleen. "Why, what could happen? Nobody need
+know; we will be far too careful for that. I can't tell you how
+splendidly I have planned things. I have got up my headache already, in
+order to go to my room and thus avoid all suspicion."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh dear!" said Susy. "It doesn't sound right, does it?"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 286 --><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286"></a>"Right or wrong, it is fun," said Kathleen. "I am going to have it so.
+I have got the money, and I mean to have a magnificent time. Now don't
+keep me; I must run into school. It is horrid of them to grudge us our
+little bit of amusement."</p>
+
+<p>Susy agreed with her friend; indeed, during those days she was nearly
+lifted off her feet, so excited was she, so charmed, so altogether
+amazed at Kathleen O'Hara's condescension to her. Before Kathleen
+arrived at the school Susy was a good little girl, who helped her mother
+in the shop, and had dreams of going into another shop herself
+by-and-by. In those days she did not consider herself a lady, nor expect
+ladies to take any special notice of her. But those dull and stupid days
+were no more. Gold and sunshine and rich color and marvellous dreams had
+all come into her life since the arrival of Kathleen at Merrifield. For
+Kathleen had discrimination; it mattered nothing to her whether a girl
+paid or did not pay for her lessons, whether she belonged to the
+despised foundationers or was respected and looked up to by paying
+girls. Indeed, if anything, Kathleen had a decided leaning towards the
+foundationers; and she, Kathleen, was a lady&mdash;she belonged to what her
+mother and Aunt Church called the "real quality." "None of your
+upstarts," Aunt Church had said, "but one who for generations has
+belonged to the aristocrats; and they are of the kind who are too great
+in themselves to be proud. They are proud in the right way, but they
+never look down on folks." Yes, Susy was a happy girl now.</p>
+
+<p>But, after all, was she quite happy? Was she not at this very minute
+more or less oppressed by a secret fear? Suppose any single individual
+in Merrifield heard of the midnight picnic&mdash;the great, daring, midnight
+excursion<!-- Page 287 --><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287"></a> into the heart of London. Susy knew far better than Kathleen
+what a mad action the girls were about to perpetrate. She knew because
+she lived with the class who discussed such things very openly. If their
+frolic was not discovered, all would be well; if it was, it would be
+ruin&mdash;ruin complete and absolute. The ladies of the town would fight shy
+of her mother's shop. Aunt Church would be very unlikely to get her
+little almshouse in Ireland, for surely even Kathleen's friends would be
+very angry with her if they knew. Susy herself would be expelled from
+the school, and she in her fall would bring down her mother and brother.
+Yes, terrible would be the consequences <i>if</i> they were discovered. But
+then, they needn't be. Plucky people were not as a rule brought into
+trouble of that sort. It only needed a brave heart and a firm foot, and
+courage which nothing could daunt; and the other girls, the thirty-eight
+who were to join Kathleen and Susy, would keep them company.
+Nevertheless Susy was as unhappy as she was happy that day. She was so
+absorbed in her feelings, and in wondering what would happen during the
+next twenty-four hours, that she was not attentive at her lessons, and
+did not notice how the teachers watched her and made remarks. It was
+very evident to an onlooker that the teachers were particularly alert
+that morning, and that their gaze was principally fixed upon the
+foundationers.</p>
+
+<p>No remarks, however, were made. The school came to an end quite in the
+usual manner. Immediately afterwards Kathleen dashed off to find Ruth.
+Ruth was waiting for her just outside the gates.</p>
+
+<p>"Here I am," said Kathleen. "Take my arm, won't you, Ruthie? I shall be
+very glad indeed to be introduced to your grandfather."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 288 --><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288"></a>Ruth made no answer. Her face was white, but this fact only increased
+the rare delicacy, the sort of fragrance, which her appearance always
+presented. Kathleen and Ruth, did they but know it, made a most charming
+contrast as they walked arm-in-arm across the common; for Ruth belonged
+more or less to the twilight and the evening star, and Kathleen&mdash;her
+face, her eyes, her voice, her actions&mdash;spoke to those who had eyes to
+see of the morning. Kathleen was all enthusiasm, gay life, valor,
+daring; Ruth's gentle face and quiet voice gave little indication of the
+real depth of character which lay beneath.</p>
+
+<p>"This is such a lovely day," said Kathleen, "and somehow I feel so
+downright happy. Perhaps I am wrong, perhaps I am right, but I feel
+happy. I think it is on account of the day."</p>
+
+<p>They had now reached the little path which led up to the cottage. Ruth
+went first, and Kathleen followed. What a tiny place for her darling
+favorite to live in! But Kathleen felt she loved her all the better for
+it.</p>
+
+<p>Ruth softly unlatched the door and peeped in. The front-door opened
+right into the kitchen, and Mrs. Craven was seated by the fire.</p>
+
+<p>"Hush!" she said, putting her finger to her lips; "he is asleep."</p>
+
+<p>"I have brought Kathleen O'Hara, granny. I thought you'd like to see
+her, and I thought granddad would like to see her."</p>
+
+<p>"To be sure, child," said Mrs. Craven, bustling up and removing her
+cooking-apron. "Bring Miss O'Hara in at once. Is she waiting outside?
+Where are your manners, Ruth?&mdash;Ah, Miss O'Hara, I'm right pleased to see
+you! I am sorry my dear husband is not as well as could be wished; but
+perhaps if you'd be good enough to sit<!-- Page 289 --><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289"></a> down for a minute or two, he
+would wake up before you go."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen entered, held out her hand, greeted Mrs. Craven with a frank
+smile, showing a row of pearly teeth, and then sat down near the fire.</p>
+
+<p>"This is cosy," she said. "Aren't you going to give me a little bit of
+dinner, Mrs. Craven?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, my dear young lady, but we live so plain!"</p>
+
+<p>"And so do I when I am at home," said Kathleen. "I do hate messy dishes.
+I like potatoes better than anything in the world. Often at home I go
+off with my boy cousins, and we have such a good feed. I think potatoes
+are better than anything in the world."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, miss, if you'd like a potato it's at your service."</p>
+
+<p>"I should if it is in its jacket."</p>
+
+<p>"What did you say, miss?"</p>
+
+<p>"If the potato is boiled in its jacket. Ah! I see they are. Please let
+me have one."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen did not wait for Mrs. Craven's reply. She herself fetched a
+plate and the salt-cellar from the dresser, and putting these on the
+table, helped herself to a potato from the pot.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," she said, "this is good. I can fancy I am back in old Ireland."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Craven began to laugh.</p>
+
+<p>"Ruth, do have a potato with me," said Kathleen; "they are first-rate
+when you don't put a knife or fork near them."</p>
+
+<p>But Ruth had no inclination for potatoes eaten in the Irish way.</p>
+
+<p>"I will go in and see how grandfather is, granny," she said, and she
+disappeared into the little parlor.</p>
+
+<p>"You know," said Kathleen, helping herself to a second<!-- Page 290 --><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290"></a> potato, and
+fixing her eyes on Mrs. Craven's face&mdash;"you know how fond I am of Ruth."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed, my dear young lady, she has been telling me about you; and I am
+glad you notice her, dear little girl!"</p>
+
+<p>"But it is not only I," said Kathleen; "every one in the school likes
+her. She could be the primest favorite with every one if she only chose.
+She is so sweetly pretty, too, and such a lady."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, dear, her mother was a real lady; and her father was educated by
+my dear husband, and was in the army."</p>
+
+<p>"It doesn't matter if her father was a duke and her mother a dairymaid,"
+said Kathleen with emphasis. "She is just a lady because she is."</p>
+
+<p>Before she could add another word Ruth came in.</p>
+
+<p>"Do come, Kathleen," she said. "He is much better after his sleep. I
+told him you were here, and he would like to see you."</p>
+
+<p>"He has been bothered like anything about those accounts," said Mrs.
+Craven. "I can't make out what has put it into his head. Years ago it
+was an old story with him that something had gone wrong with the books;
+but, dear hearts! he had forgotten all about it for a weary long while.
+Now within the last week he has been at it again, just as if 'twas
+yesterday."</p>
+
+<p>"He has an old account-book on the table now, granny," said Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Mrs. Craven, "we must humor him.&mdash;Don't you take any
+notice, Miss O'Hara; don't contradict him, I mean."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen nodded. There was a look on Ruth's face which made her feel no
+longer interested in the Irish potatoes. She slipped her hand inside her
+friend's, and they went into the parlor. Mr. Craven was seated by the<!-- Page 291 --><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291"></a>
+fire. His white locks fell about his shoulders; there was a faint touch
+of pink on each of his sallow cheeks, and his blue eyes were bright.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah!" he said, raising his face when he saw Kathleen. "And is this the
+little lady&mdash;the dear little lady&mdash;- from over the seas, from the heart
+of Ireland itself? I was once in Ireland. I spent a month in Dublin, and
+I bought the very best paper for packing my sugars and teas in that I
+ever came across. Ah! I had a good time. We used to sit in Phoenix Park.
+I liked Ireland, and I could welcome any Irish maiden.&mdash;Give me your
+hand, missy; I am proud to see you."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen gave her hand. She came up close to the old man and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know, you have a look of my own old grandfather. He is dead and
+in his grave; but he had white, white hair like yours. Do you mind if I
+put my hand on your hair and stroke it just because of grandfather?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, my dear, you may do what you like," said the old man. "And you have
+been good to my little lass&mdash;my little woman here. She has told me you
+have been good to her."</p>
+
+<p>"She has been very good to me. I am glad to see you, Mr. Craven. I hope
+when you get strong again you will come over and stay with father and
+mother and me at Carrigrohane Castle."</p>
+
+<p>"No, no, my love. There was a time when I'd have liked it well, but not
+now. You see, dear&mdash;" his voice faltered and his eyes grew anxious&mdash;"I
+must mind the shop. When a man doesn't attend to his own business,
+accounts go wrong. Now there was quite a deficiency last week&mdash;the wrong
+side of the ledger. It was really terrible. I think of it at night, and
+when I wake first thing in the<!-- Page 292 --><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292"></a> morning I remember it. I must get to my
+accounts, little miss, but I am right glad to see you."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen felt a lump in her throat. Ruth, with her bright eyes fixed on
+her grandfather, stood close by.</p>
+
+<p>"But there!" said the old man hastily. "It's splendid for Ruth. She's
+got into that school, and she's trying for a scholarship. I know what
+Ruth tries for she will get, for her brain is of that fine quality that
+could not brook defeat, and her mind is of that high order that it must
+adjust itself to true learning. I was a bit of a scholar when I was
+young, although I made my money in grocery. Well, well! Ruth is all
+right. Even if the old man can't square up the ledger, Ruth is as right
+as right can be. Thank you, Miss&mdash;I can't remember your name&mdash;- but
+thank you, little Irish miss, for coming to see me; and good-bye."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen found herself outside the room. Mrs. Craven was not in the
+kitchen. Ruth and Kathleen went into the garden.</p>
+
+<p>"How can you stand it?" said Kathleen. "Doesn't it break your heart to
+see him?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh no," said Ruth. "You see, I am accustomed to him. He talks like
+that. I am sorry he is so bothered about the accounts, but perhaps that
+phase will pass."</p>
+
+<p>"He is so pleased about you and the scholarship."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Ruth. She turned pale. "Whatever happens," she added, "he
+must never know."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean about whatever happens?"</p>
+
+<p>"He must never know if I do not get it. Good-bye now, Kathleen. I am
+glad you have seen grandfather and granny. I must go back to granny now.
+She is very tired; she gets so little rest at night."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen went slowly home. The meal was over at the<!-- Page 293 --><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293"></a> Tennants', but
+somehow her couple of potatoes had satisfied her. She felt much more
+sober than she had done in the morning; she was inclined to think, to
+consider her ways. She felt an uncomfortable sensation of being haunted
+by the faces of Ruth and the old man.</p>
+
+<p>"But of course Ruth will get her scholarship," she said to herself. "Of
+course&mdash;of course her grandfather is right. Her brain is of the right
+order, and her mind is attuned to learning. How nicely he spoke, and how
+beautiful he looked&mdash;how like my dear old grandfather who has been with
+God for so many years now."</p>
+
+<p>There came a loud rat-tat at the front-door. David went out and brought
+in a telegram. It was addressed to Kathleen. She opened it in some
+surprise, and read the contents slowly. There was amazement on her face;
+a feeling of consternation stole into her heart. The telegram, not a
+long one, was from her father:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"Have just seen Aunt Katie O'Flynn. Do not approve of your
+     society. Squash the whole thing at once, or expect my serious
+     displeasure.&mdash;<span class="smcap">O'Hara</span>."</p></div>
+
+<p>"Is there an answer?" asked David.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Kathleen. "I mean yes. Yes, I suppose so. Can I have a form?
+Mrs. Tennant, can I have a telegraph form?"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Tennant began to hunt about for one. Telegrams were by no means
+common things at the Tennants' house. David suggested that the messenger
+boy might have one. This turned out to be the case. Kathleen began to
+write, but she suddenly changed her mind.</p>
+
+<p>"No, no; there is no answer," she said. "I can write by post."</p>
+
+<p>She crushed the telegram up and thrust it into her pocket. After this
+she went out for a little; she was too<!-- Page 294 --><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294"></a> restless to stay still. The
+fascination of the coming sport grew greater as obstacles appeared in
+the way of its realization. Whatever her father might say, she could not
+desert the girls who belonged to her society now.</p>
+
+<p>"What can have ailed Aunt Katie to betray me in such a fashion?" she
+thought.</p>
+
+<p>She came home in time for tea; but, to her amazement she found another
+telegram waiting for her. This was from Dublin, from Aunt Katie herself:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"Have told your father. He received letter from
+     school-mistress this morning. Very angry about Wild Irish
+     Girls. You must give the whole thing up or you will incur his
+     serious displeasure. Don't be a goose; nip the thing in the
+     bud immediately.&mdash;<span class="smcap">Aunt Katie</span>."</p></div>
+
+<p>"But indeed I won't," thought Kathleen. "Whatever happens, we will have
+our fun to-night. Whatever happens, neither father nor Aunt Katie, nor
+Ruth Craven can keep me back."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2>
+
+<h3>KATHLEEN HAS A GOOD TIME IN LONDON.</h3>
+
+
+<p>So the head-mistress had written; she had dared to write to Kathleen's
+father. What she said to him was a matter of no moment; she had written,
+and to complain of her!</p>
+
+<p>"She thinks, I suppose," said Kathleen, "that she'll subdue me by these
+means. She wants to bring, not the long arm of the law, but father's arm
+right across the sea to stop me. No, no, daddy, your Kathleen will be
+your Kathleen to the end&mdash;always loving, always daring, always<!-- Page 295 --><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295"></a> true,
+but always rebellious; the best and the worst. I am going to-night, and
+I am going all the more surely because you wired to me not to go, and
+because they are daring to bully dear little Ruth Craven. And after I
+have had my fling I will come back in good time. No fear; nothing will
+go wrong. Your Kathleen wouldn't hurt a fly, much less your heart. But I
+mean to have my fun to-night."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen quite sobered down as these thoughts came to her. It was now
+getting dusk. The girls were to meet at the station at half-past five.
+They were to go in quite quietly by twos and twos; each couple of girls
+was to go to the booking-office and take their tickets, and walk away
+just as though nothing special had happened. They were on no account to
+collect in a mass. They were not even to take any notice of each other
+until they were off. Once the train was in motion all would be safe;
+they might meet then and talk and be merry to their hearts' content. Oh,
+it was a good, good time they were about to have!</p>
+
+<p>This arrangement about meeting one another had been suggested by Kate
+Rourke, who knew a good deal about theatres, and who also knew how
+dangerous it would be for so many girls to be seen at the station
+together; but dressed quietly, and just dropping in by couples, nobody
+would remark them.</p>
+
+<p>"And then we must go straight to the theatre," she said, "and stand
+outside the pit, and take our chance; but we will have time enough for
+that if we leave Merrifield by the quarter-to-six train."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen noticed that evening that Alice watched her as she moved about
+the room; that Alice occasionally lifted her eyes and glanced at her
+when she sat down to read; and when she approached the tea-table and
+helped herself<!-- Page 296 --><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296"></a> to tea and bread-and-butter and jam, Alice also kept up
+that gentle sort of espionage. It annoyed Kathleen; she found herself
+watching for it. She found herself getting red and annoyed when the
+calm, steadfast gaze of Alice's brown eyes was fixed on her face.
+Finally she said:</p>
+
+<p>"What are you doing? Why do you stare at me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Sorry," replied Alice. She bent over her book, and did not glance again
+at Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>By-and-by Kathleen went upstairs. She went to their mutual room, and
+turned the key in the lock.</p>
+
+<p>"I must get out of the window," she said to herself. "I can easily do
+it; it is but to swing on to that thick cord of ivy and I shall reach
+the ground without the slightest trouble. The back-gate that leads into
+the garden is never locked, and the window I mean to emerge from looks
+into the garden. I shall go off without anybody's noticing me."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen had to take a great deal of money with her. If there were forty
+girls, their tickets would cost a good deal. It is true they were to buy
+their own in the first instance, but Kathleen was to return them the
+money in the train. Then the omnibuses they were to go on, the seats at
+the theatre, their supper of some sort must be paid for by the head of
+the society.</p>
+
+<p>"I promised to frank them, and I must frank them," thought the girl.</p>
+
+<p>She slipped some sovereigns into her purse, tucked it for safety into
+the bosom of her dress, and then put on her hat and jacket. Some
+instinct told the wild, ignorant child to dress quietly. She put on her
+plainest hat and a little reefer coat which looked neat and substantial.
+She was just drawing a pair of gloves on her hands when Alice was heard
+turning the handle of the door.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 297 --><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297"></a>"Let me in at once, Kathleen," she cried.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen did not reply at all for a moment; then she said in a sleepy,
+smothered sort of voice which seemed to proceed from the bed:</p>
+
+<p>"I have a splitting headache; don't disturb me."</p>
+
+<p>"Very sorry," answered Alice, "but I really must come in."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen made no answer. After a long pause, during which Alice once or
+twice felt the handle of the door again, the sound of her retreating
+footsteps was heard.</p>
+
+<p>"Now is my time," thought Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>To tell the truth, Alice was not at all taken in by Kathleen's headache.</p>
+
+<p>"She is very clever," thought that young lady, "but she has tried that
+dodge on so often before that I am not going to be deceived by it now."</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly she went into her mother's room and stood by the window. Now
+the window of Mrs. Tennant's bedroom looked also into the garden, and
+was really parallel with the window by which Kathleen meant to escape.
+There was an interval of silence, and then Alice had her reward! for the
+window of their mutual bedroom was flung wide open, and Kathleen, neatly
+dressed, appeared on the window-sill. She looked around her for a minute.
+Alice caught a glimpse of her bright face by the light of the moon,
+which was already getting up in the sky. The next minute Kathleen caught
+firm hold of the arm of old ivy and let herself down deftly and quickly
+to the ground. The action was done so neatly, and in fact so
+beautifully, that Alice in spite of herself felt inclined to cry
+"Bravo!" She knew that if she were to trust herself to that ivy she
+would probably fall to the bottom and get, if not really killed, at
+least half so. But Kathleen stood serenely on<!-- Page 298 --><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298"></a> the ground, and glanced
+up at the window from which she had let herself down. Just at that
+moment Alice rushed into their bedroom. Kathleen had shut the window
+behind her before she trusted herself to the ivy; she had also unlocked
+the door. In a moment Alice had put on her hat and jacket, had rushed
+downstairs, opened the hall door, and was following Kathleen across the
+common. Now, quite the nearest way to the railway station was across the
+common. Kathleen walked fast.</p>
+
+<p>"Kathleen, Kathleen!" cried Alice.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen looked behind her. She saw Alice, and took to her heels.</p>
+
+<p>"No, no, Kathleen; I will follow you until I drop. You must let me come
+up with you."</p>
+
+<p>But Kathleen made no answer. If she could do anything well, she could
+run in a race. Her swift feet scarcely touched the ground. She ran and
+ran. How soon would Alice get tired? She did not dare to go to the
+railway station as long as she was following. And the time to catch the
+train was very short. At the other side of the common was a long,
+narrow, winding passage which, after a quarter of a mile of tortuous
+turning, led right up a back-way to the great terminus. Kathleen had
+given herself exactly the right length of time. Had nothing happened to
+hinder her, she would have been on the platform three minutes before the
+train came in. For reasons of her own she did not wish to be long there.
+She had crossed the common when she looked behind her; Alice was still
+running, but she was also in the distance.</p>
+
+<p>"If I could only double, hide for a minute, and make her give up the
+chase, all would be well," thought the mischievous Irish girl.</p>
+
+<p>There was a great tree, which cast a huge shadow, just<!-- Page 299 --><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299"></a> before the
+winding passage was reached. Kathleen darted towards it. In an instant
+she had climbed up and was seated securely in one of its lower branches.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, if only she will be quick, she will run past me into the passage.
+She will never get to the end in time. I shall slip down and go the long
+way. I know it is a good bit farther, but she is not in it with me as
+far as running is concerned," was Kathleen's thought.</p>
+
+<p>Alice came up as far as the tree; she paused a minute and looked around
+her. Kathleen in the gray darkness looked down at her. Kathleen's face
+was completely in the shadow, but the light fell full on Alice's, and
+her face, white and anxious, almost made the other girl laugh.</p>
+
+<p>"If the situation wasn't quite so tremendous I could enjoy this," she
+thought.</p>
+
+<p>Presently Alice ran down the passage. Kathleen waited until her
+footsteps had died away, and then she descended from the oak-tree. She
+flew as fast as she could the long way to the railway station.</p>
+
+<p>"Alice can't think that I want to go by train," thought Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>Now she was truly a very swift runner, but as she was running to-night,
+whom should she meet but Mrs. Hopkins. Mrs. Hopkins was on her way home
+after doing a little shopping on her own account. She saw Kathleen,
+observed her panting for breath, and stood directly in her path.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss O'Hara," she said, "can I speak to you for a moment? It is
+something very particular indeed. I am very thankful I happened to meet
+you."</p>
+
+<p>"I will see you to-morrow&mdash;to-morrow," panted Kathleen. "I am in a great
+hurry. To-morrow, Mrs. Hopkins."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 300 --><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300"></a>"No, Miss O'Hara; it ought to be to-night. You are going to the railway
+station, aren't you, miss?"</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen felt inclined to knock that interfering woman down. She darted
+to one side of the road.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, let me pass!" she said. She was shaking with her quick run. She
+knew the moments were flying; already she heard the bell at the station
+ring. The train for London was signaled; she had not an instant to lose.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't&mdash;don't keep me," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"But you mustn't go, miss; it would be madness&mdash;wicked. You musn't; you
+daren't."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen pushed past her. This time Mrs. Hopkins had no power to stop
+her. She rushed on, reached the station, flew up the steps, and found
+herself on the platform just as the train was coming in.</p>
+
+<p>Instead of the forty girls she expected to meet, she saw not more than
+about half-a-dozen. They all crowded up to her at once.</p>
+
+<p>"I have got your ticket for you," said Susy. "I was just able to screw
+out the money to get one for you and myself. Here's the train; let us
+hop in at once."</p>
+
+<p>"But where are all the others&mdash;the forty?" gasped Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"They funked it, almost all of them. Oh! come along; here's the train."</p>
+
+<p>The great train thundered into the station. The girls ran wildly looking
+for a third-class carriage. At last they found one and tumbled into it;
+the door was slammed, and they were off. Kathleen wondered&mdash;she was not
+sure, but she wondered&mdash;if she really did see, or if it was only a
+dream, a pair of brown eyes looking at her from the station, and the
+severe young figure and shocked face of Alice Tennant.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 301 --><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301"></a>"It must have been a dream; she could not have guessed that I was going
+to the station. What a good thing she didn't meet Mrs. Hopkins!" thought
+Kathleen. Then she turned to her companions&mdash;to the six girls who had
+decided to brave all the terrors of their expedition. They were Susy
+Hopkins, Kate Rourke, Clara Sawyer, Rosy Myers, Janey Ford, and Mary
+Wilkins.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen sat quite still for a minute until she had recovered her
+breath. She looked around her. To her relief, she saw that they were
+alone. There was no one else in the compartment.</p>
+
+<p>"Now then," she said, "how is it that all the others have funked it?"</p>
+
+<p>"There has been so much muttering and whispering and suspecting going on
+during the whole livelong day that they were positively afraid," said
+Susy. "Indeed, if it hadn't been for you, Kathleen, I doubt if any of us
+would have come."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, girls, we can't help it," said Kathleen. "If the rest are so
+timid, there's more fun for us; isn't that so?"</p>
+
+<p>She looked round at her companions.</p>
+
+<p>"I mean to enjoy myself," said Kate Rourke. "I have been to a theater
+twice before. Once I went with my grandfather, and another time with an
+uncle from Australia. I didn't go to the pit when I went with uncle. He
+took me to a grand stall, and we rubbed up against the nobility, I can
+tell you."</p>
+
+<p>It suddenly occurred to Kathleen that Kate Rourke was rather a vulgar
+girl. She drew a little nearer to her, however, and fixed her very
+bright eyes on the girl's face."</p>
+
+<p>"But we needn't go to the pit, need we?" she said. "I meant to pay for
+forty. If there are only six, why shouldn't<!-- Page 302 --><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302"></a> we have jolly seats
+somewhere, and not waste our time outside the theater?"</p>
+
+<p>"That would be nice," said Kate Rourke. "I always enjoy myself so much
+more if I am in good company. I have been looking up the plays at the
+theaters, and there is a very fine piece on at the Princess'. That is in
+Oxford Street. It is a sort of melodrama; there's a deal of killing in
+it, and the heroine has to do some desperate deeds."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, dear!" said Susy, with a sigh; "I don't feel, somehow, as if I much
+cared where we went. It will be awful afterwards when the fun is over."</p>
+
+<p>"But we will enjoy ourselves, Susy, while the fun lasts," said Kathleen.
+She tried to believe that she was enjoying herself and was having a
+right good time. She tried to forget the fact that Alice Tennant might
+really have seen her off, and that Mrs. Hopkins had justice in her
+remarks when she begged and implored of Kathleen not to go to the train.</p>
+
+<p>"What can she have found out?" she thought.</p>
+
+<p>She now turned to Susy.</p>
+
+<p>"Has your mother learned anything, Susy?" she said.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean?" said Susy, turning very pink.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you know, as I was running here&mdash;Oh, girls, I had such a lark!
+What do you think happened? That horrid Alice&mdash;Alice Tennant&mdash;ran after
+me as I was leaving the house. I raced her across the common, and then
+to get rid of her I climbed up into an oak-tree. She never saw me, and
+ran on down the passage. Of course, my only chance of getting to the
+station was to go by the long way.&mdash;Half-way there I came across your
+mother, Susy, and she tried to stop me, and said she must speak to me.
+Dear, she did seem in a state! Evidently there's a great deal of
+excitement and watching going on in that school."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 303 --><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303"></a>"There will be a great deal of excitement to-morrow," said Susy. "It
+strikes me it will be all up with us to-morrow&mdash;that is, if Ruth tells."</p>
+
+<p>"If Ruth tells! What do you mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"They are going to do their utmost to get her to tell; and if she does
+tell they will call out our names and expel us, that's all. Oh! I can't
+bear to think of it&mdash;I can't bear to think of it."</p>
+
+<p>Susy's voice broke. Tears trembled in her bright black eyes, and she
+turned her head to one side. Kathleen gave her a quick glance.</p>
+
+<p>"It will be all right," she said. "Ruth won't tell. Ruth is the kind who
+never tells. She told me to-day she wouldn't."</p>
+
+<p>"She'll be a brick if she doesn't," said Kate Rourke. "But then, of
+course, you know&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I know what?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, nothing. What's the good of making ourselves melancholy on a night
+like this?"</p>
+
+<p>"If I were expelled," said Clara Sawyer, "I should leave Merrifield. I
+could never lift up my head again. You can't think what impudent sort of
+boys my brothers are, and they have always twitted me for my good
+fortune in getting into the Great Shirley School. They say that if we
+are to be expelled it will be done in public. The governors are
+determined to read us a lesson. That's what they say."</p>
+
+<p>"Who cares what they say?" said Kathleen. "Let them say."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that's what I think; and I dare say half of it is untrue," said
+little Janey Ford.</p>
+
+<p>"I am sure, Janey, wonders will never cease when we see you in this
+thing," said Susy. "It was disgusting of<!-- Page 304 --><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304"></a> the others to funk it. But I
+suppose they were on the right side; only I do sometimes hate being on
+the right side.&mdash;Don't you, Kathleen?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Kathleen in a whisper, and she squeezed Susy's hand. It
+seemed to her that her soul and Susy's had met at that moment, and had
+saluted each other like comrades true.</p>
+
+<p>"But how was it you came, Janey? Didn't your little heart funk it
+altogether?" continued Kate.</p>
+
+<p>"I was so mad to come," said Janey. "I am shaking and trembling now like
+anything. But I had never been to a theater, and it was such a
+tremendous temptation. I said about ten times to myself that I wouldn't
+come, but eleven times I said that I would; and the eleventh time
+conquered, and here I am. I do hope we'll have a right good time."</p>
+
+<p>With this sort of chatter the girls got to London. Here Kate Rourke took
+the lead. She marshaled the little party in two and two, and so conveyed
+them out of the station. Outside the yard at Charing Cross they all
+climbed on the top of an omnibus, and soon were wending their way in the
+direction of the Princess' Theater, which Kate most strongly advocated.
+There was no crowd at the theater this special evening. The piece which
+was presented on the boards happened to be a fairly good one. The girls
+got excellent seats, and found themselves in the front row of the family
+circle. From there they could look down on dazzling scenes, and
+Kathleen, who had never been to a theater in the whole course of her
+life, was delighted. She at least had forgotten what might follow this
+expedition. Oh, yes, they were having a glorious time; and it was quite
+right to do what you liked sometimes, and quite right to defy your
+elders. Oh, how many she was<!-- Page 305 --><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305"></a> defying: Ruth Craven, who would almost
+have given her life to keep her back from this; Miss Ravenscroft, the
+head-mistress, to whom Kathleen's heart did not go out; her own father;
+her own aunt; Alice Tennant&mdash;oh, bother Alice Tennant! And last, Mrs.
+Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>"Quite an army of them," thought Kathleen. "I have dared to do what none
+of them approved of, and I am not a bit the worse for it. Darling dad,
+your own Kathleen will tell you everything, and you may give me what
+punishment you think best when the fun is over. But now I am having a
+jolly time."</p>
+
+<p>So Kathleen did enjoy herself, and made so many saucy remarks between
+the acts, and looked so radiant notwithstanding her very plain dress,
+that several people looked at the beautiful girl and commented about her
+and her companions.</p>
+
+<p>"A school party, my dear," said a lady to her husband.</p>
+
+<p>"But I don't see the chaperone," he remarked.</p>
+
+<p>And then the lady, who looked again more carefully, could not help
+observing that these seven girls were certainly not chaperoned by any
+one. A little wonder and a little uneasiness came into her heart. She
+was a very kind woman herself; she was a motherly woman, too, and she
+thought of her own girls tucked up safely in bed at home, and wondered
+what she would feel if they were alone at a London theater at this hour.
+Presently something impelled her to bend forward and touch Kathleen on
+her arm. Kathleen gave a little start and faced her.</p>
+
+<p>"Forgive me," she said; "I see that you and your companions are
+schoolgirls, are you not?"</p>
+
+<p>To some people Kathleen might have answered, "That is our own affair,
+not yours;" but to this lady with the cour<!-- Page 306 --><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306"></a>teous face and the gentle
+voice she replied in quite a humble tone:</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, madam, we are schoolgirls."</p>
+
+<p>"And if you will forgive me, dear, have you no lady looking after you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Kate Rourke, bending forward at that moment; "we are out for
+a spree all by our lone selves."</p>
+
+<p>Kate gave a loud laugh as she spoke. The lady started back, and could
+not help contrasting Kathleen's face with those of the other girls. She
+bent towards her husband and whispered in his ear. The result of this
+communication was that, the curtain having fallen for the last time, the
+actors having left the stage, the play being completely over, and the
+seven girls being about to get back to Charing Cross as best they could,
+the lady touched Kathleen on her arm.</p>
+
+<p>"You will forgive me, dear," she said; "I am a mother and have daughters
+of my own. I should not like to see girls in the position you are in
+without offering to help them."</p>
+
+<p>"But what do you mean?" said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"I mean this, my dear, that my husband and I will see you seven back to
+your home, wherever it is."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen burst out laughing; then she looked very grave, and her eyes
+filled with tears as she said:</p>
+
+<p>"But wouldn't mother approve of it?"</p>
+
+<p>"If your mother is the least like me she would not approve of it; she
+would be horrified."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think the lady can see us home," here remarked Clara Sawyer,
+"for we live at Merrifield, a good long way from London."</p>
+
+<p>Again the lady and her husband had a talk together, and then she
+suggested that they should take the girls<!-- Page 307 --><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307"></a> back with them to Charing
+Cross and put them into their train.</p>
+
+<p>"But we thought we'd have a bit of supper," said Kate Rourke.</p>
+
+<p>"I can get you some things at the railway station; you ought not to wait
+for supper in town," said the gentleman in a stern voice.</p>
+
+<p>Then somehow all the girls felt ashamed of themselves, Kathleen slightly
+more ashamed than the others. They left the theater very slowly, with
+all the lightsomeness and gladness of heart gone.</p>
+
+<p>Two cabs were secured for the little party, and with their kind
+protectors they were taken back to Charing Cross. Eventually they got
+seats in a comfortable carriage, and found themselves going back again
+to Merrifield.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it has been a dull sort of thing altogether," said Clara Sawyer.
+"What meddlesome people!"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't!" said Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't what, Kathleen O'Hara? Why should you speak to me in that
+reproving voice?"</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't that; only they were like two angels. I know it; I am sure of
+it. We did an awful thing coming to town; I know we did, and I feel&mdash;oh,
+detestable!"</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen bent her head forward, covered it with her hands, and sat
+still. No tears shook her little frame, but there was a storm within. To
+her dying day Kathleen never forgot that return journey. Truly the fun
+was all over; the dregs of the cup of pleasure were in their mouths, and
+there was a fear, great, certain, and very terrible, in their hearts.
+But with all her fears&mdash;and they were many&mdash;Kathleen thought again and
+again of the lady who had girls of her own, and of the gentleman who was
+both stern and chivalrous, who had the manners of a prince and the<!-- Page 308 --><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308"></a> look
+of a gentleman. As long as she lived she remembered those two faces, and
+the words of the lady, and the smile with which she said good-bye. She
+never learned their names; perhaps she did not want to.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2>
+
+<h3>THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LEDGER.</h3>
+
+
+<p>Ruth got up rather earlier than usual on that Saturday morning. She had
+a dull, stunned kind of feeling round her heart. She was glad of that;
+she was glad that she was not acutely sorry, or acutely glad, or acutely
+anxious about anything.</p>
+
+<p>"If I could always be like this, nothing would matter," she said to
+herself.</p>
+
+<p>She dressed with her usual scrupulous neatness, and after hesitating for
+a moment, put on her best Sunday serge dress. It was a dark-blue serge,
+very neatly made. She combed back her luxurious hair and tied it with a
+ribbon to match the dress. She then ran downstairs.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Ruth?" said her grandmother, who was pouring some porridge into
+bowls, "what are you wearing that frock for?"</p>
+
+<p>"I thought I would like to, granny."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, to be sure. I trust to goodness you are not getting extravagant.
+It will be doomsday before we can get you another like it. You must
+remember that I saved up for it sixpence by sixpence, and it took me all
+my time and my best endeavors to get it."</p>
+
+<p>"I know it, granny; and when I wear it I feel that you were very kind to
+give it me. A girl who wears a dress<!-- Page 309 --><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309"></a> like this ought to be very, very
+good, oughtn't she, granny?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, to be sure, little woman; and so you are. There never was a
+better child. Sit down now and sup your porridge. It is extra good this
+morning, and there's a drop of cream in that jug which will give it a
+flavor."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth sat down to the table and drew her bowl of porridge towards her.
+The warm, nourishing food seemed to choke her; but, all the same, she
+ate it with resolution."</p>
+
+<p>"That's right, dear," said her grandmother. "'It's putting a bit of
+color into your cheeks. You are too white altogether, Ruth. I hope, my
+dear, you are not working too hard."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that's all right," said Ruth, keeping back a groan.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a fine thing your getting into that school," continued Mrs.
+Craven; "it gives you a chance. Do you know, now, when I look at you and
+see the pretty little girl you are turning into, and observe your
+lady-like ways, which every one remarks on, I think of the time when
+your father was your age."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, granny," said Ruth, brightening up and looking earnestly at the
+old lady; "you never care to talk about father, but I should greatly
+like to hear about him this morning."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, child, I don't talk of him because it hurts me too much. He was
+the only child I ever had, and if I live to be a hundred I sha'n't get
+over his death. But he was like you&mdash;very neat in his person, and very
+particular, and always keen over his books. And do you know what he said
+to his father? It was when he was fifteen years old, just for all the
+world about the age you are now. I mind the time as well as if it was
+yesterday. Her father and I were sitting by the hearth, and the boy came
+and stood near us. Your grandfather looked up at him, and his<!-- Page 310 --><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310"></a> blue eyes
+seemed to melt with love and pride, and he said:</p>
+
+<p>"'What will you be, my boy? Will you let me teach you the business, and
+save up all the money I can for you to sell groceries on a bigger scale?
+There's many a small business like mine which, when built up, means a
+great big business and much wealth. If you have a turn that way I could
+set you on your legs; I am certain of it. I'd like to do it. Would you
+like that best, or would you rather have a profession and be made a
+gentleman?'</p>
+
+<p>"'The gentleman part doesn't matter,' said our boy in reply to that;
+'but I think, father, if you can give me my choice, I'd like best to be
+that which, if necessary, would oblige me to give my life,'</p>
+
+<p>"'What do you mean?' asked his father, and the lad explained with his
+eyes shining.</p>
+
+<p>"'I have only got one life,' he said, 'and I'd like to give it if
+necessary.'"</p>
+
+<p>"To tell the truth, Ruth, I could not understand him."</p>
+
+<p>"But I can," said Ruth. She hastily put down her porridge spoon and
+jumped to her feet. "I can understand," she continued; "and I am proud
+of him."</p>
+
+<p>"So he went into the army. I wish you could have seen him in his
+uniform; and his father paid for every scrap of the whole thing, and
+educated him and all. Oh, dear! it was a proud moment. But we weren't
+proud afterwards when we heard that he was killed. His father reminded
+me of his words: 'I'd like to be that for which I could give my life if
+necessary,'"</p>
+
+<p>There was quite a pink color in each of Ruth's cheeks now, and her eyes
+were very bright.</p>
+
+<p>"I will go and see grandfather," she said, "and then I must be off to
+school."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 311 --><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311"></a>She left the kitchen and went into the tiny parlor where the old man
+was seated. It was his fashion to get up early and go straight to the
+parlor and read or talk softly to himself. For a couple of months now he
+had never sat in the kitchen; he said it caused a buzzing in his head.
+Mrs. Craven brought him his meals into the little parlor. He had
+finished his breakfast when Ruth, in her neat Sunday dress, entered the
+room. There was an exalted feeling in her heart, caused by the narrative
+which her grandmother had told her of her father.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, little woman," said the old man, "and you are off to school? Or
+is it school? Perhaps it is Sunday morning and you are off to church."</p>
+
+<p>"No, grandfather; it is Saturday morning&mdash;quite a different thing."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, my love, I am as pleased as Punch about that school. I can't tell
+you how I think about it, and love to feel that my own little lass is
+doing so well there. And if you get the scholarship, why, we will be
+made; we won't have another care nor anxiety; we won't have another
+wrinkle of trouble as long as we remain in the world."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth went straight over to the old man, knelt down by his side, and
+looked into his face.</p>
+
+<p>"Stroke my hair, granddad," she said.</p>
+
+<p>He raised his trembling hand and placed it on her head.</p>
+
+<p>"That is nice," she said, and caught his hand as it went backwards and
+forwards over her silky black hair, and kissed it.</p>
+
+<p>"Granddad," she said after a pause, "is it the best thing&mdash;quite the
+best thing&mdash;always to come out on the right side of the ledger?"</p>
+
+<p>"Eh? Listen to the little woman," said the old man,<!-- Page 312 --><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312"></a> much pleased and
+interested by her words. "Why, of course, Ruth; it is the only thing."</p>
+
+<p>"But does it mean sometimes, grandfather&mdash;dishonor?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, it never means that," said Mr. Craven gravely and thoughtfully.
+"But I will tell you what, Ruthie. It does mean sometimes all you have
+got."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Ruth, "I understand." She rose to her feet. Do you think my
+father would have come out on the right side of the ledger?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, child! when he lay dead on the field of battle he came very much
+out on the right side, to my thinking. But why that melancholy note in
+your voice, Ruth? And why are your cheeks so flushed? Is anything the
+matter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Kiss me," said Ruth. "I am glad you have said what you did about
+father. I am more glad than sorry, on the whole, this morning. Good-bye,
+grandfather."</p>
+
+<p>She kissed him; then she raised her flower-like head and walked out of
+the room with a gentle dignity all her own.</p>
+
+<p>"What has come to the little woman?" thought the old man.</p>
+
+<p>But in a minute or two he forgot her, and called to his wife to bring
+him the account-books.</p>
+
+<p>"Why do you bother yourself about them?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"It has come over me," he replied, "that I have counted things wrong,
+and that I'll come out on the right side if I am a bit more careful. Put
+the books on this little table, and leave me for an hour or two. That's
+right, old woman."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well, old man," she replied, and she pushed the table towards him,
+put the account-books thereon, and left the room.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Ruth went slowly to school. She was in<!-- Page 313 --><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313"></a> good time. There was
+no need to hurry. The morning was fresh and beautiful; there was a
+gentle breeze which fanned her face. It seemed to her that if she let
+her soul go it would mount on that breeze and get up high above the
+clouds and the temptations of earth.</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad," she said to herself, "the right side of the ledger means
+giving up all, and the best of life is to be able to lose it if
+necessary. I will cling to these two thoughts, and I don't believe if
+the worst comes that anything can really hurt me."</p>
+
+<p>When she got near the school she was met by Mrs. Hopkins. She was amazed
+to see that good woman, as at that hour she was usually busily engaged
+in her shop. But Mrs. Hopkins took the bull by the horns and said
+quietly:</p>
+
+<p>"I came out on purpose to see you, Ruth Craven."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, and what do you want?" asked Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"My dear, you are not looking too well."</p>
+
+<p>"Please do not mind my looks."</p>
+
+<p>"It is just this, dear. There will be no end of a fuss in the school
+to-day."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth did not reply.</p>
+
+<p>"And they will press you hard."</p>
+
+<p>Still Ruth made no answer.</p>
+
+<p>"You know what it will mean if you tell?"</p>
+
+<p>Ruth's grave eyes were fixed on Mrs. Hopkins's face.</p>
+
+<p>"Child, I don't want to doubt you&mdash;nobody who knows you could do
+that&mdash;but it will mean ruin to poor Susy and to many and many a girl at
+the Great Shirley School. It isn't so much Miss O'Hara we mean. Miss
+O'Hara has gone into this with her eyes open; and she is rich, and what
+is disgrace to her in this little part of England, when she herself
+lives in a great big castle in Ireland, and is a queen, lady, and all
+the rest? But it means&mdash;oh, such a<!-- Page 314 --><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314"></a> frightful lot to so many! Now, Susy,
+for instance. I meant to apprentice her to a good trade when she had
+gone through her course of work at the Great Shirley; but she will have
+to be a servant&mdash;a little maid-of-all-work&mdash;and I think that it would
+break my heart if she was expelled."</p>
+
+<p>"And what do you want me to do, Mrs. Hopkins?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, my dear, not to think of yourself, but of the many who will be
+ruined&mdash;not to tell, Ruth Craven."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth gave a gentle smile; then she put out her small slim hand and
+touched Mrs. Hopkins, and then turned and continued her walk to the
+school.</p>
+
+<p>There were a group of foundationers standing round the entrance. Ruth
+longed to avoid them, but they saw her and clustered round her, and each
+and all began to whisper in her ears:</p>
+
+<p>"You will be faithful, Ruth; nothing will induce you to tell. It will be
+hard on you, but you won't ruin so many of us. It is better for one to
+suffer than for all to suffer. You won't tell, will you, Ruth?"</p>
+
+<p>Ruth made no reply in words. The great bell rang, the doors of the
+school were flung wide, and the girls, Ruth amongst them, entered.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2>
+
+<h3>AFTER THE FUN COMES THE DELUGE</h3>
+
+
+<p>Kathleen O'Hara's nature was of the kind that rises to the top of the
+mountains and sinks again to the lowest vales. She had been on the
+tip-top of the hills of her own fantasy all that evening. When she ran
+quickly home<!-- Page 315 --><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315"></a> under the stars she began to realize what she had done She
+had done something of which her mother would have been ashamed. Not for
+a moment had Kathleen thought of this way of looking at her escapade
+until she read the truth in the eyes of the unknown but most kind lady.
+She despised herself for her own action, but she did not dread
+discovery. It did not occur to her as possible that what she and her
+companions had done could be known. If no one knew, no one need be at
+all more sorry or at all more unhappy on account of her action.</p>
+
+<p>"Poor Wild Irish Girls! they are getting into hot water," she said to
+herself. "But this little bit of fun need never be told to any one."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen had let herself out of the house by the strong rope of ivy; she
+meant to return to her bedroom the same way. Alice was a very sound
+sleeper; it did not occur to her that Alice on that particular night
+might be awake. She reached the foot of the window in perfect safety,
+saw that the ivy looked precisely as it had looked when she climbed down
+it, and began her upward ascent. This was decidedly more difficult than
+her downward one; but she was light of foot and agile. Had she not
+climbed dangerous crags after young eaglets at home? By-and-by she
+reached the window-sill. How nice! the window was partly open. She
+pushed it wider and got in. The room was in darkness. So much the
+better. She stepped softly, reached her own bed, undressed, and lay
+down. How nice of Alice to be sound asleep! Then of course it was not
+Alice she saw standing on the platform looking at her with reproachful,
+horrified eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"I must have dreamt it," thought Kathleen. "Now all is well, and I shall
+sleep like a top until the morning."</p>
+
+<p>This, however, was no easy feat. Alice's quiet breathing<!-- Page 316 --><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316"></a> sounded not
+many feet away, and after a time it seemed to get on Kathleen's nerves.
+She moved restlessly in her bed. Alice awoke, and complained of the
+cold.</p>
+
+<p>"The window is a little open," said Kathleen. "Shall I shut it?"</p>
+
+<p>Alice made no answer. Kathleen jumped up, shut the window, and fastened
+it. She then got back into bed. In the morning Alice called out to her:</p>
+
+<p>"Is your headache better?"</p>
+
+<p>"Had I one?" began Kathleen. Then she blushed; then she laughed; then
+she said, "Oh, it's quite well."</p>
+
+<p>Alice gazed steadily at her. It seemed to Kathleen that Alice's eyes
+were full of something very terrible.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you coming to school to-day?" asked Alice the next moment.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course. Why do you ask such a strange question?"</p>
+
+<p>"I shouldn't think you would wish to; but there is no accounting for
+what some people can live through."</p>
+
+<p>"Alice, what do you mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"What I say."</p>
+
+<p>"Explain yourself."</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"Is there anything very awful going to happen at school?"</p>
+
+<p>"You will find out for yourself when you get there."</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me!" said Kathleen; "you look as if the deluge was coming."</p>
+
+<p>"And so it is," said Alice.</p>
+
+<p>She had finished dressing by now, and she went out of the room. The two
+girls went down to breakfast. Alice's face was still full of an awful
+suppressed knowledge, which she would not let out to any one; but Mrs.
+Tennant was smiling and looking just as usual, and the boys were<!-- Page 317 --><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317"></a> as
+fond of Kathleen as was their wont. She had completely won their
+immature masculine hearts, and they invariably sat one on each side of
+her at meals, helped her to the best the table contained, and fussed
+over her in a way that pleased her young majesty. Kathleen was very glad
+that morning to get the boys' attention. She determined to sit with her
+back slightly turned to Alice, in order not to look into her face. They
+were about half-way through breakfast when there came a ring at the
+front-door, and Cassandra Weldon's voice was heard.</p>
+
+<p>Alice went out to her. The two girls kept whispering together in the
+passage. Presently Alice returned to the breakfast-room, and Kathleen
+now noticed that her eyes were red, as though she had just been
+indulging in a bout of crying.</p>
+
+<p>"What can be the matter?" she thought.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, my dear Alice," said her mother, looking up at this moment, "what
+did Cassandra want? And what is the matter with you? Have you had bad
+news?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, mother," answered Alice.</p>
+
+<p>"But what is it, dear?"</p>
+
+<p>"You will know soon enough, mother."</p>
+
+<p>"That is exactly what you said to me upstairs," said Kathleen, driven
+desperate by Alice's manner. "I do wish you would speak out.&mdash;Do get her
+to speak out, Mrs. Tennant. She hints at something awful going to happen
+at school to-day. I declare I won't go if it is as bad as that."</p>
+
+<p>"It would be like you not to come," said Alice. "But I think you will
+come. I don't think you will be allowed to be absent."</p>
+
+<p>"Allowed!" said Kathleen. "Who is going to prevent me staying away from
+school if I wish to?"</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 318 --><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318"></a>"The vote of the majority," said Alice very firmly. "Now, look here,
+Kathleen; don't make a fuss. It is wrong for the girls of the Great
+Shirley School to absent themselves without due reason."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I have a headache. I had one last night."</p>
+
+<p>"No, you had not."</p>
+
+<p>"Alice, dear, why do you speak to Kathleen like that?" said her mother.
+"What is the matter with you?&mdash;Kathleen, do keep your temper.&mdash;Alice, I
+am sorry something has annoyed you so much."</p>
+
+<p>"It is past speaking about, mother. You will understand all too
+soon.&mdash;Kathleen, it is time for us to be going."</p>
+
+<p>"I am not going," said Kathleen, "so there!"</p>
+
+<p>"Kathleen, you are."</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"Come, Kathleen; come."</p>
+
+<p>"You needn't fuss about me; I am not coming."</p>
+
+<p>"Kathleen, dear, I think you ought to go. Go for my sake," said Mrs.
+Tennant.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen looked up then, saw the anxiety in Mrs. Tennant's face, and her
+heart relented. She was in reality not at all afraid of what might be
+going to happen at school. If there was to be a fray, she desired
+nothing better than to be in the midst of it.</p>
+
+<p>"All right," she said, "I will go; but I won't go yet. I am going to be
+late this morning. I can see by your manner, Alice, that I have got into
+disgrace. Now, I can't think what disgrace I have got into, unless some
+horrid girls have been prying and telling tales out of school. That sort
+of thing I should think even the Great Shirley girls would not attempt.
+Unless some one has been mean enough to act in that way, there is
+nothing in the world to prevent my going to school, and taking my
+accustomed place, and<!-- Page 319 --><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319"></a> disporting myself in my usual manner. I shall get
+a bad mark for being late; that is the worst that can happen to me. I am
+going to be very late, so you can go on by yourself, Alice."</p>
+
+<p>Alice very nearly stamped her foot. She went so far as to beg and
+implore of Kathleen, but Kathleen was imperturbable.</p>
+
+<p>"You are very naughty, Kathleen," said Mrs. Tennant, but Kathleen ran up
+to her and kissed her.</p>
+
+<p>"You and I will have some fun, perhaps, this afternoon," she said. "I
+have got a lot of new plans in my head; they are all about you, and to
+make you happy and not so tired. Don't be cross with me. I'll promise
+that I will never be naughty again after to-day."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Tennant said nothing more. A minute or two later Alice left the
+house.</p>
+
+<p>It was quite an hour after Alice had departed that Kathleen took it into
+her head that she might as well stroll towards the school. On Saturdays
+school was over a little earlier than other days. There was a special
+class which she was anxious not to miss, for in spite of herself she was
+becoming interested in certain portions of her lessons. Her depression
+had now left her, and she felt excited, but at the same time irritated.
+A spirit of defiance came over her. She went upstairs and selected from
+her heterogeneous wardrobe one of her very prettiest and most
+fashionable and most unsuitable dresses. She put on a hat trimmed with
+flowers and feathers, and a sash of many colors round her waist. Over
+all she slipped her dark-blue velvet jacket, and with rich sables round
+her neck and wrists, she ran downstairs.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Kathleen, any one would suppose you were going to a concert," said
+Mrs. Tennant.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 320 --><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320"></a>"Ah, my dear good friend, I like to look jolly once in a way. I am
+certain to get a bad mark for unpunctuality, so I may as well get it
+looking my best as my worst. You don't blame me for that, do you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No. Go off now, dear, and don't let me find you so troublesome again."</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen started off. She ran across the common, and reached the doors
+of the great school exactly one hour after she ought to have arrived. To
+her amazement, she saw quite a crowd of people waiting outside, and
+amongst them was Mrs. Hopkins. There were several other mothers as well,
+and when they saw Kathleen they turned their backs on her, and one or
+two were heard to say aloud:</p>
+
+<p>"It's she who has done it."</p>
+
+<p>But Mrs. Hopkins did not turn her back on Kathleen; she came close to
+her, and even took her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Why are you late, miss?" she said. "But perhaps it is best. Miss
+O'Hara, you won't forget my poor aunt; you will be sure to get her the
+little almshouse in Ireland?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, of course I will," said Kathleen. "Aunt Katie has written about it
+already, and I will write to-night. You may tell Mrs. Church that it is
+absolutely quite certain that she will get it. What is the matter, Mrs.
+Hopkins? How strange you look! And all those other women&mdash;they seem
+quite cross with me. What have I done?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, miss! I keep saying to them that it is because you are Irish and
+don't know frolic from serious mischief. Bless your heart, miss! it is
+you that are kind. You mean kindly&mdash;no one more so&mdash;and so I have said
+to them."</p>
+
+<p>"But it will be a nice thing if my girl gets expelled owing to her,"
+said a sour-faced woman, coming forward now and placing her arms akimbo
+just in front of Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>"Is it that that every one is thinking about?" said Kath<!-- Page 321 --><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321"></a>leen. She stood
+still for a minute. The color left her face. She felt a wave of
+tempestuous blood pressing against her heart; then it all rushed back in
+a fiery color into her cheeks and in brightness to her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"And Alice knew of this," she said to herself; "and when I didn't come
+to school this morning she thought that I was afraid. Afraid!&mdash;Don't
+keep me, good people," said Kathleen. "Make way, please. I am sorry I am
+a little late."</p>
+
+<p>She walked past them all. When she got as far as the school door she
+turned to Mrs. Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>"You can tell your aunt that the almshouse is safe," she said, and then
+she blew a kiss to her and disappeared into the school.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2>
+
+<h3>WHO WAS THE RINGLEADER?</h3>
+
+
+<p>In the passage a monitress was standing, and when she saw Kathleen she
+came up to her and said in an agitated tone:</p>
+
+<p>"They are all assembled in the great hall. Go in quickly; you may be in
+time, after all."</p>
+
+<p>The voice of the monitress quite shook, and there was a troubled, very
+nearly tearful expression in her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"But why is the whole school in the central hall?" asked Kathleen. "Why
+are they not in their different classrooms?"</p>
+
+<p>"Go in&mdash;go in," said the monitress. "You will know when you find
+yourself there; and there is not a moment to lose."</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 322 --><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322"></a>So Kathleen, impelled by a curious power which seemed to drive her
+whether she will it or not, opened the door of the great central hall
+and entered. She found it quite full. The four hundred girls who
+composed the Great Shirley School were all present; so were the
+teachers, and so were the professors who came to give them music and
+drawing and literature lessons. So was the head-mistress, Miss
+Ravenscroft; and also, seated on the same little raised platform, were
+the six ladies who formed the governors. The governors sat in a little
+circle, Miss Mackenzie in the middle. Miss Mackenzie looked hard and
+very firm. Her iron-gray hair, her false teeth, her prominent nose, and
+her rather cruel steel-gray eyes made themselves felt all down the long
+room. The other ladies also looked as they usually did, except that Mrs.
+Naylor had traces of tears in her eyes, and bent forward several times
+to whisper something to Miss Mackenzie, who invariably shook her head
+and looked more stern than ever. There was evidently a moment's pause,
+and the whole school was in a waiting attitude when Kathleen made her
+appearance. All eyes were then turned in her direction; all eyes fixed
+themselves on the showily dressed and very handsome child who suddenly
+entered the room.</p>
+
+<p>"It is Kathleen O'Hara;" "It is Kathleen O'Hara herself;" "Well, she has
+come at last;" "Yes, it is Kathleen O'Hara," passed from lip to lip,
+until Kathleen felt that her name had got round her and above her and to
+right and left of her. She had an instant's sensation of absolute fear.
+She had a flashing desire to turn tail and run out of the room; but the
+same power which had pushed her into the room now sent her right up the
+long central hall past all the watching, expectant, eager-looking girls.
+Outside some one had said that she would be afraid. No, what<!-- Page 323 --><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323"></a>ever the
+danger, she knew she could keep her own. She was not Kathleen O'Hara of
+Carrigrohane Castle for nothing.</p>
+
+<p>"Come here, Miss O'Hara," said the voice of Miss Ravenscroft at that
+moment.</p>
+
+<p>Kathleen obeyed at once. She found a seat on the front bench, dropped
+into it, and at the same moment encountered the almost malicious glance
+of Alice Tennant. She turned away from Alice. That look seemed suddenly
+to steady her nerves. She was afraid just for a moment that she might
+give way to something, she knew not what, but Alice's look hardened her
+heart. Time had been given Kathleen to take her place, to recover any
+emotion she might have felt by her sudden entrance, and then Miss
+Ravenscroft rose to her feet.</p>
+
+<p>"It is my painful duty," she said, "to have to say something which
+distresses me far more than I can give you any idea of. My dear girls,
+you have all been summoned to attend in this hall to-day in order to
+meet the governors of the school, Miss Mackenzie, Mrs. Naylor, Mrs.
+Ross, the Misses Scott, and Miss Jane Smyth. These ladies have come to
+meet you, because they wish thoroughly to investigate a most disgraceful
+matter which has lately been going on in the school."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Ravenscroft paused and looked round her.</p>
+
+<p>"I allude," she said, "to the insurrection in our midst&mdash;a sort of civil
+war in our camp. There are, I am given to understand, in the midst of
+this hitherto well conducted and admirable school, a number of girls who
+have banded themselves together in disregard of its laws, and who have
+made for themselves laws contrary to the peace-abiding principles of
+this great school and noble institution: who meet at unseemly hours, who
+preach rebellion each to the<!-- Page 324 --><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324"></a> other, who dare to publicly break the laws
+of the school, and who defy the express wishes of myself as
+head-mistress and the governors of the school by insisting on continuing
+their wicked meetings. And last night a certain number of these girls
+actually took it upon themselves to go to London&mdash;to do what, I can't
+say&mdash;and to return at midnight, alone and unchaperoned. Such conduct is
+so unworthy, so undignified, and so absolutely sinful that there is only
+one course to pursue. The girls who are rebellious in the school must be
+exposed; their conduct must be investigated, and a very heavy punishment
+awarded to them."</p>
+
+<p>Here Miss Ravenscroft looked round her. She caught the eye of Miss
+Mackenzie, who beckoned to her and whispered something in her ear.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Mackenzie bids me say that if the girls who belong to this society
+will at this moment give up the name of their ringleader they themselves
+will be forgiven. What punishment they receive will only be connected
+with their work in the school, and may possibly exclude them from
+competing for certain scholarships during this present term, but for the
+rest nothing further will be said. But it is essential that the name of
+the ringleader, as well as her rules and her motives, should be
+declared."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Ravenscroft paused again and looked down the whole length of the
+long hall. She looked to right and left.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't let any girl think," she said after a pause, "that she is acting
+nobly by suppressing information which is for the benefit of the school.
+I do not ask the girls who are spoken of as the paying girls to expose
+their companions, nor do I ask those foundationers who have not joined
+the band of insurgents to betray their fellows; but what I do ask is
+this: that the girls themselves&mdash;the rebels&mdash;<!-- Page 325 --><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325"></a>should rise in a body and
+point to their leader. With that leader the governors will deal. The
+girls themselves will have forgiveness."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Ravenscroft again paused. The silence which followed might be felt.
+Susy Hopkins bent her head and sobbed. Janey Ford trembled all over, and
+clutched tightly the hand of her companion. But no one spoke. It was at
+that moment that Kathleen calmly and slowly raised her face and looked
+around her. She looked back, and caught the eyes of at least a dozen of
+those foundationers whom she had pitied and helped and been jolly with.
+She looked to the right then, and met as many more faces of girls whom
+she knew, and who were members of the Wild Irish Girls' Society. Then
+very calmly she resumed her nonchalant attitude in the front row of the
+schoolgirls. Miss Ravenscroft meanwhile stood waiting. Still no one
+spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Will no one speak?" she said. "Will no girl present be brave enough to
+save the school?"</p>
+
+<p>Still there was silence.</p>
+
+<p>"This is a very good and a great school," said Miss Ravenscroft. "It
+gives for a very trifling sum an education worthy of the very best and
+most expensive schools in England. It was founded some hundred years
+ago, by those who thought much and in advance of their time. In an age
+when girls were almost uneducated, when nothing further was required
+from them than a smattering of reading and writing, these wise and
+far-seeing people said that they would give the girls of the future a
+chance. So they left money for the purpose, and that money, wisely
+invested, has borne fruit. The great school was built, and has for
+generations helped many girls who otherwise might not have been able to
+earn their own bread. Even for the paying girls the expense for all they
+receive is but a trifle. But<!-- Page 326 --><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326"></a> the school does more than that. It was the
+wish of the founders that there should always be one hundred
+foundationers on the school lists, and these girls are admitted free;
+they pay nothing in hard cash for what they receive. They are taught
+liberally; they have the best rooms, the best laboratories; the best
+music, the best art, are supplied to them. If they have talent they have
+every chance of bringing it to the fore, for the education is thorough
+and generous. But the school does even more than this. It opens up
+scholarships&mdash;many scholarships&mdash;of great value for those special girls
+who call themselves foundationers. Now my dear girls of the Great
+Shirley School, you must clearly understand that no establishment of
+this kind can be worked except on certain lines, and these lines mean
+order, method, and obedience. Rules must be made, and these rules at any
+cost must be obeyed. These rules are made not only to enable the girls
+to get the best possible education out of the school, but also that the
+greater education of mind and heart, which alone can build up a fine and
+useful character, may not be neglected. That sort of education can only
+be given by conforming to principles. Now, there are certain principles
+which every girl who comes into this school is bound to adhere to. She
+is bound on all occasions to behave with sobriety, with a sense of
+modesty and true womanly feeling; she is never, if she is a true member
+of the school, to join herself to rebels who do not believe in its
+rules. Now, there is not the slightest doubt that the society which you
+girls&mdash;a certain number of you&mdash;have joined is rebellious, has bad
+effects, and has rules of its own which are absolutely contrary to the
+rules of the Great Shirley School. It is impossible for you to be
+members of this society and to be members of the Great Shirley School.
+If, therefore, you do not immedi<!-- Page 327 --><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327"></a>ately forsake that society, and
+immediately promise here and now that you will give it up forever, we
+shall have the painful duty of expelling you from the school. You have a
+few minutes in which to decide. Nobody wants to be hard on you; nobody
+wants to be hard on your founder, although she must no longer take her
+place as a member of this school; but if you don't confess, very
+stringent and terrible methods will have to be resorted to."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Ravenscroft here resumed her seat. There was a faint applause which
+came from different parts of the room, but was not unanimous, and soon
+died away. After that there was silence. Miss Mackenzie bent forward and
+made some notes in a little black book which she held upon her lap. Mrs.
+Naylor took her handkerchief and wiped the tears from her eyes; the
+other governors looked depressed and uneasy. Meanwhile Miss Ravenscroft
+sat with her eyes fixed on the different girls in their different forms.
+There was no movement. Kathleen drew herself up proudly.</p>
+
+<p>"They're not quite such cads," she said under her breath.</p>
+
+<p>But just as the thought came to her, Miss Mackenzie, the woman most
+respected and most dreaded in the whole of Merrifield, rose slowly to
+her feet.</p>
+
+<p>"Girls of the Great Shirley School," she said, "your head-mistress, Miss
+Ravenscroft, has conveyed to you a message from me and from the other
+governors. The message is to the effect that if those silly girls who
+have allied themselves to that most ridiculous society, the Wild Irish
+Girls, will give the name of their leader, they shall be forgiven. Do
+you accept, foundationers, or do you decline?"</p>
+
+<p>Dead silence ensued.</p>
+
+<p>"I presume," said Miss Mackenzie after a pause of a full<!-- Page 328 --><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328"></a> minute, "that
+your silence means refusal I have therefore to turn to a certain young
+girl in this school who was a member of the Wild Irish Girls' Society,
+and who has now left it.&mdash;Ruth Craven, have the goodness to step
+forward."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth had been seated in the fourth bench. She rose slowly. Kathleen felt
+a curious tremor run through her, but she did not move a muscle; only
+when Ruth appeared at the edge of the platform, it was with the greatest
+effort she could keep herself from jumping up, taking her hand, and
+mounting the platform by her side.</p>
+
+<p>"Step up here, Miss Craven," said Miss Mackenzie.</p>
+
+<p>Ruth did so.</p>
+
+<p>"Will you have the goodness to stand just here, Miss Craven?"</p>
+
+<p>Ruth went to the place indicated.</p>
+
+<p>"You can now face me, and your schoolfellows can also see you.&mdash;Girls, I
+have requested Ruth Craven to take the prominent position she now
+occupies in order that you may all see her. You all know her, do you
+not? Those who know Ruth Craven, hold up their hands."</p>
+
+<p>Immediately there was a great show of uplifted hands.</p>
+
+<p>"I presume that you all like her?"</p>
+
+<p>Again the hands went up, and Kathleen's was raised the highest of all.
+Ruth's little face, however, remained perfectly white and still; only
+her eyes were dark with emotion. She kept thinking of her father.</p>
+
+<p>"I should like that which would make me give <i>my life</i> if necessary," he
+had said; and her grandfather had said, "Sometimes when you come out on
+the right side of the ledger it means giving <i>all</i> that you possess."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth could scarcely see the faces which rose up like a<!-- Page 329 --><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329"></a> great ocean
+beneath her, but she remembered her father's words very distinctly.</p>
+
+<p>"You all see Ruth Craven," continued Miss Mackenzie. "As far as I know,
+she is a good girl; and I judge by your method of answering my question
+that she is a popular girl. I know, alas! that she is poor. I have heard
+a great deal about her intellectual endowments, and believe that this
+school could be of immense advantage to her. I believe, in short, that
+she is the typical sort of girl of whom the founders thought when they
+instituted this great and noble house of learning. Nevertheless, Ruth
+Craven must fall if necessary for the good of the many.&mdash;Ruth, I wish to
+ask you a certain question. You were a member of that rebellious
+society, the Wild Irish Girls?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Miss Mackenzie."</p>
+
+<p>Ruth's "Yes" was very clear; her face looked modest but firm. There was
+not the slightest hesitation in the words she uttered. Her speech was
+not loud, but it could be heard to the end of the great hall.</p>
+
+<p>"You are no longer a member?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"Three days ago I and the other governors sent for you to ask you
+certain questions. You refused to answer those questions then. We gave
+you three days to consider, telling you that if at the end of that time
+you still kept to your resolution there was only one thing for us to do,
+and that was to make an example of you in the presence of the entire
+school&mdash;in short, to take from you your right of membership, and to
+expel you from the school, taking from you all privileges, all chances
+of acquiring learning and the different valuable scholarships which this
+school was opening to you. We came to this most painful resolve knowing
+well that it would cast a blight upon your life, that<!-- Page 330 --><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330"></a> wherever you went
+the knowledge that you had been publicly expelled from the Great Shirley
+School would follow you&mdash;that you would, in short, step down, Ruth
+Craven. I quite understand from the expression of your face that you are
+the sort of child who imagines that she is doing right when she keeps
+back the knowledge which she thinks she ought not to betray; but we
+governors do not agree with you. There are six of us here, and we wish
+to tell you that if you now refuse the information which we wish to
+obtain from you, you will do <i>wrong</i>. You are young, and cannot know as
+much as we do. We earnestly beg of you, therefore; not to make a martyr
+of yourself in a silly and ridiculous cause.&mdash;Mrs. Naylor, will you now
+say what you think to Ruth Craven?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think, dear child," said Mrs. Naylor, speaking in a tremulous voice,
+which could scarcely be heard half-way down the room, "that it would be
+best for you not to conceal the truth."</p>
+
+<p>"And I agree," said Mrs. Ross.</p>
+
+<p>"We all agree," said the Misses Scott and Miss Jane Smyth.</p>
+
+<p>"We all think, dear," continued Mrs. Naylor, "that for the sake of any
+chivalrous ideas, quite worthy in themselves, it is a considerable pity
+for you to spoil your life. You are not the sort of child who could
+stand disgrace."</p>
+
+<p>"And you don't look the sort of child who would under ordinary
+circumstances act the idiot," said Miss Mackenzie sharply. "As to the
+chivalrous nature of your silence, I fail to see it. I hope you have
+carefully considered the position and are prepared to act openly and
+honorably. By go doing you will save the school and yourself. Now then,
+Ruth Craven, will you come a little more forward? Stand<!-- Page 331 --><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331"></a> just
+there.&mdash;Girls, you can all see Ruth Craven, can you not?"</p>
+
+<p>The girls held up their hands in token that they could.</p>
+
+<p>"I will therefore at once proceed to question her," continued Miss
+Mackenzie.</p>
+
+<p>There was just a moment's pause, and during that complete silence a
+dreadful rushing noise came into Kathleen O'Hara's head. The floor for
+an instant seemed to rise up as though it would strike her; then she
+felt composed, but very cold and white. She fixed her eyes full on Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>"I will hear her out. I must hear the thing out," she kept saying to
+herself. "Afterwards&mdash;afterwards&mdash;But I must hear the whole thing out."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Mackenzie turned, and in a very emphatic voice began to question.</p>
+
+<p>"You are prepared to reply to the following questions?" she said.</p>
+
+<p>Ruth's very steady eyes were raised; she fixed them on Miss Mackenzie.
+Her lips were firmly shut. Nothing could be quieter than her attitude;
+she did not show a trace of emotion. Always pale, she looked a little
+paler now than her wont. Her darks eyes seemed to darken and grow full
+of intense emotion; otherwise no one could have told that she was
+suffering or feeling anything in particular.</p>
+
+<p>"But I know what she is going through," thought Kathleen. She clenched
+her hands so tightly that the nails went into the delicate flesh. She
+was glad of the pain; it kept her from screaming aloud.</p>
+
+<p>"The first question I have to ask," said Miss Mackenzie, "is this: How
+many of the foundation girls have joined the rebels?"</p>
+
+<p>Ruth came a step nearer.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 332 --><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332"></a>"How many? I can't quite hear you."</p>
+
+<p>"I am sorry," said Ruth then, "but I can't tell you."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Mackenzie, without any show of emotion, immediately entered Ruth's
+answer in a little book which she held in her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, don't, Miss Mackenzie! Don't be harsh," gasped little Mrs. Naylor.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Mackenzie, as though she had not heard the voice of her sister
+governor, proceeded:</p>
+
+<p>"What is the name of the founder of the society?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am not prepared to say," replied Ruth.</p>
+
+<p>Again this answer was recorded.</p>
+
+<p>"Can you give me an exact account of the rules of the society, its
+motives, its bearing generally?"</p>
+
+<p>The same negative reply was the result of this question.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know anything whatever of the disgraceful escapade which took
+place last night, when a certain number of the members of this society
+went to London and returned by themselves at midnight?"</p>
+
+<p>Ruth's face cleared a little at this question.</p>
+
+<p>"I cannot answer because I know nothing," she said.</p>
+
+<p>A slight look of relief was visible on the faces of the unfortunate
+girls who had gone to town with Kathleen on the preceding night. A few
+more questions were asked, Ruth replying on every occasion in the
+negative. "I can't say," or "I will not say," were the only words that
+were wrung from her lips.</p>
+
+<p>"In short," said Miss Mackenzie very quietly, "you have decided, Ruth
+Craven&mdash;you, an ignorant, silly little girl&mdash;to defy the governors of
+this school. All justice has been dealt out to you, and all patience.
+The consequence of your mad action has been explained to you with the
+utmost fullness. You have been given time&mdash;abundant time&mdash;to<!-- Page 333 --><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333"></a> consider.
+You have chosen, from what false motives it is impossible to say&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"My dear," interrupted Mrs. Naylor, "the child means well, I am
+assured."</p>
+
+<p>"From what false motives it is impossible to say," continued Miss
+Mackenzie, not taking the slightest notice of the little governor's
+futile appeal, "you have decided to wreck your own life and to ruin the
+school. It was to have been your noble privilege to save the school in a
+time of extremity. You have chosen the unworthy course. It is therefore
+my painful duty to call upon Miss Ravenscroft as head-mistress to expel
+you, Ruth Craven, from this school. You are no longer a member of the
+Great Shirley School; you are&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Hold!" cried Kathleen.</p>
+
+<p>Her voice rang out sharp and clear. It was heard all over the school,
+and was so imperative, so startling, so unexpected, that even Miss
+Mackenzie lost her self-control and fell back in silence.</p>
+
+<p>"Hold!" cried Kathleen again. "You have said enough. I don't think you
+ought to go on. You are torturing the noblest girl in the world. But
+Kathleen O'Hara, bad as she is, cannot endure this last insult.
+Girls&mdash;Wild Irish Girls, you who belong to my society&mdash;I as your queen
+desire you to come forward. Come forward in a body at once."</p>
+
+<p>What was there in the young voice that impelled? What was there in the
+young face that stimulated, that caused fear to slink out of sight and
+courage to come to the fore, that caused hearts to beat high with
+generous emotion? Not a single girl failed Kathleen in this moment of
+her appeal. They clambered over their seats; they bent under the forms;
+they got out in any fashion, until she was surrounded by the sixty girls
+who formed her society. She<!-- Page 334 --><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334"></a> glanced round her; her dark-blue eyes grew
+full of sweetness, and there was a look on her face which made the girls
+for the moment feel that they would die for her.</p>
+
+<p>"Come, girls," said their queen&mdash;"come; there is room on the platform."</p>
+
+<p>She sprang up the couple of steps without another word, and the girls
+followed her.</p>
+
+<p>"Do what you like with Ruth Craven, Miss Mackenzie," she cried; "but put
+your questions over again to me, and I will answer them one after the
+other. Then expel me and my companions; turn us out of the school, but
+keep the girl who would be a credit to you."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2>
+
+<h3>END OF THE GREAT REBELLION.</h3>
+
+
+<p>No one quite knew what happened next. Some of the girls went off into
+violent hysterics; others rushed out of the great hall, half-fainting;
+while others controlled themselves and listened as best they could. The
+scene was vivid and picturesque. Mrs. Naylor sobbed quite audibly, and
+took hold of Ruth's hand, and even kissed it. But as she did so Kathleen
+herself came near and flung her arm round Ruth's neck.</p>
+
+<p>"If you mean to expel Ruth you will expel me," she said. "But won't you
+forgive her? If her ideas were wrong, they were at least generous; and
+you know that I won't trouble you any more. I am very sorry, but I don't
+think that I was made to suit a great school like this, and I give up
+the society&mdash;yes, absolutely&mdash;so you won't have any rebels present in
+your midst again. Expel me, but keep her, for<!-- Page 335 --><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335"></a> she will be the flower of
+your school, the greatest ornament, one you will talk of in the dim
+years of the future. Don't let me feel that I have spoilt her life."</p>
+
+<p>"But why did you act so, Kathleen O'Hara?" said Miss Mackenzie. "Why did
+you, a silly young girl, come over here, a stranger, to ruin the school
+and make us all unhappy?"</p>
+
+<p>"I can't answer you that," said Kathleen, flinging out her hands. "I did
+what I was made to do. I am a rebel by nature. I believe I shall always
+be a rebel. I shall go home to father and mother and tell them I am not
+suited for a school like this. But don't expel Ruth, and don't expel the
+others."</p>
+
+<p>"But we will all go if you are not kept," suddenly cried one of the
+sixty, Kathleen never quite knew which; and suddenly one girl after
+another began to speak up for her, and all promised that if Kathleen
+were allowed to remain, and if the whole story of the great rebellion
+was allowed to blow over, they would work as they had never done before.
+They wanted their queen to stay with them. Would the governors forgive
+their queen, just because she was an Irish girl and like no one else?</p>
+
+<p>How it came to pass it was impossible to tell. There was something about
+Kathleen&mdash;the bold, bright, and yet generous look on her face, the love
+which darted out of her eyes when she grasped Ruth's hand&mdash;that even
+impressed Miss Mackenzie. She said after a pause that she was willing to
+reconsider matters, and that she and all the other governors would meet
+in a day or two to give their opinion.</p>
+
+<p>Thus the school broke up. It had lived through its greatest and most
+exciting hour. But when Kathleen was seen going through the gates, her
+arm flung round Ruth's<!-- Page 336 --><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336"></a> waist, and all the sixty girls following at her
+heels, such a cheer went up from the anxious mothers and fathers and
+brothers&mdash;for many fresh people had come to swell the crowd since
+Kathleen entered the school&mdash;as was never heard before in Merrifield.</p>
+
+<p>Thus ended the great rebellion. It is spoken of to this day as the
+greatest and most conspicuous event in the school's history. For, after
+all, the governors were lenient, and no girl was expelled. Kathleen, as
+years went on, became far and away the most popular girl in the school.
+Her talents were of the most brilliant order; her very faults seemed in
+one way to add to her charms. In one sense she was always a more or less
+troublesome girl; but where she loved she loved deeply, and from that
+hour she gave up all thought of rebellion either against the governors
+or against Miss Ravenscroft. Ruth was Kathleen's greatest friend. Her
+grandfather got better; his heart was never broken by the knowledge of
+that terrible disgrace which the child so feared that she would bring
+him. Mrs. Church became one of the Irish alms-women, and grumbled a good
+deal at the change in her position. Mrs. Hopkins's debt was cleared off;
+and all the characters in this story did well, and were proud to admit
+that they owed most of their future prosperity to the Wild Irish Girl,
+Kathleen O'Hara.</p>
+
+<h3>THE END.</h3>
+
+
+<p>
+<b><big>Transcriber's Notes:</big></b><br />
+p.2  Typo fixed: changed OE to OF<br />
+p.2  Typo fixed: changed upside-down V in VERY<br />
+p.9  Added missing opening quote before THE BUTCHER<br />
+p.15  Added missing opening quote before I HOPE TO<br />
+p.27  Typo fixed: changed KATLHEEN to KATHLEEN<br />
+p.29  Removed an extra closing quote after STICKY<br />
+p.44  Typo fixed: changed SAN into SANS<br />
+p.47  Typo fixed: changed CASSANDA to CASSANDRA<br />
+p.61  Typo fixed: changed AND to AN<br />
+p.68  Typo fixed: changed RUTH RAVEN to RUTH CRAVEN<br />
+p.76  Added missing closing quote after ON THE TABLE<br />
+p.98  Typo fixed: changed TENNAN'T to TENNANT'S<br />
+p.99  Typo fixed: changed HOMOR to HUMOR<br />
+p.101 Typo fixed: changed EQUISITELY to EXQUISITELY<br />
+p.118 Typo fixed: changed WAN'T to WANT<br />
+p.125 Added missing line: -ING ANY LONGER.<br />
+p.177 Typo fixed: changed POSESSED to POSSESSED<br />
+p.183 Typo fixed: changed METROPOLE to M&Eacute;TROPOLE<br />
+p.184 Typo fixed: changed METROPOLE to M&Eacute;TROPOLE<br />
+p.197 Typo fixed: changed ABOUNT to ABOUT<br />
+p.209 Typo fixed: changed TENANT to TENNANT<br />
+p.209 Typo fixed: changed PROFUND to PROFOUND<br />
+p.235 Removed an extra closing quote after GOOD THINGS<br />
+p.241 Typo fixed: changed A SOON AS to AS SOON AS<br />
+p.247 Removed an extra closing quote after HER JUDGES<br />
+p.260 Typo fixed: changed FAVORIATE to FAVORITE<br />
+p.267 Added missing closing quote after THAT, DEAR<br />
+p.284 Added missing closing quote after THAT POINT<br />
+p.285 Removed extra opening quote before I CAN'T TELL YOU<br />
+p.290 Typo fixed: changed FOUND to FOND<br />
+p.294 Typo fixed: changed GREAW to GREW<br />
+p.301 Removed an extra closing quote after THE GIRL'S FACE<br />
+p.309 Removed an extra closing quote after WITH RESOLUTION<br />
+p.325 Added missing closing quote after AWARDED TO THEM<br />
+</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Rebel of the School, by Mrs. L. T. Meade
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+</pre>
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rebel of the School, by Mrs. L. T. Meade
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Rebel of the School
+
+Author: Mrs. L. T. Meade
+
+Release Date: May 16, 2005 [EBook #15839]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REBEL OF THE SCHOOL ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Irma Spehar and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+_The Rebel of the School_
+
+BY
+
+MRS. L.T. MEADE
+
+AUTHOR OF
+
+"MISS NONENTITY," "THE SCHOOL FAVORITE," "MERRY GIRLS OF ENGLAND,"
+"LITTLE MOTHER TO THE OTHERS," ETC.
+
+CHICAGO
+
+M.A. DONOHUE & COMPANY
+
+
+
+
+MRS. L.T. MEADE SERIES
+
+
+BAD LITTLE HANNAH
+A BUNCH OF CHERRIES
+CHILDREN'S PILGRIMAGE
+DADDY'S GIRL
+DEB AND THE DUCHESS
+FRANCIS KANE'S FORTUNE
+A GAY CHARMER
+A GIRL OF THE PEOPLE
+A GIRL IN TEN THOUSAND
+THE GIRLS OF ST. WODES
+GIRLS OF THE TRUE BLUE
+GOOD LUCK
+THE HEART OF GOLD
+THE HONORABLE MISS
+LIGHT OF THE MORNING
+LITTLE MOTHER TO OTHERS
+MERRY GIRLS OF ENGLAND
+MISS NONENTITY
+A MODERN TOMBOY
+OUT OF FASHION
+PALACE BEAUTIFUL
+POLLY, A NEW-FASHIONED GIRL
+REBELS OF THE SCHOOL
+SCHOOL FAVORITE
+A SWEET GIRL GRADUATE
+THE TIME OF ROSES
+A VERY NAUGHTY GIRL
+WILD KITTY
+WORLD OF GIRLS
+THE YOUNG MUTINEER
+
+List Price $1.00 Each
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+CHAPTER                                                     PAGE
+I. Sent to Coventry!                                          5
+
+II. High Life and Low Life                                   17
+
+III. The Wild Irish Girl                                     26
+
+IV. The Home-Sick and the Rebellious                         34
+
+V. Wit and Genius: the Plan Propounded                       58
+
+VI. The Poor Tired One                                       72
+
+VII. The Queen and Her Secret Society                        79
+
+VIII. The Box from Dublin and Its Treasures                  93
+
+IX. Conscience and Difficulties                             106
+
+X. The Wild Irish Girl's Society Is Started                 112
+
+XI. The Blouse and the Robbery                              126
+
+XII. Tom Hopkins and His Way with Aunt Church               136
+
+XIII. Aunt Church at Dinner, and the Consequences
+Thereof                                                     150
+
+XIV. Ruth Resigns the Premiership                           171
+
+XV. The Scholarship: Trouble Is Brewing                     177
+
+XVI. Kathleen Takes Ruth to Town                            192
+
+XVII. Miss Katie O'Flynn and Her Niece                      204
+
+XVIII. Susy Hopkins Persuades Aunt Church                   220
+
+XIX. Ruth's Troubles and Susy's Preparations                230
+
+XX. The Governors of the School Examine Ruth                242
+
+XXI. The Society Meets at Mrs. Church's Cottage             253
+
+XXII. Ruth's Hard Choice: She Consults Her Grandfather      263
+
+XXIII. Ruth Will Not Betray Kathleen                        275
+
+XXIV. Kathleen and Grandfather Craven                       281
+
+XXV. Kathleen Has a Good Time in London                     294
+
+XXVI. The Right Side of the Ledger                          308
+
+XXVII. After the Fun Comes the Deluge                       314
+
+XXVIII. Who Was the Ringleader?                             321
+
+XXIX. End of the Great Rebellion                            334
+
+
+THE REBEL OF THE SCHOOL
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+SENT TO COVENTRY!
+
+
+The school was situated in the suburbs of the popular town of
+Merrifield, and was known as the Great Shirley School. It had been
+endowed some hundred years ago by a rich and eccentric individual who
+bore the name of Charles Shirley, but was now managed by a Board of
+Governors. By the express order of the founder, the governors were
+women; and very admirably did they fulfil their trust. There was no
+recent improvement in education, no better methods, no sanitary
+requirements which were not introduced into the Great Shirley School.
+The number of pupils was limited to four hundred, one hundred of which
+were foundationers and were not required to pay any fees; the remaining
+three hundred paid small fees in order to be allowed to secure an
+admirable and up-to-date education under the auspices of the great
+school.
+
+There came a day in early autumn, shortly after the girls had
+reassembled after their summer vacation, when they streamed out of the
+building in groups of twenties and thirties and forties. They stood
+about and talked as girls will.
+
+The Great Shirley School, well as it was managed, had perhaps a larger
+share than many schools of those temptations which make school a
+world--a world for the training either for good or evil of those who go
+to it. There were the girls who attended the school in the ordinary way,
+and there were the girls who were drafted on to the foundation from
+lower schools. These latter were looked down upon by the least noble and
+the meanest of their fellow-scholars.
+
+There was a slight rain falling, and two or three girls standing in a
+group raised their umbrellas, but they still stood beside the gates.
+
+"She's quite the very prettiest girl I ever saw," cried Alice Tennant;
+"but of course we can have nothing to do with her. She entered a week
+ago. She doesn't pay any of the fees; she has no pretence to being a
+lady. Oh, here she comes! Did you ever see such a face?"
+
+A slight, shabbily dressed little girl, with her satchel of books slung
+on her arm, now appeared. She looked to right and left of her as though
+she were slightly alarmed. Her face was beautiful in the truest sense of
+the world; it did not at all match with the shabby, faded clothes which
+she wore. She had large deep-violet eyes, jet-black hair, and a sweet,
+fresh complexion. Her expression was bewitching, and when she smiled a
+dimple came in her cheek.
+
+"Look--look!" cried Mary Denny. "Isn't she all that I have said?"
+
+"Yes, and more. What a pity we can't know her!" said Alice Tennant.
+
+"But can't we? I really don't see why we should make the poor child
+miserable," said Mary Denny.
+
+"It is not to be thought of. We must worship the beautiful new star
+from afar. Perhaps she will do something to raise herself into our set;
+but as it is, she must go with Kate Rourke and Hannah Johnson and Clara
+Sawyer, and all the rest of the foundationers."
+
+"Well, we have seen her now," said Mary, "so I suppose we needn't stand
+talking about her any longer. Will you come home and have tea with me,
+Alice? Mother said I might ask you."
+
+"I wish I could come," said Alice; "but we are expecting Kathleen."
+
+"Oh, the Irish girl! Is it really arranged that she is to come?"
+
+"Yes, of course it is. She comes to-night. I have never seen her. We are
+all pleased, and expect that she will be a very great acquisition."
+
+"Irish girls always are," said Mary. "They're so gay and full of life,
+and are so ridiculously witty. Don't you remember that time when we had
+Norah Mahoney at the school? What fun that was!"
+
+"But she got into terrible scrapes, and was practically dismissed," said
+Alice. "I only hope Kathleen won't be in that style."
+
+"But do you know anything about her? The Irish are always so terribly
+poor."
+
+"She is not poor at all. She has got an uncle and aunt in Chicago, and
+they are as rich as can be; and her uncle is coming to see her at
+Christmas. And besides that, her father has an awfully old castle in the
+south-west of Ireland. He is never troubled on account of the Land
+League or anything else, and Kathleen will have lots and lots of money.
+I know she is paying mother well for giving her a home while she is
+being educated at the Shirley School."
+
+"I can't imagine why she comes to our school if she is so rich," said
+Mary. "It seems almost unfair. The Great Shirley School is not meant for
+rich girls: a girl of the kind you have just described ought not to
+become a member of the school."
+
+"Oh, that is all very fine; but it seems her mother was educated here,
+and swore a sort of vow that when Kathleen was old enough she should
+come to this school and to no other. Her mother's name is Mrs. O'Hara,
+and she wrote to Miss Ravenscroft and asked if there was a vacancy for
+Kathleen, and if she knew of any one who would be nice to her and with
+whom she could live. Miss Ravenscroft thought of mother; she knew that
+mother would like to have a boarder who would pay her well. So the whole
+thing was settled; mother has been corresponding with Mrs. O'Hara, and
+Kathleen comes to-day. I really can't stay another moment, Mary. I must
+rush home; there are no end of things to be attended to."
+
+"All right," said Mary. "I will watch for you and the beautiful Irish
+heiress--"
+
+"I don't know that she is an heiress."
+
+"Well, whatever she is--the bewitching Irish girl--to-morrow morning.
+Ta-ta for the present."
+
+Mary turned to the left, and Alice continued her walk. She walked
+quickly. She was a well-made, rather pretty girl of fifteen. Her hair,
+very light in colour, hung down her back. She had a determined walk and
+a good carriage. As she hurried her steps she saw Ruth Craven, the
+pretty foundation girl, walking in front of her. Ruth walked slowly and
+as if she were tired. Once she pressed her hand to her side, and Alice,
+passing her, hesitated and looked back. The face that met hers was so
+appealing and loving that she could not resist saying a word.
+
+"Are you awfully tired, Ruth Craven?" she said.
+
+"I shall get used to it," replied Ruth. "I have had a cold for the last
+few days. Thank you so much, Miss Tennant!"
+
+"Don't thank me," said Alice, frowning; "and don't say 'Miss Tennant,'
+It isn't good form in our school. I hope you will be better to-morrow. I
+am sure, at least, that you will like the school very much."
+
+"Thank you," said the girl again.
+
+The girls parted at the next corner. When Ruth found herself alone she
+paused and looked behind her. Tears rose to her eyes; she took out her
+handkerchief to wipe them away. She paused as if troubled by some
+thought; then her face grew bright, and she stepped along more briskly.
+
+"I am a coward, and I ought to be ashamed of myself," she thought. "Now,
+when I go in and grandfather sees me, he will think he has done quite
+wrong to let me go to the Shirley School. I must not let him think that.
+And granny will be still more vexed. I have had my heart's desire, and
+because things are not quite so pleasant as I hoped they would have
+been, it is no reason why I should be discontented."
+
+The next moment she had lifted the latch at a small cottage and entered.
+It was a little better than a workman's house, but not much; there were
+two rooms downstairs and two rooms upstairs, and that was all. To the
+front of the little house was the tiny parlour, at the back an equally
+tiny kitchen. Upstairs was a bedroom for Ruth and a bedroom for her
+grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. Craven did not keep any servants. The moment
+Ruth entered now her grandmother put her head out of the kitchen door.
+
+"Ruthie," she said, "the butcher has disappointed us to-day. Here is a
+shilling; go to the shop and bring in some sausages. Be as quick as you
+can, child, or your grandfather won't have his supper in time."
+
+Ruth took the money without a word. She went down a small lane, turned
+to her right, and found herself in a mean little street full of small
+shops. She entered one that she knew, and asked for a pound and a half
+of pork sausages. As the woman was wrapping them up in a piece of torn
+newspaper, she looked at Ruth and said:
+
+"Is it true, Miss Craven, that you are a scholar at the Great Shirley
+School?"
+
+"I am," replied Ruth. "I went there for the first time to-day."
+
+"So your grandparents are going to educate you, miss, as if you were a
+lady."
+
+"I am a lady, Mrs. Plowden. My grandparents cannot make me anything but
+what I am."
+
+Mrs. Plowden smiled. She handed Ruth her sausages without a word, and
+the young girl left the shop. Her grandmother was waiting for her in the
+porch.
+
+"What a time you have been, child!" she said. "I do hope this new school
+and the scholars and all this fuss and excitement of your new life won't
+turn your head. Whatever happens, you have got to be a little servant to
+me and a little messenger to your grandfather. You have got to make
+yourself useful, and not to have ideas beyond your station."
+
+"Here are the sausages, granny," answered Ruth in a gentle tone.
+
+The old lady took them from her and disappeared into the kitchen.
+
+"Ruth--Ruth!" said a somewhat querulous but very deep voice which
+evidently issued from the parlor.
+
+"Yes, granddad; coming in a moment or two," Ruth replied. She ran up
+the tiny stairs, and entered her own little bedroom, which was so wee
+that she could scarcely turn round in it, but was extremely neat.
+
+Ruth removed her hat, brushed out her black hair, saw that her dress,
+shabby as it was, was in apple-pie order, put on a neat white apron, and
+ran downstairs. She first of all entered the parlor. A handsome old man,
+with a decided look of Ruth herself, was seated by the fire. He was
+holding out his thin, knuckly hands to the blaze. As Ruth came in he
+turned and smiled at her.
+
+"Ah, deary!" he said, "I have been missing you all day. And how did you
+like your school? And how is everything?"
+
+"I will tell you after supper, grandfather. I must go and help granny
+now."
+
+"That's right; that's a good girl. Oh! far be it from me to be
+impatient; I wouldn't be for all the world. Your granny has missed you
+too to-day."
+
+Ruth smiled at him and went into the kitchen. There were eager voices
+and sounds of people hurrying about, and then a fragrant smell of fried
+sausages. A moment later Ruth appeared, holding a brightly trimmed lamp
+in her hand; she laid it on a little centre-table, drew down the blinds,
+pulled the red curtains across the windows, poked up the fire, and then
+proceeded to lay the cloth for supper. Her pile of books, which she had
+brought in her satchel, lay on a chair.
+
+"I can have a look at your books while I am waiting, can't I, little
+woman?" said the old man.
+
+Ruth brought him over the pack of books somewhat unwillingly. He gave a
+sigh of contentment, drew the lamp a little nearer, and was lost for the
+time being.
+
+"Now, child," said old Mrs. Craven, "you heat that plate by the fire.
+Have you got the pepper and salt handy? Sausages ain't worth touching
+unless you eat them piping hot. Your grandfather wants his beer. Dear,
+dear! What a worry that is! I never knew that the cask was empty. What
+is to be done?"
+
+"I can go round to the shop and bring in a quart," said Ruth.
+
+"But you--a member of the Shirley School! No, you mustn't. I'll do it."
+
+"Nonsense, granny! I'll leave school to-morrow if you don't let me work
+for you just the same as ever."
+
+Mrs. Craven sank into her chair.
+
+"You are a good child," she said. "All day I have been so fretting that
+we were taking you out of your station; and that is a sad mistake--sad
+and terrible. But you are a good child. Yes, go for it, dear; it won't
+do you any harm."
+
+Ruth wrapped an old shawl round her head, picked up a jug, and went off
+to the nearest public-house. They were accustomed to see her there, for
+old Mr. Craven more often than not had his little cask of beer empty.
+She went to a side entrance, where a woman she knew served her with what
+she required.
+
+"There, Ruth Craven," she said--"there it is. But, all the same, I'm
+surprised to see you here to-night."
+
+"But why so?" asked Ruth.
+
+"Isn't it true that you are one of the Shirley scholars now?"
+
+"I am; I joined the school to-day."
+
+"And yet you come to fetch beer for your old grandfather!"
+
+"I do," said Ruth, with spirit. "And I shall fetch it for him as long as
+he wants it. Thank you very much."
+
+She took the jug and walked carefully back to the cottage.
+
+"She's the handsomest, most spirited, best little thing I ever met,"
+thought the landlady of the "Lion," and she began to consider in her own
+mind if one of her men could not call round in the morning and leave the
+necessary beer at the Cravens'.
+
+Supper was served, and was eaten with considerable relish by all three.
+
+"Now," said old granny when the meal had come to an end, "you stay and
+talk to your grandfather--he is all agog to hear what you have got to
+say--and I will wash up. Now then, child, don't you worry. It isn't
+everybody who has got loving grandparents like us."
+
+"And it isn't many old bodies who have got such a dear little
+granddaughter," said the old man, smiling at Ruth.
+
+Mrs. Craven carried the supper things into the kitchen, and Ruth sat
+close to her grandfather.
+
+"Now, tell me, child, tell me," he said. "What did they do? What class
+did they put you into?"
+
+"I am in the third remove; a very good class indeed--at least they all
+said so, grandfather."
+
+"I don't understand your modern names; but tell me what you have got to
+learn, dear. What sort of lessons are they going to put into that smart
+little head of yours?"
+
+"Oh, all the best things, grandfather--French, German, English in all
+its branches, music, and Latin if I like. I am determined to take up
+Latin; I want to get to the heart of things."
+
+"Quite right--quite right, too. And you are ever so pleased at having
+got in?"
+
+"It does seem a grand thing for me, doesn't it, grandfather?"
+
+"Most of the girls are ladies, aren't they?"
+
+"It is a big school--between three and four hundred girls. I don't
+suppose they are all ladies."
+
+"Well, you are, anyhow, my little Ruth."
+
+"Am I, granddad? That is the question."
+
+"What do you think yourself?"
+
+"I think so; but what does the world say?"
+
+"Ruth, I never told you, but your mother was a lady. You know what your
+father was. I saved and stinted and toiled and got him a commission in
+the army. He died, poor fellow, shortly after you were born. But he was
+a commissioned officer in the Punjab Infantry. Your mother was a
+governess, but she was a lady by birth; her father was a clergyman. Your
+parents met in India; they fell in love, and married. Your mother died
+at your birth, and you came home to us. Yes, child, by birth you are a
+lady, as good as any of them--as good as the best."
+
+"They are dead," said Ruth. "I don't remember them. I have a picture of
+my father upstairs; it is taken with his uniform on. He looks very
+handsome. And I have a little water-color sketch of my mother, and she
+looks fair and sweet and interesting. But I never knew them. Those I
+knew and know and love are you, grandfather, and granny."
+
+"Well, dear, when I had the power and the brains and the strength, I
+kept a shop--a grocer's shop, dear; and my wife, she was the daughter of
+a harness-maker. Your grandparents were both in trade; there's no way
+out of it."
+
+"But a gentleman and lady for all that," said the girl.
+
+She pressed close to the old man, took one of his weather-beaten hands
+between both of her own, and stroked it.
+
+"That is as people think, Ruthie; but we weren't in the position, and
+never expect to be, of those who are high up in the world."
+
+"I am glad you told me about my father and mother," said the girl. "I
+love both their memories. I am glad to think that my father served the
+Queen, and that my mother was the daughter of a clergyman. But I am more
+glad to think that there never was such an honorable man as you,
+granddad, and that you made the grocery trade one of the best in the
+world."
+
+"It was a bad trade, my darling. I had several severe losses. It was
+very unfortunate my lending that money."
+
+"What money?"
+
+"Oh, I will tell you another time; it doesn't really matter. There was a
+little bit of ingratitude there, but it doesn't matter. Only I made no
+fortune by grocery--barely enough to put my boy into the army and to
+educate him for it, and enough to keep us with a pittance now that we
+are old. But I have nothing to leave you, sweetest. You just have your
+pension from the Government, which don't count for nothing at all."
+
+Ruth rose to her feet.
+
+"I am glad I got into the school," she said. "I hope to do wonders
+there. I mean to take every scrap of good the place opens out to me. I
+mean to work as hard as ever I can. You shall be desperately proud of
+me; and so shall granny, although she doesn't hold with much learning."
+
+"But I do, little girl; I love it more than anything. I have got such a
+lovely scheme in my head. I will work alongside of you, Ruth--you and I
+at the same things. You can lend me the books when you don't want them."
+
+"What a splendid idea!" said Ruth, clapping her hands.
+
+"You look quite happy, my dear."
+
+"And so I am. I am about the happiest girl on earth. And now, may I
+begin to look through my lessons for to-morrow?"
+
+The old man arranged the lamp where its light would be most comfortable
+for the keen young eyes, and Ruth sat down to the table, got out her
+books, and worked for an hour or two. Mrs. Craven came in, looked at her
+proudly, wagged her head, and returned to the kitchen. After a time she
+came to the door and beckoned to the old man to follow her. But the old
+man had taken up one of Ruth's books and was absorbed in its contents;
+he was muttering words over under his breath.
+
+"Coming, wife--coming presently," he said.
+
+Ruth's head was bent over her books. Mr. Craven rose and went on tiptoe
+into the kitchen.
+
+"We mustn't disturb her, Susan," he said. "We must let her have her own
+way. She must work just as long as she likes. She is going to be a great
+power in the land, is that child, with her beauty and her talent;
+there's nothing she can't aspire to."
+
+"Now don't you be a silly old man," said Mrs. Craven. "And what on earth
+were you whispering about to yourself when I came in?"
+
+"I am going to work with her. It will be a wonderful stimulation, and a
+great interest to me. I always was keen for book-learning."
+
+Mrs. Craven suppressed a sigh.
+
+"If I even had fifty pounds," she said, "I wouldn't let that child spend
+every hour at school. I'd dress up smart, and take her out, and get her
+the very best husband I could. Why, old man, what does a woman want
+with all that learning?"
+
+"If a woman has brains she's bound to use them," replied the old man, as
+he sat down by the kitchen fire.
+
+Meanwhile Ruth went on with her lessons. After a time, however, she
+uttered a sigh. She flung down her books and looked across the room.
+
+"If he only knew," she said under her breath--"if he only knew that I
+was practically sent to Coventry--that none of the nice girls will speak
+to me. But never mind; I won't tell him. Nothing would induce me to
+trouble him on the subject."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+HIGH LIFE AND LOW LIFE.
+
+
+Amongst the many girls who attended the Great Shirley School was one who
+was known by the name of Cassandra Weldon. She was rapidly approaching
+the proud position of head girl in the school. She had entered the
+Shirley School when quite a little child, had gone steadily up through
+the different classes and the various removes, until she found herself
+nearly at the head of the sixth form. She was about to try for a
+sixty-pound scholarship, renewable for three years; if she got it she
+would go to Holloway College, and eventually support herself and her
+mother. Mrs. Weldon was the widow of a man who in his time had a very
+successful school for boys, and she herself had been a teacher long ago
+in the Great Shirley School. Cassandra and her mother, therefore, were
+from the very first surrounded by scholarship; they belonged, so to
+speak, to the scholastic world.
+
+Mrs. Weldon could scarcely talk of anything else. Evening after evening
+she would question her daughter eagerly with regard to this
+accomplishment and the other, to this change or that, to this chance
+which Cassandra might have and to the other. The girl was extremely
+clever, with a sort of all-round talent which was most remarkable; for
+in addition to many excellent accomplishments, she was distinctly
+musical. Her musical talent very nearly amounted to genius. If in the
+future she could not play in public, she resolved at least to earn her
+living as a music teacher. Mrs. Weldon hoped that Cassandra would do
+more than this; and, to tell the truth, the girl shared her mother's
+dreams. Besides music, she had worked very hard at botany, at French and
+German, and at English literature. She would be seventeen on her next
+birthday, and it was against the rules for any girl to remain at the
+Great Shirley School after that time. Cassandra had, however, two more
+terms of school-life before her, and these terms she regarded as the
+most valuable of her whole education.
+
+In appearance Cassandra was a tall, well-made girl, graceful in her
+movements, and very self-possessed in manner. Her face was full of
+intelligence, but was rather plain than otherwise, for her mouth was too
+wide and her nose the reverse of classical. She had bright intelligent
+brown eyes, however, a nice voice, and a pleasant way. Cassandra was
+looked up to by all her fellow-students, and this not because she was
+rich, nor because she was beautiful, but simply because she was good and
+honorable and trustworthy; she possessed a large amount of sympathy for
+nearly every one, her tact was unfailing, and she was never
+self-assertive.
+
+Now Cassandra, who had many friends in the school, had amongst them, of
+course, her greatest friend. This girl was called Florence Archer.
+Florence was pretty and clever, but she had neither Cassandra's depth
+nor power of intellect. She was naturally vain and frivolous, except in
+the presence of her dearest friend. She was easily influenced by others,
+and it was her habit to follow the one who gave her the last advice. Her
+passionate love for Cassandra was perhaps her best and strongest
+quality; but of late she had exhibited a sense of almost unwarrantable
+jealousy when any other girl showed a preference for her special friend.
+Florence was a very nice girl, but jealousy was her bane. She thought a
+good deal of herself, for her father was a rich man, and only took
+advantage of the Great Shirley education because it was incomparably the
+best in the place. There was no rule against any one attending the
+school, and he had long ago secured a niche in it for his favorite
+daughter. Florence loved it and hated it at the same time. She was fond
+of her own companions, but she could not bear the foundation girls.
+These girls made a large percentage in the school. In all respects they
+were supposed to be Florence's equals, but as a matter of fact they were
+kept in a very subordinate position by the paying girls. On every
+possible occasion they were avoided, and there must be something very
+special about any one of them if she was taken up by the aristocrats--as
+they termed themselves--of the school.
+
+But Cassandra as a rule was perfectly sweet and pleasant to the
+foundation girls, and this trait in her friend's character annoyed
+Florence more than anything else.
+
+On the morning after Ruth Craven had been admitted to the school
+Cassandra was one of the first arrivals. She was standing in the wide
+courtyard waiting for the school doors to be opened. She looked, as
+usual, bright and capable. A stream of girls were surrounding her, each
+smiling and trying to draw her attention. Cassandra was a girl of few
+words, and after nodding to her companions, she gave them to understand
+that she did not intend to enter into any special conversation. Her neat
+satchel of school-books was slung on her arm. She wore a very dark-blue
+serge dress, and her white sailor-hat looked correct and pretty on her
+shining brown hair. Cassandra, with her face beaming as the sun, made a
+sort of figure-head for the smaller girls. Presently three foundation
+girls entered the gates side by side and glanced up at her. This trio
+formed perhaps the most objectionable set in the school. One was called
+Kate Rourke; she was a girl of fifteen years of age, showily dressed,
+with flashing eyes, long earrings in her ears, false jewellery round her
+neck, and a smart, rather shabby hat, trimmed with a lot of flowers,
+placed at the back of her head. Hanging on Kate's arm might have been
+seen Hannah Johnson, in all respects that young lady's double. Clara
+Sawyer, a fair-haired little girl about fourteen, with a heavy fringe
+right down to her eyebrows, completed the trio.
+
+They glanced at Cassandra, and then nodded to one another and joked and
+laughed.
+
+"I have no doubt," said Kate, "that Cassie will take her up."
+
+She said the word "Cassie" in a loud voice. Cassandra heard her, but she
+took not the slightest notice.
+
+"She is safe to," continued Kate. "Now, such a girl oughtn't to be on
+the foundation at all. If you only knew the snubbing she gave me
+yesterday. I quite hate her, with all her pretty face and her mincing
+ways."
+
+"Never mind, Kitty," said Hannah Johnson. "She may snub you as much as
+she likes, but you have got me to cling on to."
+
+"And you've got me, too, Kitty," said Clara Sawyer. She snuggled close
+up to Kate and slipped her hand through her arm.
+
+"Nasty thing!" said Hannah. "I feel every word you say, Kate. Do you
+know, I offered to walk home with her yesterday, and she said, 'No, I
+thank you; I prefer to walk home alone,'"
+
+As Hannah made this speech she adopted the mincing tones which she
+supposed Ruth Craven had used. The two other girls burst out laughing.
+
+"Oh, do say what you are laughing about!" said another girl, running up
+to the group at this moment. Her name was Rosy Myers. "You always have a
+joke among you three, and I want to share it. Do say--do say! I've got a
+lot of toffee in my pocket."
+
+"Hand it out, Rosy, and perhaps we'll tell you," said Kate.
+
+Rose produced a packet of sticky sweetmeat, and a moment later the four
+were sucking peppermint toffee and making themselves thoroughly
+objectionable to their neighbors.
+
+"But what about the girl--the person you are laughing about?" asked
+Rose.
+
+"Oh, it's that stupid, tiresome Ruth Craven," answered Hannah. "Why,
+she's nobody. The governors and the mistress ought not to allow such a
+girl in the school. It's all very well to be on the foundation, but
+there are limits. Why, her old grandfather kept nothing better than a
+huckster's shop. It doesn't seem right that a girl of that sort should
+belong to this school, and then take airs."
+
+"But the question is," said Cassandra suddenly, "does she take airs?"
+
+The girls all stopped talking, and gazed up at Cassandra with
+astonishment in their faces.
+
+"I have overheard you," said Miss Weldon calmly. "I presume you are
+alluding to Miss Craven?"
+
+"We are talking about Ruth Craven," said Kate Rourke; "and you will
+excuse me, Cassie, but I never saw a girl more chock-full of pride. She
+is so conceited that she is intolerable."
+
+"I heard of her yesterday, but have not had an opportunity to form any
+estimate of her character," continued Cassandra. "I should prefer that
+you did not call me Cassie, if you please, Kate. I will watch her and
+find out if I agree with you. I only noticed yesterday that she is
+remarkably pretty. I will ask her to walk home with me to-day and have
+tea. I should like to introduce her to mother."
+
+"Well, I never!" said Hannah. "And you really mean that you would
+introduce that girl to Mrs. Weldon?"
+
+"I think so. Yes, I am almost certain. Here she comes. I like her face.
+Don't let her hear you giggling, please, Kate; it is very unkind to make
+a new girl feel uncomfortable."
+
+Kate smothered a laugh and turned away. The doors of the school were now
+thrown open, and the girls disappeared by their special entrances.
+
+It was just at that moment that Ruth in her shabby dress, but with her
+sweet and most beautiful face, joined the group of girls who were going
+into the school. She was without a companion. The other girls went in
+by twos, each clinging to her special crony. Cassandra now changed her
+position, and found herself within a yard or two of Ruth Craven. She was
+examining Ruth with great care, but not at all from the unkind point of
+view; hers was a sympathetic aspect. That little old serge dress made
+something come up in Cassandra's throat, and she longed beyond words to
+give her a better dress. Ruth's hat, too, left much to be desired. It
+was an old black sailor-hat, which had been burnt to a dull brown. But,
+notwithstanding the hat and the dress, there was the face. The face was
+most lovely, and the back of the shabby frock was covered by hair as
+black as jet, and curling and rippling in the sunshine.
+
+"What wouldn't every other girl in the school give to have such a face
+as that, and such hair as that?" thought Cassandra. "I must speak to
+her."
+
+She was just bending forward, meaning to touch Ruth on her shoulder,
+when there came a commotion near the entrance, and the excited face of
+Alice Tennant came into view. Alice was accompanied by a tall, showily
+dressed girl. The girl had a very vivid color in her cheeks, intensely
+bright and roguish dark-blue eyes, light chestnut hair touched with
+gold--hair which was a mass of waves and tendrils and fluffiness, and on
+which a little dark-blue velvet cap was placed.
+
+"I am not going to be shy," cried the new-comer in a hearty, clear, loud
+voice with a considerable amount of brogue in it. "Leave off clutching
+me by the arm, Alice, my honey, for see my new companions I will. Ah,
+what a crowd of girls!--colleens we call them in Ireland. Oh, glory! how
+am I ever to get the names of half of them round my tongue? Ah, and
+isn't that one a beauty?"
+
+"Hush, Kathleen--do hush!" said Alice. "They will hear you."
+
+"And what do I care if they do, darling? It doesn't matter to me. I mean
+to talk to that girl; she's won my heart entirely."
+
+Before Alice could prevent her, the Irish girl had sprung forward,
+pushed a couple of Great Shirley girls out of their places, and had
+taken Ruth Craven by the arm.
+
+"It's a kiss I'm going to give you, my beauty," she said. "Oh, it's
+right glad I am to see you! My name is Kathleen O'Hara, and I hail from
+the ould country. Ah, though! it's lonely I'm likely to be, isn't it,
+deary? You don't deny me the pleasure of your society when I tell you
+that in all this vast crowd I stand solitary--solitary but for her; and,
+bedad! I'm not certain that I take to her at all. Let me tuck my hand
+inside your arm, sweetest."
+
+A titter was heard from the surrounding girls. Ruth turned very red,
+then she looked into Kathleen's eyes.
+
+"You mean kindly," she said, "but perhaps you had better not. You, too,
+are a stranger."
+
+"Are you a stranger?" asked Kathleen. "Then that clinches the matter.
+Ah, yes; it's lonely I am. I have come from my dear mountain home to be
+civilised; but civilisation will never suit Kathleen O'Hara. She isn't
+meant to have it. She's meant to dance on the tops of the mountains, and
+to gather flowers in the bogs. She's made to dance and joke and laugh,
+and to have a gay time. Ah! my people at home made a fine mistake when
+they sent me to be civilised. But I like you, honey. I like the shape of
+your face, and the way you are made, and the wonderful look in your eyes
+when you glance round at me. It is you and me will be the finest of
+friends, sha'n't we?"
+
+Before Ruth could reply the girls had entered the great hall, which
+presently became quite full.
+
+"Don't let go of me, darling, for the life of you. It's lost I'd be in a
+place of this sort. Let me clutch on to you until they put me into the
+lowest place in the school."
+
+"But why so?" asked Ruth, glancing at her tall companion in some
+astonishment. "Don't you know anything?"
+
+"I? Never a bit, darling. I don't suppose they'll keep me here. I have
+no learning, and I never want to have any, and what's more--"
+
+"Hush, girls! No talking," called the indignant voice of a form-room
+mistress.
+
+Kathleen's dark-blue eyes grew round with laughter. She suddenly dropped
+a curtsy.
+
+"Mum's the word, ma'am," she said, and then she glanced round at her
+numerous companions.
+
+The girls had all been watching her. Their faces broke into smiles, the
+smiles became titters, and the titters roars. The mistress had again to
+come forward and ask what was wrong.
+
+"It's only me, miss," said Kathleen, "so don't blame any of the other
+innocent lambs. I'm fresh from old Ireland. Oh, miss, it's a beautiful
+country! Were you never there? If you could only behold her purple
+mountains, and let yourself go on the bosom of her rushing streams! Were
+you ever in the old country, miss, if I might venture to ask a civil
+question?"
+
+"No," said Miss Atherton in a very suppressing tone. "I don't understand
+impertinent questions, and I expect the schoolgirls to be orderly.--Ah,
+Ruth Craven! Will you take this young lady under your wing?"
+
+"Didn't I say we were to be mates, dear?" said Kathleen O'Hara; and as
+they passed from the great hall, Kathleen's hand was still fondly linked
+on Ruth's arm.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+THE WILD IRISH GIRL.
+
+
+Lessons went on in their usual orderly fashion. At eleven o'clock there
+was a break for a quarter of an hour. The girls streamed into the
+playground. The playground was very large, and was asphalted, and in
+consequence quite dry and pleasant to walk on. There was a field just
+beyond, and into this field the girls now strolled by twos and twos.
+Kathleen O'Hara clung to Ruth Craven's arm; she kept talking to her and
+asking her questions.
+
+"You needn't reply unless you like, pet," she said. "All I want is just
+to look into your face. I adore beauty; I worship it more than anything
+else on earth. I was brought up in the midst of it. I never saw anything
+uglier than poor old Towser when he broke his leg and cut his upper jaw;
+but although he was ugly, he was the darling of my heart. He died, and I
+cried a lot. I can't quite get over it. Yes, I suppose I am uncivilised,
+and I never want to be anything else. Do you think I want to copy those
+nimby-pimby girls over there, or that lot, or that?"
+
+"You had better not point, please, Miss O'Hara," said Ruth. "They won't
+like it."
+
+"What do I care whether they like it or not?" said Kathleen. "I wasn't
+brought here to curry favor with them. What would my darling father say
+if I told him that I was going to curry favor with the girls of the
+Great Shirley School? And what would mother say? No, no; I may pick up
+a few smatterings, or I may not, but there is one thing certain: I mean
+to make a friend of you, Ruth--yes, a great big bosom friend. You will
+be fond of me, won't you?"
+
+"I like you now," said Ruth. "I know you are kind, and you are very
+pretty."
+
+"Why, then, darling," said Kathleen, "is it the Blarney Stone you have
+kissed? You have a sweet little voice of your own, although it hasn't
+the dear touch of the brogue that I miss so in all the other girls."
+
+"But you like Miss Tennant don't you?" said Ruth.
+
+"Oh, yes. Poor little Alice! She's very reserved and very, very formal,
+but she's a good soul, and I won't worry her. But you are the one my
+heart has gone out to. Ah! that is the way of Irish hearts. They go
+straight out to their kindred spirits. You are a kindred spirit of mine,
+Ruth Craven, and you can't get away from me, not even if you will."
+
+The fifteen minutes for recreation came to an end, and the girls
+returned to the schoolroom. Ruth was in a high class for her age, and
+was already absorbed in her work. Kathleen drummed with her fingers on
+her desk and looked round her. Kathleen was in a low class; she was with
+girls a great deal smaller and younger than herself.
+
+"How old are you, Miss O'Hara?" the English teacher, Miss Dove, had
+said.
+
+"I am fifteen, bless your heart, darling!" replied Kathleen.
+
+"Don't talk exactly like that," said Miss Dove, who, in spite of
+herself, was attracted by the sweet voice and sweeter eyes. "Say, 'I am
+fifteen, Miss Dove.'"
+
+Kathleen made a grimace. Her grimace was so comical that all the small
+girls in the class burst out laughing. She was silent.
+
+"Speak, dear," said Miss Dove in a persuasive tone.
+
+"Yes, darling, I'm trying to."
+
+"You mustn't use affectionate words in school."
+
+"Oh, my heart! How am I to bear it?" said Kathleen, and she clasped a
+white hand over that organ.
+
+Miss Dove paused for a moment, and then decided that she would let the
+question in dispute go by for the present. She began to question
+Kathleen as to her acquirements, and found that she must leave her with
+the younger children for the time being. She then went on to attend to
+other duties.
+
+Kathleen sat bolt-upright in the centre of the class. It seemed absurd
+to see this tall, well-grown girl surrounded by tiny tots. One of the
+tiny tots looked towards her. Presently she thrust out a moist little
+hand, and out of the moisture produced a half-melted peppermint drop.
+Just for a second Kathleen's bright eyes fell upon the sweetmeat with
+disgust; then she took it up gingerly and popped it into her mouth.
+
+"It's golloptious," she said, turning to the child, and then she drummed
+her fingers once more on the edge of the desk. Presently she stooped
+down and whispered to this small girl:
+
+"I hate school; don't you?"
+
+"Y--es," was the timid reply.
+
+"Let's go out."
+
+"But I--I can't."
+
+"I must, then. I have nothing to do; the lessons are deadly stupid.
+Forgive me, girls; you are all blameless;" and the next moment she had
+left the room.
+
+Half a moment later she was in the fresh air outside. Her cheeks were
+hot, her hair in disorder, and her hand, where she had touched the
+peppermint, was sticky."
+
+"What would father say if he could see me now?" she thought. "If Aunty
+O'Flynn was to look at her Kathleen! Oh, why did they send me across the
+cold sea to a place of this sort--a detestable place? Oh, the fresh air
+is reviving. I was born free, and Britons never, never will be slaves. I
+can't stay in that horrid room. Oh, how long the morning is!"
+
+Just then a teacher came out and beckoned to Kathleen.
+
+"What are you doing outside, Miss O'Hara? Come in immediately and return
+to your class."
+
+"I can't dear," replied Kathleen in a gentle tone. "You are young,
+aren't you? You don't look more than twenty. Do you ever feel your heart
+beat wild, dear, and your spirits all in a sort of throb? And did you,
+when you were like that, submit to being tied up in steel chains all
+round every bit of you? Answer me: did you?"
+
+"I can't answer you, Miss O'Hara. You are a very naughty, rebellious
+girl. You have come to school to be disciplined. Go back immediately."
+
+For a minute Kathleen thought of rebelling, but then she said to
+herself, "It isn't worth the fuss," and returned to her place once again
+in the centre of the class.
+
+"I have been called back," she said in a whisper to her little
+peppermint companion. "I was naughty to go out, and I am called back. I
+am in disgrace. Isn't it a lark?"
+
+The little girl felt quite excited. Never was there such and big and
+fascinating inmate of the lower fifth before. It was worth coming to
+school now to be in the vicinity of one so handsome and so gay.
+
+The weary morning came to an end at last. The girls seldom returned for
+afternoon school, generally doing their preparations at home. Alice
+Tennant, however, sometimes preferred the quiet school to the noisy life
+she lived with her brothers at home. She looked now eagerly for
+Kathleen, who had shunned her from the instant they had entered the
+school; she stood just by the gate waiting for her. Kathleen, on her
+part, was looking for Ruth Craven. Ruth had been monopolised by
+Cassandra Weldon.
+
+"You must come home with me," she said.
+
+"But my grandparents will be expecting me," said Ruth.
+
+"Never mind; we will go round by your cottage and ask them. I know all
+about you, and I want to know you better. You will, won't you?"
+
+"Thank you very much," said Ruth.
+
+"We will go on at once without waiting for the others," said Cassandra,
+and they walked on quickly, while Kathleen searched in vain for her
+chosen friend.
+
+"Come, Kathleen; I am waiting," said Alice in a slightly cross voice.
+"Mother said we were to be home early to-day."
+
+"All right," said Kathleen; "but I can't find Miss Craven anywhere.
+
+"You can't wait for her now. Indeed, she has gone. I saw her walking
+down the road with Cassandra Weldon."
+
+"And who is she?"
+
+"The head girl of the school; and such a splendid creature! I am glad
+she is taking up Ruth. It isn't possible for every one to notice her;
+although, for my part, I have no patience with that sort of false pride.
+Of course, a lot of the foundation girls are very common; but when one
+sees a perfect lady like Ruth one ought to recognize her."
+
+"Of course," said Kathleen, fidgeting a little as she walked.
+
+"And how did you get on?" asked Alice, noticing the dejected tone of
+her voice.
+
+"I got on abominably," said Kathleen.
+
+"What class are you in?"
+
+"I don't know. I am with a lot of babies; I suppose I am to be a sort of
+caretaker to them. There wasn't anything to learn. I am going to write
+to father. I can't stay in that horrid school."
+
+"Oh, yes, you can. You will get to like it very much after a time. You
+have never been at school before, and of course you find it irksome."
+
+"Is it irksome?" cried Kathleen. "Is it that she calls it? Oh, glory!
+It's purgatory, my dear, that's what it is--purgatory--and I haven't
+done anything to deserve it."
+
+"But you want to learn; you don't want to be always ignorant."
+
+"Bedad, then, darling, I don't want to learn at all. What do I want to
+know your sort of things for? I could beat you, every one of you, and
+the teachers, too, in some accomplishments. Put me on a horse, darling,
+and see what I can do; and put me in a boat, pet, and find out where I
+can take you. And set me swimming in the cold sea; I can turn
+somersaults and dive and dance on the waves, and do every mortal thing
+as though I were a fish, not a girl. And give me a gun and see me bring
+down a bird on the wing. Ah! those things ought to be counted in the
+education of a woman. I can do all those things, and I can mix whisky
+punch, and I can sing songs to the dear old dad, and I can comfort my
+mother when her rheumatics are bad. And I can love, love, love! Oh, no,
+Alice, I am not ignorant in the true sense; but I hate French, and I
+hate arithmetic, and I hate all your horrid school work. And I never
+could spell properly; and what does it matter?"
+
+"Everything," replied Alice. "You can't go about the world if you are
+stupid and ignorant."
+
+"Can't I?" exclaimed Kathleen, and she flashed her eyes at Alice and
+made her feel, as she said afterwards, quite uncanny.
+
+The Tennants were, after all, not a large family. They consisted of Mrs.
+Tennant, Alice, and two young brothers. These brothers were schoolboys
+of the unruly type. Alice considered them very badly trained. Kathleen,
+however, was much taken by their schoolboyish ways.
+
+As the two girls now entered the house they heard a whistle proceeding
+from the attic; a cat-call at the same time came from the basement.
+
+"Oh, dear!" cried Alice, "there are those dreadful boys again. Whatever
+you do, Kathleen, you must not encourage them in their larks."
+
+"But why shouldn't I? I like them both. I call David a broth of a boy. I
+am glad you have got brothers, Alice. I haven't any; but then I have
+lots of boy cousins, which comes to much the same thing."
+
+The girls by this time had reached the large bedroom which they shared
+on the first floor.
+
+"You are welcome to my brothers if you don't toss all your things about
+in my room," cried Alice. "If we are to sleep together we must be
+orderly."
+
+"Orderly, is it?" cried Kathleen. "I don't know the meaning of the word.
+Well, all right, I'm ready."
+
+She pushed her fingers through her tangled golden hair, and, without
+glancing at herself in the glass, marched out of the room.
+
+"I wish mother hadn't asked her to come," said Alice to herself. "The
+house was bad enough before, but now she will make things past bearing."
+
+Alice went downstairs to the sound of a cracked gong. The Tennants had
+their meals in a sitting-room on the second floor. It was barely
+furnished, and had kamptulicon instead of a carpet on the floor. Mrs.
+Tennant, looking careworn and anxious, was seated at the head of the
+table; her dress was somewhat faded. Alice entered and took her seat at
+the foot. Kathleen was nowhere to be seen.
+
+"I have only soup and fish for dinner to-day," said Mrs. Tennant. "I do
+trust Kathleen will be satisfied."
+
+Alice frowned at her mother in some displeasure.
+
+"We ought to have meat--" she was beginning, when there came a bang and
+a scuffle, a girlish laugh, and Kathleen, leaning fondly on both the
+boys, appeared. Mrs. Tennant pointed to a seat, and she sat down. The
+Irish girl had a healthy appetite, and was indifferent to what she ate.
+She demanded two plates of soup, and when she had finished the second
+she looked at Mrs. Tennant and said emphatically:
+
+"I have fallen in love."
+
+"My dear Kathleen!"
+
+"I have--with a girl, so it doesn't matter. She's the prettiest,
+sweetest, bonniest thing I ever saw in my life. I am going to hunt round
+for her immediately after dinner. I thought I'd say so, for I mean to do
+it."
+
+"Oh, Kathleen!" said Alice in a distressed voice, "you really mustn't.
+You must come back to the school with me. I promised Miss Dove that I'd
+see you through your tasks.--You know, mother," continued Alice,
+"Kathleen is not very advanced for her age, and Miss Dove wants to get
+her into a proper class as quickly as possible; therefore she is to be
+coached a little, and I have undertaken to do it.--You will come with
+me, Kathleen? I must get back to the school again by half-past two. You
+will be sure to come, dear?"
+
+"I think not, dear," replied Kathleen in her most aggravating tone.
+
+"But you must.--Mustn't she, mother?"
+
+"You ought to, Kathleen," said Mrs. Tennant. "You have been sent here to
+learn. Alice can teach you; she can help you very much. She means to be
+very kind to you. You certainly ought to do what she suggests."
+
+"But I am afraid," said Kathleen, "that I am not going to do what I
+ought. I don't wish to be good at all to-day. I couldn't live if I
+wasn't really naughty sometimes. I mean to be terribly naughty all the
+afternoon. If you will let me have my fling, I do assure you, Mrs.
+Tennant, that I will work off the steam, and will be all right
+to-morrow. I must do something desperate, and if Alice opposes me I'll
+have to do something worse."
+
+"You are a clipper!" said David Tennant, smiling into her face.
+
+"All right, my boy; I expect I am," said Kathleen; and then she added,
+springing to her feet, "I have eaten enough, and for what we have
+received--Good-bye, Mrs. Tennant; I'm off."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+THE HOME-SICK AND THE REBELLIOUS.
+
+
+Kathleen O'Hara ran up to an untidy room. She banged-to the door, and
+standing by it for a moment, drew the bolt. Thus she had secured herself
+against intrusion. She then flung herself on the bed, put her two arms
+under her head, and gazed out of the window. Her heart was beating
+wildly; she had a strange medley of feelings within. She was
+desperately, madly lonely. She was homesick in the most intense sense of
+the word.
+
+Kathleen had never left Carrigrohane Castle before. This romantic abode
+was situated in the extreme south-west of Ireland. It was a mile away
+from the sea, and stood on a rocky eminence which overlooked a very wide
+expanse of moor and wood, rushing streams and purple mountains, and deep
+dark-blue sea. In the whole world there could scarcely be found a more
+lovely view than that which since her birth had presented itself before
+Kathleen's young eyes. Her father, Squire O'Hara, was, as landlords in
+Ireland go, very well off. His tenantry adored him. He got in his rents
+with tolerable regularity. He was a good landlord, firm but also kind
+and indulgent. A real case of distress was never turned away from his
+doors, but where rent could be paid he insisted on the cottars giving
+him his due. He kept a rather wild establishment, however. His wife was
+an Irishwoman from a neighboring county, and had some of the most
+careless attributes of her race. The house got along anyhow. There were
+always shoals of visitors, mostly relatives. There were heavy feasts in
+the old hall, and sittings up very late at night, and no end of hunting
+and fishing and shooting in their seasons. In the summer a pretty white
+yacht made a great "divartisement," as the Squire was fond of saying;
+and in all things Kathleen O'Hara was free as the air she breathed. She
+was educated in a sort of fashion by an Irish governess, but in reality
+she was allowed to pursue her lessons exactly as she liked best herself.
+
+It was just before she was fifteen that Kathleen's aunt, a maiden lady
+from Dublin, who rejoiced in the truly Irish name of O'Flynn, came to
+see them, remarked on Kathleen's wild, unkempt appearance, declared that
+the girl would be a downright beauty when she was eighteen, said that no
+one would tolerate such a want of knowledge in the present day, and
+advised that she should go to school. Mrs. O'Hara took Miss O'Flynn's
+hint very much to heart. Kathleen was consulted, and of course tabooed
+the entire scheme; in the end, however, the elder ladies carried the
+day. Miss O'Flynn took her niece to Dublin with her, and gave her an
+expensive and very unnecessary wardrobe; and Mrs. O'Hara, having heard a
+great deal of Mrs. Tennant, who had Irish relatives, decided that
+Kathleen should go to the Great Shirley School, where she herself had
+been educated long ago. Everything was arranged in a great hurry. It
+seemed to Kathleen now, as she lay on her bed, kicking her feet
+impatiently, and ruffled her beautiful hair, that the thing had come to
+pass in a flash. It seemed only yesterday that she was at home in the
+old house, petted by the servants, adored by her father, worshipped by
+all her relatives--the young queen of the castle, free as the air,
+followed by her dogs, riding on her pony--and now she was here in this
+hideous, poor, fifth-class house, going to that ugly school.
+
+"I can't stand it," she thought. "There's only one way out. I must have
+a real desperate burst of naughtiness. What shall I do that will most
+aggravate them? For do that thing I will, and as quickly as possible."
+
+Kathleen thought rapidly. She had no brothers of her own, but their loss
+was made up for by the adoration of about twenty young cousins who were
+always loafing about the place and following Kathleen wherever she
+turned.
+
+"What would most aggravate Pat if he were here," thought the girl, "or
+dear old Michael? Ah, well! Michael--" The girl's face slightly changed.
+"I was never _very_ naughty with Michael," she said to herself. "He is
+different from the others. I wouldn't like to see that sort of sorry
+look in his dear dark-blue eyes. Oh, I mustn't think of Michael now.
+When I was going away he said, 'Bedad, you'll come back a princess, and
+I'll be proud to see you.' No, I mustn't think of Michael. Pat, the imp,
+would help me, and so would Rory, and so would Ted. But what shall it
+be?"
+
+She thought excitedly. There came a rattle at the handle of the door.
+
+"Let me in, please, Kathleen; let me in," called Alice's voice.
+
+"Presently, darling," replied Kathleen in her most nonchalant tone.
+
+"But I am in a hurry. I must be back at school by half-past two. Let me
+in immediately."
+
+"What a nuisance it all is!" thought Kathleen. "But, after all, my
+naughtiness needn't make that stupid old Alice late for her darling
+lessons."
+
+She scrambled off the bed, drew back the bolt, and returned to her old
+position. Alice came quickly in. She glanced at Kathleen with disgust.
+
+"I wish you wouldn't lie on the bed in your muddy boots."
+
+No answer.
+
+"I must ask you not to lock the door. It is my room as well as yours."
+
+No answer. Kathleen's eyes were fixed on the window; they were brimful
+of mischief. After a time she said:
+
+"Darling."
+
+"I wish you wouldn't talk to me in that silly way."
+
+"Faith! honey, then."
+
+"I do wish--"
+
+Kathleen suddenly sprang upright on her bed.
+
+"Don't you like the sky when it looks as it does now? I wish you could
+see it from Carrigrohane. You don't know the sort of expression it has
+when it seems to be kissing the sea. We have a ghost at Carrigrohane.
+Oh, wisha, then, if you only could see it! I can tell the boys about it.
+Sha'n't I make them creep?"
+
+"It is very silly to talk about ghosts. Nobody believes in them," said
+Alice.
+
+"I'll ask father if I may have you at Carrigrohane in the summer, and
+then see if you don't believe. She wears white."
+
+"I am going out now, Kathleen; aren't you coming with me?"
+
+"No, thank you, my love."
+
+"You ought to, Kathleen. I am busy preparing for my scholarship
+examination or I would stay and argue with you. It is an awful pity to
+have gone to the expense of coming here if you don't mean to do your
+utmost."
+
+"Thank you, darling, but it is rather a waste of breath for you to talk
+so long to me. I mean to be naughty this afternoon."
+
+"I can't help you," said Alice. "I am very sorry you ever came."
+
+"Thank you so much, dear."
+
+Alice ran downstairs.
+
+"Mother," she said, rushing into her mother's presence, "we shall have
+no end of trouble with that terrible girl. She is lying now on the bed
+with her outdoor boots on, and she won't come to school, or do a single
+thing I want her to."
+
+"The money her father pays will be very welcome, Alice. We must bear
+with some discomforts on account of that."
+
+"I suppose so," said Alice, shrugging her shoulders. "How horrid it is
+to be poor, and to have such a girl as that in the house! Well, I can't
+stay another minute. You had better keep a sort of general eye on her,
+mother, for there's no saying what she will do. She has declared her
+intention of being naughty. She knows no fear, is not guided by any sort
+of principle, and would, in short, do anything."
+
+"Well, go to school, Alice, and be quick home, for I have a great deal I
+want you to help me with."
+
+Alice made no reply, and Mrs. Tennant, after thinking for a minute, went
+upstairs. She knocked at the door of the room which she had given up to
+the two girls. There was no answer. She opened it and went in. The bird
+had flown. There were evident signs of a stampede through the window,
+for it stood wide open, and there were marks of not too clean boots on
+the drugget, and a torn piece of ivy just without. The window was twenty
+feet from the ground, and Kathleen must have let herself down by the
+sturdy arm of the old ivy. Mrs. Tennant looked out, half expecting to
+see a mangled body on the ground; but there was no one in view. She
+returned to her darning and her anxious thoughts.
+
+She was a widow with two sons and a daughter, and something under two
+hundred and fifty pounds a year on which to live. To educate the boys,
+to do something for Alice, and to put bread-and-butter into all their
+mouths was a difficult problem to solve in these expensive days. She had
+on purpose moved close to the Great Shirley School in order to avail
+herself of its cheap education for Alice. The boys went to another
+foundation school near by; and altogether the family managed to scrape
+along. But the advent of Kathleen on the scene was a great relief, for
+her father paid three guineas a week for Mrs. Tennant's motherly care
+and for Kathleen's board and lodging.
+
+"Poor child!" thought the good woman. "What a wild, undisciplined,
+handsome creature she is! I must do what I can for her."
+
+She sat on for some time darning and thinking. Her heart was full; she
+felt depressed. She had been working in various ways ever since six
+o'clock that morning, and the darning of the boys' rough socks hurt her
+eyes and made her fingers ache.
+
+Meanwhile Kathleen was running along the road. She ran until she was
+completely out of breath. She then came to a stile, against which she
+leant. By-and-by she saw a girl walking leisurely up the road; she was a
+shabbily dressed and rather vulgar girl. Kathleen saw at once that she
+was one of the Great Shirley girls, so she went forward and spoke to
+her.
+
+"You go to our school, don't you?" she said.
+
+"Yes, miss," answered the girl, dropping a little curtsy when she saw
+Kathleen. She was a very fresh foundation girl, and recognized something
+in Kathleen which caused her to be more subservient than was necessary.
+
+"Then, if you please," continued Kathleen, "can you tell me where that
+sweetly pretty girl, Ruth Craven, lives?"
+
+"She isn't a lady," said the girl, whose name was Susan Hopkins. "She is
+no more a lady than I am."
+
+"Indeed she is," said Kathleen. "She is a great deal more of a lady than
+you are."
+
+The girl flushed.
+
+"You are a Great Shirley girl yourself," she said. "I saw you there
+to-day. You are in an awfully low class. Do you like sitting with the
+little kids? I saw you towering up in the middle of them like a
+mountain."
+
+Kathleen's eyes flashed.
+
+"What is your name?" she asked.
+
+"Susan Hopkins. I used to be a Board School girl, but now I am on the
+foundation at Great Shirley. It is a big rise for me. Are you a poor
+girl? Are you on the foundation?"
+
+"I don't know what it means by being on the foundation, but I don't
+think I am poor. I think, on the contrary, that I am very rich. Did you
+ever hear of a girl who lived in a castle--a great beautiful castle--on
+the top of a high hill? If you ever did, I am that girl."
+
+"Oh, my!" said Susy Hopkins. "That does sound romantic."
+
+Her momentary dislike to Kathleen had vanished. The desire to go to the
+town on a message for her mother had completely left her. She stood
+still, as though fascinated.
+
+"I live there," said Kathleen--"that is, I do when I am at home. I come
+from the land of the mountain and the stream; of the shamrock; of the
+deep, deep blue sea."
+
+"Ireland? Are you Irish?" said the girl.
+
+"I am proud to say that I am."
+
+"We don't think anything of the Irish here."
+
+"Oh, don't you?"
+
+"But don't be angry, please," continued Susy, "for I am sure you are
+very nice."
+
+"I am nice when I like. To-day I am nasty. I am wicked to-day--quite
+wicked; I could hate any one who opposes me. I want some one to help me;
+if some one will help me, I will be nice to that person. Will you?"
+
+"Oh, my word, yes! How handsome you look when you flash your eyes!"
+said Susy Hopkins.
+
+"Then I want to find that dear little girl, who is so beautiful that I
+love her and can't get her out of my head. I want to find Ruth Craven.
+She went away with a horrid, stiff, pokery girl called Cassandra Weldon.
+You have such strange names in your country. That horrid, prim Cassandra
+chose to correct me when I came into school, and she has taken my
+darling away--the only one I love in the whole of England. I want to
+find her. I will give you--- I will give you an Irish diamond set in a
+brooch if you will help me."
+
+This sounded a very grand offer indeed to Susy Hopkins, who lived in the
+most modest way, and had not a jewel of any sort in her possession.
+
+"I will help you. I will, and I can. I know where Miss Weldon lives. I
+can take you to her house."
+
+"But I want Ruth."
+
+"If she has taken Ruth home, she will be at Cassandra's house," said
+Susy.
+
+"And you can take me there?"
+
+"This blessed minute."
+
+"All right; come along."
+
+"When will you give me the diamond set in the brooch?"
+
+"It isn't a real diamond, you know. It is an Irish diamond set in
+silver--real silver. My old nurse had it made for me, and I wear it
+sometimes. I will bring it to you to school to-morrow."
+
+"Oh, thank you--thank you, Miss--I forgot your name."
+
+"O'Hara--Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+"O'Hara is rather a difficult name to say. May I call you Kathleen?"
+
+"Just as you please, Susan. It is more handy for me to say Susan than
+Hopkins. As long as I am in England I must consort, I see, with all
+kinds of people; and if you will make yourself useful to me, I will be
+good to you."
+
+Susy turned and led the way in the direction of Cassandra Weldon's home.
+They had to walk across a very wide field, then down a narrow lane, then
+up a steep hill, and then into a valley. At the bottom of the valley was
+a straight road, and at each side of the road were neat little
+houses--small and very proper-looking. Each house consisted of two
+stories, with a hall door in the middle and a sitting room on each side.
+There were three windows overhead, and one or two attics in the roof.
+The houses were very compact; they were new, and were called by
+ambitious names. For instance, the house where the Weldons lived went by
+the ambitious name of Sans Souci. All through the walk Susy chatted for
+the benefit of her companion. She told Kathleen so much about her life
+that she was interested in spite of herself! and by the time they
+arrived outside Sans Souci, Kathleen's hand was lying affectionately on
+her companion's arm.
+
+"I had best not go in, miss," she said. "Cassandra Weldon would never
+take the very least notice of me; and none of us foundation girls like
+her at all."
+
+"Well, it is extremely unfair," said Kathleen. "From all you have been
+telling me, the foundation girls must be particularly clever. I tell you
+what it is: I think I shall take to you."
+
+"Oh, would you, indeed, miss?" said Susy, her eyes sparkling. "There are
+a hundred of us, you know, in the school."
+
+"That is a great number. And Ruth Craven is really one?"
+
+"She is, miss. She isn't a bit better than the rest of us."
+
+"And I love her already."
+
+"She is no better than the rest of us," repeated Susan Hopkins.
+
+"I have a great mind to take to you all, to make a fuss about you, and
+to show the others how badly they behave."
+
+"You'd be a queen amongst us; there's no doubt about that."
+
+"It would be lovely, and it would be a tremendous bit of naughtiness,"
+thought Kathleen.
+
+"Do you think you will, miss? Because, if you do, I will tell the
+others. We could meet you and talk over things."
+
+"Well, I will decide to-morrow. I will enclose a letter with your
+brooch. Good-bye now; I must go in and kiss my darling Ruth."
+
+Susy Hopkins stood for a minute to watch Kathleen as she went up the
+little narrow path of Sans Souci. When Kathleen reached the porch she
+waved her hand, and Susy, putting wings to her feet, ran as fast as she
+could in the opposite direction. She felt very much elated and really
+pleased. In the whole course of her life she had never met a girl of the
+Kathleen O'Hara type before. Her beauty, her daring and wild manner, the
+flash in her bright dark eyes, the glints of gold in her lovely hair,
+all fascinated Susy.
+
+"What a queen she'd make!" she thought. "We must make her our queen.
+We'd have quite a party of our own in the school if she took us up. And
+she will; I'm sure she will. This is a lark. This is worth a great
+deal."
+
+Meanwhile Kathleen rang the bell at Sans Souci in a very smart,
+imperative manner. A little maid, neatly dressed, came to the door.
+
+"Please," said Kathleen, "will you say that Miss O'Hara has called and
+would be glad to see Miss Ruth Craven for a few minutes?"
+
+The girl withdrew. Presently she returned.
+
+"Mrs. Weldon will be pleased if you will go in, miss. She is sitting in
+the drawing-room. The two young ladies are out in the garden."
+
+"Thank you," said Kathleen.
+
+After a brief hesitation she entered the house, and was conducted across
+the narrow hall into a very sweet and charmingly furnished room. The
+room had a bay-window with French doors; these opened on to a little
+flower-lawn. At one side of the house was a tiny conservatory full of
+bright flowers. Compared to the house where the Tennants lived, this
+tiny place looked like a paradise to Kathleen. She gave a quick glance
+round her, then came up to Mrs. Weldon.
+
+"I am one of the new girls at the Great Shirley School," she said. "My
+name is Kathleen O'Hara. I am Irish. I have only just crossed the cold
+sea. I am lonely, too. I want Ruth Craven. May I sit down a minute while
+your servant fetches her? I like Ruth Craven. She is very pretty, isn't
+she? She is the sort of girl that you'd take a fancy to when you're
+lonely and far from home. May I sit here until she comes?"
+
+"Of course, my dear," said Mrs. Weldon, speaking with kindness, and
+looking with eyes full of interest at the handsome, striking-looking
+girl. "I quite understand your being lonely. I was very lonely indeed
+when I came home from India and left my dear father and mother behind
+me."
+
+"How old were you when you came home?"
+
+"A great deal younger than you are: only seven years old. But that is a
+long time ago. I should like to be kind to you, Miss O'Hara. Cassandra
+has been telling me about you. You are living at the Tennants', are you
+not? Alice Tennant and Cassandra are great friends."
+
+"But I don't like either of them," said Kathleen in her blunt way.
+
+Mrs. Weldon looked a little startled.
+
+"Do you know my daughter?" she asked.
+
+"She is much too interfering, and she is frightfully stuck-up. Please
+forgive me, but I am always very plain-spoken; I always tell the truth.
+I don't want her. I like you, and wish that I lived with you, and that
+you'd have Ruth Craven instead of your own daughter in the house. Then
+I'd be perfectly happy. I always did say what I thought. Will you
+forgive me?"
+
+"I will, dear, because at the present moment you don't know my girl at
+all. There never was a more splendid girl in all the world, but she
+requires to be known. Ah! here she comes, and your little friend, Miss
+Craven, with her."
+
+Ruth, looking very pretty, with a delicate flush on each cheek, now
+entered the room in the company of Cassandra. Kathleen sprang up the
+minute she saw Ruth, rushed across the room, and flung one arm with
+considerable violence round her neck.
+
+"You have come," she said. "I have been hunting the place for you. How
+dared you go away and hide yourself? Don't you know that you belong to
+me? The moment I saw you I knew that you were my affinity. Don't you
+know what an affinity means? Well, you are mine. We were twin souls
+before birth; now we have met again and we cannot part. I am ever so
+happy when I am with you. Don't mind those others; let them stare all
+they like. I am going to take you foundation girls up. I have made up
+my mind. We will have a rollicking good time--a splendid time. We will
+be as naughty as we like, and we will let the others see what we are
+made of. It will be war to the knife between the foundation girls and
+the good, proper, paying girls. Let the ladies look after themselves. We
+of the foundation will lead our own life, and be as happy as the day is
+long. Aren't you glad to see me, dear, sweet, pretty Ruth? Don't you
+know for yourself that you are my affinity--my chosen friend, my
+beloved? Through the ages we have been one, and now we have met in the
+flesh."
+
+"I think," said Cassandra, at last managing to get herself heard, "that
+you have said enough for the present, Miss O'Hara. Ruth Craven has come
+to spend the day with me. I know that you are an Irish girl, and you
+must be lonely. I shall be very pleased if you will join Ruth and me in
+our walk. We are going for a walk across the common.--We shall be in to
+tea, dear mother. Will you have it ready for us not later than five
+o'clock? And I am sure you will join me, mother darling, in asking Miss
+O'Hara to stay, too."
+
+"But Miss O'Hara doesn't want to join either you or your 'mother
+darling,'" said Kathleen in her rudest tone. "It is Ruth I want. I have
+come here for her. She must return with me at once."
+
+"But I can't. I am ever so sorry, Miss O'Hara."
+
+"You mean that you won't come when I have called for you?"
+
+"I am with Miss Weldon at present."
+
+"Be sensible, dear," said Mrs. Weldon at that moment. "You don't quite
+understand our manners in this country. However attached we may be to a
+person, we don't enter a strange house and snatch that person out of it.
+It isn't our way; and I don't think--you will forgive me for saying
+it--that your way is as nice as ours. Be persuaded, dear, and join
+Cassandra and Ruth, and have a happy time."
+
+Kathleen's face had turned crimson. She looked from Mrs. Weldon to
+Cassandra, and then she looked at Ruth. Suddenly her eyes brimmed up
+with tears.
+
+"I don't think I can ever change my way," she said. "I am sorry if I am
+rude and not understood. Perhaps, after all, I am mistaken, about Ruth;
+perhaps she is not my real proper affinity. I am a very unhappy girl. I
+wish I could go back to mother and to my dad. I shouldn't be lonely if I
+were in the midst of the mountains, and if I could see the streams and
+the blue sea. I don't know why Aunt Katie O'Flynn sent me to this horrid
+place. I wish I was back in the old country. They don't talk as you talk
+in the old country and they don't look as you look. If you put your
+heart at the feet of a body in old Ireland, that body doesn't kick it
+away. I will go. I don't want your tea. I don't want anything that you
+have to offer me. I don't like any of you. I am sorry if you think me
+rude, but I can't help myself. Good-bye."
+
+"No, no; stay. Stay and visit with me, and tell me about the old country
+and the sea and the mountains," said Mrs. Weldon.
+
+But Kathleen shook her head fiercely, and the next moment left the room.
+
+"Poor, strange little girl," thought the good woman. "I see she is about
+to heap unhappiness on herself and others. What is to be done for her?"
+
+"I like her," said Ruth. "She is very impulsive, but she is------"
+
+"Oh, yes," said Cassandra, "she has a good heart, of course; but I
+foresee that she is up to all sorts of mischief. She doesn't understand
+our ways. Why did she leave her own country?"
+
+Ruth was silent. She looked wistful.
+
+"Come along, Ruthie; we will be late. I have no end of schemes in my
+head. I mean to help you. You will win that scholarship."
+
+Ruth smiled. Presently she and Cassandra were crossing the common
+arm-in-arm. In the interest of their own conversation they forgot
+Kathleen.
+
+When that young lady left the house she ran back to the Tennants'.
+
+"I will write to dad to-night and tell him that I can't stay," she
+thought. "Oh, dear, my heart is in my mouth! I shall have a broken heart
+if this sort of thing goes on."
+
+She entered the house. There sat Mrs. Tennant with a great basket of
+stockings before her. The remains of a rough-looking tea were on the
+table. The boys had disappeared.
+
+"Come in, Kathleen," called Mrs. Tennant, "and have your tea. I want
+Maria to clear the tea-things away, as I have some cutting out to do; so
+be quick, dear."
+
+Kathleen entered. The untidy table did not trouble her in the least; she
+was accustomed to things of that sort at home. She sat down, helped
+herself to a thick slice of bread-and-butter, and ate it, while burning
+thoughts filled her mind.
+
+"Have some tea. You haven't touched any," said Mrs. Tennant.
+
+"I'd rather have cold water, please," Kathleen replied.
+
+She went to the sideboard, filled a glass, and drank it off.
+
+"Mrs. Tennant," she said when she had finished, "what possessed you to
+live in England? You had all the world to choose from. Why did you come
+to a horrible place like this?"
+
+"But I like it," said Mrs. Tennant.
+
+"You don't look as if you did. I never saw such a worn-out poor body.
+Are you awfully old?"
+
+"You would think me so," replied Mrs. Tennant, with a smile; "but as a
+matter of fact I am not forty yet."
+
+"Not forty!" said Kathleen. "But forty's an awful age, isn't it? I mean,
+you want crutches when you are forty, don't you?"
+
+"Not as a rule, my dear. I trust when I am forty I shall not want a
+crutch. I shall be forty in two years, and that by some people is
+considered young."
+
+"Then I suppose it is mending those horrid stockings that makes you so
+old."
+
+"Mending stockings doesn't help to keep you young, certainly."
+
+"Shall I help you? I used to cobble for old nurse when I was at home."
+
+"But I shouldn't like you to cobble these."
+
+"Oh, I can darn, you know."
+
+"Then do, Kathleen. I should take it very kindly if you would. Here is
+worsted, and here is a needle. Will you sit by me and tell me about your
+home?"
+
+Kathleen certainly would not have believed her own ears had she been
+told an hour ago that she would end her first fit of desperate
+naughtiness by darning stockings for the Tennant boys. She did not darn
+well; but then, Mrs. Tennant was not particular. She certainly--although
+she said she would not--did cobble these stockings to an extraordinary
+extent; but her work and the chat with Mrs. Tennant did her good, and
+she went upstairs to dress for supper in a happier frame of mind.
+
+"I will stay here for a little," she said finally to Mrs. Tennant,
+"because I think it will help you. You look so terribly tired; and I
+don't think you ought to have this horrible work to do. I'd like to do
+it for you, but I don't suppose I shall have time. I will stay for a bit
+and see what I can make of the foundation girls."
+
+"The foundation girls?"
+
+"Oh, yes; don't ask me to explain. There are a hundred of them at the
+Great Shirley School, and I am going--No, I can't explain. I will stop
+here instead of running away. I meant to run away when my affinity would
+have nothing to do with me."
+
+"Really, Kathleen, you are a most extraordinary girl."
+
+"Of course I am," said Kathleen. "Did you ever suppose that I was
+anything else? I am very remarkable, and I am very naughty. I always
+was, and I always will be. I am up to no end of mischief. I wish you
+could have seen me and Rory together at home. Oh, what didn't we do? Do
+you know that once we walked across a little bridge of metal which is
+put between two of the stables? It is just a narrow iron rod, six feet
+in length. If we had either of us fallen we'd have been dashed to pieces
+on the cobble-stones forty feet below. Mother saw me when I was half-way
+across, and she gave a shriek. It nearly finished me, but I steadied
+myself and got across. Oh, it was jolly! I am going to set some of the
+foundation girls at that sort of thing. I expect I shall have great fun
+with them. It is principally because my affinity won't have anything to
+do with me; she is attaching herself to another, and that other is
+little better than a monster. Your Alice won't like me; and, to be frank
+with you, I don't like her. I like you, because you are poor and
+worried and seem old for your age--although your age is a great one--and
+because you have to cobble those horrid socks. There! good-bye for the
+present. Don't hate me too much; I can't help the way I am made. Oh; I
+hear Alice. What a detestable voice she has! Now then, I'm off."
+
+Kathleen ran up to her room, and again she locked the door. She heard
+Alice's step, and she felt a certain vindictiveness as she turned the
+key in the lock. Alice presently took the handle of the door and shook
+it.
+
+"Let me in at once, Kathleen," she said. "I really can't put up with
+this sort of thing any longer. I want to get into my room; I want to
+tidy myself. I am going to supper to-night with Cassandra Weldon."
+
+"Then you don't get in," whispered Kathleen to herself. Aloud she said:
+
+"I am sorry, darling, but I am specially busy, and I really must have my
+share of the room to myself."
+
+"Do open the door, Kathleen," now almost pleaded poor Alice. "If you
+want your share of the room, I want mine. Don't you understand?"
+
+"I am not interfering, dearest," called back Kathleen, "and I am keeping
+religiously to my own half. I have the straight window, and you have the
+bay. I am not touching your beautiful half; I am only in mine."
+
+"Let me in," called Alice again, "and don't be silly."
+
+"Sorry, dear; don't think I am silly."
+
+There was a silence. Alice went on her knees and peered through the
+keyhole: Kathleen was seated by her dressing-table, and there was a
+sound of the furious scratching of a pen quite audible. "This is
+intolerable," thought Alice. "She is the most awful girl I ever heard
+of. I shall be late. Mary Addersley and Rhoda Pierpont are to call for
+me shortly, and I shan't be ready. I don't want to appeal to mother or
+to be rude to the poor wild thing the first day. Stay, I will tempt
+her.--Kathleen!"
+
+"Yes, darling."
+
+"Wouldn't you like to come with me to Cassandra Weldon's? She is so
+nice, and so is her mother. She plays beautifully, and they will sing."
+
+"Irish songs?" called out Kathleen.
+
+"I don't know. Perhaps they will if you ask them."
+
+"Thanks," replied Kathleen; "I am not going." Again there was silence,
+and the scratching of the pen continued. Alice was now obliged to go
+downstairs to acquaint her mother.
+
+"What is it, dear? Why, my dear Alice, how excited you look!"
+
+"I have cause to be, mother. I have come in rather late, very much
+fagged out from a day of hard examination work and that imp--that horrid
+girl--has locked me out of my bedroom. I was so looking forward to a
+nice little supper with Cassandra and the other girls! Kathleen won't
+let me in; she really is intolerable. I can't stay in the room with her
+any longer; she is past bearing. Can't you give me an attic to myself at
+the top of the house?"
+
+"You know I haven't a corner."
+
+"Can't I share your bed, mummy? I shall be so miserable with that
+dreadful Kathleen."
+
+"You know quite well, Alice, that that is the only really good bedroom
+in the house, and I can't afford to give it to one girl by herself. I
+think Kathleen will be all right when we really get to know her; but she
+is very undisciplined. Still, three guineas a week makes an immense
+difference to me, Alice. I can't help telling you so, my child."
+
+"In my opinion, it is hardly earned," said Alice. "I suppose I must
+stay down here and give up my supper. I can't go like this, all untidy,
+and my hair so messy, and my collar--oh, mother, it is nearly black! It
+is really too trying."
+
+"I will go up and see if I can persuade her," said Mrs. Tennant.
+
+She went upstairs, turned the handle of the door, and spoke. The moment
+her voice penetrated to Kathleen's ears, she jumped to her feet, crossed
+the room, and bent down at the other side of the keyhole.
+
+"Don't tire your dear voice," she said. "What is it you want?"
+
+"I want you to open the door, Kathleen. Poor Alice wants to get in to
+get her clothes. It is her room as much as yours. Let her in at once, my
+dear."
+
+"I am very sorry, darling Mrs. Tennant, but I am privately engaged in my
+own half of the room. I am not interfering with Alice's."
+
+"But you see, Kathleen, she can't get to her half."
+
+"The door is in my half, you know," said Kathleen very meekly, "so I
+don't see that she has any cause to complain. I am awfully sorry; I will
+be as quick as I can."
+
+"You annoy me very much. You make me very uncomfortable by going on in
+this extremely silly way, Kathleen."
+
+"I will darn some more socks for you, darling, tired pet," whispered
+Kathleen coaxingly. "I really am awfully sorry, but there is no help for
+it. I must finish my own private affairs in my own half of the room."
+
+She retreated from the door, and the scratching of the pen continued.
+
+Alice downstairs felt like a caged lion. Mrs. Tennant admitted that
+Kathleen's conduct was very bad.
+
+"It won't happen again, Alice," she said, "for I shall remove the key
+from the lock. She won't shut you out another time. Make the best of it,
+darling. If we don't worry her too much she is sure to capitulate."
+
+"Not she. She is a perfect horror," said Alice.
+
+Mrs. Weldon's supper party was to begin at eight o'clock. It was now
+seven, and the girls were to call for Alice at half-past. If Kathleen
+would only be quick she might still have time.
+
+The boys came in. They stared open-eyed at Alice when they saw her still
+sitting in her rough school things, a very cross expression on her face.
+David came up to her at once; he was the favorite, and people said he
+had a way with him. Whatever they meant by that, most people did what
+David Tennant liked. He stood in front of his sister now and said:
+
+"What's the matter? And where's the little Irish beauty?"
+
+"For goodness' sake don't speak about her," said Alice. "She's driving
+me nearly mad."
+
+"Your sister is naturally much annoyed, David," said his mother.
+"Kathleen is evidently a very tiresome girl. She has locked the door of
+their mutual bedroom, and declines to open it; she says that as the door
+happens to be in her half of the room, she has perfect control over it."
+
+David whistled. Ben burst out laughing.
+
+"Well, now that is Irish," David said.
+
+"If you take her part I shall hate you all the rest of my life," said
+Alice, speaking with great passion.
+
+"But can't you wait just for once?" asked David. "Any one could tell
+she is just trying it on. She'll get tired of sitting there by herself
+if only you have patience."
+
+"But I am due at Cassandra's for supper" and Mary Addersley and Rhoda
+Pierpont are to call for me at half-past seven."
+
+"Oh, that's it, is it?" said David.--"Ben, leave off teasing." For Ben
+was whistling and jumping about, and making the most expressive faces at
+poor Alice,--"I will see what I can do," he said, and he ran upstairs.
+David was very musical; indeed, the soul of music dwelt in his eyes, in
+his voice, in his very step. He might in some respects have been an
+Irish boy himself. He bent down now and whistled very softly, and in the
+most flute-like manner, "Garry Owen" through the keyhole. There was a
+restless sound in the room, and then a cross voice said:
+
+"Go away."
+
+David stopped whistling "Garry Owen," and proceeded to execute a most
+exquisite performance of "St. Patrick's Day in the Morning." Kathleen
+trembled. Her eyes filled with tears. David was now whistling right into
+her room "The Wearing of the Green." Kathleen flung down her pen, making
+a splash on the paper.
+
+"Go away," she called out. "What are you doing there?"
+
+"The outside of this door doesn't belong to you," called David, "and if
+I like to whistle through the keyhole you can't prevent me;" and he
+began "Garry Owen" again.
+
+Kathleen rushed to the door and flung it open. The tears were still wet
+on her cheeks.
+
+"Can't you guess what you are doing?" she said. "You are stabbing
+me--stabbing me. Oh! oh! oh!" and she burst into violent sobs. David
+took her hand.
+
+"Come, little Irish colleen," he said. "Come along downstairs. I am
+going to be chummy with you. Don't be so lonely. Give Alice her room;
+one-half of it is hers, and she wants to dress to go out."
+
+"Let her take it all," sobbed Kathleen. "I am most miserable. Oh, Garry
+Owen, Garry Owen! Oh, Land of the Shamrock! Oh, my broken heart!"
+
+She laid her head on David's shoulder and went on sobbing. David felt
+quite bashful. There was nothing for it but to take out his big and not
+too clean handkerchief and wipe her tears away.
+
+"Whisper," he said in her ear. "There are stables at the back of the
+house; they are old, worn-out stables. There is a loft over one, and I
+keep apples and nuts there. It's the jolliest place. Will you and I go
+there for an hour or two after supper?"
+
+"Do you mean it?" said Kathleen, her eyes filling with laughter, and the
+tears still wet on her cheeks.
+
+"Yes, colleen, I mean it, for I want you to tell me all you can about
+your land of the shamrock."
+
+"Why, then, that I will," she replied. "Wisha, then, David, it's a broth
+of a boy, you are!" and she kissed him on his forehead. David took her
+hand and led her into the dining-room. Alice was still there, looking
+more stormy than ever.
+
+"It's too late now," she said; "the girls have come and gone. I can't go
+at all now."
+
+"But why, darling?" said Kathleen. "Oh! I wish I had let you in.--She
+must go, David, the poor dear. It would be cruel to disappoint
+her.--What dress will you wear?" said Kathleen.
+
+"Let me alone," said Alice.
+
+She rushed upstairs, but Kathleen was even quicker.
+
+"I'm not going to be nasty to you any more," she said. "I have found a
+friend, and I shall have more friends to-morrow. Kathleen O'Hara would
+have died long ago but for her friends. I shall be happy when I have got
+a creelful of them here. Now then, let me help you. No, that isn't the
+shoe you want; here it is. And gloves--here's a pair, and they're neatly
+mended. Which hat did you say--the one with the blue scarf round it?
+Isn't it a pretty one? You put that on. Aunt Katie O'Flynn is going to
+send me a box of clothes from Dublin, and I will give you some of them.
+You mustn't say no; I will give you some if you are nice. I am ever so
+sorry that I kept you out of your part of the room; I won't do it any
+more. Now you are dressed; that's fine. You won't hate me forever, will
+you?"
+
+Alice growled something in reply. She had not Kathleen's passionate,
+quick, impulsive nature--furious with rage one minute, sweet and gentle
+and affectionate the next. She hated Kathleen for having humiliated and
+annoyed her; and she went off to Cassandra's house knowing that she
+would be late, and determined not to say one good word for Kathleen.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+WIT AND GENIUS: THE PLAN PROPOUNDED.
+
+
+While Kathleen was locked in Alice's room, she was writing to her
+father:
+
+     "MY DARLING DADDY.--If ever there was a cold, dreary,
+     abominable land, it is this where they wave the British flag.
+     The ugliness of it would make you sick. The people are as ugly
+     as the country, and they're so stiff and stuck-up. If you
+     suppose for a moment that your wild Irish girl can stand much
+     of this sort of thing, you are fine and mistaken, and you can
+     tell the mother so. I mean to write to Aunt Katie O'Flynn
+     to-morrow and give her a fine piece of my mind. Early in the
+     day, dad, I did not think that I could stay at all; but I have
+     got a plan in my head now, and if I succeed I may at least put
+     up with one term of this detestable school. I won't tell you
+     the plan, for you mightn't approve; in fact, I can guess in
+     advance that you wouldn't approve. Anyhow, it is going to
+     occupy the time and thoughts of your Kathleen. Now I want a
+     good bit of money; not a pound or even five pounds, but more
+     than that. Can you send me a ten-pound note, daddy mine, and
+     say nothing whatever about it to the mother or the retainers
+     at Carrigrohane? And can you let me have it as quick as quick
+     can be? Maybe I will want more before the term is up, or maybe
+     I won't. Anyhow, we will let that lie in the future. Oh, my
+     broth of an old dad, wouldn't I like to hug you this blessed
+     minute? How is everybody at home? How are the mountains? How
+     is the sea? How is the trout-stream? Are those young cousins
+     of mine behaving themselves, the spalpeens? And how are you,
+     my heart of hearts--missing your Kathleen, I doubt not? Well,
+     no more for the present. They're rattling at the door like
+     anything, and there's a detestable boy now whistling 'Garry
+     Owen' right into my heart. You can't imagine what I am
+     feeling. Oh, the omadhaun! he is changing it now into 'St.
+     Patrick's Day,' Wisha, then, daddy! I must stop, for it's more
+     than the heart of woman can stand. Your affectionate daughter,
+
+     "KATHLEEN."
+
+This letter was posted by Kathleen herself. After supper she went with
+David into the old loft over the tumble-down stables. It was not a very
+safe place of refuge, for the rafters were rotten and might tumble down
+at any time. Still, the sense of danger made it all, the more
+interesting to the children. There they sat side by side, and Kathleen
+told David about her old life. She was very outspoken and affectionate,
+and very fierce and very wild. To look at her, one would have said there
+never was any one less reserved; but Kathleen in her heart of hearts was
+intensely reserved. Her real feelings she never told; her real hopes she
+never breathed. She talked with high spirits all the time; and although
+she liked David and was much comforted by his words and his actions, he
+did not get at the real Kathleen at all.
+
+When Alice came back that evening Kathleen was sound asleep in her
+little bed, dreaming of Carrigrohane and the old home. She was murmuring
+some loving words as Alice entered the room.
+
+"Oh, daddy mine, my heart is sore for you," she was saying in a tone
+which caused Alice to pause and look at her attentively.
+
+"She is the most awful girl I ever heard of," thought Alice. "I am sure
+she will get us into trouble. I know that those three guineas a week
+that mother gets for having her are not worth all the mischief she will
+drag us into. But still, she does look pretty when she is asleep."
+
+Kathleen had very long and very thick eyelashes and nobly arched brows.
+Her forehead was broad and full and beautifully white. The mischievous,
+dare-devil expression of her face when awake was softened in her sleep.
+Alice, who had determined to come very noisily into the room and bang
+her things about, to take rude possession of her own half of the
+room--which, after all, was the better half--was softened by the look
+on the girl's face. She knelt for a moment at her bedside and prayed
+that God would keep her from quite hating Kathleen. This was a great
+deal from Alice, who had made up her mind never to be friends with the
+Irish girl. Then she got into bed and fell asleep.
+
+The next morning, quite early, Kathleen was up. She was accustomed to
+getting up almost at cock-crow at Carrigrohane, and when Alice opened
+her eyes, it was to see an empty bed and an empty room.
+
+"I wonder if she's up to mischief?" she thought.
+
+She got up and went to the window. Kathleen was walking across the
+common. She had no hat on, and no jacket. She was stepping along
+leisurely, looking up sometimes at the sky, and sometimes pausing as
+though she was thinking hard.
+
+"She will catch cold and be ill; that will be the next trouble," thought
+the indignant Alice. She sleepily proceeded with her dressing. It was
+only half-past seven. The Great Shirley School met at nine. Alice was
+seldom downstairs until past eight. When she came down this morning she
+saw, to her amazement, Kathleen helping the very untidy maid-of-all-work
+to lay the breakfast things. She was dashing about, putting plates and
+cups and saucers anyhow upon the board.
+
+"Now then, Maria," she said, "shall I run down to the kitchen and bring
+up the hot bacon and the porridge? I will, with a heart and a half. Oh,
+you poor girl, how tired you look!"
+
+Maria, whom Alice never noticed, looked with adoring eyes at beautiful
+Kathleen.
+
+"It isn't right, miss. I ought to be doing my own work," she said. "I am
+ever so much obliged to you, miss."
+
+"Wisha, then, it is I who like to help you," said Kathleen, "for you
+look fair beat."
+
+She dashed past Alice, and appeared the next moment in the kitchen.
+
+"Where's the bacon, cook? And where's the bread, and where's the butter,
+and all the rest of the breakfast? See, woman--see! Give me a tray and I
+will fill it up and take the things upstairs with my own hands. You
+think it is beneath me, perhaps; but I am a lady from a castle, and at
+Carrigrohane Castle we often do this sort of thing when the hands of the
+poor maids are full to overflowing."
+
+The cook, a sandy-haired and sour-looking woman, began by scowling at
+Kathleen; but soon the girl's pretty face and merry eyes appeased her.
+She and Kathleen had almost a quarrel as to who was to carry up the
+tray, but Kathleen won the day; and when Mrs. Tennant made her
+appearance, feeling tired and overdone, she was amazed to see Kathleen
+acting parlor-maid.
+
+"I love it," she said. "If I can help you, you dear, tired, worn one, I
+shall be only too glad."
+
+"I am sure, mother," said Alice, "it is very good of Kathleen to wish to
+do the household work; but as she has been sent here to gain some
+information of another sort, do you think it ought to be allowed?"
+
+"And who will prevent it, darling? That is the question," said Kathleen
+in her softest voice.
+
+Alice was silent.
+
+"I tell you what," said Kathleen. "When I see you beginning to help your
+poor, exhausted mother, and running messages for that overworked
+slavey--I think you call her Maria--then perhaps I'll do less. And when
+there's some one else to mend the boys' socks, perhaps I won't offer;
+but until there is, the less you say about such things the better, Miss
+Alice Tennant."
+
+Ben kicked David under the table, and David kicked him back to stay
+quiet. Altogether the breakfast was a noisy one.
+
+Kathleen went to school quite prepared to carry out her promise to Susy
+Hopkins. She had neatly packed the little Irish diamond brooch in a box,
+and had slipped under it a tiny note:
+
+     "Get as many foundation girls as you can to meet me, at
+     whatever place you like to appoint, this evening. I have a
+     plan to propose.--KATHLEEN O'HARA.
+
+     "_P.S._--You can name the place by pinning a note under my
+     desk. Be sure you all come. The plan is gloryious."
+
+The thought of the note and the plan and the little brooch kept Kathleen
+in a fairly good humor on her walk to school. There she saw Ruth Craven.
+She was decidedly angry with Ruth for having, as she said to herself,
+"snubbed her" the day before. But beauty always had a curious effect on
+the Irish girl, and when she observed Ruth's really exquisite little
+face, clear cut as a cameo, with eyes full of expression, and watched
+the lips ready to break into the gentlest smiles, Kathleen said to
+herself:
+
+"It is all over with me. She is the only decent-looking colleen I have
+met in this God-forsaken country. Make up to her I will."
+
+She dashed, therefore, almost rudely through a great mass of incoming
+girls, and seized Ruth by her shoulder.
+
+"Ruth," she said, "go and talk to Susy Hopkins during recess. She will
+have something to say, and I want you so badly. You won't refuse me,
+will you, Ruth?"
+
+"But I don't know what you want," said Ruth.
+
+"Go and talk to Susy Hopkins; she will know. Oh, there she is!"
+
+"Kathleen, Kathleen!" called out Alice. "The school-bell has just rung,
+and they are opening the doors. Come do come."
+
+"In a jiff," replied Kathleen.
+
+She ran up to Susy.
+
+"This is what I promised," she said; "and there is a note inside. Read
+it, and give me the answer where I have asked you."
+
+Susy Hopkins, a most ordinary little girl, who had no position of any
+sort in the school, colored high with delight. Some of the paying girls
+looked at her in astonishment. Susy walked into the school with her head
+high in the air; she quite adored Kathleen, for she was making her a
+person of great distinction.
+
+"We are going to have a glorious time," whispered Susy to Kate Rourke as
+they made their way to their respective classes.
+
+Susy was small, rather stupid, and absolutely unimportant. Kate was big,
+black-eyed, impudent. She was jealous of the paying girls of the school;
+but she treated Susy as some one beneath contempt.
+
+"Don't drag my sleeve," she replied crossly. "And what you do mean by a
+glorious time? I don't understand you."
+
+"You will presently," said Susy. "And when all is said and done, you
+will have to remember that you owe it to me. But I have no time to talk
+now; only meet me, and bring as many of the foundationers as you can
+collect into the left-hand corner of the playground, just behind the
+Botanical Laboratory, at recess."
+
+Kate made no answer, unless a toss of her head could have been taken as
+a reply. Her first impulse was to take no notice of Susy's
+remarks--little Susy Hopkins, the daughter of a small stationer in the
+town, a girl who had scarcely scraped through in her examination. It was
+intolerable that she should put on such airs.
+
+The work of the school began, and all the girls were busy. Kate was
+clever, and she meant to try for one of the big scholarships. She would
+get her forty pounds a year when the time came, and go to Holloway
+College or some other college. She was not a lady by birth; she had not
+a single instinct of a true lady within her; but she was intensely
+ambitious. She did not care so much for beauty as for style; she made
+style her idol. The look that Cassandra wore as she walked quietly
+across the room, the set of her dress, the still more wonderful set of
+her head as it was placed on her queenly young shoulders--these were the
+things that burnt into Kate's soul and made her restless and
+dissatisfied. She would willingly have given all her father's
+wealth--and he was quite well-to-do for his class--- to have Cassandra's
+face, Cassandra's voice, Cassandra's figure. Cassandra was not at all a
+pretty girl, but her appearance appealed to all the wild ambitions in
+Kate's soul. She had a jealous contempt of Ruth Craven, who, although a
+foundation girl, managed to look like a lady; but her envy was centered
+round Cassandra. As to the Irish girl, she had scarcely noticed her up
+to the present.
+
+Work went on that morning with much verve and vigor. It was a pleasant
+morning: the windows were open; the schoolrooms were all well
+ventilated; the teachers, the best of their kind, were stimulating in
+their lectures and in their conversation. There was a look of business
+and animation throughout the whole place: it was like a hive of bees. At
+last the moment of recess arrived. Kate just raised her head, looked
+over the shoulders of her companions, and saw Susy Hopkins darting
+restlessly about, catching one girl by the sleeve, another by the arm,
+whispering in the ear of a third, flinging her arm round the neck of a
+fourth; and as she spoke to the girls they looked interested,
+astonished, and cordial. They moved away to that lonely part of the
+playground which was situated at the back of the Botanical Laboratory.
+Kate had made up her mind not to take the least notice of Susy. She was
+pacing up and down alone; for, most provoking, all her chosen friends
+had gone off with that young lady. Suddenly she saw Ruth Craven going
+very quietly by. By all the laws of the foundationers, Ruth ought to
+speak to her companions in misfortune. Kate rushed up to her.
+
+"What are they all doing there?" she said. "Do you happen to know Susy
+Hopkins?"
+
+"No," replied Ruth gently. "She came up to me just now and asked me to
+join her and some other girls at the back of the Laboratory. I don't
+know that I want to."
+
+"I am curious," said Kate. "Of course, I am no friend of Susy's; she is
+a most contemptible little wretch; but I may as well know what it is all
+about. Come with me, won't you?"
+
+Ruth hesitated.
+
+"Come along; we may as well know. There is probably some mischief on
+foot, and it is only fair that we should be forewarned."
+
+"I don't want to know," said Ruth; but as Kate slipped her hand through
+her arm and pulled her along, she said resignedly, "Well, if I must I
+must."
+
+As they strolled across the big playground, Ruth turned and glanced at
+Cassandra; but Cassandra was busy making friends with Florence, who was
+very angry with her for her desertion of the day before, and took no
+notice of Ruth. The Irish girl was nowhere in sight. Ruth sighed and
+continued her walk with Kate.
+
+The most lonely and most dreary part of the playground was that little
+portion which was situated at the back of the Laboratory. Nothing grew
+there; the ground was innocent of grass, and much worn by the tramping
+of young feet. There were swings and garden-seats and preparations for
+tennis and other games in the rest of the big playground, but nothing
+had ever been done at the back of the Laboratory. When the two girls
+arrived they found five other girls waiting for them. Their names were,
+of course, Susy Hopkins, who considered herself on this delightful
+occasion quite the leader; a gentle and refined-looking girl of the name
+of Mary Rand; Rosy Myers, who was pretty and frivolous, with dark eyes
+and fair hair; Clara Sawyer, who was renowned for her vulgar taste in
+dress; and Hannah Johnson, a heavy-looking girl with a scowling brow and
+a very pronounced jaw. Hannah Johnson was about the plainest girl in the
+school. When Susy saw Kate Rourke and Ruth Craven she uttered a little
+scream of delight.
+
+"Now we are complete," she said. "Listen to me, all you girls, for I
+haven't too long in which to tell you; that horrid bell will ring us
+back to lessons and dullness in less than no time. The most wonderful,
+delightful chance is offered to us. I met her yesterday, and she decided
+to do it. She is a brick of bricks. She will make the most tremendous
+difference in our lives. You know, although you pretend not to feel it,
+but you all must know how we foundationers are sat upon and objected to
+in the school. We bear it as meekly as we can for the sake of our
+so-called advantages; but if we can be snubbed, we are, and if we can be
+neglected, we are--although it isn't the teachers we have to complain
+of, but the girls. Sometimes things are past bearing, and yet we are
+powerless. There are three hundred paying girls, and there are one
+hundred foundationers. What chance has one hundred against three?"
+
+"What is the good of bringing all that up, Susy?" said Mary Rand. "We
+are foundationers, and we ought to be thankful."
+
+"The education is splendid; we ought not to forget that," said Ruth
+Craven.
+
+Susy turned on Ruth as though she would like to eat her.
+
+"It is all very fine for you," she said. "Just because you happen to be
+pretty, they take you up. I wonder one of your fine friends doesn't pay
+for you, and so save your position out and out."
+
+"I wouldn't allow her to," replied Ruth, her eyes flashing fire. "I had
+much rather be a foundationer. I mean to prove that I am every bit as
+good as a paying girl. I mean to make you all respect me, so there!"
+
+"That'll do, Spitfire," said Kate Rourke. "The time is passing, and we
+must get to the bottom of Susy Hopkins's remarkable address.--What's up,
+Susy? What's up?"
+
+"This," said Susy. "You know the Irish girl who has come to live with
+the Tennants?"
+
+"Can't say I do," said Kate.
+
+"Well, you will soon. She's a regular out-and-out beauty."
+
+"I know her," cried Ruth Craven. "She is most lovely."
+
+"She's better," said Susy; "she's bewitching. See; she gave me this."
+Here she pointed proudly to the Irish diamond brooch, which she had
+stuck in the bosom of her dress. The diamond had been polished, and
+flashed brightly; the silver setting was also as good as was to be
+found. The girls crowded round to admire, and "Oh, my!" "Oh, dear!" "Did
+you ever?" and "Well, I never!" sounded on all sides.
+
+"You will be so set up now, Susan Hopkins, that we won't be able to bear
+you in the same class," said Clara Sawyer.
+
+"Go on," exclaimed Hannah Johnson--"go on and tell us what you want.
+Your horrid brooch doesn't interest us. What have you got to say?"
+
+"You are mad with jealousy, and you know it," answered Susy. "Well, I am
+coming to the great news. The Irish girl's name is Kathleen O'Hara, and
+she comes from a castle over in the wild west of Ireland. Her father is
+very rich, and he keeps dogs and horses and carriages and--oh,
+everything that rich people keep. Compared to the other girls in the
+school, she is ten times a lady; and she has a true lady's heart. And
+she has taken a dislike, as far as I can see, to Alice Tennant."
+
+"And I'm sure I'm not surprised," said Rosy Myers.
+
+"Stuck-up thing!" said Clara Sawyer.
+
+"Dirt beneath our feet!" exclaimed Hannah Johnson.
+
+"Well; she doesn't like her either, though she doesn't use that kind of
+language," continued Susy. "Anyhow, she wants to befriend _us_--Oh, do
+let me speak!"--as Kate interrupted with a hasty exclamation. "She
+thinks that we are just as good as herself. There is no false pride
+about a real lady, girls; and the end of it is that she has a plan to
+propose--something for our benefit and for her benefit. See for
+yourselves; this is her letter. It is in her own beautiful Irish,
+handwriting. You can read it, only don't tear it all to bits."
+
+The girls did read the letter. They pressed close together, and one
+peeped over the shoulder of her companion, another stood on tiptoe,
+while a third tried to snatch the letter from the hand of her fellow;
+but all managed to read the words: "Get as many foundation girls as you
+can to meet me, at whatever place you like to appoint, this evening. I
+have a plan to propose." This letter and the end of the postscript
+excited the girls; there was no doubt whatever of that. "The plan is
+_gloryious_." They laughed at the word, smiled into each others' faces,
+and stood very close together consulting.
+
+"The old quarry," whispered Rosy.
+
+"That's the place!" exclaimed Mary.
+
+"Let us meet her, we seven by ourselves," was Kate's final suggestion.
+"We will then know what she wants, and if there is anything in it. We
+can form a committee, and get other girls to join by degrees. Hurrah! I
+do say this is fun."
+
+Susy was now quite petted by her companions. The conference hastily
+ended, and on entering the school Susy pinned a piece of paper under
+Kathleen's desk, on which she wrote: "The old quarry; nine o'clock this
+evening. Will meet you at a quarter to nine outside Mrs. Tennant's
+house."
+
+When Kathleen received the communication her eyes flashed with delighted
+fire. She thrust the letter into her pocket and proceeded with her work.
+The Irish girl looked quite happy that day; she had something to
+interest her at last. Her lessons, too, were by no means distasteful.
+She had a great deal of quick wit and ready perception. Hitherto she had
+been taught anyhow, but now she was all keen to receive real
+instruction. Her intuitions were rapid indeed; she could come to
+startlingly quick conclusions, and as a rule her guesses were correct
+rather than otherwise. Kathleen had a passion for music; she had never
+been properly taught, but the soul of music was in her as much as it was
+in David Tennant. She had a beautiful melodious voice, which had, of
+course, not yet come to maturity. Just before the end of the morning she
+took her first lesson in music. Her mistress was a very amiable and
+clever woman of the name of Agnes Spicer. Miss Spicer put a sheet of
+music before her.
+
+"Play that," she said.
+
+Kathleen frowned. Her delicate white fingers trembled for an instant on
+the keys. She played one or two bars perforce and very badly; then she
+dashed the sheet of music in an impetuous way to the floor.
+
+"I can't," she said; "it isn't my style. May I play you something
+different?"
+
+Miss Spicer was about to refuse, but looking at the girl, whose cheeks
+were flushed and eyes full of fire, she changed her mind.
+
+"Just this once," she said; "but you must begin to practice properly.
+What I call amateur music can't be allowed here."
+
+"Will this be allowed?" said Kathleen.
+
+She dashed into heavy chords, played lightly a delicate movement, and
+then broke into an Irish air, "The Harp that once through Tara's Halls."
+From one Irish melody to another her light fingers wandered. She played
+with perfect correctness--with fire, with spirit. Soon she forgot
+herself. When she stopped, tears were running down her cheeks.
+
+"What is music, after all," she said, looking full into the face of her
+teacher, "when you are far from the land you love? How can you stand
+music then? No, I don't mean to learn _music_ at the Great Shirley
+School; I can't. When I am back again at home I shall play 'The Harp
+that once through Tara's Halls,' but I can't do it justice here. You
+will excuse me; I can't. I am sorry if I am rude, but it isn't in me.
+Some time, if you have a headache and feel very bad, as my dear father
+does sometimes, I shall play to you; but I can't learn as the other
+girls learn--it isn't in me."
+
+Again she put her fingers on the keys of the piano and brought forth a
+few sobbing, broken-hearted notes. Then she started up.
+
+"I expect you will punish me for this, Miss Spicer, but I am sorry--I
+can't help myself."
+
+Strange to say, Miss Spicer did not punish her. On the contrary, she
+took her hand and pressed it.
+
+"I won't ask you to do any more to-day," she said. "I see you are not
+like others. I will talk the matter over with you to-morrow."
+
+"And you will find me unchanged," said Kathleen. "Thank you, all the
+same, for your forbearance."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+THE POOR TIRED ONE.
+
+
+Mrs. Tennant spent the afternoon out shopping. She told the girls at
+dinner that she would be home for tea, that she expected to be rather
+tired, and hoped that they would be as good as possible. The boys were
+always out during the afternoon, and as a rule never returned until
+after tea; but Alice and Kathleen were expected to be in for this meal.
+When Mrs. Tennant walked down the street, Kathleen went to the window
+and looked after her.
+
+"What are you going to do this afternoon?" said Alice, who was lying
+back in an easy-chair with an open novel in her hand.
+
+"I don't know," replied Kathleen. "What a dull hole this is! How can you
+have grown up and kept well in a place like this?"
+
+"Opinions differ with regard to its dullness," said Alice. "I think our
+home a very pleasant, entertaining place. I wouldn't live in your wild
+castle for all you could give me."
+
+"Nobody asked you, my dear," said Kathleen, with a saucy nod of her
+head.
+
+She left the room and went up to what she called her half of the bedroom
+on the next floor. She knelt down by the window and looked across over
+the ugly landscape. There were houses everywhere--not a scrap of real
+country, as she expressed it, to be found. She took out of her pocket
+the letter which the foundation girls had sent her, and opened and read
+it.
+
+"The old quarry! I wonder where the old quarry is," she thought. "It
+must be a good way from here. We have such a place at home, too. I did
+not suppose one was to be found in this horrid part of the world. I am
+rather glad there is an old quarry; it was quite nice of little Susy to
+suggest it, and she will meet me, the little colleen. That is good. What
+fun! I shall probably have to return through the bedroom window, so I
+may as well explore and make all in readiness. Dear, dear! I should like
+David to help me. It isn't the naughtiness that I care about, but it is
+the fun of being naughty; it is the fun of having a sort of dangerous
+thing to do. That is the real joy of it. It is the ecstacy of shocking
+the prim Alice! Oh! there is her step. She's coming up, the creature!
+Now then, I had best be as mum as I can unless I want to distract the
+poor thing entirely."
+
+Alice entered the room.
+
+"Do you greatly object to shutting the window?" she said to Kathleen. "I
+have a slight cold, and the draught will make it worse."
+
+"Why, then, of course, darling," said Kathleen in a hearty voice, as she
+brought down the window with a bang. "Would you like me to shut the
+ventilator in the grate?" she then asked.
+
+"No. How silly you are!"
+
+"Is it silly? I thought you had a cold. You are afraid of the draughts.
+Why are you going out?"
+
+"I want to see a school friend."
+
+"You will be back in time for tea, won't you?"
+
+"Can't say."
+
+"But your mother, the poor tired one, asked you to be back."
+
+"I do wish, Kathleen, that you wouldn't call mother by that ridiculous
+name. She is no more tired than--than other women are."
+
+"If that is the case," said Kathleen, "I heartily hope that I shall not
+live to be a woman. I wouldn't like us all to be as fagged as she
+is--poor, dear, gentle soul! She's overworked, and that's the truth."
+
+Kathleen saw that she was annoying Alice, and proceeded with great gusto
+to expand her theory with regard to Mrs. Tennant.
+
+"She's in the condition when she might drop any time," she said. "We
+have had old Irishwomen overworked like that, and all of a sudden they
+went out like snuffs: that is what happens. What are you putting on your
+best hat for?"
+
+"That is no affair of yours."
+
+"Oh, hoity-toity, how grand we are! Do you know, Alice, you haven't got
+at all nice manners. You think you have, but you haven't. We are never
+rude like that in Ireland. We tell a few lies now and then, but they are
+only _polite_ lies--the kind that make other people happy. Alice, I
+should like to know which is best--to be horribly cross, or to tell nice
+polite lies. Which is the most wicked? I should like to know."
+
+"Then I will tell you," said Alice. "What you call a nice lie is just a
+very great and awful sin; and if you don't believe me, go to church and
+listen when the commandments are read."
+
+"In future," said Kathleen very calmly, "now that I really know your
+views, I will always tell you _home truths_. You can't blame me, can
+you?"
+
+Alice deigned no answer. She went downstairs and let herself out of the
+house.
+
+"And that is the sort of girl I have exchanged for daddy and the mother
+and the boys," thought the Irish girl. "Oh, dear! oh, dear!"
+
+Kathleen flew downstairs. It was nearly three o'clock; tea was to be on
+the table at half-past four. Quick as thought she dashed into the
+kitchen.
+
+"Maria," she said, "and cook, is there anything nice and tasty for tea
+this evening?"
+
+"Nice and tasty, miss!" said cook. "And what should there be nice and
+tasty? There's bread, and there's butter--Dorset, second-class
+Dorset--and there's jam (if there's any left); and that's about all."
+
+"That sort of tea isn't very nourishing, cook, is it? I ask because I
+want to know," said Kathleen.
+
+"It's the kind we always have at Myrtle Lodge," replied cook. "I don't
+hold with it, but then it's the way of the missis."
+
+"I have got some money in my pocket," said Kathleen. "I want to have a
+beautiful, nice tea. Can't you think of something to buy? Here's five
+shillings. Would that get her a nice tea?"
+
+"A nice tea!" cried Maria. "It would get a beautiful meal; and the poor
+missis, she would like it."
+
+"Then go out, Maria; do, like a darling. I will open the door for you if
+anybody calls. Do run round the corner and bring in--Oh! I know what.
+We'll have sausages--they are delicious--and a little tin of
+sardines--won't they be good?--and some water-cress, and some
+shrimps--oh, yes, shrimps! Be quick! And we will put out the best
+tea-things, and a clean cloth; and it will rest the poor tired one so
+tremendously when she comes in and sees a good meal on the table."
+
+Both cook and Maria were quite excited. Perhaps they had an eye to the
+reversion of the tea, the sausages, the sardines, the shrimps, and the
+water-cress.
+
+Maria went out, and Kathleen stood in the hall. Two or three people
+arrived during Maria's absence, and Kathleen went promptly to the door
+and said, "Not at home, ma'am," in a determined voice, and with rather a
+scowling face, to these arrivals. Some of the visitors left rather
+important messages, but Kathleen did not remember them for more than a
+moment after they were delivered. Maria presently came back and the
+tea-table was laid. Kathleen gave Maria sixpence for the washing of an
+extra cloth, and the well-spread table looked quite fresh and
+wonderfully like a school-feast.
+
+When Mrs. Tennant returned (she came in looking very hot and tired), it
+was to see the room tidy, Kathleen seated in her own special chair
+cobbling the boys' socks as hard as she could, and an appetizing tea on
+the table.
+
+"What does this mean?" said Mrs. Tennant.
+
+"It means," said Kathleen, jumping up, "that you are to plant yourself
+just here, and you are not to stir. Oh, I know you are _dead_ tired. I
+will take off your shoes, poor dear; I have brought your slippers down
+on purpose, and you are to have your tea at this little table. Now what
+will you have? Hot sausages?--They are done to a turn, aren't they,
+Maria?"
+
+"That they are, miss."
+
+"A nice hot sausage on toast, and a lovely cup of tea with cream in it."
+
+"But--but," said Mrs. Tennant, "what will Alice say?"
+
+"Maria and I don't care twopence what Alice says. This is my tea, and
+Maria fetched it. Now then, dear tired one, eat and rest."
+
+Mrs. Tennant looked at Kathleen with loving eyes.
+
+"Did you buy these things?" she said.
+
+"That she did, ma'am," cried Maria. "I never did see a more thoughtful
+young lady."
+
+"My dear child," said Mrs. Tennant, "you are too good."
+
+Kathleen laughed.
+
+"If there is one thing I am, it is not that," she said. "I am not a bit
+good. I am as wild and naughty and----Oh, but don't let us talk about
+me. I am so hungry. You know I didn't much like your dinner to-day. I am
+not fond of those watery stews. Of course, I can eat anything, but I
+don't specially like them; so if you don't mind I will have a sausage,
+too, and a plateful of shrimps afterwards, and some sardines. And isn't
+this water-cress nice? The leaves are not quite so brown as I should
+like. Oh, we did have such lovely water-cress in the stream at home!
+Mrs. Tennant, you must come back with me to Carrigrohane some day, and
+then you will have a real rest."
+
+Mrs. Tennant, feeling very much like a naughty child herself, enjoyed
+her tea. She and Kathleen laughed over the shrimps, exclaimed at the fun
+of eating the water-cress, enjoyed the sausages, and each drank four
+cups of tea. It was when the meal had come to an end that Kathleen said
+calmly:
+
+"Three or four, or perhaps five, ladies called while Maria was out."
+
+"Who were they, dear?"
+
+"I don't know. They left messages, and I have forgotten them. One lady
+was dressed in what I should call a very loud style. She was quite old.
+Her face was all over wrinkles. She was stout, and she wore a short
+jacket and a big--very big--picture-hat."
+
+"You don't mean," said Mrs. Tennant, "that Mrs. Dalzell has called? She
+is one of my most important friends. She promised to help me with regard
+to David's future. What did she say--can't you remember?"
+
+"I am ever so sorry, but I can't. I kept staring at her hat all the
+time. I don't remember anything about her except that she was old and
+had wrinkles and a big picture-hat--the sort of hat that Ruth Craven
+would look pretty in."
+
+Mrs. Tennant began to find the remembrance of her delightful tea a
+little depressing, for, question Kathleen as she might, she did not
+remember anything about the ladies except a few fugitive descriptions.
+As far as Mrs. Tennant could make out, people who were of the greatest
+importance to her had left messages, and yet none of the messages could
+be attended to.
+
+"I can't even imagine who the other ladies can be," she said. "But as to
+Mrs. Dalzell, she must not be neglected; I must go out and see her at
+once."
+
+"Then you will be more tired than ever, and I have not done a scrap of
+good."
+
+"You meant very kindly, my dear child, and have given me a delicious and
+strengthening tea. Only don't do it again, darling, for it is my place
+to give you tea, not yours to give it to me."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+THE QUEEN AND HER SECRET SOCIETY.
+
+
+Mrs. Tennant had not been out more than a minute or two before David and
+Ben came in. Kathleen saw them from the window; she tapped on the window
+with her knuckles, nodded to them, kissed her hand, and looked radiant
+with delight. Some boys at the opposite side of the street saw her and
+burst out laughing. David's face grew red.
+
+"I wish the little Irish girl wouldn't make us figures of fun," said
+Ben, speaking in an annoyed tone.
+
+The next instant David had opened the door with his latchkey, and
+Kathleen was waiting for them in the hall.
+
+"Sausages," she said, bringing out the word with great gusto, "and
+shrimps, and water-cress, and sardines, besides bread-and-butter galore,
+and nice hot tea. Maria is making fresh tea now in the kitchen. Come
+along in--do; you must be ravenous."
+
+The boys stared at her. Ben forgot his anger; he was schoolboy enough to
+thoroughly enjoy the delicious meal which Kathleen had prepared.
+
+When it came to an end David jumped up impatiently.
+
+"Where are you going, Dave?" asked Kathleen in an interested voice. She
+wanted him to help her. She had hoped that he and she would go away to
+the old loft together, and talk as they had done the night before. But
+David was firm.
+
+"I am going to the church," he said, "to practice on the organ. I only
+get the chance three times a week, and I must not neglect it."
+
+"David hopes to be no end of a swell some day," remarked Ben. "He thinks
+he can make the instrument speak."
+
+"And so can I," said Kathleen. "May I come with you, Dave?"
+
+"Some day," he replied, looking at her kindly, "but not to-day. I'll be
+back as soon as I can."
+
+David did not notice her disappointed face; he went out immediately,
+without even going upstairs first. Ben and Kathleen were now alone.
+Kathleen looked at him attentively.
+
+"I wonder--" she said slowly.
+
+"What are you staring at me for?" said Ben.
+
+"I have been wondering what sort you are. I have got cousins at home,
+and they do anything in the world I like. I wonder if you would."
+
+Ben had been very cross with Kathleen when she had knocked to him and
+David from the dining-room window, but he was not cross now. He was only
+thirteen, and up to the present no pretty girl had ever taken the
+slightest notice of him. He was a plain, sandy-haired boy, with a
+freckled face, a wide mouth, and good-humored blue eyes.
+
+"You make me laugh whenever I look at you," was Kathleen's next candid
+remark.
+
+"I didn't know that I was so comical," was his answer.
+
+"Perhaps you don't like it."
+
+"I can't say I do."
+
+"Well, this is the Palace of Home Truths," said Kathleen, laughing. "I
+asked your darling, saintly sister just now which was the most
+wicked--to tell a polite lie, or a frightfully rude home truth. She said
+that a polite lie was an awful sin, so in this house I must cleave to
+the home truths. I could tell you, you know, that you have quite a
+fascinating smile, and a very taking voice, and a delightful and
+polished manner; but I prefer to tell you that you are comical, which
+means that I feel inclined to burst out laughing whenever I look at
+you."
+
+"Thank you," said Ben, who could be very sulky when he liked. "Then I
+will take my objectionable presence out of your sight. I have got my
+lessons to do."
+
+Kathleen raised her brows and gave a slow smile. Ben got as far as the
+door.
+
+"Benny," she said then in a most seductive whisper.
+
+He turned.
+
+"I am so glad you are in."
+
+"I should not have thought so."
+
+"But I am. It is awfully lonely for a girl like me, who has got dozens
+of cousins at home, and uncles and aunts and all the rest of the goodly
+fry, to be stranded. I like David. I am quite smitten with David; and I
+like you, too. You can be a _great_ friend of mine."
+
+"Oh, I don't mind," said Ben.
+
+He thought it would be very good fun to tell the other fellows about
+the charming Irish girl who liked him so much.
+
+"I wonder if you'd help me, Ben."
+
+"What can I do?" asked Ben.
+
+"Sit down, and let's be cozy. I will sit in the tired one's chair, and
+you can sit on that little stool at my feet. Now isn't that nice?"
+
+"Who do you mean by the tired one?"
+
+"Your mother, silly boy, of course."
+
+"It is a very ridiculous name to call her."
+
+"It belongs to the Palace of Home Truths. Your mother is tired, and
+you--you lazy omadhauns--"
+
+"Well, go on," said Ben. "I see by your manner that you want me to do
+something. I suppose it's something a little bit--a little bit not quite
+good."
+
+"It is perfectly good. I'll love you ever so much if you will do it."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"I am going out this evening. I may not be in until late. If the others
+are in bed, will you come and unlock the door for me when I throw gravel
+up at your window? You must tell me which is your window."
+
+"I sleep in the north attic. It doesn't look out on to the street; and I
+can't--I can't possibly do it."
+
+"You can come down and wait for me in the hall."
+
+"How can I?"
+
+"When the tired one goes to bed, you can come down. She goes to bed at
+ten, I know, and I shall not be in until about half-past ten. I don't
+want Dave to know--well, because I don't. I don't want Alice to know,
+because I dislike Alice very much."
+
+"Really, Kathleen, you ought not to speak like that."
+
+"Well, I do, and I can't help myself. Will you do what I want? Here, do
+you think you'd like this in your possession?"
+
+As Kathleen spoke she held out a golden sovereign in the palm of her
+little hand.
+
+"I don't want to be bribed."
+
+"It isn't bribery really; it is paying you for giving me a great
+convenience. I must go out on important business. I want to help those
+who are down-trodden and distressed. Will you do what I want, Ben--will
+you, dear Ben? You know I like you so much. Will you--will you?"
+
+Of course, Ben fought against Kathleen's rather wicked suggestion; of
+course in the end he yielded. When he finally got up to his attic to
+thumb over his well-worn lesson-books he had Kathleen's golden sovereign
+in his pocket. He took it out and looked at it; he turned it round and
+round and examined it all over. He rubbed it lovingly against his
+freckled cheek, held it until it got warm in the palm of his hand, and
+then put it back in his pocket and jingled it against a couple of
+pennies which were its only companions.
+
+"A whole sovereign," he said to himself--"a whole sovereign, and I never
+had so much as five shillings of my own in the whole course of my life.
+Well, she is a little witch. I suppose Dave would beat me black and blue
+for doing a thing of this sort. But how could I--how could I withstand
+her?"
+
+Supper at the Tennants' generally consisted of cold pudding, cold meat,
+bread-and-butter, and a little jam when there happened to be any in the
+house. It was not a particularly tempting meal, and those who ate it
+required to have good, vigorous appetites. Kathleen, although she had
+been brought up in a considerable amount of wasteful splendor, was
+indifferent to what she ate. She soon jumped up and walked across the
+little passage into the drawing-room. Ben, looking very red and
+shamefaced, would not meet her eyes. Ben's face annoyed Kathleen. It did
+not occur to her for a minute that he would not be faithful to her, but
+she was afraid that others might notice his extraordinary and perturbed
+expression. Once, too, he jingled the sovereign in his pocket; she heard
+him, and wondered why David did not ask him where he had got the money.
+But no remark was made, and the meal came safely to an end. Kathleen
+took up the first book she could find and pretended to read.
+
+"I shall feign sleepiness at a quarter to nine," she said to herself,
+"and go upstairs. I shall be awfully polite and sweet to dear Alice. She
+never comes to bed before ten, so I shall be quite safe getting out of
+the house. I can drop from the window, but I should prefer going by the
+back door; and I don't think Maria will betray me."
+
+Just then Alice strolled into the room. She looked rather nice; she wore
+a very pretty pink muslin blouse, which suited her well. Her hair was
+neatly arranged; her face was calm. She stood before Kathleen.
+
+"I wish--" she said suddenly.
+
+Kathleen raised her head.
+
+"And I wish you wouldn't stand between me and the lamp. Don't you see
+that I am reading?"
+
+"I want you to stop reading. I have something to say."
+
+"Indeed!"
+
+Kathleen longed to be very rude, but she thought of her delightful plan
+so close at hand, and refrained.
+
+"I must humor her if I can by any possibility keep my temper," was her
+thought. Then aloud: "What is it you want? I hope you will be very
+quick, for I am rather sleepy and intend to go to bed soon."
+
+"I hope you won't do it again, that's all."
+
+"Do what again?" asked Kathleen.
+
+"Spend your money on buying food for us. We are not so poor as all that.
+My mother is paid by your father to give you your meals; your father
+doesn't expect you to buy them over again."
+
+"Dad always likes me to do what I wish," replied Kathleen calmly.
+
+"Well, don't do it again. It's extremely displeasing both to David and
+me."
+
+Kathleen laughed.
+
+"Dave gobbled up his sausage and his sardines," she said.
+
+"Don't do it again, that's all."
+
+Kathleen nodded her head, and again buried herself in her book.
+
+"And there is another thing," continued Alice, dropping into a chair by
+Kathleen's side. "You are very low down in the school. Two of the
+mistresses spoke to me about you to-day. They don't like to see a great
+overgrown girl like you in a class with little children; it does neither
+you nor the school credit. They fear that during this term you may be
+forced to continue in your present low position; but they earnestly hope
+that you will work very hard, so as to be removed into a higher form.
+You ought, after Christmas, to get into a class at least two removes
+higher up in the school. That is what I came to say. I suppose you have
+a certain sense of honor, and you don't want your father's money to be
+thrown away."
+
+"Bedad, then! he has plenty of money, and I don't much care," replied
+Kathleen.
+
+She lay back in her chair and whistled "Garry Owen" in a most insolent
+manner.
+
+"If you have really made up your mind not to improve yourself in the
+very least, mother had better write to Squire O'Hara and suggest that
+you don't come back after Christmas."
+
+"And Squire O'Hara will decide that point for himself," replied
+Kathleen. "There are other houses where I can be entertained and fussed
+over, and regarded as I ought to be regarded, besides the home of Alice
+Tennant. The fact is this, Alice: you aggravate me; you don't understand
+me; I am at my worst in your presence. Perhaps I am a bit wild
+sometimes, but your way would never drive me to work or anything else. I
+have no real dislike to learning, and if another girl spoke to me as you
+have done I might be very glad."
+
+"What do you mean?" said poor Alice. "I really and truly, Kathleen, do
+want to help you. You and I could work every evening together; I could,
+and would, see you through your lessons. Thus you would very quickly get
+to the head of your class, and get your removes without trouble at
+Christmas."
+
+"I suppose you mean to be kind," said Kathleen. "I will think it over.
+Let me alone now."
+
+She gave a portentous yawn. Ben heard her, came and sat down on an
+ottoman not far off, and began kicking his legs.
+
+"Benny," said his sister, "if you have done your lessons, you had better
+go to bed."
+
+"I don't want to go so early. You always treat me as if I were a baby."
+
+"Well, please yourself. I am going upstairs to fetch my books. I have a
+good hour and a half of hard work to get through before bedtime."
+
+The moment Kathleen and Ben were alone, Ben rushed up to her side and
+began to whisper.
+
+"It is all as right as possible," he said. "I am going up to bed as
+usual, and when mother and Alice and Dave are safe in their rooms I'll
+slip down again. I'll be in the hall. Don't ring when you come back;
+just walk up the steps and scratch against the door with your knuckles,
+and I'll hear you and let you in in a trice. I am awfully pleased about
+that sovereign; it will make me one of the greatest toffs in the school.
+I'll have more money than any of the other fellows. I'm so excited I can
+scarcely think of anything else. I know I'm doing wrong, but you did
+offer me such a tremendous temptation. Now I hear Alice's step. It will
+be all right, Kathleen; don't you fear."
+
+Kathleen smiled to herself. The rest of her programme was carried out to
+a nicety. At a quarter to nine she complained of fatigue, bade Mrs.
+Tennant an affectionate good-night, nodded to Alice, and left the room.
+
+"Be sure you don't lock the door," called Alice after her. "I sha'n't be
+up for quite an hour, and you will be sound asleep by that time."
+
+"I won't lock it," replied Kathleen gently.
+
+When Kathleen had gone upstairs, Mrs. Tennant turned and spoke to her
+daughter.
+
+"You know, Alice," she said, "the child is very lovable and
+kind-hearted--a little barbarian in some senses of the word, but a fine
+nature--of that I am certain."
+
+"I am so busy to-night, mother," replied Alice. "Can't we defer talking
+of the charms of Kathleen's character until after I have done my
+lessons?"
+
+"Of course, dear," said her mother.
+
+She drew her basket of mending towards her, put stitch after stitch
+into the shabby garments, and thought all the time of Kathleen with her
+bright face and beautiful, merry eyes.
+
+Meanwhile that young lady, having arranged a bolster in her bed to look
+as like a human being as possible, put on her hat and jacket and ran
+downstairs. There was no one in the hall, and she was absolutely daring
+enough to go out by that door. Mrs. Tennant raised her head when she
+heard the door gently shut.
+
+"Can that be the post?" she said; but as no one replied, she forgot the
+circumstance and went on with her mending.
+
+A few doors down the street Susy Hopkins was waiting for Kathleen.
+
+"Oh, there you are!" she said. "We are so excited! There will be about
+eight of us waiting for you in the old quarry. You are good to come. You
+don't know what this means in our lives. You are good--you are
+wonderfully good."
+
+"Where's the quarry?" asked Kathleen. "You have chosen such a funny
+place. I should not have imagined that a quarry--a dear, romantic
+quarry--could be found anywhere in this neighborhood."
+
+"Yes, but there is, and a good big one, too. It is about half a mile
+away, just at the back of Colliers' Buildings. It is the safest place
+you can possibly imagine, for no one will ever look for us there. Now do
+be quick; we will find the others before us. You can't think how excited
+we are."
+
+"Oh, I'm willing to be quick," replied Kathleen. "I am doing all this
+for you, you know, because I am sorry for the foundationers, and think
+it so very ridiculous that there should be distinctions made. Why, you
+are quite as good as the others. They are none of them much to boast
+of."
+
+"What fun this is!" cried Susy again. "I assure you the paying girls
+think no end of themselves. They are under the supposition that there
+never were such fine ladies to be found in the land before. Oh, we will
+take it out of them, sha'n't we?"
+
+Kathleen made no reply. Presently they reached the opening that led into
+the quarry. They had to go down a narrow sloping path, and then by a
+doorway cut in the solid rock. After they had passed through they found
+themselves in a large circular cavern open to the sky. There was no moon
+and the night was dark; but one girl had brought a lantern. She opened
+it and placed it on the ground; a bright shaft of light now fell on
+several young figures all huddled together. Susy gave a sharp whistle;
+the girls started to their feet.
+
+"Here we are, girls. See, this is our queen," and she presented Kathleen
+to the assembled girls.
+
+"Does the queen mind our looking at her face in turns?" said Kate
+Rourke. "I have not specially noticed you before," she continued, "but
+after we have each had a good stare we will know what sort of girl you
+are."
+
+For reply Kathleen herself lifted the lantern and flung the full light
+upon her radiant and lovely face and figure. The intense light made her
+golden hair shine, and brought out the delicate perfection of each
+feature; the merry eyes framed in their dark lashes, the gleaming white
+teeth, the rosy lips were all apparent. But beyond the mere beauty of
+feature Kathleen had to a remarkable degree the far more fascinating
+beauty of expression: her face was capable of almost every shade of
+emotion, being sorrowful and pathetic one moment, and brimful of
+irrepressible mirth and roguery the next.
+
+There was a silence amongst the girls until Mary Rand shouted:
+
+"Hip! hip! hurrah!"
+
+The whole eight immediately broke into a ringing cheer.
+
+"Welcome, Queen Kathleen," they said--"welcome;" and they held out their
+hands and clasped the hands of the Irish girl.
+
+"I am glad," said Kathleen.
+
+"What about?" said Clara Sawyer.
+
+"Why, you have crowned me queen yourselves. Now I can do what I like
+with you all."
+
+"You certainly can," said Susy Hopkins.--"We are devoted to our queen,
+aren't we, girls?"
+
+"We have fallen in love with her on the spot," said Rosy Myers.
+
+"I never saw any one quite so lovely before as the queen," said Mary
+Rand.
+
+"It isn't only that she's lovely, she is so genteel," said Susy Hopkins.
+
+"Aristocratic!" cried Kate.--"Hannah Johnson, you haven't given your
+opinion yet.--And, Ruth Craven, you haven't given yours."
+
+"I reserve my opinion," said Ruth.
+
+"And I say there's a great deal of humbug and balder-dash in the world,"
+said Hannah Johnson.
+
+Ruth's remark was unexpected, but the girls pooh-poohed Hannah's. Who
+was Hannah Johnson that she dared to speak so rudely to one so charming
+and beautiful as Kathleen O'Hara? There was a disconcerting pause, and
+then Kathleen said:
+
+"Hannah, doubtless you are right. There is plenty of humbug in the
+world; but I don't think I am one. Now the question is: Shall I be on
+the side of the foundationers, or shall I be on the side of the paying
+girls in the Great Shirley School?"
+
+"Indeed, darling," said Rosy Myers, "you shall be on our side. Those
+horrid, stuck-up paying girls don't want you; and we do. Nothing will
+induce us to give you up. It is a chance to get a girl like you, so
+lovely and so sweet and so rich, to be one of us."
+
+"Well, I think I can give you a good time, and I can show those others
+with their snobbish ways--"
+
+"Hear, hear!" cried the excited girls.
+
+"I can show the others what I think of them. They won't snub me, but
+perhaps I shall snub them. Well, girls, as we have decided to band
+together, we must draw up rules; and when they are drawn up we must obey
+them. I, of course, will be your head; as you have made me queen, that
+is the natural thing to expect."
+
+"Of course," said Susy.
+
+Kathleen clapped her hands.
+
+"This is going to be a real good secret society," she said. "What fun it
+all will be!"
+
+The girls laughed, and clustered with more and more friendliness round
+Kathleen.
+
+"You are our queen," said Kate. "There are eight of us here, and we all
+swear allegiance to you.--Don't we, girls?"
+
+"Certainly," said Susy.
+
+"Unquestionably," remarked Mary.
+
+"With all my heart," said Rose.
+
+"And mine," echoed Clara.
+
+"And mine," said Kate.
+
+"I will join the others, although I don't approve," said Hannah Johnson,
+with a somewhat unwilling nod.
+
+"And I am neutral. I don't think I ought to join at all," said Ruth.
+
+"Oh, yes, you will, Ruth. I want you to be my Prime Minister, I want you
+to be with me in all things."
+
+"I don't know that I can."
+
+"And why should she be your Prime Minister?" said Kate in an ugly voice.
+"She's no better than the others, and she's very new. Some of us have
+been at the school for some time. Ruth Craven has only just joined.
+
+"The queen must have her way," said Kathleen, stamping her foot. "The
+queen must have her way in all particulars, and she wishes to elect Ruth
+Craven as her Prime Minister--that is, if Ruth will consent."
+
+They were headstrong and big girls, most of them older than Kathleen,
+but they submitted, for her ways were masterful and her tone full of
+delicate sympathy.
+
+"I will think it over and let you know," said Ruth. "Of course, I shall
+not betray you; but you must please understand that I have friends
+amongst the paying girls of the school. Cassandra Weldon is my friend,
+and there are others. I will not join nor advocate any plan that annoys
+or worries them."
+
+The girls looked dubious, and one or two began to speak in discontented
+voices.
+
+"We must meet again in a couple of days," said Kathleen finally. "By
+then I shall have drawn up the rules. We can't always meet at night, but
+we will when it is possible, for this place is so romantic, and so
+correct for a secret society. Those who are present to-night will be in
+my Cabinet. I should like if possible to have all the foundation girls
+on my side, but that must be decided at our next meeting. I am willing
+to purchase a badge for each girl who joins me; it will be made of
+silver, and can be worn beneath the dress in the form of a locket."
+
+"Oh, lovely, delicious! There never was such a queen," cried Susy
+Hopkins.
+
+The little meeting broke up amidst universal applause.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+THE BOX FROM DUBLIN AND ITS TREASURES.
+
+
+Kathleen returned quite safely to Myrtle Lodge. Ben was sitting up for
+her; he opened the door. The hall was quite dark. He held out his hand
+and drew her in.
+
+"Am not I splendid?" he said. "I have been standing here for
+half-an-hour, all drenched with perspiration. If mother came down" what
+wouldn't she say? And as to Alice, she'd be even worse. But a sov.'s
+worth doing something for. I say! I do feel happy! I never had all that
+lot of bullion in the whole course of my life before. Are you right now,
+Kathleen--can you slip upstairs without making any noise? Don't forget
+that the step just before you reach the upper landing gives a great
+creak like the report of a pistol; hop over it on to the landing itself,
+and you are safe. Alice is in bed, snoring like anything; I listened
+outside the keyhole."
+
+"Thanks," said Kathleen. "I'm awfully obliged to you, Ben. See if I
+don't do something for you. You are a broth of a boy. What do you say to
+Carrigrohane in the summer, and a gun all to yourself? I'll teach you
+how to shoot rabbits and to bring down a bird on the wing."
+
+She brushed her lips against his cheek, and ran lightly upstairs. She
+escaped the treacherous second step, and entered her bedroom without
+waking Alice. The bolster carefully manipulated had done its work; it
+had never occurred to Alice that the form in the bed was anything but
+the living form of Kathleen O'Hara. She had shaded the light from what
+she supposed to be the sleeping girl, and got into bed herself feeling
+tired and sulky. She had dropped asleep immediately.
+
+Kathleen's first step, therefore, towards the formation of a secret
+society in the Great Shirley School was marked with success. The idea
+which she had formulated in the old quarry spread like wildfire amongst
+the foundationers; but Kathleen was determined not to have another
+meeting for nearly a week. She wished to hear from her father; she
+wanted to have money in hand.
+
+"They are all poor," she thought. "If I appear just as poor as they are,
+I shall never be able to keep my exalted position as queen. We cannot
+have our next meeting until I have drawn up the rules, and I should like
+Ruth Craven to help me. She has got sense. I don't want the thing to be
+riotous, nor to do harm in any way. I just want us to have a bit of fun,
+and to teach the horrid paying girls of the school a lesson."
+
+The thought of her secret society kept Kathleen in a fairly good humor,
+and she worked at her lessons so well that Alice began to have hopes of
+her. About a week after her arrival at Myrtle Lodge the box which Aunt
+Katie O'Flynn was sending from Dublin arrived. It came when the girls
+were at school. When they returned to early dinner they saw it standing
+in the front hall.
+
+"Whatever is this, and why is it put here?" said Alice, springing
+forward to look at the address:
+
+"Miss Kathleen O'Hara, care of Mrs. Tennant, Myrtle Lodge."
+
+"Golloptious!" cried Kathleen. "It's my own. It's my clothes--my sort
+of a kind of a treasure. Oh, what delicious fun! Now you will see how
+smart I can be. Maybe there will be something here to fit you, Alice.
+Wouldn't you like it? We are going to tea to-night to Mrs. Weldon's, and
+Ruth Craven is to be there. The darling girl--I will give her something.
+I should love to make her look just as beautiful as she can look. I am
+not a bit a stingy sort of girl; you know that, Alice. I want to be
+quite generous with my lovely things."
+
+"Well, do stop talking," said Alice. "I never came across such an
+inveterate chatterbox. I suppose you'd like to have the box taken up to
+our room; but I don't think you'll have any time to open it at present.
+You have promised to come back with me to the school this afternoon, in
+order that Miss Spicer may give you a special lesson in music."
+
+"Arrah, then, my dear!" cried Kathleen, "it isn't me you'll see at
+school again to-day. It's gloating and fussing over my clothes I will
+be--portioning out those I mean to give to others, and trying on the
+ones that will suit me. You can go to your horrid, stupid lessons if you
+like, but it won't be Kathleen O'Hara who will accompany you. Perhaps
+the poor tired one would like to have a pleasant afternoon in my
+bedroom. Oh, glory be to goodness! we will have a time. Isn't it worth
+anything to see that blessed trunk? My eyes can almost pierce through
+the deal and see the lovely garments folded away inside."
+
+Alice took no notice; she marched on to her room. Kathleen followed her.
+
+"The boys shall bring it up for me immediately after dinner," she said.
+"I sha'n't be going out again until I go to Mrs. Weldon's. I expect
+people will open their eyes when they see me to-night."
+
+"You must please yourself, of course," said Alice. "For my part, I am
+extremely sorry that the trunk has come. You were settling down a
+little, and were not quite so objectionable as at first."
+
+"Thanks _awfully_, darling," said Kathleen, dropping a mock curtsy.
+
+"Not quite so objectionable," continued Alice in a calm voice. "But now,
+with all these silly gewgaws, you will be worse titan ever. But please
+clearly understand that I do not want any of your ornaments."
+
+"Don't trouble yourself, darling; they were not made for you. I force my
+treasures on nobody."
+
+"I wouldn't wear them if you were to give them. I hope I have some
+proper pride."
+
+"Pride of the _most_ proper sort," said Kathleen, dancing before her.
+
+"And I do hope, also, that you won't make yourself a merry-andrew or a
+figure of fun at the Weldons' to-night. It will be in extremely bad
+taste. We are not going to have a large party--just one or two of the
+mistresses and little Ruth Craven, who, although she is a foundationer,
+seems to be a very nice sort of child. It would be in the worst taste
+possible to wear anything but the simplest clothes."
+
+"All right," said Kathleen. "If I am a chatterbox, you are about the
+greatest preacher, with the most long-winded sermons, that ever entered
+a house. You are a perfect plague to me, and that is the truth, Alice
+Tennant."
+
+Alice poured some water into her basin, washed her hands, and went
+downstairs.
+
+"Mother," she said, "I am obliged to be out the whole afternoon. The
+scholarship examination takes place in six weeks now, and if I am to
+have any chance of getting through I must not idle a single moment. I
+grieve to say that a box of finery has arrived for Kathleen--most
+unsuitable, for she has plenty of clothes. I do trust, mother, you will
+keep her in tow a little this afternoon, and not allow her to make a
+show of herself."
+
+"You are not very kind to Kathleen," said Mrs. Tennant. "Why shouldn't
+the child enjoy her pretty things? I like to see girls nicely dressed.
+It is a great trial to me to be obliged to deny you the ribbons and
+frills and laces which most girls of your age possess."
+
+"Thanks, mother," answered Alice; "but if you were as Rich as Croesus, I
+should not wish, while I am a schoolgirl, to dress any better than I
+do."
+
+"You certainly have a great deal of sense, dear; but don't be too hard
+on the little girl. Ah! here she comes. Now we must sit down to dinner
+at once."
+
+During dinner Kathleen's eyes sparkled so brightly, and she looked so
+merry and mysterious, that both the boys gazed at her in wonder.
+
+"Don't mind me," she said, whispering to David as she bent towards him.
+"It's in real downright delight I am. I am expecting to have the most
+wonderful joy all the afternoon that was ever given a girl. Ah, then,
+it's illegant myself will be when you see me next, boys. And do look at
+her! I declare she's getting crosser each minute."
+
+"Hush, Kathleen!" said David. "You must not say unkind things."
+
+"Don't trouble to reprove her, David," called out Alice in a calm and
+lofty tone. "I assure you she doesn't annoy me in the least. Sometimes I
+think there is a little gnat flying about and trying to sting me, but
+that's all."
+
+"And a charming metaphor, too," said Kathleen.
+
+She ate her meal soberly, but occasionally a bubble of laughter came to
+the surface, and her merry eyes glanced from Mrs. Tennant's face to
+Alice's, and from Alice's to those of the boys. The moment the meal came
+to an end Kathleen jumped up.
+
+"Now, then, my angels, you come with me," she said, and she caught David
+by the one hand and Ben by the other, and led her willing slaves into
+the hall.
+
+"Did you ever see anything like it?" said Alice to her mother. "She will
+ruin the boys in addition to all her other mischief. Mother, must we
+keep her long? It is really most disturbing."
+
+"If you would only take poor little Kathleen as she is, you would find
+her quite agreeable, Alice," was her mother's answer.
+
+"Oh dear, mother! you seem to be just as much infatuated as the others.
+But never mind. I am off now, and I need not be back in the house until
+it is time to dress to go to Mrs. Weldon's. I declare that girl is
+causing me to hate my home. I don't think its fair, whatever you may say
+to the contrary."
+
+Mrs. Tennant sighed. Alice had always been a little difficult; she was
+more than difficult at the present moment. But very soon afterwards the
+welcome bang of the hall door was heard, and the house was free.
+
+"Now for a jolly time," said Kathleen. "Tired one, where are you?"
+
+"Kathleen, you ought not to call me by that name. You ought to be more
+respectful."
+
+"Arrah, then, darling, I can't; 'tain't in me. I am so fond of you--oh,
+worra, worra! there's nothing I wouldn't do for you; but I must be as
+I'm made. You do look tired, and tired you will go on looking until I
+take you to Carrigrohane to rest you and to feed you with good milk and
+good fruit and good eggs and good cream.--Now then, boys, lift up that
+trunk. Be aisy with it, so that you won't hurt it. Take it up to my
+bedroom and put it on the floor. Maybe there's something in it for you,
+or maybe there isn't--Mrs. Tennant, acushla! you will come along
+upstairs with me at once. You can bring your mending basket, and I will
+pop you into the arm-chair by the window, and we can consult together
+over the garments. It's fine I'll look when I have them on. Aunt Katie
+O'Flynn is a woman who has real taste, and I know she is going to dress
+me up as no other girl ever was dressed before in the Great Shirley
+School."
+
+Mrs. Tennant could not help laughing. The boys were also in the highest
+good-humor; Kathleen's mirth was contagious. They went upstairs to the
+bedroom, and then Ben saucily perched himself on the foot of one of the
+beds; while David, having brought up a hammer and screwdriver, proceeded
+to lift the lid of the box, which was firmly nailed down. Under the lid
+was a lot of tissue-paper. Kathleen went on her knees, lifted it up,
+uttered a shout, and turned to the boys.
+
+"You make off now," she said.
+
+"No, indeed I won't," said Ben. "I want to see the fun."
+
+"Go, both of you. There will be something nice for you when you come
+back to tea," said Kathleen.
+
+They looked regretful, but saw nothing for it but to go. Kathleen in a
+breathless sort of way, scarcely uttering a word, spread out her
+treasures on the bed. Was there ever such a box? Skirts, bodices,
+blouses, shirts; an evening dress, an afternoon dress, a morning
+dress--they seemed simply endless. Then there were frills and ribbons
+and veils; there were two great, big, very stylish-looking hats, with
+long plumes; and there was a little toque made of crimson velvet, which
+Kathleen declared was quite too sweet for anything. There were also
+dozens of handkerchiefs, dozens of pairs of stockings, and some sweet
+little slippers all embroidered and fit for the most bewitching feet in
+the world. Kathleen's cheeks got redder and redder.
+
+"Here's a cargo for you," she said. "Here's something to delight the
+heart. Now, my dear Mrs. Tennant, let us come and examine everything. Do
+you think I am utterly selfish, Mrs. Tennant? Do you think I want all
+these things for myself?"
+
+"I am sure you don't, dear."
+
+"It quite makes me ache with longing to give some of them away. I don't
+want so many frocks: there are a good dozen here all told. Aunt Katie
+O'Flynn's the one for extravagance, bless her! and for having a thing
+done in style, bless her! I should like you to see her. It's
+splendacious she is entirely when she's dressed up in her best--velvet
+and feathers and laces and jewels. Why, nothing holds her in bounds;
+there's nothing she stops at. I have seen her give hundreds of pounds
+for one little glittering gem. Ah! and here's a ring. Look, Mrs.
+Tennant."
+
+Kathleen had now opened a small box which was lying at the bottom of the
+great trunk. There were several treasures in it: a necklet of glittering
+white stones, another of blue, another of red, and this little ring--a
+little ring which contained a solitary diamond of the purest water.
+
+"Now I shall look stylish," said Kathleen, and she slipped the ring on
+the third finger of her left hand.
+
+"My wedding finger too, bedad!" she said.
+
+When the contents of the trunk had been finally explored, Kathleen
+began to sort her finery. Mrs. Tennant gave advice.
+
+"Some of these things are a little too fine for everyday use," she said.
+"But some of these blouses are very suitable, and so are these white and
+gray and pink shirts. And this blue bodice is quite nice for the
+evening, and so is the skirt belonging to it; but this and this and
+this--I wouldn't wear these until I went home if I were you, my love."
+
+Kathleen glanced at her. A slight frown came between her brows.
+
+"Don't you see," she said impatiently, "that I want to give away some of
+these things? Do you see this dozen of blouses, all exactly alike, in
+this box? These are for the secret society."
+
+"The what, Kathleen?"
+
+"Oh, you musn't tell--it is the most profound secret--but I have joined
+one. Being an Irish girl, it is quite natural. I sent a line to Aunt
+Katie to get a dozen of the very prettiest blouses she could. Of course
+there are a lot more members, but our Cabinet has risen to something
+like a dozen, so I thought I'd have them handy. Aren't they just sweet?"
+
+As she spoke she took out of the box the palest blue cashmere blouse,
+most exquisitely trimmed with blue embroidery flecked with pink silk.
+The blouse had real lace round the neck and cuffs, and must have cost a
+great deal of money.
+
+"Don't you think Alice would look very nice in one of these?" said
+Kathleen, gazing with a very earnest face at Mrs. Tennant.
+
+"Pink is more Alice's color. She is too pale for blue," was Mrs.
+Tennant's reply.
+
+"Well, then, look here. Isn't this a perfect duck? See for yourself.
+It's a sort of cross between a coral and a rose--oh, so exquisite! And
+see how it is made, with all these teeny tucks and the embroidery let in
+between. And the sleeves--aren't they just illegant entirely? Don't you
+think we might make her wear it?"
+
+"I am sorry, Kathleen, but you are not getting on very well with Alice.
+I wish it were different. Could you not do something to propitiate her?"
+
+"Wisha, then, darling!" said Kathleen, pausing a moment to consider;
+"that's just what I can't do. Alice's ways are not my ways, and if I
+copied her it's kilt I'd be entirely. She never likes to see a smile on
+my face, and she can't abide to watch me if I dance a step, and she
+wouldn't take a joke out of me if it was to save her life. To please
+Alice I'd have to be the primmest of the prim, and always stooping over
+my horrid lessons, and the end of it there'd be no more of poor Kathleen
+O'Hara--- it's dead and in her grave she'd be, the creature. Indeed, I'm
+glad I'm not made on Alice's pattern, even if she is your daughter. I
+can't aspire to anything so fine and high up even for your sake,
+darling, and you are one of the sweetest women on God's earth. I
+couldn't do it--not by no means."
+
+Mrs. Tennant could not help laughing as Kathleen described the sort of
+girl she would be if she adopted Alice's role.
+
+"But the question is now," said the girl, "what are we to do to make her
+have some of these pretty things? Mightn't I give the blouse to you
+first, and you could give it to her? She'd look so sweet in this pink
+blouse when she went to tea at her chosen friends. She'd be almost
+pretty if she was nicely dressed. I've got this white one for little
+Ruth Craven, and I want Alice to have this so badly. Can't you manage
+it, dear Mrs. Tennant?"
+
+Mrs. Tennant felt tempted. The blouse was very dainty and pretty, and
+unlike anything she could afford to buy for her only daughter. Kathleen
+threw her arms round her neck and kissed her.
+
+"You will--you will, dear Mrs. Tennant," she said. "It is yours
+entirely. You tell her you got it at a cheap sale. Say you went to a
+jumble sale and bought it; you paid one-and-twopence-halfpenny for it.
+That's the right figure, isn't it, for the best things at a jumble sale?
+Tell her it's _quite_ new, and was thrown in promiscuous like."
+
+"But, my darling child, I can't tell her what isn't true. She would wear
+it if she didn't know it came from you. She would not only wear it, but
+she would delight in it; but nothing would induce her to take it if she
+thought you had given it."
+
+"Then don't let's tell her. Besides, it wouldn't be true, for I have
+given it to you, dear. And now, see, here is something for your sweet
+self. I wrote to Aunt Katie, and Aunt Katie is so clever. See! come to
+the glass."
+
+Kathleen had opened a cardboard box, and out of it she took a black
+velvet bonnet with nodding plumes and a little pink strip of velvet
+fastened under the brim. This she put with trembling fingers on Mrs.
+Tennant's head. Mrs. Tennant was in reality not at all old, and she
+looked quite young and pretty in the new toque.
+
+"You are charming, that's what you are," said Kathleen. "And I can't
+take it back, for you know perfectly well that it is a wee bit too old
+for me. You will have to wear it."
+
+"But what will Alice say?"
+
+"Never mind. Don't tell her; just be mum. Say, 'it is mine, and I mean
+to wear it.' Oh, I'd manage Alice if I happened to be her mother."
+
+"I don't think you would, dear."
+
+"Indeed, but I would. And now I must consider whom I am to give the
+other things to."
+
+When Kathleen had finally parcelled out her treasures there was not such
+a great deal left for herself, for this girl and the other who had taken
+her fancy were all allotted a treasure out of that famous box. And there
+was a thick albert chain made of solid silver for Ben, and a keyless
+silver watch for David; and what could boys possibly want more? Kathleen
+had remembered all her friends, and Aunt Katie O'Flynn was more than
+willing to carry out her request.
+
+Finally, at the very bottom of the trunk was a little parcel which she
+refrained from opening while Mrs. Tennant was present. It contained the
+badges of the new society. Kathleen had decided that they were to call
+themselves "The Wild Irish Girls," and this title was neatly engraved on
+the little badges, which were of the shape of hearts. Below the name was
+the device--a harp with a bit of shamrock trailing round it. The badges
+were small and exceedingly neat, and there were about sixty of them in
+all.
+
+"Now then, I can go ahead," thought Kathleen. "What with the finery for
+my dear, darling chosen ones, and the badges for all the members, I
+shall do."
+
+She was utterly reckless with regard to expense. Her father was rich,
+and he did not mind what he spent on his only child. The box seemed to
+fill up every crevice of her heart, as she expressed it, and it was a
+very happy girl who dressed to go to the Weldons' that evening.
+Kathleen was intensely affectionate, and would have done anything in the
+world to please Mrs. Tennant; but when it came to wearing a very quiet
+gray dress with a little lace round the collar and cuffs, she begun to
+demur.
+
+"It can't be done," she thought. "Half of them will be in gray and half
+of them in brown, and a few old dowdies will perhaps be in black. But I
+must be gay; it isn't fair to Aunt Katie to be anything else."
+
+She made a wild and scarcely judicious selection. She put on crimson
+silk stockings, and tucked into her bag a pair of crimson satin shoes.
+Her dress consisted of a black velvet skirt over a crimson petticoat,
+and her bodice was of crimson silk very much embroidered and with
+elbow-sleeves. Round her neck she wore innumerable beads of every
+possible color, and twisted through her lovely hair were some more
+beads, which shone as the light fell on them. Altogether it was a very
+bizarre and fascinating little figure that appeared that evening at the
+Weldons' hall door. Over her showy dress she wore a long opera-cloak, so
+that at first her splendors were not fully visible. This gaily dressed
+little person entered a room full of sober people. The effect was
+somewhat the same as though a gorgeous butterfly had flown into the
+room. She lit up the dullness and made a centre of attraction--all eyes
+were fastened upon her; for Kathleen in her well-made dress,
+notwithstanding the gayety of its color, looked simply radiant. The
+mischief in her dark eyes, too, but added to her charm. She glanced with
+almost maliciousness at Alice, who, in the dowdiest of pale-gray
+dresses, with her hair rather untidy and her face destitute of color,
+was standing near one of the windows. And as Alice glanced at Kathleen
+she felt that she almost hated the Irish girl.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+CONSCIENCE AND DIFFICULTIES.
+
+
+All the people who knew her were beginning to make a fuss over Ruth
+Craven. She who had hardly ever been noticed during the early part of
+her life, who was just her grandfather's darling and her grandmother's
+idol, was now petted and made much of and fussed over by every one. It
+was quite an extraordinary thing for the paying girls of the Great
+Shirley School to be so interested and excited about a foundationer.
+Cassandra Weldon was not the only girl who had taken Ruth up; some of
+the best and nicest girls of the school began to patronize her. The fact
+was that she was very modest and a perfect lady, and it was impossible
+to feel anything but good-will towards her. The rest of the foundation
+girls at first determined that they would leave her with her fine
+friends, but when Kathleen insisted on Ruth's joining the secret society
+of the Wild Irish Girls, they were obliged to submit.
+
+"We'd do anything in the world for our queen," said Susy Hopkins,
+talking to another foundation girl one day as they strolled along the
+road. "It is to-night we are to meet again, and she says she will bring
+the rules all drawn up, and she will read them to us. There are about
+thirty of us now, and more and more offer to join every day. The
+difficulty is that we have got to keep the thing from the knowledge of
+the teachers and the paying girls of the school. Kathleen is certain
+that it would be suppressed if it were known; and it must not be known,
+for it is the biggest lark and the greatest fun we ever had in all our
+lives."
+
+"Yes," said Rosy Myers; "I feel now quite honored at being a foundation
+girl."
+
+"She does promise us wonderful things," said Kate Rourke. "She says when
+the summer comes we shall have all sorts of nice excursions. Of course,
+we can't do anything special in the daytime, unless sometimes on
+Saturday, when we have a whole holiday; but at least; she says, the
+nights are our own and we can do as we like. It really is grand. I
+suppose it is wicked, but then that makes it rather more fascinating."
+
+"We are in the queen's Cabinet, bless her, the duck!" said Susy Hopkins.
+"There are a dozen of us now, and there is talk of a sort of livery or
+badge for the members of the Cabinet; but we'll know all about it when
+we meet sharp at nine to-night. We are the twelve members of the
+Cabinet, and there are about twenty girls who are our sort of standing
+army. It is really most exciting."
+
+The girls talked a little longer and then parted. As Susy Hopkins was
+running home helter-skelter--for she wanted to get her lessons done in
+order to be fully in time for the meeting that evening--she met Ruth
+Craven. Ruth was walking slowly by with her usual demure and sweet
+expression.
+
+"Hullo!" called out Susy. "We'll meet to-night, sha'n't we?"
+
+"I don't know," said Ruth.
+
+"Aren't you coming? Why, you are sort of Prime Minister to the queen."
+
+"You don't think it right really, do you," said Ruth--"not from the
+bottom of your heart, I mean?"
+
+"Right or wrong, I mean to enjoy myself," said Susy Hopkins. "I suppose,
+if you come to analyse it, it is wrong, and not right. But, dear me,
+Ruth! what fun should we poor girls have if we were too particular on
+these points?"
+
+"It always seems to me that it is worth while to do right," said Ruth.
+
+"So you say, but I don't quite agree with you. You will come to-night,
+in any case, won't you?"
+
+"Yes, I will come to-night; but I am not happy about it, and I wish
+Kathleen--Oh, I know it is very fascinating, and Kathleen is just
+delightful, but I should not like our teachers to know."
+
+"Of course not," said Susy, staring at her. "They'd soon put a stop to
+it."
+
+"Are you certain? I know so little about the school."
+
+"Certain? I'm convinced. Why, they'd be furious. I expect we'd be
+expelled."
+
+"Then that proves it. I didn't know there was any strict rule about it."
+
+"Why, what are you made of, Ruth Craven?"
+
+"I thought," said Ruth, "that when we were not in school we were our own
+mistresses."
+
+"To a certain extent, of course; but we have what is called the school
+character to keep up. We have, as it were, to uphold the spirit of the
+school. Now the spirit of the school is quite against secrecy in any
+form. Oh dear, why will you drag all this out of me? I'd made up my mind
+not to think of it, and now you have forced me to say it. Of course you
+will come to-night. You have to think of Kathleen as well as the school,
+and she's gone to a fearful lot of expense. You could not by any
+possibility forsake her, could you?"
+
+"No, of course not," said Ruth very slowly.
+
+She bade Susy good-bye and walked on; her attitude was that of one who
+was thinking hard.
+
+"Ruth is very pretty," said Susy to herself, "but I don't know that I
+quite admire her. She is the sort of girl that everybody loves, and I am
+not one to admire a universal favorite. She is frightfully, tiresomely
+good, and she's just _too_ pretty; and she's not a bit vain, and she's
+not a bit puffed up. Oh, she is just right in every way, and yet I feel
+that I hate her. She has got the sort of conscience that will worry our
+queen to distraction. Still, once she joins she'll have to obey our
+rules, and I expect our queen will make them somewhat stringent."
+
+A clock from a neighboring church struck the half-hour. Susy looked up,
+uttered an exclamation, put wings to her feet, and ran the rest of the
+way home. Susy's home was in the High Street of the little town of
+Merrifield. Her mother kept a fairly flourishing stationer's shop, in
+one part of which was a post-office. Some ladies were buying stamps as
+Susy dashed through the shop on her way to the family rooms at the back.
+Mrs. Hopkins was selling stationery to a couple of boys; she looked up
+as her daughter entered. Susy went into the parlor, where tea was laid
+on the table. It consisted of a stale loaf, some indifferent butter, and
+a little jam. The tea, in a pewter teapot, was weak; the milk was
+sky-blue, and the jug that held it was cracked.
+
+Susy poured out a cup of tea, drank it off at a gulp, snatched a piece
+of bread-and-butter from the plate, and sat down to prepare her lessons
+at another table. She had two hours' hard work before her, and it was
+already nearly six o'clock. The quarry was a little distance away, and
+she must tidy herself and do all sorts of things. Just then her mother
+came in.
+
+"Oh, Susy," she said, "I am so glad you have come! I want you to attend
+to the shop for the next hour. I am sent for in a hurry to my sister's;
+she has a bad cold, and wants me to call in. I think little Peter is not
+well; your aunt is afraid he is catching measles. Run into the shop the
+moment you have finished your tea, like a good child. You can take one
+of your lesson-books with you if you like. There won't be many customers
+at this hour."
+
+"Oh, mother, I did really want to work hard at my lessons. They are very
+difficult, you know, and you promised that when I went to the Great
+Shirley School you'd never interfere with my lesson hours."
+
+"I did say so, and of course I don't mean to interfere; but this is a
+special case."
+
+"Can't Tommy go and stand in the shop? If any special customers come in
+I will attend to them."
+
+"No, Tommy can't. He has a headache and is lying down upstairs. You must
+oblige me this time, Susy. You can sit up a little longer to-night to
+finish your lessons if you are much interrupted while I am away."
+
+"You are sure you will not be more than an hour, mother?"
+
+"Oh, certain."
+
+"And I suppose in any case I may shut up the shop at seven o'clock,
+mayn't I?"
+
+"Shut the shop at seven o'clock!" said Mrs. Hopkins. "You forget that
+this is Wednesday. We always keep the shop, except the post-office part,
+open until past nine on Wednesdays; such a lot of people come in for
+odds and ends on this special night. But I will be back long before
+nine. Don't on any account shut the shop until I appear."
+
+Susy, feeling cross and miserable, all her bright hopes dashed to the
+ground, took a couple of books and went into the shop and sat behind the
+counter. The days were getting short and cold, and as the shop door was
+opened there was a thorough draught where she was sitting. Her feet
+grew icy cold; she could scarcely follow the meaning of her somewhat
+difficult lessons. No customers appeared.
+
+"How stupid I am!" thought the little girl. "This will never do."
+
+She roused herself, and bending forward, propped her book open before
+her. Presently she heard the clock outside strike seven.
+
+"Mother will be back now, thank goodness!" she thought. "If I work
+desperately hard, and stop my ears so that I needn't hear a sound, I may
+have done by nine o'clock."
+
+Just at that moment two ladies came in to ask for a special sort of
+stationery. Susy, who was never in the least interested in the shop, did
+not know where to find it. She rummaged about, making a great mess
+amongst her mother's neat stores; and finally she was obliged to say
+that she did not know where it was.
+
+"Never mind," said one of the ladies, kindly; "I will come in again next
+time I am passing. It doesn't matter this evening."
+
+Susy felt vexed; she knew her mother would blame her for sending the
+ladies away without completing a purchase. And they had scarcely left
+before she found the box which contained the stationery. She pushed it
+out of sight on the shelf, and sat down again to her book. Her mother
+ought to be coming in now. Susy would have to do a lot of exercises;
+these she could not by any possibility do in the shop. She had also some
+mathematical work to get through or she would never be able to keep her
+place in class. Why didn't Mrs. Hopkins return? Half-an-hour went by;
+three-quarters. It was now a quarter to eight. Susy felt quite
+distracted. With the exception of the two ladies, there had been no
+customer in the shop up to the present. The fact was, they did not
+begin to appear until soon after eight on Wednesday evenings. Then the
+schoolgirls and schoolboys and many other people of the poorer class
+used to drop in for penn'orths and ha'p'orths of stationery, for pens,
+for ink, for sealing-wax, &c.
+
+"Mother must be in soon. I know what I will do," said Susy. "I will open
+the door of the parlor and sit there. If any one appears I can dash out
+at once."
+
+No sooner had the thought come to her than she resolved to act on it.
+She turned on the gas in the parlor--it was already brightly lighted in
+the shop--and sat down to her work.
+
+"An hour and a quarter before the meeting of the Wild Irish Girls," she
+said to herself. "Strange, is it not, that I should call myself a Wild
+Irish Girl when I am a Cockney through and through? Well, whatever
+happens, I shall be at the meeting."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+THE WILD IRISH GIRLS' SOCIETY IS STARTED.
+
+
+While Susy sat in the parlor a tramp happened to pass the brightly
+lighted shop. He was weather-beaten and slipshod, and altogether made a
+most disreputable appearance. A hand was thrust into each of his
+pockets, and these pockets were destitute of coin. The tramp was hungry
+and penniless. The little shop with its gay light and tempting articles
+of stationery, and books and sealing-wax displayed in the window, were
+quite to the man's taste. He could not see the parlor beyond, nor the
+peep-hole where Susy was supposed to be able to watch the shop; he only
+noticed that no one was within. The tramp was in the humor to do
+something desperate; he entered the shop under the pretense of begging;
+made straight for the till, pulled it open, and took out a handful of
+money. He had no time to count his spoils, but leaving the till-drawer
+still open, he dashed out of the shop.
+
+Now it so happened that Susy, just when the tramp stole in, had gone
+upstairs to fetch a fresh exercise-book. She noticed nothing amiss on
+her return, and went tranquilly on with her work. Eight o'clock struck.
+Susy was in despair.
+
+"I can't possibly fail Kathleen," she said to herself. "She started this
+splendid idea in order to help me and give me pleasure. I must be at the
+quarry whatever happens to-night. Something very unusual is detaining
+mother. I know what I'll do: I'll shut up the shop at half-past eight,
+leave a little note for mother, and then go to the quarry as fast as I
+can. I will tell mother that I am due at an important meeting, and she
+is sure not to question me; mother is always very kind, and gives me as
+much liberty as she can."
+
+Susy made a great struggle to keep her mind centered on her books, but
+with all her efforts her thoughts would wander. They wandered to
+Kathleen and the Wild Irish Girls' Society; they wandered to her other
+schoolfellows; they wandered to the hardship of having to take care of
+the shop when she wished to be otherwise employed; and finally they
+settled themselves on Ruth Craven. She could not help wondering what
+Ruth would do--whether she would continue to be a valuable aid to the
+queen of the new society, or whether she would give them up altogether.
+
+"I'd almost like her not to stay with us," thought Susy; "for then
+perhaps Kathleen would make me her Prime Minister. I'd like that.
+Kathleen is the dearest, truest, greatest lady I ever came across. She
+doesn't think anything of birth, nor of those sort of tiresome
+distinctions; she thinks of you for what you are worth yourself. And she
+is so splendid to look at, and has such a gallant sort of way. I do
+admire her just!"
+
+The shop-bell rang. Susy was out in a moment. A woman had called for a
+penn'orth of paper and an envelope. She put down her penny on the
+counter, and Susy supplied her from a special box.
+
+"I was in such a taking," said the woman. "I just remembered at the last
+moment that all the shops were shut. I don't know what I should have
+done if I hadn't recalled that Mrs. Hopkins kept hers open until nine
+o'clock. I am obliged to you, little girl. I have to send this letter to
+my son in India, and I'd miss the mail if it wasn't posted to-night. You
+couldn't now, I suppose, oblige me with a stamp."
+
+"Of course I can," said Susy, cheerfully. "Mother always keeps a supply
+of stamps in the till."
+
+She turned to the till as she spoke, and for the first time noticed that
+the drawer was open.
+
+"How careless of me not to have shut it!" she thought.
+
+It did not occur to her to examine its contents, or to suppose for a
+single moment that any one had taken money out of it. She provided the
+woman with a stamp, and then, shut the drawer of the till. It was now
+half-past eight, and Susy determined to take the bull by the horns and
+to close the shop without further ado. She sent for the little maid in
+the kitchen to put up the shutters, and in a minute or two the shop was
+in darkness and Susy was racing through the remainder of her lessons. It
+would take her a quarter of an hour, running most of the way, to reach
+the old quarry, and she must have three or four minutes to dress. She
+stood up, therefore, at her work, in order, as she expressed it, to save
+time. She was so occupied when her mother came in.
+
+"Why have you shut the shop?" said Mrs. Hopkins in an annoyed voice. "It
+is only a very little past half-past eight, and I saw two poor women
+outside. They wanted a penn'orth of paper each. They said, 'We thought
+you always kept open until nine o'clock,' Now it will spread all over
+the place that I shut at half-past eight. Why did you do it, Susy? It's
+hard enough to make ends meet without adding any more difficulties."
+
+Mrs. Hopkins stood, looking very pale and perplexed, in the parlor. Susy
+glanced at her mother, and could not help reflecting that the poor woman
+was fit to drop.
+
+"Do sit down, mother," she said. "I was so distracted; I have to be a
+good way from here at nine o'clock, I couldn't think whatever kept you.
+I was obliged to shut the shop. I am sorry."
+
+"Well, never mind. You didn't tell me that you were going out. I wish
+you wouldn't go out so much in the evening, Susy; it does make it so
+hard for me. There's no one now to help me with a bit of mending, and
+all your things are getting so racketed through."
+
+"What kept you, mother?" said Susy, ignoring her mother's speech.
+
+"Oh, it was your aunt. She's in such a taking about little Peter; she's
+quite certain he's in for measles or something worse. I'm persuaded that
+it's nothing but a cold. I never saw such a muddle-headed woman as your
+aunt Bessie. She hadn't a thing handy in the place. I had to stay and
+see the doctor, and then to fetch the medicine myself, and then put the
+child to bed. I assure you I haven't sat down since I left."
+
+"And I suppose she never thought of giving you as much as a cup of tea?"
+said Susy.
+
+"No," answered her mother; then catching sight of the teapot, she added,
+"You might have had the tea-things removed, Susy. I will make myself a
+fresh cup."
+
+Susy stood still for a moment. Temptation tugged at her heart. Her
+mother certainly required if ever a mother did require a daughter. But
+the Wild Irish Girls--surely they were pining for her in the distance!
+
+"I wish I could help you, mother. I would if I hadn't promised to go
+out. If you will give me the latchkey I can let myself in. You needn't
+wait up; I promise to lock up carefully."
+
+"Very well, dear," said Mrs. Hopkins.
+
+She did not reproach Susy; that was not her way. She put a little kettle
+on the gas-stove, fetched a clean cup and saucer, and presently sat down
+to her belated meal.
+
+Susy dashed upstairs. She put on her hat and jacket, snatched up a pair
+of gloves, and the next moment was out of the house.
+
+"Free at last," she thought. "But, oh, what an evening I have had! I
+must say it is horrid to be poor. Now, if I was rich like Kathleen,
+wouldn't I have a gay time of it? Poor dear mother should drive in a
+carriage, and I'd ride on my pony by her side; and Tom should be a
+public school boy. There'd be no horrid shop then, and no horrid women
+coming in for ha'p'orths and penn'orths of paper."
+
+But as she ran through the autumn night-air she felt that, after all,
+there was something good in life. Her pulses, which had been languid
+enough in the stuffy little parlor at the back of the shop, now galloped
+fiercely. She arrived two or three minutes after nine, but still in
+fairly good time to see a number of dark heads surrounding a bright
+light. This light was caused by two lamps which had been placed on the
+ground in the old quarry; Kathleen had brought them herself in a hamper.
+She had managed to buy them that day, and had smuggled them off without
+any one being the wiser. A large bottle of crystalline oil accompanied
+the lamps. Kathleen, who had dressed lamps for pleasure at home, knew
+quite well how to manage them, and when Susy appeared they stood at each
+end of a wide patch of light. Kathleen herself was in the midst of the
+light, and the other girls clustered round the edge.
+
+"Isn't it scrumptious?" said Kate Rourke.--"Oh, is that you, Susy
+Hopkins? You are late."
+
+"Yes, I know I am. It's a wonder I could come at all," said Susy.
+
+"Ruth Craven hasn't come yet," said another voice.
+
+"Yes, here she is," cried a third, and Ruth came and stood at the edge
+of the patch of light.
+
+Kathleen flung off her hat, and the light from the lamps lit up her
+brilliant hair. Her cheeks were flaming with color, and her very
+dark-blue eyes looked as black as night. She faced her companions.
+
+"Well," she said, "here we are, and we call ourselves the Wild Irish
+Girls. I really wonder if you English girls who are assembled here in
+the old quarry to-night have the least idea what it means to be a wild
+Irish girl. If you don't know, I'd like to tell you."
+
+"Yes, do tell us," cried several.
+
+"The principal thing that it means," continued Kathleen, raising her
+voice to a slightly theatrical pitch, and extending her arm so that the
+lamplight fell all over it--"the chief thing that it means is to be
+free--yes, free as the air, free as the mountain streams, free as the
+dear, darling, glorious, everlasting mountains themselves. Oh, to know
+freedom and then to be torn away from it! Girls, I will tell you the
+truth. I feel in your dull old England as though I were in prison. Yes,
+that's about it. I don't like England. I want you girls to join me in
+loving Ireland."
+
+"But we can't hate England," said Kate Rourke; "that is quite
+impossible. If Ireland is your native land, England is ours, and we
+cannot help loving her very, very much."
+
+"You have never known Ireland," continued Kathleen. "You are not cramped
+up in that favored spot; you are allowed to get up when you like and to
+go to bed when you like, to eat what you like, to read what books you
+like, to row on the lake, to shoot in the bogs, to gallop on your pony
+over the moors, and--and--oh, to live the life of the _free_."
+
+It was Ruth Craven who now interrupted the eager words of the queen of
+the new society.
+
+"Can't you tell us, Kathleen," she said, "how to get Ireland into
+England--how to introduce what is good of Ireland into England? That is
+the use of the society as far as I am concerned. With the exception of
+yourself we are all English girls."
+
+"Yes," said Susy suddenly; "and we have very bad times most of us. I
+wish you knew what a dull evening I have just been living
+through--taking care of a tiny, very dull little shop. Mother was out
+looking after a sick child, and I had to mind the shop. Poor women came
+in for penn'orths of paper. I can tell you there wasn't much freedom
+about that; it was all horrid."
+
+"Well, we have shops in Ireland too," continued Kathleen, "and I
+suppose people have to mind them. But what I want to say now is this. I
+have been sent over to this country to learn. My aunt Katie
+O'Flynn--she's the finest figure of a woman you ever laid eyes
+on--thought that I ought to have learning; mother thought so too, but
+the dad didn't much care. However, I needn't worry you about that. I
+have been sent here, and here I am. When I came to your wonderful school
+and looked all around me, I said to myself, 'If I'm not to have
+companions, why, I'll die; the heart of Kathleen O'Hara will be broken.
+Now, who amongst the schoolgirls will suit me? I saw that very dull
+Cassandra Weldon, and I noticed a few companions of hers who were much
+the same sort. Then I observed dear, pretty little Ruth Craven, and some
+one said to me, 'You won't take much notice of Ruth, for she's only a
+foundation girl.' That made me mad. Oh yes, it did--Give me your hand,
+Ruth.--That made my whole heart go out to Ruth. Then I was told that a
+lot of the girls were foundation girls, and they weren't as rich as the
+others, and they were somewhat snubbed. So I thought, 'My time has come.
+I am an Irish girl, and the heritage of every Irish girl, handed down to
+her from a long line of ancestors, is to help the oppressed,' So now I
+am going to help all of you, and we are going to found this society, and
+we are going to have a good time."
+
+Kathleen's somewhat incoherent speech was received with shouts of
+applause.
+
+"We must make a few rules," she continued when her young companions had
+ceased to shout--"just a few big rules which will be quite easy for all
+of us to obey."
+
+"Certainly," said Kate. "And I have brought a note-book with me, and if
+you will dictate them, Kathleen, I will jot them down."
+
+"That is easy enough," said Kathleen. "Well, I am queen."
+
+"Certainly you are!" "Who else could be?" "Of course you are queen!"
+"Darling!" "Dear!" "Sweet!" "Duck!" fell from various pairs of lips.
+
+"Thank you," said Kathleen, looking round at them, her dark-blue eyes
+becoming dewy with a sudden emotion. "I think," she added, "I love you
+all already, and there is nothing on earth I wouldn't do for you."
+
+"Hear her, the dear! She is bringing a fine change into our lives, cried
+a mass of girls who stood a little out of the line of light.
+
+"Well," said Kathleen, "I am queen, and I have my Cabinet. Now the girls
+of my Cabinet are the following: Ruth Craven is my Prime Minister; Kate
+Rourke comes next in importance; then follow Susy Hopkins, Clara Sawyer,
+Hannah Johnson, Rosy Myers, and Mary Rand. Now all of you girls whom I
+have named are expected to uphold order--such order as is alone
+necessary for the Wild Irish Girls. You are expected on all occasions to
+uphold the authority of me, your queen. You are never under any
+circumstances to breathe a word against dear old Ireland. The other
+girls who join the society will be looked after by you; you will
+instruct them in our rules, and you will help them to be good members of
+a most important society. I believe there are a great many girls willing
+to join. If so, will they hold up their hands?"
+
+Immediately a great show of hands was visible.
+
+"Now, Kate Rourke," cried Kathleen, "please take down the names of the
+girls who intend to become members of the Wild Irish Girls."
+
+The girls came forward one by one, and Kate took down their names; and
+it was quickly discovered that, out of the hundred foundationers who
+belonged to the Great Shirley School, sixty had joined Kathleen's
+society.
+
+"We shall soon get the remaining forty," said Mary Rand. "They will be
+all agog to come on. Their positions are not so very pleasant as it is,
+poor things!"
+
+"Perhaps sixty are about as many as we can manage for the present," said
+Kathleen. "Now, girls, I intend to present you each with a tiny badge. I
+have a bag full of them here. Will you each come forward and accept the
+badge of membership?"
+
+Kathleen's badges were very much admired, the eager girls bending down
+towards the light of the lamps in order to examine them more thoroughly.
+She had strung narrow green ribbon through each of the little silver
+hearts, and the girls could therefore slip them over their heads at
+once.
+
+"You must hide them," said Kathleen. "The thing about these badges is
+that you will always feel them pressing against your hearts, and nobody
+else will know anything about them. They belong to Ireland and to me--to
+the home of the free and to Kathleen O'Hara. They seal you as my loving
+friends and followers for ever and ever."
+
+Girls are easily impressed, and Kathleen's words were so fervent that
+some of them felt quite choky about the throat. They received their
+badges with hands that very nearly trembled. Kathleen next handed a
+slightly handsomer badge, but with exactly the same device, to the
+members of her Cabinet. Finally, she took the box of pale-blue cashmere
+blouses and opened it in the light of the lamps. The enthusiasm, which
+had been extremely keen before the appearance of the blouses, now rose
+to fever-height. Whom were these exquisite creations meant for? Kathleen
+smiled as she handed one to Mary Rand, another to Ruth Craven, another
+to Kate Rourke, and finally to each member of her Cabinet.
+
+"I wish I could give you all a blouse apiece," she said to the other
+girls of the society, "but I am afraid that is not within my means. I
+chose these sweet blouses on purpose, because I know you could wear them
+at any time, girls," she added, turning to the members of her Cabinet.
+"Outsiders won't know. They will wonder at the beauty of your dress, but
+they won't know what it means; but _we_ will know," she shouted aloud to
+her companions--"we will know that these girls belong to us and to old
+Ireland, and in particular to me, and they will be faithful to me as
+their queen."
+
+"Oh dear," said little Alice Harding, a pale-faced girl, who loved fine
+dress and never could aspire to it, "what means can I take to become a
+member of the Cabinet?"
+
+"By being a very good outside member, and trusting to your luck,"
+laughed Kathleen. "But the time is passing, and we must proceed to what
+little business is left for to-night."
+
+Each member of the Cabinet took possession of her own blouse, wrapped it
+up tenderly, and tucked it under her arm. Kathleen desired some one to
+throw the tell-tale box away, and then she collected her followers round
+her.
+
+"Now," she said, _"Rule One_. To stick through thick and thin each to
+the other."
+
+"Yes!" cried every voice.
+
+_"Rule Two._ If possible, never to quarrel each with the other."
+
+This rule also was received with acclamations.
+
+_"Rule Three._ To have a bit of fun all to ourselves at least once a
+week."
+
+This rule quite "brought down the house." They shouted so loud that if
+the spot had been less lonely some one would certainly have taken
+cognizance of their proceedings.
+
+_"Rule Four._ That as far as possible we hold ourselves aloof from the
+paying members of the Great Shirley School."
+
+This rule was not quite as enthusiastically received. The foundationers
+were not altogether without friends amongst the other girls of the
+school. Ruth Craven in particular had several.
+
+"I don't think that is a very fair rule," she said. "I am fond of Alice
+Tennant, and I am fond of Cassandra Weldon."
+
+"And I care for Lucy Sharp"; "And I am devoted to Amelia Dawson," said
+other members of the Cabinet.
+
+Nevertheless Kathleen was firm.
+
+"The rule must be held," she said. "In a society like ours there are
+always rules which are not quite agreeable to every one. My principal
+object in starting this society is to put those horrid paying girls in
+their proper places. There must not be friendship--not real friendship,
+I mean--between us and them."
+
+"You are a paying girl yourself," suddenly exclaimed Mary Rand.
+
+"I know. I wish I were not, but I can't help myself. You must allow me
+to stand alone; I am your queen."
+
+"That you are, and I love you," said Mary.
+
+"This rule must hold good," repeated Kathleen. "I must insist on my
+society adhering to it.--Ruth Craven, why are you silent?"
+
+"Because I earnestly wish I had not joined. I cannot give up Cassandra,
+nor Alice, nor--nor other girls."
+
+"Nonsense, Ruth! You dare not fail me now," said Kathleen, with
+enthusiasm. "I will make it up to you. You shall come with me to Ireland
+in the summer. You shall. Oh Ruth, don't fail me!"
+
+"I won't; but I hate that rule."
+
+"And, girls, I think we must part now," said Kate Rourke. "It is getting
+late, and it would never do for our secret meetings to be discovered."
+
+"Whatever happens, we must stick together," said Kathleen. "Well,
+good-night; we meet again this day week."
+
+There was quite a flutter of excitement along that lonely road as the
+Wild Irish Girls returned to their different homes. Susy Hopkins felt
+quite the happiest and most light-hearted of any. By-and-by she and Ruth
+Craven found themselves the only girls who were walking down the road
+called Southwood Lane. This road led right into the centre of the shops
+where Susy's mother lived.
+
+"What a good thing," said Susy, "that I took the latchkey with me! It is
+past ten o'clock. Mother would be wild if she had to sit up so late."
+
+Ruth was silent.
+
+"Aren't you happy, Ruthie? Don't you think it is all splendid?" cried
+Susy.
+
+"Yes and no," said Ruth. "You see, I am a foundationer, and when she
+pressed me to join I hated not to; but now I am sorry that I have
+joined. What am I to do about Cassandra and about Alice?"
+
+"You think a great deal about Cassandra, don't you?"
+
+"Oh, yes; she is quite a splendid girl, and she has been so very good to
+me."
+
+"I suppose you are quite in love with her?"
+
+"No, I don't think I am. It isn't my way to fall violently in love with
+girls, like some of the rest of you. But I like her; and I like Alice
+Tennant."
+
+"All the same," said Susy, "it is worth sacrificing a little thing to
+belong to the Wild Irish Girls. Did you ever in all your life see any
+one look more splendid than Kathleen as she stood with the light of
+those big lamps upon her? She is a wonderful girl--so graceful, and with
+such a power of eloquence. And she has such a way of just taking you by
+storm; and her language is so poetic. Oh, I adore her! She is the sort
+of girl that I could die for. If all Irish girls are like her, Ireland
+must be a wonderful country to live in."
+
+"But they are not," said Ruth. "Half of them are quite commonplace. She
+happens to be rich and beautiful, and to have a taking way; but all the
+others are not like her, I am certain of it."
+
+"Anyhow, whether they are or not, I am glad to belong to the society,"
+said Susy. "It will give us great fun, and we need not mind now whether
+the paying girls are disagreeable to us or not. Then, too, think of the
+blouses we have got. Oh dear! oh dear! when I put mine on on Sunday
+mother will gape. I shall feel proud of myself in it. It was just sweet
+of her to get things like this to give us. And she knew we weren't well
+off. Oh, I do think she's one in a thousand! She must have thought of
+you, Ruth, when she ordered these sweet pale-blue colors, for that color
+is yours, isn't it?"
+
+"I suppose so," said Ruth. "Well, all the same, I feel rather anxious. I
+like her, of course, but I think she is mistaken. I must go on now, but
+I feel somehow----"
+
+"What?" said Susy, with some impatience.
+
+"As though I had not done right--as though I had something to conceal.
+Well, I can't help myself, only I won't hate the girls who are good to
+me. Good-night, Susy. We won't be in time for school in the morning if
+we stay talking any longer."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+THE BLOUSE AND THE ROBBERY.
+
+
+Susy Hopkins shared none of Ruth Craven's scruples. To her the Wild Irish
+Girls' Society was all that was lovely. She trod on air as she went down
+the street, and when she finally let herself into her mother's little
+shop, locked the door after her, and went softly upstairs, her heart was
+beating so loud that she hardly knew herself. She slept in a tiny room
+just at the back of her mother's; it was sparsely furnished, and had a
+sloping roof at one side. The chest of drawers also did duty as a
+dressing-table, and there was a small square of looking-glass placed on
+the top. Susy had secured a candle in a tin candlestick, with which she
+had lighted herself to her bedroom, but when she got there she had no
+intention of putting up with such feeble illumination. She first of all
+drew the bolt to secure herself against intrusion, and then stepping on
+tiptoe, she unlocked a drawer and took from it several ends of candle
+which she had collected from time to time. These she stuck on the
+dressing-table, and when she had made her little garret almost as bright
+as day she unfolded her pale-blue blouse. She bent low over her
+treasure, examining the blue embroidery, which was rendered still more
+fascinating with small stitches of pink silk, looking with ecstacy at
+the real lace round the neck and cuffs and finally pressing the delicate
+color against her blooming cheek.
+
+Susy Hopkins was quite an ordinary-looking little girl. Her nose was
+decidedly snub, her mouth wide; but her eyes were dark and bright, and
+she had fairly good eyebrows. She had a low forehead, rather nice curly
+hair, and a high color in her cheeks.
+
+"In this blouse I shall look a positive beauty," she thought. "Won't Tom
+respect me when he sees me in it on Sunday? I must try it on now; I
+really must."
+
+Accordingly she slipped off her bodice, and substituted the pale-blue
+cashmere blouse for the ugly and threadbare garment she had removed.
+Whether the blouse was becoming to Susy Hopkins or not remains to be
+proved, but it certainly delighted its wearer, causing her eyes to
+sparkle and the color in her cheeks to grow brighter.
+
+"It is the most beautiful thing I ever saw in my life," she thought.
+"Why, Kathleen is like a fairy godmother. And how well it fits! And what
+a perfect cut about the neck! And, oh! these darling little cuffs at the
+end of the sleeves, and this sweet pink embroidery and this little
+ruffle of lace round the neck. Oh! there never, never was anything made
+so beautifully before. I am in luck; I am--I am."
+
+Her mother's hand knocking on the wall brought her down from the clouds.
+
+"Go to bed, dear," called out her parent. "It is very late, and you are
+disturbing me."
+
+"Yes, mother," called back Susy.
+
+She removed the blouse, folded it in tissue-paper, put it into her
+drawer, blew out the candles, and got into bed. But all through the
+remainder of the night Susy dreamt of her blouse. The blouse filled her
+thoughts, otherwise she might have been in raptures over her pretty
+silver locket and its green ribbon. But as this was for private wear,
+and must on no account be shown to any one who was not a member of the
+society, it did not give her the amount of rapture it would otherwise
+have done.
+
+"It is lovely too. It is a badge, and means a great deal," she said to
+herself, and she closed her hand over it as she lay in bed. "It is
+tiresome that I cannot show it. It is a sweet little locket, and I might
+save up money enough to have it gilded over. People would think I had a
+gold locket. I have always nearly died to have one; but of course I
+couldn't do that, for it would displease our queen, the darling, and I
+wouldn't for all I am worth do anything to annoy her. Oh dear, things
+are turning out lovely! I am twice as happy a girl as I was before
+Kathleen O'Hara came to the school."
+
+At school next day the members of the new society looked a little
+conscious. Their eyes often met, and those eyes spoke volumes. Sometimes
+a girl would put her hand up to her neck in a somewhat significant way,
+and another girl would respond with a similar signal. There was a sort
+of suppressed excitement in the school; but the teachers remarked
+nothing. On the contrary, they were pleased with the way lessons were
+done, exercises gone through, and work accomplished. The girls were so
+completely in league with each other, so full of delight over the new
+amusement which Kathleen had started in their midst, that they had no
+time to be supercilious or disagreeable to the paying girls, who were
+left in peace. They were usually a good deal tormented by the
+foundationers, who took their revenge by small spiteful ways--by taking
+the ink when they did not want it, by removing good pens and putting bad
+ones in their places, by spilling ink on the blotting paper. In short,
+they had many ways of rendering the life of a paying girl anything but
+happy. To-day, however, all was peace and quiet. Kathleen walked in her
+radiant fashion through her lessons; her beautiful face could not but be
+an attraction. She was very bright and very smart, and even Alice gave
+her an approving glance.
+
+"Mother is right," she thought. "She is a little better than she was.
+If only she would take a real interest in her work I should have hopes
+of her."
+
+Now Cassandra Weldon had come to the school that day with the intention
+of asking Ruth Craven to come home with her. She had a suggestion to
+make to Ruth. She knew that the little girl was very poor and very
+clever. Cassandra was working very hard for one of the big scholarships,
+and her mother had gone to the expense of getting a special coach to
+help her at home. Cassandra had spoken to her mother, and her mother had
+agreed that Ruth might come back with her each evening and also take
+advantage of the services of Miss Renshaw. If Ruth got a scholarship she
+would indeed be a happy girl, and it was Cassandra's, opinion that,
+although she had been such a short time in the school, she would have a
+very good chance if she got a little outside help.
+
+Accordingly Cassandra waited for Ruth outside the school when lessons
+were over. During the morning her eyes had travelled in Ruth's direction
+pretty often, and her eyes had conveyed to the little girl all sorts of
+kind and friendly messages. But Ruth had avoided Cassandra's eyes. She
+had made up her mind.
+
+"I can't be two things," she said to herself. "I have elected to go with
+the foundationers and with Kathleen O'Hara, although I don't care for
+the society, and I don't want to belong to the girls who band themselves
+together against the paying girls. But if I do this I certainly can't
+take advantage of Cassandra's kindness. I do love her--I am sure I
+should love her dearly--but I can't have much to say to her now."
+
+Accordingly, while Cassandra waited for Ruth, hoping that she would
+appear at any moment, and that she could tell her what a good thing she
+had arranged on her behalf, Ruth avoided Cassandra. Presently Kathleen
+O'Hara, dressed somewhat extravagantly, and with her blue velvet cap
+perched upon the back of her golden hair, strolled out of school. She
+had a crimson sash round her black velvet dress, and a wide lace collar
+encircled her neck. She was fastening a heavily embroidered coat of blue
+cashmere when Cassandra accosted her.
+
+"How do you do, Miss O'Hara?" she said.
+
+"How are you?" replied Kathleen, just raising her brows, and then
+turning to say something to Susy Hopkins.
+
+Cassandra frowned.
+
+"How can Kathleen, who with all her eccentricities is a lady, waste her
+time talking to an insignificant little girl like Susy?" thought
+Cassandra.
+
+Kathleen seemed to read her neighbor's thoughts, for she slipped her
+hand inside Susy's arm.
+
+"I will walk with you a little way," she said; "I have something I want
+to say."
+
+"One moment first," said Cassandra. "Have you seen Ruth Craven
+anywhere?"
+
+"Oh yes; Ruth has left the school. Didn't you see her go? There she is,
+crossing the field. I suppose she is in a hurry to get home."
+
+"Thank you," said Cassandra.
+
+She caught up her books and started running in the direction of Ruth
+Craven.
+
+"How tiresome of her to have gone so fast!" she said to herself?
+
+Presently she shouted Ruth's name, and Ruth was obliged to stop.
+
+"Why, Ruth," said Cassandra, "what is the matter with you? You
+generally wait to talk to me after school is over. Why are you in such a
+hurry?"
+
+"I am not," said Ruth, who was not going to get out of her difficulty by
+telling an untruth.
+
+"Well, if you are not in a hurry, why are you running across this field
+at the rate of a hunt? It looks as if you were--" Cassandra paused, and
+the color came into her cheeks--"as if you were running away from me."
+
+Ruth was silent. Cassandra came close to her and looked into her face.
+
+"What is the matter, Ruth?" she repeated.
+
+"I have promised granny that I would help her with some darning this
+afternoon."
+
+"Your granny must do without you, for you have got to come back with
+me."
+
+"Oh, indeed, I can't!"
+
+"But you must, my little girl. I have got the most heavenly plan to
+suggest to you."
+
+Cassandra laid her hand on Ruth's shoulder. Ruth started away.
+
+"What is it, Ruth? How queer you look! What is the matter?"
+
+"I must get home. I promised granny."
+
+"But listen before you decide. You know Miss Renshaw, don't you?"
+
+"Miss Maria Renshaw, the coach. Yes, I do."
+
+"Don't you remember my pointing her out to you?"
+
+"Of course I remember it, Cassandra; and she looked--oh, lovely!"
+
+"She is far more lovely than she looks--that is, if you mean she is
+clever and taking and all the rest. She is just perfectly splendid. She
+makes you see a thing at the first glance. She has a way of putting
+information into you so that you cannot help knowing. Oh, she is
+delightful! And mother says that I may have her to coach me for the big
+scholarship--the sixty-pounds-a-year scholarship. You know there are two
+of them. There is one quite in your line, and there is one in mine; and
+there is no earthly reason why you should not get one and I the other."
+
+"Well?" said Ruth.
+
+Her beautiful, fair, delicately chiselled face had turned pale. She
+stood very upright, and looked full at Cassandra.
+
+"It could be easily done, dear little Ruth. Miss Renshaw would just as
+soon coach two girls as one, and mother has arranged it. Yes, she has
+arranged it absolutely. Miss Renshaw will coach you and me together. You
+are to come home with me every evening. She will give us both an hour.
+Isn't it too splendid?"
+
+Ruth did not speak.
+
+"Aren't you pleased, Ruth? Don't you think it is very nice of me to
+think of my friends? You are my friend, you know."
+
+"Oh no," said Ruth.
+
+"But what is it? What is the matter?"
+
+"I--I can't."
+
+"You can. It will be madness to refuse. Think what a chance is offered
+you. If you get Miss Renshaw's instruction you are safe to get that
+scholarship; and it is for three years, Ruth. It would send you, with a
+little help from your grandfather, perhaps to Holloway College, perhaps
+to Somerville or Newnham, or even Girton. Perhaps you could try for a
+scholarship in one of these great colleges afterwards. You daren't
+refuse it. It means--oh, it means all the difference in your whole
+life."
+
+"I know," said Ruth. "Cassandra, I will write to you. I can't decide
+just now. I am awfully obliged to you; I can't express what I feel. You
+are good; you are very, very good."
+
+Ruth caught one of Cassandra's hands and raised it to her lips.
+
+"You are very good," she said again.
+
+Meanwhile Kathleen O'Hara, after walking a very short way with Susy
+Hopkins, gave her an abrupt good-bye and started running in the
+direction of the Tennants' house. She did not care a bit for Susy; but
+being a member of the Wild Irish Girls, and not only a member, but one
+of the Cabinet, she must on all occasions be kind to her. Nevertheless a
+commonplace little girl like Susy Hopkins had not one thing in common
+with Kathleen.
+
+"Everything is going splendidly," she said to herself. "No fear now that
+I shall not have plenty of excitement in the coming by-and-by. I mean to
+write to father and ask him whether I may not invite some of the members
+of the Cabinet to Carrigrohane. Wouldn't they enjoy it? Kate Rourke, of
+course, must come; and dear little Ruth Craven. How pale and sweet Ruth
+looked to-day! She is far and away the nicest girl in the school. I am
+so glad I have taken steps to prevent that horrid friendship with
+Cassandra coming to anything! Ruth mustn't love anybody in the school
+very, _very_ much except me. Oh, things are going well, and Alice little
+guesses what she is driving me to by her extraordinary behavior."
+
+Kathleen entered the house, banging the door loudly after her, as was
+her fashion.
+
+Another little girl had also reached home, but she did not bang the
+door. She entered her mother's shop to encounter the flushed and
+much-perturbed face of her parent.
+
+"Well, Susy," said Mrs. Hopkins, "I wouldn't have thought it of you."
+
+"Why, what is it, mother?"
+
+"There's nineteen-and-sixpence taken out of the till," said Mrs.
+Hopkins. "Some one must have come into the shop, for the accounts are
+nineteen-and-sixpence short. When I left the house yesterday there were
+three pounds in the till--three pounds and fivepence-halfpenny. You
+sold, according to your own showing, a penn'orth of paper, which makes
+an extra penny; but when I went into the accounts this morning I found
+that the whole amount was only two pounds one shilling and a halfpenny.
+Nineteen-and-sixpence is missing. Susy, what does this mean?"
+
+"I am sure, mother, I can't tell you. No one came into the shop;
+certainly no one stole the money."
+
+"My dear child, seeing is believing. I assure you there are only two
+pounds one shilling and a halfpenny in the till. I scarcely took a penny
+this morning, and that nineteen-and-sixpence makes it impossible for me
+to pay my rent, as I meant to do, to-day. Who can have come in and
+stolen very nearly a pound's worth of my hard-earned money?"
+
+"Nobody, mother dear. Do let me examine the till."
+
+"Are you quite positive that no one came into the shop?"
+
+"Nobody, mother."
+
+"You did not leave the shop even for a moment?"
+
+"Yes; I went to sit in the parlor."
+
+"Oh, Susy? there you are! I trust you with my house and property, and
+you leave the shop without any one in it Did you lock the till?"
+
+Susy had an unpleasant memory of having found the till open when she
+returned to attend to a customer.
+
+"No" she said, hanging her head.
+
+Mrs. Hopkins uttered a heavy sigh.
+
+"Oh, dear!" she said. "And as you sat in the parlor you could see the
+shop. You did not leave the parlor, did you?"
+
+For one minute Susy remembered that she had gone upstairs for an
+exercise-book, but she determined not to tell her mother of this further
+enormity.
+
+"I was either in the shop or in the parlor all the time. I only went
+into the parlor because I could not do my exercises in the shop. But I
+sat where I could see everything."
+
+"You couldn't have done so. This money would not have gone without
+hands. How am I to manage I don't know. I have lost a large sum for such
+a poor woman."
+
+Susy pitied her mother, tried to assure her that the fault was not hers,
+was convinced that the money would be found, and went on talking a lot
+of nonsense until Mrs. Hopkins fairly lost her temper.
+
+"Examine the drawer for yourself" she said. "I tell, you what it is,
+Susy, I won't be able to buy you a new winter frock at all this year;
+and you will have to have your boots patched, for I can't afford a new
+pair. I was trying to collect a pound towards your winter things, but
+this puts a stop to everything."
+
+"Mother doesn't know what a lovely blouse I've got," thought Susy. "When
+she sees me in that she'll be quite cheered up."
+
+The moment she thought of the blouse the little girl felt a frantic
+desire to run upstairs to look at it.
+
+"Mother," she said, "I don't mind a bit about the winter dress; and if
+my boots are neatly patched and well blacked every day, I dare say I can
+do with them a little longer. And I will sit with you this afternoon,
+mother, and help you to sew. I can't understand who could have stolen
+the money. Perhaps it is a practical joke of Tom's; you know he is fond
+of doing things of that sort now and then."
+
+"No, it isn't, for I asked him. Who can have come into the shop? Do you
+think you fell asleep over your work?"
+
+"Oh, no."
+
+"Then it is a mystery past bearing. If nobody came in, and you never
+left either the shop or the parlor, that money was taken out of the till
+as though by magic."
+
+"We will find it, mother; we are sure to find it," said Susy; and the
+way she said these words aggravated poor Mrs. Hopkins, as she said
+afterwards, more than a little.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+TOM HOPKINS AND HIS WAY WITH AUNT CHURCH.
+
+
+It was quite true that Mrs. Hopkins could ill afford to lose so large a
+sum as nineteen-and-sixpence out of her small earnings. During her
+husband's lifetime the stationer's shop had gone well and provided a
+comfortable living for his wife, son, and daughter. But unfortunately,
+in an evil moment he had been induced to put his hand to a bill for a
+friend. The friend had, as usually is the case, become bankrupt. Poor
+Hopkins had to pay the money, and from that moment the affairs in the
+stationer's shop were the reverse of flourishing. In fact, the blow
+killed the poor man. He lingered for a time, broken-hearted and unable
+to rouse himself, and finally died about three years before the
+date of this story. For a time Mrs. Hopkins was quite prostrate, but
+being a woman with a good deal of vigor and determination, she induced
+one of her relatives to lend her one hundred pounds, and determined to
+keep on with the shop. She could not, of course, stock it as fully as
+she would have liked; she could never extend her connection beyond mere
+stationery, sealing-wax, pens, and a very few books, and Christmas cards
+in the winter. Still, she managed to support herself and Tom and Susy;
+but it was a scraping along all the time. She had to count every penny,
+and, above all things, to avoid going in debt. She was only in debt for
+the one hundred pounds, which had been lent to her by an aunt of her
+husband's, an old woman of the name of Church, who lived in a
+neighboring village about four miles away.
+
+Mrs. Church was quite rich, according to the Hopkinses' ideas of wealth.
+She lived alone and hoarded her money. She had not been at all willing
+to lend Mrs. Hopkins the hundred pounds; but as she had really been fond
+of Mr. Hopkins, and had at one time meant to make him her heir, she had
+listened to Mrs. Hopkins's lamentations, and desired her to send Tom to
+her to inspect him, and had finally handed over the money, which was to
+be paid back by monthly installments within the space of three years.
+
+Mrs. Hopkins was so relieved to get the money that she never thought at
+all of the terrible tax it would be to return it. Still, by working hard
+morning, noon, and night--she added to her gains by doing fine
+needlework for several ladies, who said that no one could embroider like
+Mrs. Hopkins--she managed to make two ends just meet together, and she
+always continued to send Mrs. Church her two pounds fifteen shillings
+and sevenpence on the first of every month. Tom was the one who
+generally ran across to the old lady's with the money; and so fond was
+she of him that she often gave him a piece of cake, and even on one or
+two rare occasions kept him to dinner. Tom enjoyed his visits to Mrs.
+Church, and Mrs. Hopkins was sure to encourage him to go to her, as she
+hoped against hope that when the old lady died Tom would be left some of
+her money.
+
+It was on a Wednesday that Susy sat in the parlor and forgot all about
+the interests of the shop; it was on that very night that the tramp had
+come in and helped himself to a ten-shilling-piece and some silver out
+of the till; and it was on the following Saturday that Mrs. Hopkins, for
+the first time since she had borrowed the hundred pounds from Aunt
+Church, as she called the old lady, found that she could not return even
+a portion of what had just fallen due. She called Tom to her side.
+
+"Tom," she said, "you must go and see Aunt Church this afternoon as soon
+as ever you come in. You must go, and you must tell her."
+
+"Of course I'll go, mother," answered the boy. "I always like going to
+Aunt Church's; she is very kind to me. She said next time I came along
+she'd show me things in her microscope. She has got a beetle's wing,
+mother, mounted on glass, and when you gaze down at it it seems to be
+covered with beautiful feathers, as long as though they were on a big
+bird. And she has got a drop of water full of wriggly things all alive;
+and she says we drink it by the gallon, and it is no wonder we feel bad
+in our insides. I'll go, right enough. I suppose you have the money
+ready?"
+
+"No, Tom, that's just what I have not got. I told you how that night
+when I had the misfortune to go and see your aunt and look after her
+sick child, some one came into the shop and stole nineteen-and-sixpence
+out of the till. I am so short from the loss of that money that I can't
+pay Aunt Church for at least another week. Ask her if she'll be kind
+enough to give me a week's grace, Tom; that's a good boy. I can't think
+how the money was stolen."
+
+"Why don't you put it into the hands of the police?" said Tom.
+
+"Why, Tom," said his mother, looking at him with admiration, "you are a
+smart boy. Do you know, I never thought of that. I will go round to the
+police-station this very afternoon and get Police-Constable Macartney to
+take it up."
+
+"But, mother, the thief, whoever he is, has left the place long before
+now. The money was stolen on Wednesday, and this is Saturday morning."
+
+"Well, Tom, there's no saying. Anyhow, I will go round to the
+police-station and lodge the information."
+
+Accordingly, while Susy was again trying on her lovely pale-blue
+cashmere blouse behind locked doors upstairs, Tom and his mother were
+plotting how best to cover the loss of the nineteen-and-sixpence.
+Naughty Susy, having made up her mind to deny herself a new frock and
+new boots, had given the matter no further consideration. She was
+accustomed to the fact that her mother was always in money difficulties.
+As long as she could remember, this was the state of things at home. She
+had come to the conclusion that grown-up persons were always in a
+frantic state about money, and she had no desire to join these anxious
+ones herself. As she could not mend matters, she did not see why she
+should worry about them.
+
+Tom had a scrap of dinner and then ran off to see Aunt Church. He found
+the old lady sitting at her parlor window looking out as usual for him.
+She was dressed in rusty black; she had a front of stiff curls on her
+forehead, a white widow's-cap over it, and a small black crape
+handkerchief crossed on her breast. Mrs. Church was a little woman; she
+had very tiny feet and hands, and was very proud of them. She never
+thought of buying any new clothes, and her black bombazine dress was
+more brown than black now; so was her shawl, and so was the handkerchief
+which she wore round her neck. Her cap was tied with ribbons which had
+been washed so often that they were no longer white, but yellow.
+
+She came to the door to greet Tom when he arrived, and called him in.
+
+"Ah, Tom!" she said, "I have got a piece of plumcake waiting for you;
+and if you are a really good boy, and will shoo the fowls into my
+backyard and shut the gate on them, you may look into my microscope."
+
+"Thank you, Aunt Church," said Tom. "Shall I go at once and shoo the
+fowls?"
+
+"You had best give me my money first. Here is the box; you drop it in:
+two pounds in gold--I hope to goodness your mother has sent the money in
+gold--two pounds in gold and the rest in silver. Now then, here is the
+box. Drop it in like a good child, and then you shall shoo the fowls,
+and have your plumcake, and look in the microscope."
+
+"But, Aunt Church--" said Tom. He planted himself right in front of the
+old lady. He was a tall boy, well set up, with a sandy head, and a face
+covered with freckles. He had rather shallow blue eyes and a wide mouth,
+but his whole expression was honest and full of fun. "I am desperately
+sorry, and so is mother."
+
+"Eh! What?" said the old lady. She put her hand to her ear. "I am a bit
+hard of hearing, my dear; come close to me."
+
+"Mother's awfully sorry, but she can't pay you to-day."
+
+"Oh!" said Mrs. Church; "can't pay me to-day! But it's the first of the
+month, and she was never behindhand--I will say that--in her payments
+before."
+
+"She's fretting past bearing," said Tom. "She'd give all the world to be
+able to pay you up, but she ain't got the money, and that's a fact. We
+have had a robbery in the shop, Aunt Church, and mother has took on
+dreadful."
+
+"A burglary?" said Mrs. Church. "Now tell me all about it. Stand here
+and pour your words into my ear. I am very much interested about
+burglaries. Was there attempted murder? Speak up, boy--speak up."
+
+Tom quite longed to say that there was. Had he been able to assure Mrs.
+Church that burglars with masks on their faces had burst into the shop
+at dead of night and penetrated to his mother's bedroom, and had held
+pistols to her throat and Susy's throat, and a great bare, glittering
+knife to his; and had he been further able to tell her that he himself,
+unaided, had grappled with the enemy, had wrested the knife from the
+hand of one, and knocked the loaded pistols from the hands of the
+others--then, indeed, he would have felt himself a hero, and the mere
+fact of not being able to return the money on the appointed day would
+not have signified.
+
+But Tom was truthful, and he had but a lame story to tell.
+Nineteen-and-sixpence had been abstracted from the till. Nobody knew how
+it had been done, and nobody had the least idea who was the thief. Mrs.
+Church, who would have given her niece unlimited time to return the
+money had there been a real, proper, bloodthirsty burglary, was not at
+all inclined to show mercy when the affair dwindled down into an unknown
+thief taking a small sum of money out of the till.
+
+"Why didn't you get it back?" she said. "Why didn't you send for the
+police? My word, this is a nice state of things! And me to be out of my
+money that I counted upon. Why, Tom, boy, I spend that money on my food,
+rent, and the little expenses I have to go to. I made up my mind when I
+drew that hundred pounds from my dear husband's hard-earned savings
+that, whatever happened, I'd make that sum last me for all expenses for
+three years. And I have done it, Tom--I have done it. I am in low water,
+Tom. I want the money; I want it just as much as your poor mother does."
+
+"But you have money in the bank, haven't you?"
+
+"That is no affair of yours, Tom Hopkins. Don't talk in that silly way
+to me. No, I don't want you to shoo the fowls into the yard, and I don't
+mean to give you any plumcake. I shall have to eat it myself, for I have
+no money to buy anything else. And I won't show you the beautiful wings
+of the beetle in the microscope. You can go home to your mother and tell
+her I am very much annoyed indeed."
+
+"But, Aunt Church," said Tom, "if you were to see poor mother you
+wouldn't blame her. She looks, oh, so thin and so tired! She's terribly
+unhappy, and she will be certain sure to pay you next week. It was silly
+of her, I will own, not to think of the police sooner; but she's gone to
+them to-day, ordered by me to do that same."
+
+"That was thoughtful enough of you, Tom, and I don't object to giving
+you a morsel of the stalest cake. I always keep three cakes in three tin
+boxes, and you can have a morsel of the stalest; it is more than two
+months old, but you won't mind that."
+
+"Not me," said Tom, "I like stale cakes best," he added, determined to
+show his aunt that he was ready to be pleased with everything. He was a
+very knowing boy, and spoke up so well, and was so evidently sorry
+himself, and so positive that as soon as ever the police were told they
+would simply lay their hands on the thief and the thief would disgorge
+his spoils, that Aunt Church was fain to believe him.
+
+In the end she and he made a compact.
+
+"I tell you what it is," he said. "You haven't been to see mother for a
+long time, and if you ain't got any money to buy a dinner for yourself,
+it is but fair you should have a slice off our Sunday joint."
+
+"Sunday joint, indeed!" snapped Mrs. Church.
+
+"You couldn't expect us not to have a bit of meat on Sunday," said Tom.
+"Why, we'd get so weak that mother couldn't earn the money she sends you
+every month."
+
+"And you couldn't do your lessons and be the fine big boy that I am
+proud of," said Mrs. Church. "Now, to tell the truth, I can't bear that
+sister of yours--Susy, you call her--but I have a liking for you, Tom
+Hopkins. What is it you want me to do?"
+
+"If you will let me come here to-morrow, I'll push you all the way to
+Merrifield in time for our dinner. Wouldn't you like that? And I'd bring
+you back again in the evening. There's your own old bath-chair that
+Uncle Church used to be moved about in before he died."
+
+"To be sure, there is," said Mrs. Church, her eyes brightening. "But the
+lining has got moth-eaten."
+
+"Who minds that?" said Tom. "I'll go and clean it after you have given
+me that bit of cake you promised me."
+
+Everything ended quite satisfactorily as far as Tom was concerned, for
+Mrs. Church forgot her anger in the interest that the boy's visit gave
+her. She consulted him about her fowls, and gave him a new-laid egg to
+slip into his pocket for his own supper. Later on she allowed him to
+munch some very poor and very stale plumcake. Finally she gave him his
+heart's delight, for he was allowed to peer into the old microscope and
+revel in the sight of the beetle's wings with thin, sweeping plumes, as
+he afterwards described them.
+
+It was rather late when Tom returned home. He burst into the parlor
+where his mother and Susy were sitting.
+
+"Mother," he said, "I have done everything splendidly; and she's coming
+to dine with us to-morrow."
+
+"She's what?" said Mrs. Hopkins.
+
+"Aunt Church is coming to dine with us. She was mad about the money, and
+nobody could have been nastier than she might have turned out but for
+me. But it's all right now. We must have a nice dinner for her. She is
+very fond of good things, and as she never gives them to herself, she
+will enjoy ours all the more."
+
+"She'll think that I am rich, when I am as poor as a church mouse," said
+Mrs. Hopkins. "But I suppose you have done everything for the best, Tom,
+and I must go around to the butcher's for a little addition to the
+dinner."
+
+Mrs. Hopkins left the house, and Tom sank into a chair by his sister.
+
+"It's golloptious for me," he said. "She's taking no end of a fancy to
+me. See this egg? She gave it to me for my supper. Mother shall have it.
+Mother is looking very white about the gills; a new-laid egg that she
+hasn't to pay for will nourish her up like anything."
+
+"So it will," said Susy. "We'll boil it and say nothing about it, and
+just pop it on her plate when she's having her supper. All the same,
+Tom, I wish you hadn't asked old Aunt Church here. She is such a queer
+old body; and the neighbors sometimes drop in on Sundays. And I have
+asked Miss Kathleen O'Hara to come in to-morrow, and she has promised
+to."
+
+"What?" said Tom. "That grand beauty of a young lady, the pride of the
+school? Why, everybody is talking about her. At the boys' school they've
+caught sight of her, and there isn't a boy that hasn't fallen in love
+with her. They all slink behind the wall, and bob up as she comes by.
+You don't mean that _she's_ coming here?"
+
+"Yes; why not? She's very fond of me."
+
+"But she's no end of a howler. They say she's worth her weight in gold,
+and that her father is a sort of king in Ireland. Why should she take up
+with a little girl like you?"
+
+"Well, Tom, some people like me, although you think but little of your
+sister. Kathleen is very fond of me. I invited her to have tea with us
+to-morrow, and she is coming."
+
+"My word!" said Tom. "To think that I shall be sitting at the same table
+with her! I'll be able to make my own terms now with John Short and
+Harry Reid and the rest of the chaps. Why, Susy, you must be a genius,
+and I thought you weren't much of a sort."
+
+"I am better than you think; and she is fond of me."
+
+"And you really and truly call her by her Christian name?"
+
+"Of course I do."
+
+Susy longed to tell Tom about the wonderful society; but its strictest
+rule was that it was never to be spoken about to outsiders. Susy, as a
+member of the Cabinet, must certainly be one of the last to break the
+rules.
+
+Mrs. Hopkins came back at that moment. She had added a pound of sausage
+and a little piece of pork to their usual Sunday fare. She had also
+brought sixpennyworth of apples with her.
+
+"These are to make a pudding," she said. "I think we shall do now very
+well."
+
+Susy and Tom quite agreed with their mother. Susy rose and prepared
+supper, and at the crucial moment the new-laid egg was laid on Mrs.
+Hopkins's plate. It takes, perhaps, a great deal of poverty to truly
+appreciate a new-laid egg. Mrs. Hopkins was delighted with hers; she
+thought Tom the noblest boy in the world for having denied himself in
+order to give it to her. Tears filled her tired eyes as she thanked God
+for her good children.
+
+Susy and Tom watched her as she ate the egg, and thought how delicious
+it must taste, but were glad she had it.
+
+The following day dawned bright and clear, with a suspicion of frost in
+the air. It was, as Tom expressed it, a perfect day. Susy went to church
+with her mother in the morning, the dinner being all prepared and left
+to cook itself in the oven. Tom started at about eleven o'clock on his
+walk to the tiny village where Mrs. Church lived.
+
+As soon as Susy returned from her place of worship she helped her mother
+to get the little parlor ready. She put some autumn leaves in a jug on
+the center of the table. Her mother brought out the best china, which
+had not been used since her husband's death. The best china was very
+pretty, and Susy thought that no table could look more elegant than
+theirs. The best china was accompanied by some quite good knives and
+forks. The forks were real silver; Mrs. Hopkins regarded them with
+pride.
+
+"If the worst--the very worst--comes," she said to Susy, "we can sell
+them; but I cling to them as a piece of respectability that I never want
+to part from. Your dear father gave them to me on our wedding-day--a
+whole dozen of beautiful silver forks with the hall-mark on them, and
+his initials on the handle of each. I want them to be Tom's some day.
+Silver should always be handed on to the eldest son."
+
+Susy felt that she was almost worthy of Kathleen's friendship as she
+regarded the silver forks.
+
+"You must never part with them, mother," she said--until Tom is married.
+Then, of course, they will belong to him."
+
+"You are a good little girl, Susy," said her mother. "Of course, there
+never was a boy like Tom. It was sweet of him to give up his egg to me
+last night."
+
+Having seen that the table was in perfect order, and that the dinner was
+cooking as well as dinner could in the oven, Mrs. Hopkins went upstairs
+to put on a lace collar and a neat black silk apron.
+
+Meanwhile Susy had locked herself into her own room. The crowning moment
+of her life had arrived. She had made up her mind that she would wear
+her new blouse at dinner that day. Susy's stockings were coarse, and
+showed darns here and there; Susy's shoes were rough, and could not
+altogether hide the disfiguring patches on the toes of each; Susy's
+skirt was dark-blue serge, fairly neat in its way. Altogether Susy from
+her waist down was a very ordinary little girl--the little daughter of
+poor people; but from her waist up she was resplendent.
+
+"Oh! if I could only show my sweet, sweet little badge," she thought,
+"it would make me perfect. But I daren't. The queen commands that it
+should be hidden, and the queen's commands must be obeyed."
+
+Susy slipped into her blouse. She fastened it; she put a belt round her
+waist. She curtsied before her little glass. She bobbed here; she
+bobbed there. She looked at herself front view, then over her shoulder,
+then, with a morsel of glass, at her back; she surveyed herself, as far
+as the limited accommodation of her room afforded, from every point of
+view. Finally, with flushed cheeks and a very proud expression on her
+face, she tripped downstairs. The pale-blue cashmere blouse, with its
+real lace and embroidered trimmings, might have been worn by any girl,
+even in the highest station of life.
+
+Mrs. Hopkins was busy in the kitchen. She called to Susy:
+
+"Come and hold the vegetable dish, child. I hear Tom pushing Aunt Church
+in at the gate; I know he is doing it by the creak of the bath-chair.
+There never was a bath-chair that creaked like that. Hold this while
+I--Why, sakes alive, Susy! wherever did you get--"
+
+"Oh, it's my new blouse, mother."
+
+"Your new what?"
+
+"What you see, mother--my new blouse. Don't you admire it?"
+
+Mrs. Hopkins was so stunned that she could not speak for a moment. Her
+face, which had been quite florid, turned pale. She suddenly put up her
+hand and caught Susy by the arm.
+
+"Oh, mother, don't!" said the little girl. "Your hand isn't clean. Oh,
+you have made a stain! Oh, mother, how could you?"
+
+"Run upstairs at once, child, and take it off. For the life of you don't
+let _her_ see it; she'd never forgive me. It isn't fit for you, Susy; it
+really isn't. Wherever did you get it from? Where did you buy it?"
+
+Now Susy had really no intention of making a secret with regard to the
+blouse. She meant to tell her mother frankly that it was a present from
+Miss Kathleen O'Hara, but Mrs. Hopkins's manner and words put the little
+girl into a passion, and she was determined now not to say a word.
+
+"It is my secret," she said. "I won't tell you how I got it, nor who
+gave it to me. And I won't take it off."
+
+Just then there were voices, and Aunt Church called out:
+
+"Where are you, Mary Hopkins? Why don't you show yourself? Fussing over
+fine living, I suppose. Oh, there is your daughter. My word! Fine
+feathers make fine birds.--Come over and speak to me, my dear, and help
+me out of this chair. Now then, give me your hand. Be quick!"
+
+Susy put out her hand and helped Mrs. Church as well as she could out of
+the bath-chair. Tom winked when he saw the splendid apparition; then he
+stuck his tongue into his cheek, and coming close to his sister, he
+whispered:
+
+"Wherever did you get that toggery?"
+
+"That's nothing to you," said Susy.
+
+Mrs. Church glanced over her shoulder and looked solemnly at Susy.
+
+"It's my opinion," she said, speaking in a slow, emphatic, rather awful
+voice, "that you are a very, very bad little girl. You will come to no
+good. Mark my words. I prophesy a bad end for you, and trouble for your
+unfortunate mother. You will remember my words when the prophecy comes
+true. Help me now into the parlor. I cannot stay long, but I will have a
+morsel of your grand dinner before I leave."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+AUNT CHURCH AT DINNER AND THE CONSEQUENCES THEREOF.
+
+
+When Mrs. Church was comfortably established in the easy-chair in the
+little parlor, with her feet on the fender, and a nice view of the
+street from the window near by--when her best widow's-cap was perched
+upon her head, and her little black mitts were drawn over her delicate,
+small hands--she looked around her and gave a brief sigh of
+satisfaction.
+
+"Upon my word," she said, "I'm not at all sorry I came. There's nothing
+like seeing things for yourself. Most elegant damask on the table. Mary
+Hopkins, where did you get that damask?"
+
+Mrs. Hopkins, whose cheeks were flushed, and who looked considerably
+worried, replied that it had been left to her by her own mother.
+
+"My mother was a housekeeper in a nobleman's family," she said, "and she
+was given that cloth and two or three more like it. I have 'em in the
+linen-chest upstairs, and I wouldn't part with 'em to anybody."
+
+"I admire your pride," said Mrs. Church. "Next door to pride comes
+honesty. I am sometimes inclined to believe that it comes afore pride;
+but we needn't dispute that delicate point at present. And the silver
+forks. My word!--Tom, my boy, pass me a fork to examine."
+
+Tom took up a fork and handed it to Mrs. Church.
+
+"Hall-marked and all!" she said.
+
+She laid it down with emphasis.
+
+"Perhaps you know," she said, fixing her beady black eyes upon Mrs.
+Hopkins's face, "that I'll be very low as regards victuals for the rest
+of this week. But never mind; I am never one to press what it ain't
+convenient to return. Ah! and here comes the dinner. Well, I will say
+that I have a good appetite.--You can push me right up to the table,
+Tom, my boy."
+
+Tom did push the old lady into the most comfortable seat. She now
+removed her mittens, put a napkin on her lap, and bent forward with a
+look of appetite to regard the different dishes which Ellen, the tiny
+twelve-year-old servant, brought in. Ellen trembled very much in the
+company of the old lady, and Mrs. Hopkins trembled still more. But Susy,
+who saw no reason why she should bow down before Aunt Church, ate her
+good dinner with appetite, tossed her little head, and felt that she was
+making a sensation. Tom was very attentive to Mrs. Church, and helped
+her to a large glass of ginger-wine. She thoroughly enjoyed her dinner,
+and, while she was eating it, forgot all about Susy and the pale-blue
+cashmere blouse.
+
+But when the meat had been followed by the apple-pudding, and the
+apple-pudding by some coffee which was served in real china cups, and
+Mrs. Church had folded her napkin and swept the crumbs from her
+bombazine dress, and Mrs. Hopkins, assisted by Susy, had removed the
+cloth, and the little maid had swept up the hearth, Mrs. Church began to
+recollect herself. It is true she was no longer hungry nor cold, for the
+fire was plentiful, and the sun also poured in at the small window. But
+Mrs. Church had a memory and, as she believed, a grievance. In her tiny
+house on the common four miles away firing was scarce, and food was
+scarcer. The owner of the house did not care to spend more than a very
+limited sum of money on coals and food. There was nothing in the cottage
+for Mrs. Church's supper except a bit of stale cake, a hunch of brown
+bread, and a little tea. The tea would have to be drunk without milk,
+and with only a modicum of brown sugar, for Mrs. Church was determined
+to spend no money, if possible, until Mrs. Hopkins paid the debt which
+had been due on the previous day. It was one thing, therefore, for Mrs.
+Church's debtors to eat good roast beef and good boiled pork and good
+apple-pudding, but it was another thing for Mrs. Church to tolerate it.
+She fixed her eyes now on Susy in a very meaning way. Susy had never
+appealed to the old lady's fancy, and she appealed less than ever
+to-day.
+
+"Come right over here, little girl," said Mrs. Church, waving a thin arm
+and motioning Susy to approach.
+
+Susy Hopkins, remembering her blouse and her proud position as a member
+of the Cabinet of the Queen of the Wild Irish Girls, felt for a moment
+inclined to disobey; but Mrs. Church had a certain power about her, and
+she impelled Susy to come forward.
+
+"Stand just in front of me," she said, "and let me look at you. My word!
+I never did see a more elegant figure. Don't you think that you are
+something like a peacock--fine above and ugly below?"
+
+"No, I don't, Aunt Church," said Susy.
+
+"Tut, tut, child! Don't give me any of your sauce, but just answer a
+straight question. Where did you get that bodice? It is singularly fine
+for a little girl like you. Where did you get it?"
+
+"I don't think it is any business of yours, Aunt Church."
+
+"Susy!" said her mother in a voice of terror. "Don't talk like that. You
+know very well you mustn't be rude to Aunt Church.--Don't mind her,
+aunt; she is a very naughty girl."
+
+"I am not, mother," said Susy; "and it's awfully unkind of you to say
+it of me. I am not a bit rude. But it is not Aunt Church's affair. I
+didn't steal the blouse; I came by it honestly, and it wasn't bought out
+of any of Aunt Church's money."
+
+"That remains to be proved," said Mrs. Church. "Susan Hopkins, I don't
+like you nor your ways. When I was young I knew a little girl, and you
+remind me of her. She had a face summat like yours, no way pretty, but
+what you'd call boastful and conceited; and she thought a sight of
+herself, and put on gay dress that she had no call to wear. She strutted
+about among the neighbors, and they said, 'Fine feathers make fine
+birds,' and laughed at her past bearing. But she didn't mind, because
+she was a little girl that was meant to go to the bad--and she did. She
+learned to be a thief, and she broke her mother's heart, and she was
+locked up in prison. In prison she had to wear the ugly convict-dress
+with the broad-arrow stamped on all her clothes. Afterwards, when she
+came out again, her poor mother had died, and her grandmother likewise;
+and her brother, who was the moral image of Tom there, wouldn't receive
+her in his house. I haven't heard of her for a long time back, but most
+likely she died in the work-house. Well, Susan, you may take my little
+story for what it is worth, and much good may it do you."
+
+"I think you are very rude indeed, Aunt Church," said Susy. "I don't see
+that I'm bound to submit to your ugly, cruel words. I like this blouse,
+and I'll wear it whenever I wish."
+
+"Oh, hoity-toity!" said the old lady; "impudent as well as everything
+else. That I should live to see it!--Mary Hopkins, can it be convenient
+to you to let me have the remainder of my hundred pounds? There wasn't
+any contract but that I could demand it whenever I wanted it, and it is
+about convenient to me that I should have it back now. You owe me
+between thirty and forty pounds, and I'd like, I will say, to see the
+color of my money. It can't be at all ill-convenient to you to give it
+to me when you can afford blouses of that quality for your impudent
+young daughter. Real lace, forsooth! I know it when I see it. We'll say
+Wednesday week to receive the money, and I will come over in my
+bath-chair, drawn by Tom, to take it; and I will give Tom a whole
+shilling for himself the day I get it back. That will be quite
+convenient to you, Mary Hopkins, won't it?"
+
+"Susy," said poor Mrs. Hopkins, "for goodness' sake, leave the
+room.--Aunt Church, you know perfectly well that I am not responsible
+for the naughty ways of that naughty little girl. It's apologize to you
+she shall, and that before you leave this house. And you know that if
+you press me now to return the money in full I'll have to sell up the
+shop, and the children won't have anything to eat, and we'll all be
+ruined. You wouldn't be as cruel as that to your own flesh and blood,
+would you?"
+
+"Well, Mary, I only said it to frighten you. I ain't at all a cruel
+woman. On the contrary, I am kind-hearted; but I can't stand the sauce
+of that little girl of yours. It's my opinion, Mary, that the lost money
+of yours is on the back of your Susan, and the sooner you get her to
+confess her sin the better it will be for us all."
+
+Now, before Mrs. Hopkins had time to utter a word with regard to this
+preposterous and appalling suggestion of Aunt Church's, there came a
+loud knock on the little street-door, and, listening in the parlor, the
+people within could distinctly hear the rustle of silk petticoats.
+
+"Who in the world can that be?" said Mrs. Hopkins.
+
+Tom turned first red and then white, and rushed into the passage. Susy,
+who had been crying in the shop, also appeared on the scene.
+
+"I'll open the door," said Tom. "Do wipe your eyes, Susy; don't let her
+see you crying. It's herself, of course."
+
+The knocker was just going to be applied to the door again, when Tom
+opened it with a flourish, and there stood, waiting on the steps, a very
+brilliant apparition. This was no less a person than Miss Kathleen
+O'Hara, in her Sunday best.
+
+Now, Kathleen tried to bear with Mrs. Tennant's advice with regard to
+her clothes in the week, but on Sundays she was absolutely determined
+that her love of finery should find full vent. Accordingly, from her
+store of rich and beautiful garments, she chose the gayest and the most
+likely to attract attention. On the present occasion she wore a crimson
+velvet toque. Her jacket was bright blue, and she had a skirt to match.
+On her neck she wore a rich necklet of flaming beads, which was
+extremely becoming to her; and thrown carelessly round her neck and
+shoulders was a boa of white fur, and she had a muff to match.
+Altogether her radiant dress and radiant face were quite sufficient to
+dazzle Tom. But Susy pushed past Tom and held out her hand.
+
+"Oh, Kathleen," she said, "I am glad you have come. You'd best come into
+the shop with me; there's company in the parlor, and I don't think you'd
+care about it."
+
+Kathleen, of course, was just as pleased to stay in the shop with Susy
+as to go into any other part of the house; but just then Mrs. Hopkins
+put a sad, distressed face outside the door, and Mrs. Church's voice was
+heard in high and grating accents:
+
+"I want to see the person who is talking in the passage."
+
+"Oh! don't go in," said Susy. "It's Aunt Church, and she's dreadful."
+
+"An old lady?" cried Kathleen. "I love old ladies."
+
+She pushed past Susy and made her appearance in the parlor.
+
+Now, Mrs. Church was a person of discernment. She strongly objected to
+gay dress on the person of little Susy Hopkins; but, as she expressed
+it, she knew the quality. Had she not lived all her earlier days as
+housekeeper to a widowed nobleman? Could she ever forget the fine folk
+she helped to prepare for in his house? Now, Kathleen, standing in the
+tiny room, had a certain look of wealth and distinction about her. Mrs.
+Church seemed to sniff the fine quality air in a moment; she even
+managed to rise from her chair and drop a little curtsy.
+
+"If it weren't for the rheumatics," she said, "I wouldn't make so bold
+as to sit before you, miss."
+
+"But why shouldn't you? I'm sorry you suffer from rheumatism. May I
+bring a chair and come and sit near you? Are you Mrs. Hopkins--Susy
+Hopkins's mother?"
+
+"Indeed, my dear, I'm truly thankful to say I am not. And what may your
+name be, my sweet young lady?"
+
+"Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+"Oh, dear, but it's a mouthful."
+
+"I'm not English," said Kathleen; "I'm Irish. Do you know, in our
+country we have old ladies something like you. A good many of them have
+dresses like you; and they live in little cottages, and we bring them up
+to the castle and give them good food very, very often. There are twelve
+of them, and they all live in their tiny cottages close to each other.
+We make a great fuss about them. They love to come to the castle for
+tea."
+
+"The castle!" said Mrs. Church, more and more impressed. "I should
+think they would like it. Who wouldn't like it? It's a very great honor
+for an old lady to be entertained to her tea in a castle. And so you
+live in a castle, my bonny young lady?"
+
+"Yes; my father owns Carrigrohane Castle."
+
+"Eh, love! it is a mouthful of a word for me to get round my lips. But
+never mind; it is but to look at you to see how beautiful and good you
+are."
+
+"And you are beautiful, too," said Kathleen. "I mean, you are beautiful
+for an old lady. I love the beauty of the old. But I want to see Mrs.
+Hopkins, and I want to see Susy. Susy is a great friend of mine."
+
+Mrs. Church opened her eyes very wide; her mouth formed itself into a
+round O. An eager exclamation was about to burst from her lips, but she
+restrained herself.
+
+"And a very good little girl Susan Hopkins is," she said, after a
+moment's pause; "and a particularly great friend of mine, being, so to
+speak, my grand-niece.--Mary, my dear, call your little girl in."
+
+Mrs. Hopkins, in some trepidation, crossed the room and called to Susy,
+who was still sulking in the shop.
+
+"My visitor and all," she kept saying. "And I wanted to have her all to
+myself; I had such a lot to say to her. I never saw anybody quite so
+horrible as Aunt Church is to-day."
+
+"Never mind, Susy; never mind," said her mother. "The young lady is
+pleasing your aunt like anything, and she has sent for you."
+
+"Come along in, Susan, this minute," called out Mrs. Church. "Come, my
+pet, and let's have a little talk."
+
+"Go, Susy, and be quick about it," said her mother.
+
+By the aid of Tom and Mrs. Hopkins, who pushed Susy from behind, she
+was induced to re-enter the little parlor. There, indeed, all things had
+changed. Kathleen called to her, made room for her on the same chair,
+and held her hand. Mrs. Church glanced from one to the other. Only too
+well did she see the difference between them. One was a rather plain
+little girl, the daughter of her own relation; the other was a lady,
+beautiful, stately, and magnificently dressed.
+
+"I know her kind," thought Aunt Church. "I have aired beds for quality
+of that sort, and I have watched them when they danced in the big
+ballroom, and watched them, too, when their sweethearts came along, and
+seen--oh, yes, many, many things have I seen, and many, many things have
+I heard of those fair young ladies of quality. She belongs to them, and
+she likes that good-for-nothing, pert little Susy Hopkins! Yet it don't
+matter to me. Susy shall have my good graces if she has secured those of
+Miss Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+Accordingly, Mrs. Church changed her tactics. She praised Susy in
+honeyed words to the visitor.
+
+"A good little girl, miss, and deserving of anything that those who are
+better off can do for her. She is a great help to her mother.--Mary
+Hopkins, come nigh, dear. You are very fond of your Susy, aren't you?"
+
+"Of course I am," said Mrs. Hopkins in an affectionate voice.
+
+Susy longed to keep up her anger, but she could not. She was soon
+smiling and flushing.
+
+"And what a neat little bodice my Susy is wearing!" said Mrs. Church.
+"And bought with her own hard-earned savings. You wouldn't think so,
+would you, miss?"
+
+"It gives her great credit," said Kathleen in a calm voice. "I like
+people to wear smart clothes, don't you, Mrs. Church? If you lived on
+our estate, I would dress you myself. I love to see our old ladies gaily
+dressed. On Christmas Day they come to the castle and have dinner as
+well as tea. It is wonderful how smart they look."
+
+"They are very lucky ladies--very lucky," said Mrs. Church. "They don't
+wear old bombazine like this, do they?"
+
+"Your dress suits you very well, indeed," said Kathleen; "but my old
+ladies wear velveteen dresses. They save them, of course. We don't want
+them to be extravagant; but they always come up to the castle in
+velveteen dresses, with white caps, and white collars round their necks;
+and they look very nice. They have a happy time."
+
+"I am sure they have, miss."
+
+"Yes, they have a very happy time. They want for nothing. There was an
+old lady belonging to our house who left a certain sum of money, and the
+old ladies get it between them. They get six shillings a week each, and
+a dear little house to live in. We are obliged to supply them with as
+much coal as they want, and candles, and a new pair of blankets on the
+first of every November, and a bale of unbleached calico on the first of
+May. You can't think how comfortable they are. And then, of course, we
+throw in a lot of extra things--the black velveteen dresses, and other
+garments of the same quality."
+
+"It must be a wonderful place to live in. Is it very difficult to get
+into one of these houses, missy?"
+
+"I don't know. Would you like to come?"
+
+"That I would."
+
+"I'll write to father and ask him if you may."
+
+"Miss, it would be wonderful."
+
+"You'd be very picturesque amongst them," said Kathleen, gazing at Mrs.
+Church with a critical eye. "And you'd have so much to tell them;
+because all the rest are Irish, and they have never gone beyond their
+own country. But you have seen such a lot of life, haven't you?"
+
+"Miss, I can't express all the tales I could tell. I lived with the
+quality for so long. I lived with Lord Henshel until he died; I was
+housekeeper there. Oh, I could tell them lots of things."
+
+"It would be very nice if you came over; and I am almost sure there is a
+cottage vacant," said Kathleen in a contemplative voice. "It seems
+unfair to give the cottages entirely to Irish people. We might have one
+English old lady. You would enjoy it; you'd have such a lovely view! And
+you might keep your own little pig if you liked."
+
+Mrs. Church was not enamored with the idea of keeping a pig.
+
+"Perhaps fowls would do as well," she said. "I have a great fancy for
+birds, and I am fond of new-laid eggs."
+
+"Fowls will do just as well," said Kathleen, rising now carelessly from
+her seat. "Well, Mrs. Church, I will write to father and let you know if
+there is a vacancy; and you could come back with me in the summer,
+couldn't you?"
+
+"Oh, miss, it would be heaven!"
+
+"Can't we go out and have a walk now, Susy?" said Kathleen, who found
+the small parlor a little too close for her taste.
+
+Susy rushed upstairs, put on her outdoor jacket and a cheap hat, and,
+trying to hide the holes in her gloves, ran downstairs. Kathleen,
+however, was the last girl to notice any want in her companion's
+wardrobe. She had all her life been so abundantly supplied with clothes
+that, although she loved to array herself in fine garments, the want of
+them in others never attracted her attention.
+
+"Susy," she said the moment they got out of doors, "what is the matter
+with Ruth Craven?"
+
+"With Ruth Craven?" said Susy, who was by no means inclined to waste her
+time over such an uninteresting person.
+
+"Yes. You must go to her house; you must insist on seeing her, and you
+must find out and let me know what is wrong. She has written me a most
+mysterious letter; she has actually asked me to let her withdraw from
+our society. Ruth, of all people!"
+
+"It is very queer of her," said Susy, "not to be grateful and pleased,
+for she is no better than the rest of us."
+
+"No better than the rest of you, Susy?" said Kathleen, raising her brows
+in surprise. "But indeed you are mistaken. The rest of you are not a
+patch on her. She is my Prime Minister. I can't allow her to resign."
+
+"Oh, well," said Susy, "if you think of her in that way--"
+
+"Of course I think of her in that way, Susy. I like you very much, and I
+want to be kind to everybody; but to compare you or Mary Rand or Rosy
+Myers, or any of the others, with Ruth Craven--"
+
+"But she is no better."
+
+"She is a great deal better. She is refined and beautiful. She mustn't
+go; I can't allow it. But she has written me such a queer letter, and
+implored and besought of me not to come to see her, that I am forced to
+accede to her wishes. So you will have to go to her to-night and tell
+her that she must meet me on my way to school to-morrow. Tell her that I
+will go a bit of the way towards her house; tell her that I will be at
+the White Cross Corner at a quarter to nine. You needn't say more. Oh,
+Susy, it would break my heart if Ruth did not continue to be a member of
+our society."
+
+"I will do what you want, of course," said Susy. "I'd do anything in the
+world for you, Kathleen. It was so kind of you to come to see us this
+afternoon. You will keep your promise and come and have tea with us,
+won't you?"
+
+"I am very sorry, but I am afraid I can't. I do wish I had a home of my
+own, and then I'd ask you to have tea with me. But, Susy, how funnily
+you were dressed to-day, now that I come to think of it! You did look
+odd. That blouse is too smart for the coarse blue serge skirt you were
+wearing."
+
+"I know it is; but I can't afford a better skirt. Mother is rather
+worried about money just now. I know I oughtn't to tell you, but she is.
+And, do you know, before you came in Aunt Church was so horrid. She got
+quite dreadful about the blouse, and she tried to make out that I had
+stolen the money from mother to buy it. Wasn't it awful of her? I can
+tell you it was a blessing when you came in. You changed her altogether.
+What did you do to her?"
+
+"Well," said Kathleen, "I rather like old ladies, and she struck me as
+something picturesque."
+
+"She's a horrid old thing, and not a bit picturesque. I hate her like
+poison."
+
+"That is very wrong of you, Susy. Some day you will get old yourself,
+and you won't like people to hate you."
+
+"Well, that's a long way off; I needn't worry about it yet," cried Susy.
+"I do hate her very much indeed. And then, you know, when you appeared
+she began to butter me up like anything. I hated that the worst of all."
+
+"I am sorry she is that sort of old lady," said Kathleen after a pause;
+"but I have promised to try and get her into one of our almshouses. It
+would be rare fun to have her there."
+
+"But she is not a bit poor. She oughtn't to go into an almshouse if she
+is rich," said Susy.
+
+"Of course she mustn't go into an almshouse if she is rich; but she
+doesn't look rich."
+
+"She is quite rich. I think she has saved three hundred pounds. You must
+call that rich."
+
+"I'm afraid I don't," said Kathleen.
+
+Susy was silent for a moment.
+
+"There are so many different views about riches," she said at last. "I
+am glad you are so tremendously rich that you think nothing of three
+hundred pounds. Mother and I often sigh and pine even for _one_ pound.
+For instance, now--But I mustn't tell you; it would not be right.
+Perhaps Aunt Church will be a little nicer to me now that you have taken
+her up. I'll threaten to complain to you if she doesn't behave."
+
+Here Susy laughed merrily.
+
+"That's all right, Susan," said Kathleen. "I must go back now, for I
+have promised to go for a walk with Mrs. Tennant. No one ever thinks
+about her as she ought to be thought of; so I have some plans in my head
+for her, too. Oh, my head is full of plans, and I do wish--yes, I do,
+Susy--that I could make a lot of people happy."
+
+"You are a splendid girl," said Susy. "I wish there were others like you
+in the world."
+
+"No, I am not splendid," said Kathleen, her lovely dark eyes looking
+wistful. "I have heaps and lashons of faults; but I do like to make
+people happy. I always did since I was a little child. The person I am
+most anxious about at present is Ruth: I love Ruth so very much. You
+will be sure to see her this evening, won't you?"
+
+"Sure and certain," said Susy. "I am very much obliged to you, Kathleen;
+you have made a great difference in my life."
+
+The two girls parted just by the turnstile. Kathleen passed through on
+her way across the common to Mrs. Tennant's house, and Susy went slowly
+back to the High Street and the little stationer's shop.
+
+She found Mrs. Church in the act of being deposited in her bath-chair,
+and Tom, looking proud and flushed, attending on her. Mrs. Hopkins was
+also standing just outside the shop, putting a wrap round the old lady
+and tucking her up. When Susy appeared her mother called out to her:
+
+"Come along, you ungrateful girl. Here's Aunt Church going, and
+wondering why you have deserted her during the last hour."
+
+"That's just like you, Mary Hopkins," said old Mrs. Church. "You scold
+when there's no occasion to, and you withhold scolding when it's due. I
+don't blame your daughter Susan for going out with that nice young lady.
+I am only too pleased to think that any daughter of yours should be
+taken notice of by a young lady of the Miss Kathleen O'Hara type. She's
+a splendid girl; and, to tell you the honest truth, none of you are fit
+for her to touch you with a pair of tongs."
+
+"Dear, dear!" said Susy. "But she has touched me pretty often. I don't
+think you ought to say nasty things of that sort, Aunt Church, for if
+you do I may be able to--"
+
+Aunt Church fixed her glittering black eyes on Susan.
+
+"Come here, child," she said.
+
+Susy went up to her somewhat unwillingly.
+
+"My bark is worse than my bite," said old Mrs. Church. "Now look here;
+if you bring that charming young lady to see me, and give me notice a
+day or so before--Tom can run over and tell me--if you and Tom and Miss
+Kathleen O'Hara would come and have tea at my place, why, it's the
+freshest of the plumcakes we'd have, not the stalest. And the microscope
+should be out handy and in order, and with some prepared plates that my
+poor husband used, which I have never shown to anybody from the time of
+his death. I have a magnifying-glass, too, that I can put into the
+microscope; it will make you see the root of a hair on your head. And I
+will--Whisper, Susy!"
+
+Susy somewhat unwillingly bent forward.
+
+"I will give you five shillings. You'd like to trim your hat to match
+that handsome blouse, wouldn't you?"
+
+Susy's eyes could not help dancing.
+
+"Five shillings all to yourself; and I won't press your mother about the
+installment which was due to me yesterday. I'll manage without it
+somehow. But I want to see that beautiful young lady in my cottage, and
+you will get the money when you bring her. That's all. You are a queer
+little girl, and not altogether to my taste, but you are no fool."
+
+Susy stood silent. She put her hand on the moth-eaten cushion of the old
+bath-chair, bent forward, and looked into Mrs. Church's face.
+
+"Will you take back the words you said?"
+
+"Will I take back what?"
+
+"If not the words, at least the thought? Will you say that you know that
+I got this blouse honestly?"
+
+"Oh, yes, child! I'd quite forgotten all about it. Now just see that you
+do what I want; and the sooner the better, you understand. And, oh,
+Susy, mum's the word with regard to me being well off. I ain't, I can
+tell you; I am quite a poor body. But I could do a kindness to you and
+your mother if--if certain things were to come to pass. Now that's about
+all.--Pull away, Tom, my boy. I have a rosy apple which shall find its
+way into your pocket if you take me home in double-quick time."
+
+Tom pulled with a will; the little bath-chair creaked and groaned, and
+Mrs. Church nodded her wise old head and she was carried over the
+country roads.
+
+Meanwhile Susy entered the house with her mother.
+
+"What a blessing," said Mrs. Hopkins, "that that pretty young lady
+happened to call! I never saw such a change in any one as what took
+place in your aunt after she had seen her."
+
+"Well, mother, you know what it is all about," said Susy. "Aunt Church
+wants to get into one of those almshouses."
+
+"Just like her--stingy old thing!" said Mrs. Hopkins.
+
+"I don't want her to get in, I can tell you, mother; and when Kathleen
+and I were out I told Kathleen that she was a great deal too rich. She
+asked me what her means were, and I said I believed she has three
+hundred pounds put by. Now, mother, don't you call that riches?"
+
+"Three hundred pounds!" said Mrs. Hopkins. "That depends, child. To some
+it is wealth; to others it is a decent competence; to others, again, it
+is poverty."
+
+"Kathleen didn't think much of it, mother."
+
+"Well," said Mrs. Hopkins, "I have notions in my head. Maybe this very
+thing can be turned to good for us; there's no saying. I think if your
+aunt was sure and certain to get into one of those almshouses she might
+do a good turn to you, Susy; and she's sure and certain to help Tom a
+little. But there! we can't look into the future. I am tired out with
+one thing and another. Susan, my dear child, where did you get that
+beautiful pale-blue blouse?"
+
+"I didn't get it through theft, mother, if that's what you are thinking
+of. I got it honestly, and I am not obliged to tell; and what's more, I
+won't tell."
+
+Mrs. Hopkins sighed.
+
+"Dear, dear!" she said, and she sat down in the easy-chair which Mrs.
+Church had occupied and stared into the fire.
+
+"I am not nearly as low-spirited as I was," she said after a pause. "If
+Miss Kathleen will do something for Aunt Church, it stands to reason
+that Aunt Church won't be hard on us."
+
+Susy made no answer to this. She stood quiet for a minute or two, and
+then she went slowly upstairs. She removed the beautiful blouse and put
+on a common one. She then wrapped herself in an old waterproof
+cloak--for the sunshiny morning had developed into an evening of thick
+clouds and threatening rain--and went downstairs.
+
+"Where in the world are you going?" said her mother in a fretful tone.
+"I did think you'd sit quietly with me and learn your collect. If you
+are going out, it ought to be to church. I don't see what call you have
+to be going anywhere else on Sunday evening."
+
+"I want to see Ruth Craven. Don't keep me, please; it is very
+important."
+
+"But I don't know who Ruth Craven is."
+
+"Oh, mother, I thought every one knew her. She is the very, very pretty
+little granddaughter of old Mr. Craven, who lives in that cottage close
+to the station."
+
+"A handsome old man, too," said Mrs. Hopkins, "but I confess I don't
+know anything about him."
+
+"Well, he and his old wife have got this one beautiful grandchild, and
+she has joined the foundationers at the Great Shirley School. Miss
+Kathleen O'Hara has taken up with her as well as with me and other
+foundation girls, and instead of having a miserable, dull, down-trodden
+life, we are extremely likely to have the best life of any girls in the
+school. Anyhow, I have a message for Ruth and I promised to deliver it."
+
+"All right, child; don't be longer away than you can help."
+
+Susy left the house. The distance from her mother's shop to the Cravens'
+cottage was a matter of ten minutes' quick walking. She soon reached her
+destination, walked up the little path which led to the tiny cottage,
+and tapped with her fingers on the door. The door was opened for her by
+old Mrs. Craven. Mrs. Craven was in her Sunday best, and looked a very
+beautiful and almost aristocratic old lady.
+
+"Do you want my grandchild?" she said, observing Susy's size and dress.
+
+"Yes; is she within?" asked Susy.
+
+"No, dear; she has gone to church. Would you like to wait in for her, or
+would you rather go and meet her? She has gone to St. James the Less,
+the church just around the corner; you know it?"
+
+"Yes, I know it," said Susy.
+
+"They'll be coming out now," said Mrs. Craven, looking up at the
+eight-day clock which stood in the passage. "If you go and stand by the
+principal entrance, you are safe to see her."
+
+"Thank you," said Susy.
+
+"You are sure you wouldn't rather wait in the house?"
+
+"No, really. Mother expects me back. My name is Susan Hopkins. My
+mother keeps the stationer's shop in the High Street."
+
+"To be sure," said Mrs. Craven gently. "I know the shop quite well."
+
+Susy said good-bye, and then stepped down the little path. What a humble
+abode the prime favorite, Ruth Craven, lived in! Susy's own home was a
+palace in comparison. Ruth lived in a cottage which was little better
+than a workman's cottage.
+
+"There can't be more than two bedrooms upstairs," thought Susy. "And I
+wonder if there is a sitting-room? Certainly there can't be more than
+one. The old lady looked very nice; but, of course, she is quite a
+common person. I should love to be Prime Minister to Kathleen O'Hara.
+And why should there be such a fuss made about Ruth? I only wish the
+post was mine--shouldn't I do a lot! Couldn't I help mother and Tom and
+all of us? And there is that stupid little Ruth--oh, dear! oh, dear!
+Well, I suppose I must give her the message."
+
+She hurried her steps as these last thoughts came to her, and presently
+she stood outside the principal entrance of the little church. St. James
+the Less was by no means remarkable for beauty of architecture or
+adornment of any sort; nevertheless the vicar was a man of great
+eloquence and earnestness, and in the evenings it was the custom for the
+little church to be packed.
+
+By-and-by the sermon came to an end, the voluntary rolled forth from the
+organ, and the crowd of worshippers poured out. Susy stretched out her
+hand and clutched that of a slim girl who was following in the train of
+people.
+
+"Ruth, it is me. I have something to say to you."
+
+Ruth's face, until Susy touched her, had been looking like a piece of
+heaven itself, so calm and serene were the eyes, and so beautiful the
+expression which lingered round her lips. Now she seemed to awaken and
+pull herself together. She did not attempt to avoid Susy, but slipping
+out of the crowd of people who were leaving the church, she found
+herself by the girl's side.
+
+"Come just a little way home with me," said Susy. "It won't take me long
+to say what I want to say."
+
+She linked her hand in her companion's as she spoke. Yes, there was
+little doubt of it, Ruth was lovable. One forgot her low birth, her low
+surroundings, when one looked at her. Susy had heard of those few people
+of rare character and rare natures who are, as it is expressed,
+"Nature's ladies." There are Nature's gentlemen as well, and Nature's
+ladies and Nature's gentlemen are above mere external circumstances;
+they are above the mere money's worth or the mere accident of birth.
+Now, Ruth belonged to this rare class, and Susy, without quite
+understanding it, felt it. She forgot the humble little house, the lack
+of rooms, and the workmanlike appearance of the whole place. She said in
+a deferential tone:
+
+"I have come to you, from Kathleen O'Hara. You have done something which
+has distressed her very much. She wants you to meet her to-morrow at the
+White Cross Corner on your way to school; she wants you to be there at a
+quarter to nine. That is all, Ruth. You will be sure to attend? I
+promised Kathleen most faithfully that I would deliver her message. She
+is very unhappy about something. I don't know what you have done to vex
+her."
+
+"But I do," said Ruth. "And I can't help going on vexing her."
+
+"But what is it?" said Susy, whose curiosity was suddenly awakened. "You
+might tell me. I wish you would."
+
+"I can't tell you, Susan; it has nothing to do with you. It is a matter
+between Kathleen and myself. Very well, I will meet her. There is no use
+in shirking things. Good-night, Susan. It was good of you to come and
+give me Kathleen's message."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+RUTH RESIGNS THE PREMIERSHIP.
+
+
+The next morning Kathleen O'Hara was downstairs betimes. She ran into
+the kitchen and suggested to Maria that she should help her to toast the
+bread. Maria, who was somewhat lazy, and who had already begun to
+appreciate Kathleen's extreme good-nature, handed her the toasting-fork
+and pointed to a heap of bread which lay cut and ready for toasting on
+the deal table in the center of the kitchen.
+
+"Dear me, Miss Kathleen!" she said; "if only Miss Alice was as
+good-natured as you, why, the house would go on wheels."
+
+"I often helped the servants at home," said Kathleen. "Why isn't Alice
+good-natured?"
+
+"She's made contrairy, I expect, miss."
+
+"Cut on the cross, I call it," said cook, who came forward at this
+juncture and offered a chair to Kathleen.
+
+"Well, if that's the case I'm sorry for her," said Kathleen. "It must be
+very unpleasant to feel sort of peppery-and-salty and cross-grained all
+the time."
+
+"It isn't what you ever feel, miss," said cook with an admiring glance
+at the young lady.
+
+Kathleen fixed her deep-blue roguish eyes on the good woman's face.
+
+"No," she said, "I don't think I am cross-grained. By the way, cook,
+wouldn't you like a black silk apron embroidered with violets to wear
+when you have done all your dirty work in the kitchen?"
+
+"Cooks don't wear black silk aprons embroidered with violets," was the
+good woman's answer.
+
+"But this cook might, if a nice Irish girl, who has plenty of money,
+gave it to her. I have it in the bottom of my trunk. I asked Aunt Katie
+O'Flynn to send it to me for your mistress, but your mistress doesn't
+care for it. I will give it to you, cook.--And, Maria, I've got a little
+toque for you. It is sky-blue with forget-me-nots. Have you a young man,
+Maria? Most girls have, haven't they? Wouldn't you like to walk out with
+him in a sky-blue toque trimmed with forget-me-nots?"
+
+"It puts me all in a flutter to think of it, miss," said Maria. "I am
+sure a sweeter young lady never came into this house."
+
+Kathleen chatted on to the retainers, as she called cook and Maria,
+until she had toasted enough bread. She then went into the dining-room.
+Alice was there, looking pale and headachy. The day was a very cold one,
+and the fire was by no means bright. Kathleen's intensely rosy
+cheeks--for the fire had considerably scorched them--attracted Alice's
+attention.
+
+"I do wish you wouldn't do servant's work," she said. "You annoy me
+terribly by the way you go on."
+
+"Oh, don't be annoyed, darling," said Kathleen softly. "Just regard me
+as a necessary evil. You see, Alice, however cross you are, I'd have the
+others all on my side. There's your mother and David and Ben and the two
+servants. It isn't worth while, Alice. If they all like me, why
+shouldn't you?"
+
+Alice made no reply. Kathleen stood still for a moment; then she
+glanced at the clock. It was a quarter past eight. She must be out of
+the house in a little over a quarter of an hour if she was to meet Ruth
+Craven at the White Cross Corner. She sat down to the table, helped
+herself to a piece of toast, and spread some butter on it.
+
+"A cup of tea, please, Alice," she said.--"Oh, what letters are those?
+Any for me? David, if you give me a letter I'll--I'll love you ever so
+much. Ah, two! Dave, you are a treasure; you are a darling; you are
+everything that is exquisite."
+
+It was Alice's place to pour out the tea. She poured some out now, very
+unwillingly, for Kathleen, who drew the cup towards her, stirred it
+absently, and began to read her letters. Presently she uttered a little
+shriek.
+
+"It is from Aunt Katie O'Flynn, and she is crossing the Channel, the
+darling colleenoge. She is coming to London, and she wants me to see
+her. Oh, golloptious! What fun I shall have! Boys, aren't you delighted?
+It was Aunt Katie O'Flynn who sent me that wonderful trunk of clothes.
+Won't she give us a time now? I declare I scarcely know whether I'm on
+my head or my heels.--Alice, you'd best make yourself agreeable and join
+in the fun, for I can assure you it's theaters and concerts and teas and
+dinners and--oh! shopping, and every conceivable thing that can delight
+the heart of man or woman, boy or girl, that will be our portion while
+Aunt Katie--the duck, the darling, the treasure!--is in London. Let me
+see; what hotel is she going to? Oh, the Metropole. Where is the
+Metropole?"
+
+"In Northumberland Avenue. But, of course, we are not going up to
+London," said Alice. "We are only schoolgirls. We are at school and must
+mind our lessons. I am trying for my scholarship, and I mean to get it.
+And I don't suppose, even if your aunt is coming at a most inopportune
+time, that she is going to upset everything."
+
+"That remains to be proved," said Kathleen. "I am not going to have Aunt
+Katie so close to me without having my bit of fun. Oh, dear, dear! look
+at the time. I must be off."
+
+"Why are you going so early? It is only half-past eight."
+
+"I have business, darling--a friend to meet. Have you any objection?"
+
+Kathleen did not wait for Alice's answer. She dashed upstairs, and on
+the first landing she met Mrs. Tennant, who had been suffering from
+headache, and was in consequence a little late for breakfast.
+
+"Mrs. Tennant," shouted Kathleen, "I have the top of the morning as far
+as news is concerned. It is herself that is crossing the briny. She'll
+be in London to-night. Oh, did you ever hear of anything quite so
+scrumptious? But what's the matter, dear?"
+
+"Kathleen, I wish you wouldn't wear that really good dress going to
+school."
+
+"Is it my old lavender, and my old satin blouse?" said Kathleen, looking
+down at herself with a momentary glance. "Ah, then, my dear tired one,
+it isn't dresses I'll be thinking of when Aunt Katie is in London.
+She'll get me more than I can wear. She'll fig you all out, every one of
+you, if you like--you and Alice and David and Ben and cook and Maria.
+Maria is keeping company, she tells me, and would like a few fine
+clothes--naturally, the creature! Well, Mrs. Tennant, it's herself that
+is crossing, as I said; even now she is in the big steamer, coming
+nearer and nearer to England. Shan't we have fun when she arrives?"
+
+"You haven't told me who it is yet, dear."
+
+"Oh, darling, you haven't been listening. It is the dear woman who sent
+me the box full of new clothes--Aunt Katie O'Flynn, at your service. But
+there! I must be off. I'll think of it all day, and it will make me so
+happy."
+
+Kathleen dashed away to her own room, put on her outdoor things, and a
+moment or two later was running as fast as she could in the direction of
+the White Cross Corner. There she saw a silent, grave-looking girl, very
+quietly dressed, standing waiting for her.
+
+"Here I am," said Kathleen; "and here you stand, Ruth. And now, what
+have you got to say for yourself?"
+
+"I am sorry," said Ruth. "I thought when you sent Susy to me with your
+message that I might as well come here this morning; but I haven't
+changed my mind--not a bit of it."
+
+Kathleen's eyes, always extraordinarily dark for blue eyes, now grew
+almost black. A flash of real anger shot through them.
+
+"Don't you think it is rather mean," she said, "to give me up when you
+promised to belong to me--to give me up altogether and to go with those
+dreadful, proud paying girls?"
+
+"It isn't that," said Ruth, "and you know it. It is just this: I can't
+belong to two sides. Cassandra Weldon offers me an advantage which I
+dare not throw away. It is most essential to me to win the sixty-pounds
+scholarship. If I win it I shall be properly educated. When I leave
+school I'll be able to take the position my dear father, had he lived,
+would have wished for me. I shall be able to support granny and
+grandfather. You see for yourself, Kathleen, that I can't refuse it. It
+isn't a question of choice; it is a question of necessity. I love you.
+Kathleen--I will always love you and be faithful to you--but I can't
+give up the scholarship."
+
+"I don't want you to," said Kathleen; "but why shouldn't you belong to
+me and yet take the scholarship? I don't want you to be with me all the
+time. You can go to that horrible, detestable girl when it is necessary,
+and have your odious coach to post you up. But I want you more than
+anybody else. Don't you know how I love you? Can't you do both? Think it
+over, Ruth."
+
+"I have thought it over, and I can't do it. I would if I could, but it
+isn't to be done. It wouldn't be right to you, nor right to Cassandra."
+
+"Well, I think you are very mean; I think I hate you."
+
+Kathleen turned aside. She was impulsive, high-spirited, and defiant,
+but where her passions were concerned her heart was very soft. She burst
+into tears now and flung her arms around Ruth's neck.
+
+"I like a lot of people," she said--"I like Mrs. Tennant, and even Susy,
+although she's not up to much, and two or three other girls--but I only
+_love_ you. In the whole of England I only love you, and you are going
+to give me up."
+
+"No; I will still be your friend."
+
+"But you have refused to join my society; you have refused to belong to
+the Wild Irish Girls."
+
+"I can't help myself."
+
+"But you promised."
+
+"I know I did. I made a mistake. Kathleen, there is no help for it. I
+shall love you even if I don't belong to the society. Now there is
+nothing more to be said."
+
+Ruth disentangled herself from Kathleen's embrace, and putting wings to
+her feet, ran in the direction of the school. Kathleen stood just where
+she had left her; over her face was passing a rapid and curious change.
+
+"Do I love her any longer?" she said to herself. "Oh, I think--I think I
+love her still. But she has slighted me. She will be sorry some day. Oh,
+dear! The only girl in the whole of England that I love has slighted me.
+She has thrown ridicule upon me. She said that she would be my Prime
+Minister, and she has resigned everything for that horrible Cassandra.
+She will be sorry yet; I know she will."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+THE SCHOLARSHIP: TROUBLE IS BREWING.
+
+
+Over some of the girls of the Great Shirley School there passed that
+morning a curious wave of excitement. Those girls who had joined
+Kathleen's society were almost now more or less in a state of tension.
+Once a week they were to meet in the quarry; once a week, whatever the
+weather, in the dead of night, they were to meet in this sequestered
+spot. They knew well that if they were discovered they would run a very
+great chance of being expelled from the school; for although they were
+day scholars, yet integrity of conduct was essential to their
+maintaining their place in that great school which gave them so liberal
+an education, in some cases without any fees, in all other cases with
+very small ones. One of the great ideas of the school was to encourage
+brave actions, unselfish deeds, nobility of mind. Those girls who
+possessed any talent or any specially strong characteristic had every
+chance offered to them in the Great Shirley School; their futures were
+more or less assured, for the governors of the school had powers to give
+grants to the clever girls, to award scholarships for which all might
+compete, and to encourage industry, honesty, and charitable ideas as far
+as possible.
+
+Kathleen, when she entered the school and started her society, had not
+the slightest idea that, while she was trying to help the foundationers,
+she was really leading them into very grave mischief. But several of the
+foundationers themselves knew this; nevertheless the fun of the whole
+thing, the particular fascination which Kathleen herself exercised over
+her followers, kept them her undeniable slaves, and not for the world
+would any of them have left her now that they had sworn fealty to her
+cause. So Kathleen had thought when she left the house that morning; but
+as she entered the school she knew that one girl, and that the girl whom
+she most cared for, had decided to choose the thorny path which led far
+from Kathleen and her company.
+
+"In addition to everything else, she is quite mean," thought the little
+girl, and during that morning's lessons she occupied herself far more in
+flashing angry glances in the direction of Ruth one minute, and at
+Cassandra the next, than in attending to what she was about. Kathleen
+had been given much by Nature. Her father was a very rich man; she had
+been brought up with great freedom, but also with certain bold liberal
+ideas as regards the best in life and conduct. She was a very beautiful
+girl, and she was warm-hearted and amiable. As for her talents, she had
+a certain charm which does more for a woman than any amount of ordinary
+ability; and she had a passionate and great love for music. Kathleen's
+musical genius was already spoken of with much approbation by the rest
+of the school. The girls used to ask her to improvise. Kathleen could
+improvise in almost any style, in almost any fashion. She could make the
+piano sob with her heart-rendering notes; and again she could bring
+forth music clear and fairy-like. Again she would lead the tender and
+solemn strains of the march; and again she would dance over the keys so
+lightly, so ravishingly, that the girls kept time with their feet to her
+notes. The music mistress was anxious that Kathleen should try for a
+musical scholarship, and she had some ideas of doing so herself. But
+to-day she felt cross, and even her music was at fault.
+
+"I can't do it," she said, looking Miss Spicer full in the face. "It
+means such drudgery, and I don't believe I'd play a bit better if I
+did."
+
+"That is certainly not the case, Kathleen," said Miss Spicer. "Knowledge
+must be of assistance. You have great talent; if you add to that real
+musical knowledge you can do almost anything."
+
+"But I don't think I much care to. I can play on the piano to imitate
+any birds that ever sung at home, and father loves that. I can play all
+the dead-marches to make mother cry, and I can play--oh, such dance
+music for Aunt Katie O'Flynn! It doesn't matter that I should know more,
+does it?"
+
+"I can't agree with you. It would be a very great pleasure to me if I
+saw you presented with a musical scholarship."
+
+"Would it?" said Kathleen, glancing at the thin and careworn face of the
+music teacher.
+
+"You don't know what it would mean to me," answered Miss Spicer. "It is
+seldom that one has the pleasure of teaching real talent, and I can't
+say how refreshing it is to me to hear you play as you do. But I want
+you to improve; I want you to be a credit to me."
+
+"I'd like to please you, of course," said Kathleen. She spoke gently,
+and then she added: "But there is only one piano at the Tennants', and
+that is in the drawing-room, and Alice or the boys or Mrs. Tennant are
+always there. I have not many opportunities to practice."
+
+"I live in the same terrace," said Miss Spicer eagerly, "and my piano is
+hardly ever used. If you only would come and make use of it. There is a
+fire in my sitting-room, and you could come at any hour whenever you
+have a fancy. Will you? It would be a great pleasure to me."
+
+"You are very kind. Yes, I will come."
+
+Kathleen bent towards the music mistress and, somewhat to that lady's
+astonishment, printed a kiss on her forehead. The kiss went right down
+into Miss Spicer's somewhat frozen heart.
+
+Immediately after school that day Cassandra held out her hand to Ruth.
+Ruth went up to her gravely.
+
+"Well, Ruth," she said, "have you decided? I hope you have. You told me
+you would let me know to-day."
+
+"I have, Cassandra," said Ruth.
+
+Kathleen, who was standing not far away, suddenly darted forward and
+stood within a foot of the two girls.
+
+"Have you really decided, Ruth?" she said. Her tone was imperious. Ruth
+felt her gentle heart beat high. She turned and looked with dignity
+first at Kathleen and then at Cassandra.
+
+"I will join you, Cassandra," she said.--"Kathleen, I told you this
+morning what my decision was."
+
+"And I hate you!" said Kathleen. She tossed her head and walked away.
+
+Cassandra waited until she was out of hearing.
+
+"You look very pale, dear Ruth," she said. "Come home with me, won't
+you?"
+
+Ruth did not speak. Cassandra laid her hand on her arm.
+
+"Why, you are trembling," she said. "What has that horrid girl done to
+you?"
+
+"Nothing--nothing."
+
+"But she has."
+
+"Please, Cassie, she is not horrid."
+
+"Oh, well, we won't discuss her. She is not my sort. Won't you come and
+have lunch with me, and we can arrange everything? You are going to take
+advantage of mother's offer?"
+
+"I can't help myself. It is much too good to be refused. It means--I
+can't tell you what it means to me, Cassie. If I can only get a
+scholarship I shall be able to help grandfather. And yet--I must tell
+you the truth--I was very nearly declining it."
+
+"I don't think I should ever have spoken to you again if you had."
+
+"Even so, I was very nearly declining it; for you know I could not have
+accepted your offer and been friends with Kathleen O'Hara in the way she
+wants me to be. Now I am very fond of Kathleen, and if I could please
+myself I would retain her friendship. But you know, grandfather has lost
+some more money. He heard about it two nights ago, and that made me make
+up my mind. Of course I love you, Cassie. I have loved you ever since I
+came to the school. You have been so very, very kind to me. But had I
+the choice I would have stayed with Kathleen."
+
+"Well, it is all a mystery to me," said Cassandra. "I don't like
+Kathleen; I will frankly say so. I don't think she has a good influence
+in the school. That sort of very rich popular girl always makes
+mischief. It is far better for the school not to have anybody like her
+in its midst. She has the power of attracting people, but she has also
+the power of making enemies. It is my opinion she will get into very
+serious trouble before she leaves Great Shirley School. I shall be sorry
+for her, of course."
+
+"But what do you mean? What sort of trouble can she get into?"
+
+"There are whispers about her that I don't quite understand. But if it
+were known that she does lead other girls astray, she would be had up
+before the governors, and then she would not find herself in a very
+pleasant position."
+
+Ruth did not say anything. Her face turned white. Cassandra glanced at
+her, uttered a quick sigh, and resumed:
+
+"Whether you like it or not, I am glad you are out of the whole thing. I
+should hate you to get into trouble. You are so clever, and so different
+from the others, that you are certain to succeed. And now let us hurry
+home. I must tell you all about our scheme. You must come to me every
+day; Miss Renshaw will be with us each evening from six to seven. Oh!
+you don't know how happy you are making me."
+
+Ruth smiled and tried to look cheerful.
+
+Mrs. Weldon came out to meet the two girls as they entered the pretty
+little cottage. Her face was smiling.
+
+"Ah, Cassandra!" she said, "now you will be happy."
+
+"Yes; Ruth has accepted our offer."
+
+"Indeed I have, Mrs. Weldon," said Ruth; "and I scarcely know how to
+thank you."
+
+"Come in, dear, and have some dinner.--Cassandra, I have just heard
+from Miss Renshaw, and she is coming this afternoon.--You can either
+stay, Ruth, when dinner is over, or come back again."
+
+"I will come back," said Ruth. "Granny is not very well, and I ought not
+to have left her, even to have dinner here; but I couldn't help myself."
+
+Cassandra brought her friend into the house. They had a pleasant meal
+together, and Ruth tried to forget that she had absolutely quarrelled
+with Kathleen, and that Kathleen's heart was half-broken on her account.
+
+But Kathleen herself was determined not to give way to any real feelings
+of misery on account of Ruth's desertion.
+
+"I have no time to think about it," she said to herself.
+
+When she returned to the house she found a telegram waiting for her. She
+tore it open. It was from Aunt Katie O'Flynn:
+
+"I have arrived. Come and have dinner with me to-night at the Metropole,
+and bring any friend you like."
+
+"What a lark!" thought Kathleen. "And what a chance for Ruth if only she
+had been different! Oh, dear! I suppose I must ask Alice to come with
+me."
+
+"Whom is your telegram from, dear?" asked Mrs. Tennant, coming up to her
+at that moment.
+
+Alice was standing in the dining-room devouring a book of Greek history.
+She held it close to her eyes, which were rather short-sighted.
+
+"It's from Aunt Katie O'Flynn. She has come, the darling!" said
+Kathleen. "She wants me to go to London to dine with her to-night. Of
+course I'll go.--- You will come with me, won't you, Alice? She says I
+am to bring some one."
+
+"No, I can't come," said Alice; "and for that matter no more can you.
+It takes quite thirty-five minutes to get to Charing Cross, and then you
+have to get to the Metropole. We girls are not allowed to go to London
+by ourselves."
+
+"As if that mattered."
+
+"It matters to me, if it does not to you. Anyhow, here is a note for
+you. It is from Miss Ravenscroft, our head-mistress. I rather fancy that
+will decide matters."
+
+Kathleen tore open the note which Alice had handed to her. She read the
+following words:
+
+     "DEAR MISS O'HARA,--I should be glad if you would come round
+     to see me at six o'clock this evening. I have something of
+     importance to say to you."
+
+"What can she mean?" said Kathleen. "I scarcely know Miss Ravenscroft. I
+just spoke to her the first day I went to the school."
+
+"She has asked me too. What can it be about?" said Alice.
+
+"Then you can take a message from me; I am not going," said Kathleen.
+
+"What?" cried Alice. "I don't think even you will dare to defy the
+head-mistress. Why, my dear Kathleen, you will never get over it. This
+is madness.--Mother, do speak to her."
+
+"What is it, dear?" said Mrs. Tennant, coming forward.
+
+Alice explained.
+
+"And Kathleen says she won't go?"
+
+"Of course I won't go, dear Mrs. Tennant. On the contrary, you and I
+will go together to see Aunt Katie O'Flynn. She is my aunt, and I
+wouldn't slight her for all the world. She'd never forgive me.--You can
+tell Miss Ravenscroft, Alice, that my aunt has come to see me, and that
+I have been obliged to go to town. You can manage it quite easily."
+
+Kathleen did not wait for any further discussion, but ran out of the
+room.
+
+"I do wish, mother, you'd try and persuade her," said Alice. "I am sure,
+whatever her father may be, he can't want her to come to school here to
+get into endless scrapes. There is some mystery afoot, and Miss
+Ravenscroft has got wind of it. I know she has, because I have heard it
+from one or two of the girls."
+
+"But what mystery? What can you mean?" said Mrs. Tennant.
+
+"I don't know myself," said Alice, "but it has something to do with
+Kathleen and a curious influence she has over the foundation girls. I
+know Kathleen isn't popular with the mistresses."
+
+"That puzzles me," said Mrs. Tennant, "for I never met a more charming
+girl."
+
+"I know you think so; but, you see, mere charm of manner doesn't go down
+in a great school like ours. Of course I am sorry for her, and I quite
+understand that she doesn't want to disappoint her aunt, but she ought
+to come with me; she ought, mother. I haven't the slightest influence
+over her, but you have. I don't think she would willingly do anything to
+annoy you."
+
+"Well, I will see what I can do. She is a wayward child. I am sorry that
+Miss Ravenscroft expects her to go to see her to-day, as she is so
+devoted to her aunt and would enjoy seeing her."
+
+Mrs. Tennant left the room, and Alice went steadily on with her
+preparations. She wondered why her mother did not come back. Presently
+she looked at the clock. It wanted a quarter to six.
+
+"Dear me! I must go upstairs now and fetch Kathleen. She will have to
+tidy herself, and I must try to persuade her not to put on anything
+_outre_," thought Alice.
+
+She rushed upstairs. She opened the bedroom door. The bedroom was empty.
+
+"Where can she be?" thought Alice.
+
+There were signs of Kathleen's late presence in the shape of a tie flung
+on the bed, a hat tossed by its side, an open drawer revealing brushes
+and combs, laces and colored ties, and no end of gloves, handkerchiefs,
+&c.; but not the girl herself.
+
+"She really is a great trial," thought Alice. "I suppose she has gone
+with mother to town. I wonder mother yields to her. Kathleen will get
+into a serious scrape at the school, that's certain."
+
+Alice went to her own part of the room, which was full of order and
+method. She opened a drawer, substituted a clean collar for the one she
+had been wearing during the day, brushed out her satin-brown hair
+neatly, put on her sailor-hat and a small black coat, snatched up a pair
+of gloves, and ran downstairs. On the way she met Mrs. Tennant.
+
+"Oh, mother," cried the girl, "where is Kathleen? I didn't find her in
+her room, and I wondered what had become of her."
+
+"Where is she?" said Mrs. Tennant. "I thought she was going with you. I
+had a long talk with her. She did not say much, but she seemed quite
+gentle and not at all cross. I kissed her and said that I would go with
+her to London to see her aunt to-morrow, or that she might ask Miss
+O'Flynn here."
+
+"I am sorry you did that, mother."
+
+"Well, darling, it seemed the only thing to do; and the child took it
+very well. Isn't she going with you? She said she wouldn't be at all
+long getting ready."
+
+"She is not in her room, mother. I can't imagine what has happened to
+her."
+
+Mrs. Tennant ran upstairs in some alarm. Kathleen had certainly flown.
+The disordered state of the room gave evidence of this; and then on a
+nearer view Mrs. Tennant found a tiny piece of paper pinned in
+conventional fashion to the pin-cushion. She took it up and read:
+
+"Gone to London to Aunt Katie O'Flynn."
+
+"Well, she is a naughty girl. How troublesome! I must follow her, of
+course," said Mrs. Tennant. "Really this is provoking."
+
+"Oh, mother, it isn't worth while fretting about her. She is quite
+hopeless," said Alice. "But there! I must make the best of it to Miss
+Ravenscroft, only I am sure she will be very angry with Kathleen."
+
+Alice flew to the school. She was met by a teacher, who asked her where
+she was going.
+
+"To see Miss Ravenscroft," replied Alice. "I had a note asking me to
+call at six o'clock. Do you know anything about it, Miss Purcell?"
+
+"Perhaps she wants to question you about Miss O'Hara. There is some
+commotion in the school in connection with her. She seems to be
+displeasing some of those in authority."
+
+"Kathleen had a note too, asking her to call."
+
+"Then it must be about her. But where is she? Isn't she going with
+you?"
+
+Alice threw up her hands.
+
+"Don't ask me," she said; "perhaps the less I say the better. I am late
+as it is. I won't keep you now, Miss Purcell."
+
+Alice ran the rest of the way. She entered the great school, and knocked
+at the front entrance. This door was never opened except to the
+head-mistress and her visitors. After a time an elderly servant answered
+her summons.
+
+"I am Alice Tennant," said the young girl, "and I have come at Miss
+Ravenscroft's request to see her."
+
+"Oh yes, miss, certainly. She said she was expecting two young ladies."
+
+"Well, I am one of them. Can you let her know?"
+
+"Step in here, miss."
+
+Alice was shown into a small waiting-room. A moment later the servant
+returned.
+
+"Will you follow me, miss?" she said.
+
+They went down a passage and entered a brightly and cheerfully furnished
+sitting-room. There was a fire in the grate, and electric light made all
+things as bright as day. A tall lady with jet-black hair combed back
+from a massive forehead, and beautifully dressed in long, clinging
+garments of deep purple, stood on the hearth. Round her neck was a
+collar of old Mechlin lace; she wore cuffs of the same with ruffles at
+the wrist. Her hands were small and white. She had one massive diamond
+ring on the third finger. This lady was the great Miss Ravenscroft, the
+head of the school, one of the most persuasive, most fascinating, and
+most influential teachers in the whole realm of girlhood. Her opinion
+was asked by anxious mothers and fathers and guardians. The girls whom
+she took into her own house and helped with her own counsel were thought
+the luckiest in England. Even Alice, who was reckoned a good girl as
+good girls go, had never before come in personal contact with Miss
+Ravenscroft. The head-mistress superintended the management of every
+girl in the school, but she did not show herself except when she read
+prayers in her deep musical voice morning after morning, or when
+something very special occurred. Miss Ravenscroft did not smile when
+Alice appeared, nor did she hold out her hand. She bowed very slightly
+and then dropped into a chair, and pointed to another for the girl to
+take.
+
+"You are Alice Tennant?"
+
+"Yes, madam."
+
+"You are in the upper fifth?"
+
+"Yes," said Alice again.
+
+"I have had very good reports of you from Miss Purcell and Miss Dove and
+others; you will probably be in the sixth next year."
+
+"I hope so; it will be a very great delight to me."
+
+Alice trembled and colored, looked down, and then looked up again. Miss
+Ravenscroft was regarding her with kindly eyes. Hers was a sort of
+veiled face; she seldom gave way to her feelings. Part of her power lay
+in her potential attitudes, in the possibilities which she seldom,
+except on very rare occasions, exhibited to their fullest extent. Alice
+felt that she had only approached the extreme edge of Miss Ravenscroft's
+nature. Miss Ravenscroft was silent for a minute; then she said gently:
+
+"And your friend, Kathleen O'Hara? I wrote to her also. Why isn't she
+here?"
+
+"I am very sorry indeed," said Alice; "it isn't my fault."
+
+"We won't talk of faults, if you please, Alice Tennant. I asked you why
+your friend isn't here."
+
+"I must explain. She isn't my friend. She lives with mother--I mean she
+boards with mother."
+
+"Why isn't she here?"
+
+"She got your letter. I suppose she didn't understand; she is so new to
+schools. She is not coming."
+
+"Not coming? But I commanded."
+
+"I know, I tried to explain, but she is new to school and--and spoilt."
+
+"She must be."
+
+Miss Ravenscroft was silent for a minute.
+
+"We will defer the subject of Kathleen O'Hara until I have the pleasure
+of speaking to her," she said then. "But now, as you are here, I should
+like to ask you a few questions."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What you say, Alice Tennant, will not be--I speak in judicial
+phrase"--here Miss Ravenscroft gave vent to a faint smile--"used against
+you. I should like to have what information you can give me. There is a
+disturbing element in this school. Do you know anything about it?"
+
+"Nothing absolutely."
+
+"But you agree with me that there is a disturbing element?"
+
+"I am afraid I do."
+
+"It has been traced to Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+Alice was silent.
+
+"It is influencing a number of girls who can be very easily impressed,
+and who form a very important part of this school. Special arrangements
+were made more than a hundred years ago by the founders of the school
+that they should receive an education in every way calculated to help
+them in life; the influence to which I allude undermines these good
+things. It must therefore be put a stop to, and the first way to put a
+stop to anything of the sort is to discover all about it. It is
+necessary that I should know all that is to be known with regard to the
+unruly condition of the foundationers of the Great Shirley School. The
+person who can doubtless tell me most is Kathleen O'Hara. The mere fact
+of her defying my authority and refusing to come to see me when she is
+summoned, shows that she is insubordinate as far as this school is
+concerned."
+
+Alice sat very still.
+
+"She has not chosen to appear, and I wish to take quick and instant
+steps. Can you help me?"
+
+"I could," said Alice--"that is, of course, I live in the same house
+with her--but I would much rather not."
+
+"You will in no way be blamed, but it is absolutely essential that you
+should give me your assistance. I am authorized to ask for it. I shall
+see Kathleen O'Hara, but from what you say, and from what I have heard,
+I am greatly shocked to have to say it, but I think it possible that she
+may not be induced to tell the exact truth. If, therefore, you notice
+anything--if anything is brought to your ears which I ought to know--you
+must come to me at once. Do not suppose that I want you to be a spy in
+this matter, but what is troubling the school must be discovered, and
+within the next few days. Now you understand. Remember that what I have
+said to you is said in the interest of the school, and absolutely behind
+closed doors. You are not to repeat it to anybody. You can go now,
+Alice Tennant. Personally I am pleased with you. I like your manner; I
+hear good accounts of your attention to lessons. In pleasing me you will
+please the governors of the school, and doubtless be able to help
+yourself and your mother, a most worthy lady, in the long run."
+
+"I am very much obliged to you," said Alice. "You have spoken kind words
+to me; but what you have set me to do is not at all to my taste. It
+seems scarcely fair, for I must say that I don't like Kathleen. She and
+I have never got on. It seems scarcely fair that I should be the one to
+run her to earth."
+
+"The fairness or the unfairness of the question is not now to be
+discussed," said Miss Ravenscroft.
+
+She rose as she spoke.
+
+"You are unfortunately in the position of her most intimate friend," she
+continued, "for you and she live in the same house. Regard what you have
+to do as an unpleasant duty, and don't consider yourself in any way
+responsible for being forced into the position which one would not, as a
+rule, advocate. The simplest plan is to get the girl herself to make a
+full confession to me; but in any case, you understand, _I must know_."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+KATHLEEN TAKES RUTH TO TOWN.
+
+
+When Kathleen ran upstairs her heart was bubbling over with the first
+real fierce anger she had almost ever felt in her life. She was a
+spirited, daring girl, but she also had a sweet temper. Now her anger
+was roused. Her heart beat fast; she clenched one of her hands.
+
+"Oh, if I had Alice here, wouldn't I give it to her?" she said to
+herself. "If I had that detestable Miss Ravenscroft here, wouldn't I
+give her a piece of my mind? How dare she order me about? Am I not
+Kathleen O'Hara of Carrigrohane? Is not my father a sort of king in old
+Ireland? And what is she? I'll prove to her that I defy her. I will go
+to see Aunt Katie O'Flynn; nothing shall keep me back."
+
+Carried away by the wild wave of passion which consumed her, Kathleen
+dressed hastily for her expedition. She was indifferent now as to what
+she wore. She put on the first head-dress which came to hand, buttoned a
+rough, shabby-looking jacket over her velvet dress, snatched up her
+purse which lay in a drawer, and without waiting for either gloves or
+necktie, ran downstairs and out of the house.
+
+"I will go. I haven't the slightest idea how I am to get there, but I
+will go to Aunt Katie O'Flynn. I shall be in the train and far enough
+away before they have discovered that I have gone," was her thought.
+
+From Mrs. Tennant's house to the station was the best part of a mile,
+but Kathleen was fleet of foot and soon accomplished the distance. She
+was just arriving at the station when she saw Ruth Craven coming to meet
+her. Ruth had enjoyed her hour with Miss Renshaw, and was altogether in
+high spirits. Kathleen stopped for a minute.
+
+"Oh, Ruth," she said, "will you come to town with me? It would be so
+nice if you would. I am going to meet Aunt Katie O'Flynn. It would not
+be a bit wrong of you to come. Do come--do, Ruthie."
+
+"But I can't in this dress," said Ruth, who felt suddenly very much
+tempted.
+
+"Of course you can. Why, Aunt Katie is such a darling she'll take us out
+if we want things and buy them on the spot. And what does dress matter?
+We'll be back in no time. What time does your grandmother expect you
+home?"
+
+"Oh, I don't know. I told granny I did not exactly know what time I
+should be back, but she certainly wouldn't expect me to be out late."
+
+"Never mind; you are doing me a kindness. I must go to see Aunt Katie,
+and it isn't convenient for the Tennants to go with me. If we go
+together it won't be a bit remarkable. Do come, Ruthie. You hurt my
+feelings awfully this morning; you needn't hurt them again."
+
+"Very well," said Ruth. "I don't know London at all, and I should like
+to go with you."
+
+The two girls now turned into the railway station. Kathleen gave a
+puzzled glance around her for a minute, then walked boldly up to a
+porter, asked him to direct her to the proper place to book for London.
+He showed her the right booking-office, and she secured two first-class
+single tickets for herself and Ruth. The girls were directed to the
+right platform, and in process of time found themselves in the train. It
+so happened that they had a compartment to themselves. Kathleen had now
+quite got over her burst of anger, and was in the highest spirits.
+
+"This is fun," she said. "It is so awfully nice to have met you! Do you
+know that Miss Ravenscroft--the Great Unknown, as we Wild Irish Girls
+call her--had the cheek to send me a letter?"
+
+Ruth looked attentive and grave.
+
+"She wanted me to go and see her at six o'clock. Well, it is half-past
+six now, and she will have to whistle for me. Ruth, darling, you don't
+know how pretty you look; and even though you have deserted me, and
+won't join my darling, beloved society, yet I shall always love you."
+
+Here Kathleen seated herself near Ruth and flung one arm around her
+waist.
+
+"But," said Ruth, disentangling herself from Kathleen's embrace, "you
+don't mean that Miss Ravenscroft--Miss _Ravenscroft_--wanted you to go
+and see her and you didn't go?"
+
+"No, I didn't go. Why should I go? Miss Ravenscroft has nothing whatever
+to do with me."
+
+"Oh, Kathleen! she is your mistress--the head-mistress of the Great
+Shirley School."
+
+"Well, and what about that? Aunty--my darling, my own dear, sweet aunt
+Katie O'Flynn--sent me a telegram to meet her in town. She is at the
+Hotel Metropole. Ruth, do you know where it is?"
+
+"I haven't the most remote idea."
+
+"Oh, well, we'll get there somehow. Never mind now; don't look so
+worried. I shall be sorry I asked you to come with me if you look any
+graver."
+
+"But you make me feel grave, Kathleen," said Ruth. "Oh, Kathleen, I
+can't tell how you puzzle me. Of course, I know that you are very pretty
+and fascinating, and that lots and lots of girls love you, and will
+always love you. You are a sort of queen in the school. Perhaps you are
+not the greatest queen, but still you are a queen, and you could lead
+the whole school."
+
+"That would be rather fun," said Kathleen.
+
+"But you'd have to change a good bit. You'd have to be just as
+fascinating, just as pretty, but different somehow--I mean--"
+
+"Oh, do tell me what you mean, and be quick. We'll be in London before
+long."
+
+"You wouldn't disobey Miss Ravenscroft if you were to be our real
+queen."
+
+"Then I'll not be your queen, darling, for I shall disobey Miss
+Ravenscroft when it comes to a case of obliging her or dear, darling,
+precious aunty."
+
+Ruth said no more. In her heart of hearts she was very much distressed.
+She was sorry for her own sake that she had met Kathleen, and that she
+was going with her to London; but on the other hand she was glad that
+she was with the girl, who by herself might have got into a serious
+scrape.
+
+Finally the two found themselves standing, very forlorn and slightly
+frightened, on one of the big platforms at Charing Cross.
+
+"Now what are we to do?" said Kathleen.
+
+"We must ask the way, of course," was Ruth's answer. "Here is a porter
+who looks kind."
+
+She went up to the man.
+
+"Have you any luggage in the van, miss?" was the immediate inquiry.
+
+"No," she answered.
+
+Ruth was quietly although shabbily dressed; but she had on gloves, a
+neat hat, and a neat necktie. Kathleen had on a very shabby coat, a most
+unsuitable cap of bright-blue velvet on her clustering masses of curls,
+and no necktie and no gloves.
+
+"What could be the matter with the pretty young lady?" thought the man.
+
+Ruth spoke in her gentle tones.
+
+"We want to go to see a lady at the Hotel Metropole," she said. "Which
+is the Hotel Metropole?"
+
+"Oh, miss, it is quite close. You have only to go out of the station,
+take the second turning to your left, walk down Northumberland Avenue,
+and you'll be there."
+
+"But where is Northumberland Avenue? We don't know anything about
+London," interrupted Kathleen.
+
+"If you will allow me to put you two ladies into a cab, the cabman will
+take you to the Hotel Metropole. It's only a step away, but you'd better
+drive if you don't know your London."
+
+"We have never been in our London before," said Kathleen in a voice of
+intense pleasure.
+
+They now tripped confidently along by the side of the porter. He took
+them into the yard outside the station, and called a four-wheeler.
+
+"No, no; one of those two-wheeled things," said the little girl.
+
+A hansom was summoned, and the children were put in. The driver was
+directed to take them to the Metropole, and they started off.
+
+"Ah!" said Kathleen, looking with great appreciation around her--"ah!
+the lights--aren't they just lovely? And see--see that water. That must
+be the Thames. Oh, Ruth, mayn't we stand up in the hansom? We could see
+ever so much better standing."
+
+"No; sit down," implored Ruth.
+
+"Why? Surely you are not frightened. There never was any sort of
+conveyance that would frighten me. I wish I might drive that horse
+instead of the stupid old Jehu on the box. Isn't London a perfect place?
+Oh, this is lovely, isn't it, Ruth?"
+
+"Thank goodness I'm not always bothered by that dreadful speaking voice
+inside me that you seem to have got," said Kathleen.
+
+Here the cab drew up with a jerk at the Metropole.
+
+"How much are we to pay you?" asked Kathleen.
+
+The man was honest, and asked the customary shilling. A porter was
+standing on the steps of the hotel. He flung the doors wide, and the two
+entered. Presently a man came up and asked Kathleen what she wanted. The
+hour was just before dinner, and the wide hall of the hotel was full.
+Both men and women turned and stared at the children. Both were
+extremely pretty, Kathleen almost startlingly so. But what about the
+gloveless little hands and the untidy neck and throat?
+
+"Please," said Kathleen, "we have come to see my aunt, Miss O'Flynn. She
+is here, isn't she?"
+
+The man said he would inquire, and went to the bureau.
+
+"Yes," he said after a minute's pause. "Will you come to the
+drawing-room, young ladies?"
+
+He conducted the children down some wide passages covered with thick
+Turkey carpets, opened the folding doors of a great drawing-room, and
+left them to themselves. There was a minute or two of agonized terror on
+the part of Ruth, of suspense and rapid heart-beating as far as Kathleen
+was concerned, and then a deep, mellow, ringing voice was heard, and
+Miss Katie O'Flynn entered the apartment.
+
+"Why, I never!" she cried. "The top of the morning to you, my honey! God
+bless you, my darling! Oh, it is joy to kiss your sweet face again!"
+
+A little lady, all smiles and dimples, all curls and necklaces and gay
+clothing, extended two arms wide and clasped them round Kathleen's neck.
+
+"Ah, aunty!" said Kathleen, "this is good. And I ran away to see you. I
+did, darling; I did. I have got into the most awful scrape; nobody knows
+what will happen. See me--without gloves and without a necktie. And this
+dear little girl, one of my chosen friends, Ruth Craven, has come with
+me."
+
+"Ah, now, how sweet of her!" said Miss O'Flynn, turning to Ruth.--"Kiss
+me, my darling. Why, then, you are as welcome as though you were the
+core of my heart for being so kind to my sweet Kathleen.--Come to the
+light, Kathleen asthore, and let me look at you. But it isn't as rosy
+you are as you used to be. It's a bit pale and pulled down you look. Do
+you like England, my dear? If you don't like it all at all, it's home
+you will come with me to the old castle and the old country. Now then,
+children, sit by me and let's have a talk. We'll have a good meal
+presently, and then I have a bit of a thought in the back of my head
+which I think will please you both. Sit here anyway for the present, and
+let us collogue to our hearts' content."
+
+Miss Katie O'Flynn and her two young charges, as she told the girls she
+considered them, drew a good deal of attention as they sat and talked
+together. The little lady was not young, but was certainly very
+fascinating. She had a vivacious, merry smile, the keenest, most
+brilliant black eyes in the world, and a certain grace and dignity about
+her which seemed to contrast with her rapid utterances and intensely
+genial manner.
+
+Dinner was announced, and the three went into the great dining-room.
+Miss O'Flynn ordered a small table, and they sat down together. Ruth
+felt unhappy; she keenly desired to go home again. She was more and more
+certain that she had done wrong to listen to Kathleen's persuasions. But
+Kathleen was enjoying herself to the utmost. She was an Irish girl
+again, sitting close to one of her very own. She forgot the dull school
+and the dreadfully dreary house where she now lived; she absolutely
+forgot that such a person as Miss Ravenscroft existed; she ceased almost
+to remember the Society of the Wild Irish Girls. Was she not Kathleen
+O'Hara, the only daughter of the House of O'Hara, the heiress of her
+beloved father's old castle? For some day she would be mistress of
+Carrigrohane Castle; some day she would be a great lady on her own
+account. Now Kathleen's ideas of what a great lady should be were in
+themselves very sensible and noble. A great lady should do her utmost to
+make others happy. She should dispense _largesse_ in the true sense of
+the word. She should make as many people as possible happy. Her
+retainers should feel certain that they dwelt in her heart. She should
+love the soil of her native land with a passion which nothing could
+undermine or weaken. The sons of the soil should be her brothers, her
+kinsmen; the daughters of the soil should be her sisters in the best
+sense of the word. But not only should the great lady of Carrigrohane
+love her Irish friends, but men and women, both youths and children, but
+she should love others who needed her help. There never was a more
+affectionate, more generous-hearted girl than Kathleen; but of
+self-control she had little or no knowledge, and those who crossed her
+will had yet to find that Kathleen would not obey, for she was fearless,
+defiant, resolute--in short, a rebel born and bred.
+
+Ruth sat silent, perplexed, and anxious in the midst of the gay feast.
+Kathleen and Aunt Katie O'Flynn laughed and almost shouted in their
+mirth. Occasionally people turned to glance at the trio--the grave,
+refined, extremely pretty, but shabbily dressed girl; the radiant
+child, and the vivacious little lady who might be her mother but who
+scarcely looked as if she was. It was a curious party for such a room
+and for such surroundings.
+
+"I think--" said Ruth suddenly. "Forgive me, Kathleen, but I think we
+ought to be looking out a train to go back by."
+
+"Indeed, and that you won't," said Miss O'Flynn. "You are going to stay
+with me to-night. Why, do you think I'd let this precious darling child
+back again in the middle of the night? And you must stay here too--what
+is your name? Oh, Ruth. I can get you a room here, and you shall have a
+fire and every comfort."
+
+"I at least must go home," said Ruth. "My grandfather and grandmother
+will be sitting up for me."
+
+"Oh, nonsense, child!" said Miss O'Flynn. "I can send a commissionaire
+down to tell your grandfather that I am keeping you for the night."
+
+"Of course, Ruth," said Kathleen. "Don't be silly; it is absurd for you
+to go on like that. And for my part I should love to stay."
+
+"I am sorry, Kathleen," said Ruth, "but I must go home. Perhaps one of
+the porters can tell me when there is a train to Merrifield. I must go
+back, for grandfather would be terrified if I didn't go home. You, of
+course, must please yourself."
+
+"My dear child, leave it to me," said Miss O'Flynn. "You can't possibly
+go back--neither you nor my sweet pet Kathleen. Oh, I'll arrange it,
+dear; don't you be frightened. You couldn't go so late by yourself; it
+wouldn't be right."
+
+Miss O'Flynn, however, had not come in contact with a character like
+Ruth's before. She could be as obstinate as a mule. It was in that
+light Miss O'Flynn chose to consider her conduct.
+
+"I must go," she said. "I can't by any possibility stay."
+
+"Do, Ruth, for my sake," pleaded Kathleen, tears in her eyes.
+
+"No, Kathleen, not even for your sake. And I think," added Ruth, "that
+you ought to come with me. It would be much better for you to see Miss
+Ravenscroft in the morning and explain matters to her."
+
+"Nonsense!" said Kathleen, now speaking with decided temper. "That is my
+affair. I like you very much, Ruth, but you really need not interfere
+with me."
+
+"I should think not indeed," said Miss O'Flynn. "I know nothing about
+you, Miss Craven, but you don't understand what a person of consequence
+my niece is considered in Ireland."
+
+"That may be," replied Ruth; "but at school Kathleen, sweet and dear as
+she is, has to obey the rules just like any other girl.--Please,
+Kathleen, do be persuaded and come back with me.--Indeed, Miss O'Flynn,
+if you will only believe me, it is considered a very grave offence to
+miss morning school or to be late when nine o'clock strikes; and
+Kathleen can't be at school in time unless she returns home now."
+
+"I'm not going, so there!" said Kathleen.
+
+"Perhaps some one would tell me when the next train for Merrifield
+leaves Charing Cross," was Ruth's next remark.
+
+Before any one could reply to her, however, a servant entered and said
+something in a low tone to Miss O'Flynn.
+
+"Well, now," she said, speaking with eagerness, her face all smiles and
+dimples, "the way is made plain for you at least, Miss Craven.--Who do
+you think has come, Kathleen? Why, the lady who has charge of you."
+
+"Mrs. Tennant? Oh, the dear tired one!" cried Kathleen. "She can never
+be cross, and I like her very much.--Where is the lady?" she added,
+turning to the waiter.
+
+"She is in the hall, miss."
+
+Kathleen flew out, and before Mrs. Tennant, who was really feeling very
+angry, could prevent her, had flung her arms round her neck.
+
+"Thank goodness it is you!" said the young girl. "Now don't be angry,
+for you don't know how to manage it. If it was Alice, wouldn't she be in
+a tantrum? But you are all right; you haven't an idea of scolding me. I
+arrived here as safely as a girl could. And what do you think? I brought
+pretty Ruth Craven with me. She didn't much like it, but here she is;
+and she's on tenter-hooks to get home, so she can return with you, can't
+she?"
+
+"You must come too, Kathleen. You annoyed me very much indeed. You gave
+me a terrible fright. I did not know what might have happened to you,
+knowing how ignorant you are of London and its ways."
+
+"But I have got a head on my shoulders," laughed Kathleen. "And now that
+you have come we must have a bit of fun. I want to introduce you to
+aunty. It is Aunt Katie O'Flynn, you know, the lady who sent me the
+beautiful, wonderful clothes."
+
+But here Miss O'Flynn herself appeared on the scene. Kathleen did the
+necessary introducing, and the two ladies moved a little apart to talk
+together. By-and-by Miss O'Flynn called the two girls to her side.
+
+"Mrs. Tennant is not angry with you now, Kathleen. On the contrary, she
+loves you very much; and she will take Miss Ruth Craven back with her. I
+have been trying to induce her to stay here herself, but she won't; and
+as Ruth is anxious to return home, her escort has come very opportunely.
+As to you, darling, nothing will induce me to part with you until
+to-morrow morning."
+
+"But what will you do about school?" said Ruth.
+
+"That can be managed," said Miss O'Flynn. "It isn't the first time that
+Kathleen and I have got up with the sunrise. We'll get up to-morrow
+before it, I'm thinking, and take a train, and be in time to have a good
+breakfast at Mrs. Tennant's.--Then if you, my dear lady, will put up
+with me until lunch-time, I can see more of my Kathleen, and propound
+some plans for your pleasure as well as hers. If you must go, Mrs.
+Tennant, I am afraid you must, for the next train leaves Charing Cross
+for Merrifield at ten minutes past nine."
+
+Mrs. Tennant looked grave, but it was difficult to resist Miss O'Flynn,
+and the time was passing. Accordingly she and Ruth left the Hotel
+Metropole, and the aunt and niece found themselves alone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+MISS KATIE O'FLYNN AND HER NIECE.
+
+
+"Now, Kathleen," said Miss O'Flynn, "you come straight up to my bedroom,
+where there is a cosy fire, and where we will be just as snug as Punch.
+We'll draw two chairs up to the fire and have a real collogue, that we
+will."
+
+"Yes, that we will," said Kathleen. "I have a lot of things to ask you,
+and a lot of things to tell you."
+
+"Come along then, dear child. My room is on the second floor; we won't
+wait for the lift."
+
+Kathleen took Miss Katie O'Flynn's hand, and they ran merrily and as
+lightly as two-year-olds up the stairs. People turned to look at them as
+they sped upwards.
+
+"Why, the little old lady seems as young and agile as the pretty niece,"
+said one visitor to another.
+
+"Oh, they're both Irish; that accounts for anything," was the answer.
+"The most extraordinary and the most lively nation on the face of the
+earth."
+
+The two vivacious Irishwomen entered their bedroom. Aunt Katie flung
+herself into a deep arm-chair; Kathleen did likewise, and then they
+talked to their heart's content. It is good to hear two Irishwomen
+conversing together, for there is so much action in the
+conversation--such lifting of brows, such raising of hands, such
+emphasis in tone, in voice, in manner. Imagery is so freely employed;
+telling sentences, sharp satire, wit--brilliant, overflowing,
+spontaneous--all come to the fore. Laughter sometimes checks the eager
+flow of words. Occasionally, too, if the conversation is sorrowful,
+tears flow and sobs come from the excited and over-sensitive hearts. No
+one need be dull who has the privilege of listening to two Irishwomen
+who have been parted for some time talking their hearts out to each
+other. Kathleen and her aunt were no exception to the universal rule.
+Kathleen had never been from home before, and Aunt Katie had things to
+tell her about every person, man and woman, old and young, on the
+Carrigrohane estate. But when all the news had been told, when the exact
+number of dogs had been recounted, the cats and kittens described, the
+fowls, the goats, the donkeys, the horses, the cows enumerated, it came
+to be Aunt Katie's turn to listen.
+
+"Now my love, tell me, and be quick, about all you have been doing. And
+first and foremost, how do you like school?"
+
+"Not at all, aunty; and I'm not learning anything."
+
+"My dear, that is sad hearing; and your poor father pining his heart out
+for the want of you."
+
+"I never wished to go to school," said Kathleen.
+
+"You will have to bear it now, my pet, unless you have real cause for
+complaint. They're not unkind to you, acushla, are they?"
+
+"Oh, not really, Aunt Katie; but they're such dull people. The teachers
+are dull. I don't mind Miss Spicer so much; she's the music teacher. As
+to Miss Ravenscroft, I have never even seen her."
+
+"And who is she, darling?"
+
+"The head-mistress, and no end of a toff."
+
+"What's a toff, dear?"
+
+"It's a slang word they use in stupid old England."
+
+"I don't admire it, my love. Don't you demean yourself by bringing words
+of that sort home to Carrigrohane."
+
+"Not I. I shan't be a minute in the old place before the salt breezes
+will blow England out of my memory. Ah! it's I who pine to be home
+again."
+
+"It will broaden your mind, Kathleen, and improve you. And some of the
+English people are very nice entirely," said Miss O'Flynn, making this
+last statement in what she considered a widely condescending manner. "So
+your are not learning much?"
+
+"I am getting on with my music. Perhaps I'll settle down to work. I
+should not loathe it so much if it was not for Alice."
+
+"Ah! she's the daughter of Mrs. Tennant. I rather took to Mrs. Tennant,
+the creature! She seemed to have a kind-hearted sort of face."
+
+"She's as right as rain, aunty; and so are the two boys. But Alice--she
+is--"
+
+"What, darling?"
+
+"A prig, aunty. Detestable!"
+
+"I never took to that sort," said Miss O'Flynn. "Wouldn't you like some
+oyster-patties and some plumcake to munch while you are talking,
+deary?"
+
+"I shouldn't mind."
+
+"I'll ring and order them."
+
+A servant appeared. Miss O'Flynn gave orders which resulted in a rich
+and most unwholesome supper being placed upon the table. Kathleen and
+her aunt ate while they talked.
+
+"And what occupies you, love, at all at all?" said Miss O'Flynn as she
+ate her second oyster-patty. "From your description it seems to be a
+sort of death in life, that town of Merrifield."
+
+"I have to make my own diversions, aunty, and they are sprightly and
+entertaining enough. Don't you remember when I told you to have all
+those little hearts made for me?"
+
+"To be sure, dear--the most extraordinary idea I ever heard in my life.
+Only that I never cross you, Kathleen, I'd have written to know the
+meaning of it."
+
+"It doesn't matter about you knowing."
+
+Here Kathleen briefly and in graphic language described the Society of
+the Wild Irish Girls.
+
+"It is the one thing that keeps me alive," she said. "However, I'm
+guessing they are going to make a fuss about it in the school."
+
+"And what will you do then, core of my heart?"
+
+"Stick to them, of course, aunty. You don't suppose I'd begin a thing
+and then drop it?"
+
+"No; that wouldn't be at all like you, you young rebel.".
+
+Kathleen laughed.
+
+"I am all in a puzzle," she said, "to know where to hold the next
+meeting, for there is no doubt that some of the girls who hate us
+because they weren't asked to join spied last time; so I want the
+society to meet the night after next in a new place."
+
+"And I'll tell you what I've been thinking," said Aunt Katie; "that I'll
+be present, and bring a sparkle of old Ireland to help the whole affair.
+So you'll have to reckon with me on the occasion of the next meeting."
+
+Kathleen sat very still, her face thoughtful.
+
+"Nothing will induce me to give them up," she said, or to betray any
+girl of my society. Oh, aunty, there's such a funny old woman! I met her
+last Sunday. She's a certain Mrs. Church, and she lives in a cottage
+about four miles from Merrifield. We could have our meetings there--I
+know we could--and she'd never tell. Nobody would guess. She is the
+great-aunt of one of the members of the society, Susy Hopkins, a nice
+little girl, a tradesman's daughter."
+
+"Oh, dear me, Kathleen! You don't mean to say you demean yourself by
+associating with tradesmen's daughters?"
+
+"I do so, aunty; and I find them very much nicer than the stuck-up girls
+who think no end of themselves."
+
+"Well, well," said Miss O'Flynn, "whatever you are, you are a lady born
+and bred, and nothing can lower that sort--nothing nor nobody. You must
+make your own plans and let me know."
+
+"I am sure I can manage the old lady, and I will tell you why. She wants
+to join our alms-women."
+
+"What?"
+
+"You know what a snug time our dear old alms-women have. I was telling
+Mrs. Church about it last Sunday. She took a keen desire to belong to
+us, and I sort of half, in a kind of a way, promised her. Is there
+likely to be a vacancy soon, Aunt Katie?"
+
+"Well, dear, there is a vacancy at the present moment. Mrs. Hagan
+breathed her last, poor soul! and was waked not a fortnight ago. We'd
+better wire to your father to keep the little cottage vacant until we
+know more. This is going to be interesting, and you may be quite sure
+that if there is going to be a lark that I'm the one to help you, my
+colleen bawn."
+
+Kathleen and her aunt talked until late into the night, and when the
+young girl laid her head on her pillow she was lost immediately in
+profound slumber.
+
+It was not at all difficult for Kathleen to wake early, and accompanied
+by Miss O'Flynn, she arrived at Merrifield at half-past eight on the
+following morning. She had no time, however, to change her dress, but
+after washing her hands and smoothing out her tangled hair, and leaving
+Miss O'Flynn in the care of Mrs. Tennant--who, to tell the truth, found
+her considerably in the way--Kathleen, accompanied by Alice, started for
+school.
+
+"You'll catch it," said Alice.
+
+"Oh, that's very likely, darling," said Kathleen; "but I don't think I
+much care. Did you see Miss Ravenscroft last night, and was she very,
+very angry?"
+
+"I saw her, and she was more than angry--she was astonished. I think you
+will have to put up with a rather serious conversation with her this
+morning. She asked me questions with regard to you and your doings
+which, of course, I could not answer; but you will have to answer them.
+I don't think particularly well of you, Kathleen; your ways are not my
+ways, nor your ideas mine; but I don't think, bad as you are, that you
+would tell a lie. You will have to speak out the truth to Miss
+Ravenscroft, Kathleen, and no mistake about it."
+
+"Thank you," replied Kathleen. "I think I can manage my own affairs,"
+she added, and then she was silent, not exactly cross, but lost in
+thought.
+
+The girls reached the school without any further adventure. Prayers were
+held as usual in the great hall, and then the members of the different
+classes went to their places and the work of the morning began. The work
+went on, and to look at those girls, all steadfast and attentive and
+studious-looking, it was difficult to realize that in some of their
+hearts was wild rebellion and a naughty and ever-increasing sense of
+mischief. Certainly it was difficult to realize that one at least of
+that number was determined to have her own way at any cost; that another
+was extremely anxious, resolved to tell the truth, and hoping against
+hope that she would not be questioned.
+
+School had very nearly come to an end when the dread summons which both
+Ruth Craven and Alice Tennant expected arrived for Kathleen. She was to
+go to speak to Miss Ravenscroft in that lady's parlor.
+
+"Miss Ravenscroft is waiting," said the mistress who brought Kathleen
+the message. "Will you be quick, Kathleen, as she is rather in a hurry?"
+
+Kathleen got up with apparent alacrity. Her face looked sunshiny and
+genial. As she passed Ruth she put her hand on her shoulder and said in
+her most pleasant voice:
+
+"Extraordinary thing; Miss Ravenscroft has sent for me. I wonder what
+for."
+
+Ruth colored and looked down. One or two of the girls glanced round at
+Kathleen in amazement. She did not say anything further but left the
+room. When she got into the passage she hummed a little air. The teacher
+who had summoned her had gone on in front. Kathleen followed her at a
+respectful distance, and still humming "The wearing of the Green," she
+knocked at Miss Ravenscroft's door.
+
+Miss Ravenscroft was standing by her window. She turned when Kathleen
+appeared, and desired her to sit down. Kathleen dropped into a chair.
+Miss Ravenscroft did likewise. Then Miss Ravenscroft spoke gently, for
+in spite of herself Kathleen's attractive face, the wilful, daring, and
+yet affectionate glance in the eyes, attracted her. She had not yet had
+a full and perfect view of Kathleen. She had seen, it is true, the
+pretty little girl in a crowd of others; but now she saw Kathleen by
+herself. The face was undoubtedly sweet--sweet with a radiance which
+surprised and partly fascinated Miss Ravenscroft.
+
+"Your name?" she said.
+
+"Kathleen O'Hara," replied Kathleen.
+
+She rose to her feet and dropped a little bobbing curtsy, then waited to
+be asked to sit down again. Miss Ravenscroft did not invite her to
+reseat herself. She spoke quietly, turning her eyes away from the
+attractive little face and handsome figure.
+
+"I sent for you last night and you did not obey my command. Why so?"
+
+"I did not mean to be rude," said Kathleen. "You see, it was this way.
+My aunt from Ireland (Miss O'Flynn is her name--Miss Katie O'Flynn) was
+staying at the Metropole. I had a telegram from her desiring me to go to
+her immediately in town. I got your note after I had read the telegram.
+It seemed to me that I ought to go first to my aunt. She is my mother's
+own sister, and such a darling. You couldn't but love her if you saw
+her. You might think me a little rude not to come to you when you sent
+for me, but Aunt Katie would have been hurt--terribly, fearfully hurt.
+She might even have cried."
+
+Kathleen raised her brows as she said the last word; her face expressed
+consternation and a trifle of amazement. Miss Ravenscroft felt as though
+smiles were very near.
+
+"Even suppose your aunt had cried," she said, "your duty was to me as
+your head-mistress."
+
+"Please," said Kathleen, "I did not think it was. I thought my duty was
+to my aunt."
+
+Miss Ravenscroft was silent for a minute.
+
+"My dear," she said then gently, "you are new to the school. You have
+doubtless indulged in a very free-and-easy and unconventional life in
+your own country. I was once in Ireland, in the west, and I liked the
+people and the land, and the ways of the people and the looks of the
+land, and for the sake of that visit I am not going to be hard on a
+little Irish girl during her first sojourn in the school. In future,
+Kathleen O'Hara, I must insist on instant obedience. I will forgive you
+for your disregard of my message last night, but if ever I require you
+again I shall expect you to come to me at once. For the present we will
+forget last night."
+
+"Thank you, madam. I am sure I should love you very much if I knew you
+well."
+
+"That is not the question, my dear. I must insist on your treating me
+with respect. It is not very easy to know the head-mistress; the girls
+know her up to a certain point, but personal friendship as between one
+woman and another cannot quite exist between a little girl and her
+head-mistress. Yes, my dear, I hope you will love me, but in the sense
+of one who is set in authority over you. That is my position, and I hope
+as long as I live to do my duty. Now then, Kathleen, I will speak to you
+about the other matter which obliged me to send you a message last
+night."
+
+"Thank you, ma'am," said Kathleen. She looked down, so that the fun in
+her eyes could not be seen.
+
+"I am sure from your face that you will not tell me a lie."
+
+"No," said Kathleen, "I won't tell you a lie."
+
+"I must, however, ask you one or two direct questions. Is it true that
+you have encouraged certain girls in this school--"
+
+"Oh, I encourage all the girls, I know. Poor things! I--"
+
+"Don't interrupt me, Kathleen; I have more to say. Is it true that you
+encourage certain girls in this school"--here Miss Ravenscroft put up
+her hand to check Kathleen's words--"to rebellion and insubordination?"
+
+"I don't know what insubordination is," said Kathleen, shaking her head.
+
+"Is it true," continued the head-mistress, "that you have started a
+society which is called by some ridiculous name such as The Wild Irish
+Girls, and that you meet each week in a quarry a short distance from
+town; that you have got rules and badges; that you sing naughty songs,
+and altogether misbehave yourselves? Is it true?"
+
+Kathleen closed her lips firmly together. Miss Ravenscroft looked full
+at her. Kathleen then spoke slowly:
+
+"How did you hear that we do what you say we do?"
+
+"I do not intend to name my informant. The girls who have joined your
+society and are putting themselves under your influence are the sort of
+girls who in a school like this get most injured by such proceedings.
+They have never been accustomed to self-restraint; they have not been
+guided to control themselves. Of all the girls in the school whom you,
+Miss O'Hara, have tried to injure, you have selected the foundationers,
+who have only been to Board schools before they came here. They look up
+to you as above them by birth; your very way, your words, can influence
+them. Wrong from your lips will appear right, and right will appear
+wrong. You yourself are an ignorant and unlearned child, and yet you
+attempt to guide others. This society must be broken up immediately. I
+will forgive you for the past if you promise me that you will never hold
+another meeting, that as long as you are at the school you will not
+encourage another girl to join this society. You will have to give me
+your word, and that before you leave this room. I do not require you to
+betray your companions; I do not even ask their names. I but demand your
+promise, which I insist on. The Irish Girls--or the Wild Irish Girls,
+whatever you like to call them--must cease to exist."
+
+Miss Ravenscroft ceased speaking.
+
+"Is that all?" said Kathleen.
+
+"What do you mean? I want your promise."
+
+"But I have nothing to say."
+
+"You are not stupid, Kathleen O'Hara--I can see that--and I should hope
+you were too much of a lady to be impertinent. What do you mean to do?"
+
+"Indeed," said Kathleen, "I don't mean to be impertinent, and I don't
+want to tell a lie. The best way on the present occasion is to be
+silent. I can't give myself or the other girls in the school away. You
+ask me to make you a promise. I cannot make that promise. I am sorry.
+Perhaps I had better leave the school."
+
+"No, Kathleen, you cannot leave it in the ordinary way. You are
+connected with other girls now; your influence must be publicly
+withdrawn. I had hoped to spare you this, but if you defy me you know
+the consequences."
+
+"May I go now?" said Kathleen.
+
+"You may--for the present. I must consult with the other teachers. It
+may even be necessary to call a meeting of the Board of Governors. Your
+conduct requires stringent measures. But, my child"--and here Miss
+Ravenscroft changed her voice to one of gentleness and entreaty--"you
+will not be so silly, so wicked, so perverse. Kathleen, it is sometimes
+a hard thing to give up your own way, but I think an Irish girl can be
+noble. You will be very noble now if you cease to belong to the Irish
+Girls' Society."
+
+"'Wild Irish Girls' is the name," said Kathleen.
+
+"You must give it up. It was a mad and silly scheme. You must have
+nothing more to do with it."
+
+Kathleen slightly shook her head. Miss Ravenscroft uttered a deep sigh.
+
+"I am afraid I must go," said Kathleen. "I think you have spoken to me
+very kindly; I should like to have been able to oblige you."
+
+"And you won't?"
+
+Kathleen shook her head again. The next moment she had left the room.
+
+The school was nearly over; but whether it had been or not, Kathleen had
+not the slightest idea of returning to her class-room. She stood for a
+moment in one of the corridors to collect her thoughts; then going to
+the room where the hats and jackets hung on pegs, she took down her
+own, put them on, and left the school. She walked fast and reached Mrs.
+Tennant's house at a quarter to one. Both Mrs. Tennant and Miss O'Flynn
+were out. There was a message for Kathleen to say that Miss O'Flynn
+expected her to be ready to go to town with her immediately after
+dinner. Kathleen smiled to herself.
+
+"Dear Aunt Katie! She must get me out of this scrape. But as to thinking
+of giving up girls whom I meant to help, and will help, I wouldn't do it
+for twenty Miss Ravenscrofts." She stood at the door of the house; then
+a sudden idea struck her, and as she saw the girls; filing out of the
+school, she crossed the common and met Susy Hopkins, her satchel of
+books flung across her shoulder.
+
+"Ah, Susy, here I am. I want to speak to you."
+
+Susy ran up to her in excitement. It was already whispered in the school
+that their secret proceedings were becoming known. It had also been
+whispered from one to another that Kathleen had undergone a formidable
+interview with Miss Ravenscroft that very morning.
+
+"What is it, Kathleen?" said Susy. "Was she very, very cross?"
+
+"Who do you mean?" asked Kathleen, instantly on the defensive.
+
+"Miss Ravenscroft. You went to see her; every one knows it. What did she
+say?"
+
+"That is my affair. But, Susy, I want you to do something. We must not
+go to the quarry to-morrow evening. We want to have the meeting at your
+aunt's. I want to go to Mrs. Church's. You must run round this afternoon
+and make arrangements. There'll be about thirty or forty of us, and we
+must all be smuggled into the cottage."
+
+"Oh, dear!" said Susy. "But how are we to get there? It's four miles
+away."
+
+"Well, I suppose those who are really interested can walk four miles. I
+certainly can. Susy, you had better not miss it to-morrow night, for
+Aunt Katie O'Flynn is to be present, and there's no saying what she will
+do. She will help us if any one can. She is ever so kind, and so
+interested. It will be the greatest meeting the society has ever had; I
+wouldn't miss it myself for the world."
+
+"Oh, hurrah!" said Susy. "You certainly are a splendid girl, Kathleen.
+And won't Aunt Church be pleased?"
+
+"Tell her that if she wants to get one of the little almshouses she had
+better oblige us as far as she can," said.
+
+Kathleen. "Now I must rush back to dinner. I am going to town
+afterwards."
+
+Without waiting for Susy's reply, Kathleen turned on her heel and
+returned home. Susy watched her for a minute, then slowly and gravely
+went in the direction of her mother's shop. Mrs. Hopkins was getting in
+fresh stock that morning, and the little shop looked brighter and
+fresher than it had done for some time. It was a beautiful day in the
+beginning of winter, with that feeling of summer in the air which comes
+to cheer us now and then in November. Susy marched through the shop,
+still swinging her satchel.
+
+"I wish you wouldn't do that, Susy," said her mother. "And I wish, too,
+that you wouldn't always be late home. Be quick now; there's
+pease-pudding and pork for dinner. Tom is in a hurry to be off to his
+football."
+
+"Oh, bother!" said Susy.
+
+Mrs. Hopkins frowned. Susy, in her mother's opinion, was not quite so
+nice and comforting as she once had been. But it was not Mrs. Hopkins's
+way to reproach her children; she bore her burden with regard to them
+as silently and patiently as she could.
+
+Susy ran up to her room, tossed off her hat, washed her hands, and came
+down. Soon the three were seated at their frugal dinner.
+
+"You seem to have got in a lot of fresh goods, mother," said Tom.
+
+"I have," said Mrs. Hopkins, with a groan; "but I haven't paid for one
+of them. Parkins says he will trust me for quite a month; but however I
+am to pay your Aunt Church, and keep enough money for the new goods,
+beats me. Sometimes I think that my burden is greater than I can bear. I
+have often had a feeling that I ought to give up the shop and take
+service somewhere. I used to be noted as the best of good housekeepers
+when I was young."
+
+"Oh, no, mother, you mustn't do that," said Susy. "What would Tom and I
+do?"
+
+"If it wasn't for you and Tom I'd give notice to-morrow," said the
+widow. "But there! we must hope for the best, I suppose. God never
+forsakes those who trust Him."
+
+"Mother," said Susy suddenly, "I hope you will be able to spare me this
+afternoon. I want to go and see Aunt Church."
+
+"Why should you do that, child? There's no way for you to go except on
+your legs, and it's a weary walk, and the days are getting short."
+
+"All the same, I must go," said Susy. "I suppose you couldn't shut up
+the shop and come with me, could you, mother?"
+
+"Shut up the shop!" said Mrs. Hopkins. "What next will the child ask?
+Not a bit of it, Susan. But what do you want to see your aunt for?"
+
+"It is a little private message in connection with Miss Kathleen
+O'Hara. It means money, mother; of that I am certain. It means that Aunt
+Church will forgive you last month's installment of the debt, and
+perhaps next month's, too. You had best let me go, mother. I am not
+talking without knowledge, and I can't tell you what I know."
+
+"I know something," said Tom, and he gave utterance to a low whistle.
+
+Susy turned and glanced at her brother in some uneasiness.
+
+"There are a deal of funny things whispered about your school just now,"
+he said. "I'm not going to peach, of course; only you'd best look out.
+They say if it got to the governors' ears every foundationer in the
+place would be expelled. It is something that ought not to be done."
+
+"Don't mind him, mother. Do you think I'd do anything to endanger my
+continuing at the school, after all the trouble and care and anxiety you
+had in getting me placed there?"
+
+"Really, child," said Mrs. Hopkins, "I don't know. The wilfullness of
+young folks in these days is past enduring. But you had better clearly
+understand, Susy, that if for any reason you are dismissed from the
+school there is nothing whatever for you but to take a place as a
+servant; and that you wouldn't like."
+
+"I should think not, indeed. Well, mother, to avoid all these
+consequences I must go as fast as I can to see Aunt Church."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+SUSY HOPKINS PERSUADES AUNT CHURCH.
+
+
+Mrs. Hopkins said nothing more. Susy saw that she could have her own
+way, and as soon as dinner was over, without even waiting to help her
+mother to put the place in order, she started on her walk. She felt
+pleased and self-important. The day was a frosty one, and the sunset
+promised to be glorious. The road to Mrs. Church's house was flat and
+long and pleasant to walk on. Susy had no particular eye for pretty
+views, or she might have pleased herself with the wonderful tints of the
+sky, and the autumnal shades which had not altogether deserted the
+neighboring woods. Susy's thoughts, however, were occupied with very
+different matters.
+
+"Mother is always grumbling," she said to herself; "and for that matter,
+so is Tom. As if I'd demean myself by taking a place! The idea of my
+being a servant. Why, I know I shall do very well in the future. I look
+high. I mean to be a lady, as good as the best. Would Miss Kathleen
+O'Hara take so much notice of me if I was not a very nice, lady-like sort
+of a girl? I am sure no one could look sweeter than I do in my pale-blue
+blouse. Even Tom says so. He said I looked very genteel, and that he'd
+like his great friend, Walter Amber, to see me. I don't want to have
+anything to do with Tom's friends. Poor Tom! if mother can apprentice
+him to somebody, that is the most that can be expected. But as for me,
+the very lowest position I intend to take in life in the future is that
+of a teacher. I shall probably be a teacher in this very school, and get
+my couple of hundred a year. A place indeed! Poor dear mother doesn't
+know what she is talking about."
+
+Occupied with her own thoughts, the road did not turn out long to Susy.
+She reached Mrs. Church's very humble abode between three and four
+o'clock. It was still daylight. The little old lady was seated in her
+window; she looked very much, surprised when she saw Susy, and limped to
+the door and opened it.
+
+"Come in, Susy Hopkins," she said. "I suppose your mother has sent me my
+money. If so, it is very thoughtful of her. If you have brought the
+money, Susy, you shall have a cup of tea before you start on your
+homeward walk. It is a fine day, child, and your cheeks look very fresh.
+Come in, dear; come in."
+
+Mrs. Church hobbled back again into her small sitting-room. She got back
+into her chair, and motioned to Susy to take one opposite to her.
+
+"If that is the money you have in your hand," she said, noticing that
+the child held a small parcel, "you may give it to me, and then go over
+there and get me that black cash-box. I will put the gold and silver in
+immediately. It is never safe to leave money about."
+
+"But I haven't got the money, Aunt Church. Mother couldn't have saved it
+in the time."
+
+Mrs. Church's face became very bleak and decidedly wintry in
+appearance.
+
+"Then what have you come for, Susan?" she said. "You needn't suppose I
+am going to waste my good tea on you if you haven't brought the money.
+If you think so, you are fine and mistaken."
+
+"I don't think so, really, Aunt Church; but perhaps when you know all
+you will give me a cup of tea, and perhaps you won't be so cross the
+next time I wear my pale-blue blouse."
+
+"Ah, my dear, I wasn't cross at the end of the time, although I did
+think it a bit suspicious: your mother losing nineteen-and-sixpence of
+my own money out of her till--you forget that fact, Susan Hopkins; it
+was my money--and then you decking yourself out in the most unsuitable
+garment I ever saw on a little girl of your age and station. It has
+pleased the Almighty, Susan, to put you in a low walk of life, and in
+that walk you ought to remain, and dress according--yes, dress
+according. But, as I said, I was not displeased at the end. That was a
+very bonny young lady who came into your mother's shop--miles and miles
+above you, Susan. And how she can demean herself to call you her friend
+passes my comprehension."
+
+"You are very rude, Aunt Church," said Susy; "but I am not going to be
+angry with you, for I want you to help us. I have got news for you, and
+very good news, too. But I will only tell it to you on condition."
+
+Mrs. Church looked first skeptical, then curious, then keenly desirous.
+
+"Well, child?" she said. "Maybe you might as well put the kettle on the
+fire; it takes a good long time to boil. It's a very bobbish little
+kettle, and it has cranky whims just as though it were a human. There's
+a good child, Susan; take it out and fill it at the tap, and put it on
+the fire to boil up while you are telling me the rest of the story. I
+always liked you very well, Susan; not so much as Tom, but you are quite
+to my liking, all things considered."
+
+"No, you never liked me, Aunt Church," said Susy; "but I will fill the
+kettle if you have a fancy--although perhaps I won't be able to stay to
+have that cup of tea that you seem all of a sudden willing to give me."
+
+Mrs. Church said nothing. Susy left the room with the kettle.
+
+"I could fly out at her," thought the old lady; "but where's the good?
+She's hand and glove with that beautiful Miss O'Hara, and for the sake
+of the young lady I mustn't get her back up too much."
+
+So Susy put the kettle on to boil, and then resumed her place opposite
+Mrs. Church.
+
+"Susan," said the old lady, "while the kettle is boiling you might as
+well lay the cloth and get out the tea-things."
+
+"No, no," said Susy; "I haven't come here to act servant to you, Aunt
+Church."
+
+"You have a very nasty manner, Susan; and whatever the Almighty may mean
+to do with you in the future, you had best change your tune or things
+will go ill with you."
+
+Susy sat quite still, apparently indifferent to these remarks.
+
+"Well, if you won't lay the cloth, and won't help your own poor old
+aunt, you may as well tell me what you came for."
+
+"Not yet. I will presently."
+
+Susy was now thoroughly enjoying herself. Mrs. Church edged her chair a
+little nearer; her beady black eyes seemed to read Susy through and
+through.
+
+"Go on, child; speak. 'Tain't right to keep an old body on
+tenter-hooks."
+
+"I will tell you if you will promise me something. I have brought you a
+little bag that I made my own self, and you shall have it if you promise
+me something. It is a bag for your knitting. You know you said that you
+were always losing the ball; it would keep running under your chair, and
+you could never get it without stooping and hurting yourself."
+
+"To be sure I did, child, and it is thoughtful of you to think of me.
+Well, but we'll talk of the bag when you have said whatever else you
+have got at the back of that wise little head of yours."
+
+"I have got news that may mean a great deal to you, but before I tell it
+I want you to give me a promise. I want you to let mother off this
+month's installment of her debt."
+
+"What?" cried Mrs. Church, turning very pale. "The money that she owes
+me?"
+
+"Yes, the money she owes you. A thief came into the shop and took some
+of her money, and she is very short of money and very worried. I will
+tell you the news if you will forgive mother."
+
+"Well," said Mrs. Church, "of all the impertinent, bare-faced, wicked
+little girls, you beat them all. My answer to that, Susan Hopkins, is
+no; and you can leave the house, for that is the last word you will
+get."
+
+"Thank you, Aunt Church," said Susy. "I will leave it. It doesn't matter
+whether you hear the message I have come to give you or not. It is from
+Miss Kathleen O'Hara, but that don't matter, either. What have you to do
+with a young lady like Miss Kathleen O'Hara. She's as unsuitable to be
+with you as she is to be with me. Good-bye, Aunt Church; good-bye."
+
+Susy got as far as the door when Mrs. Church called her back.
+
+"Come here, you bad little thing," she said. "Sit down on that chair.
+Now, what do you mean?"
+
+"I say I will give you my message if you will forgive mother."
+
+"Then I won't. I will never hear your message."
+
+"All right, I will go," said Susy. "I'll tell Miss Kathleen; she will be
+disappointed, so to speak. It was about those almshouses, but--"
+
+"Look here, child; you tell me first, and then I'll consider."
+
+"No, no," said Susy. "I know something better than that. You make the
+promise first, faithfully and truly, and then I will tell you."
+
+After this there was a considerable wrangle between the old woman and
+the young girl, but all in good time Susy won her desire, and Mrs.
+Church made the required promise.
+
+"Now speak," she said. "There's that kettle singing like mad, and it
+will boil over in a minute. You shall have a cup of tea and a nice sweet
+bun with it, and what more can a poor old body like myself offer? What
+about Miss Kathleen O'Hara?"
+
+"Aunt Church, you can help Miss Kathleen, and she is worthy of being
+helped. She wants you to do something for her."
+
+"Me?" said Mrs. Church. "And what can a poor body like me do to help
+her? Things ought to be the other way round; it's she who ought to help
+me."
+
+"And so she will, and she said as much. She said she'd do what she could
+to put you into one of those sweet little almshouses; and when Miss
+Kathleen says a thing she means it. And there's an aunt of hers has come
+over from Ireland--and from all accounts she must be a perfect
+wonder--and she's coming, too. Oh, Aunt Church, you are in luck!"
+
+"You are enough to distract any one, child. Susy, I told you the kettle
+would boil before we were ready for tea. Take it off and put it on the
+hob; and be careful, for goodness' sake, Susy Hopkins, or you'll scald
+yourself."
+
+Susy removed the kettle from its position on the glowing bed of coals,
+and then resumed her narrative.
+
+"They're all coming," she said, "and you will have to get them in by
+hook or crook."
+
+"You're enough to deave a body. Who's coming, and where are they coming
+when they do come?"
+
+"They're coming here, Aunt Church, a lot of them--girls like me--big
+girls and little girls, old girls and young girls, bad girls and good
+girls; girls who'll laugh at you, and girls who'll respect you; some
+dressed badly, and some dressed fine. They are all coming, up to forty
+of them in number, and Miss Kathleen O'Hara is the queen amongst them.
+Miss Katie O'Flynn is coming, too, and it's to your house they're to
+come; and it's to happen to-morrow night."
+
+"Really, Susy, of all the impertinent children, I do think you beat all.
+Forty people coming into this tiny house, where we can scarcely turn
+round with more than two in the house! You are talking pure nonsense,
+Susan Hopkins, and I'll break my word if that's all you have to tell."
+
+"It's true enough. Have you never heard of our society? Well, of course
+not, so I will tell you. It is this way, Aunt Church: When Miss Kathleen
+came to the school she took pity on us foundationers. She founded a
+society, and we used to meet in the old quarry just to the left of
+Johnson's Field; and right good times we had. She promised us all sorts
+of things. It was she who gave me that blouse that you seemed to think I
+had bought with the money which was taken from mother's till. And she
+gave me this. See, Aunt Church; if you look you will believe."
+
+Here Susy pulled from the neck of her dress a little heart-shaped locket
+with the device and name of the society on it.
+
+"Look for yourself," she said.
+
+Mrs. Church did look. She put on her spectacles and read the words, "The
+Wild Irish Girls, October, 18--."
+
+"Whatever does this mean?" she said. "The Wild Irish Girls! It doesn't
+sound at all a respectable sort of name."
+
+"I am one," said Susy, beginning to skip up and down. "I am a Wild Irish
+Girl."
+
+"That you ain't. You don't know the meaning of the thing. You are
+nothing but a little, under-bred Cockney."
+
+"Thank you, Aunt Church. I do feel obliged for your kind opinion of me.
+But now, are you going to help Miss Kathleen, or are you not? She can't
+have the girls--the Wild Irish Girls, I mean--any longer at the quarry,
+for it's getting noised abroad in the school, and there are those who'd
+think very little of telling on us; and then we might all be expelled,
+for it's contrary to the rules of the governors that there should be
+anything underhand or anything of that sort in the place. So it is this
+way: we have got into trouble, we Wild Irish Girls, and dear Miss
+Kathleen is determined that, come what will, the society must not
+suffer; and she thinks you could help. And if you help in any sort of
+fashion, why, she'll take precious good care that you get into one of
+those little almshouses. She said I was to see you to-day, and I was to
+take her back the answer. And now, will you help or will you not?"
+
+"Well, I never!" said Mrs. Church.
+
+When she had uttered these words she sank back in her chair. Her
+knitting was forgotten; her old face looked pale with anxiety.
+
+"Have a cup of tea; it will help you to think more than anything," said
+Susy, and in a brisk and businesslike fashion she dived into the
+cupboard, took out the cups and saucers, a little box of biscuits, a
+tiny jug of milk, a caddy of tea, and proceeded to fill the little
+teapot. By-and-by tea was ready, and Susy brought a cup to the old lady.
+
+"There, now," she said. "You see what it means to have a nice little
+girl like me to wait on you. You'd have taken an hour hobbling round all
+by yourself. Now what will you do?"
+
+"What shall I do?" said Mrs. Church. "Look round, Susan Hopkins, and ask
+me what I am to do! How many of those forty can be squeezed into this
+room?"
+
+"Let me think," said Susy.
+
+She looked round the room, which was really not more than twelve feet
+square.
+
+"We couldn't get many in here," she said. "Four might stand against the
+wall there, and four there, and so on, but that wouldn't go far when
+there are forty. We must have the backyard."
+
+"What! and upset the pig?" said Mrs. Church.
+
+"Oh, Aunt Church, you really can't think of Brownie at a moment like
+this! They must all congregate in the yard, and you shall look on. Oh,
+you'll enjoy it fine! But you ought to have tea for Miss O'Hara and Miss
+Katie O'Flynn; you really ought. Think, Aunt Church; it is quite worth
+while when you have an almshouse in view; and you know that for all the
+rest of your life you are to have a house rent-free, coal and light, and
+six shillings a week."
+
+"It's worth an effort," said Mrs. Church; "it is that. But I doubt me,
+now that the thing seems so near, whether I shall like the crossing. I
+can't abide finding myself on the salty sea. I have that to think over,
+and that is against the scheme, Susy Hopkins."
+
+"And what do a few hours' misery signify," said Susy, "when you have all
+the rest of your life to live in clover?"
+
+"That's true--that's true," said the old lady. "If you are positive that
+it won't upset Brownie--"
+
+"You can lock Brownie up; I will take charge of the key."
+
+"And have him grunting like anything."
+
+"He won't be heard with forty of them."
+
+"It does sound very insurrectionary and wrong," said Mrs. Church; "but
+if you are certain sure she will keep her word--"
+
+"If I am sure of anybody, it is Miss Kathleen."
+
+"She looks a good sort."
+
+"And then, you know, Aunty Church, you can clinch matters by having a
+nice little tea for her; and afterwards, if you don't speak up, I will.
+I'll tell her you expect to get the almshouse after doing so much as to
+entertain forty of her guests."
+
+"Well, look here, Susy, you have thrust yourself into this matter, and
+you must help me out. I suppose I must have a tea, but it must be a very
+plain one."
+
+"No; it must be a very nice tea. Oh, I'll see to that. Mother shall send
+over some things from town--a little pink ham cut very thin, and
+new-laid eggs--"
+
+"And water-cress," said Mrs. Church. "I have a real relish for
+water-cress, and it's a very long time since I had any."
+
+"You have got your own fowls," said Susy, "so they will supply the eggs;
+and for the rest I will manage. You are very good indeed, aunty, and
+mother will be so pleased. Kiss me, Aunt Church. I must be off or I'll
+be getting into a terrible scrape."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+RUTH'S TROUBLES AND SUSY'S PREPARATIONS.
+
+
+The next day the suppressed excitement in the school grew worse. It is
+sad to relate, nevertheless it is a fact, that Kathleen O'Hara openly
+neglected her lessons. She kept glancing at Susy Hopkins, and Susy
+Hopkins once very boldly winked at her; and when she did this one of the
+under teachers saw her. Now, there were certain rules in the school
+which all the girls were expected to keep, and winking and making faces
+were always prohibited. But the teacher on this occasion did not
+complain of Susy; there were so many other things to be considered that
+she thought she would let the matter pass.
+
+Ruth Craven was in her class, and more than one girl remarked on Ruth's
+appearance. Her face was ghastly pale, and she looked as though she had
+been crying very hard. Alice Tennant was also in her class, and she
+looked very bold and upright and defiant. Nothing ever induced Alice to
+neglect her studies, for did not the scholarship depend on her doing her
+very utmost? She worked just as assiduously as though nothing was
+happening. But each foundation girl--at least each who had joined the
+Wild Irish Girls--pressed her hand against the front of her dress, so as
+really to be certain that the little locket, the dear little talisman of
+her order, was safe in its place; and each girl felt naughty and good at
+the same time, anxious to please Kathleen and anxious to adhere to the
+rules of the school, and each girl resolved that, if she had to choose
+between the school and Kathleen, she would throw the school over and
+give allegiance to the queen of the society.
+
+But Ruth's unhappy face certainly attracted attention. Cassandra Weldon
+noticed it first of all. In recess she went up to her and took her hand.
+
+"Ruth," she said, "you must come home with, me to dinner. Afterwards we
+can have a good chat; and then you shall have a room to yourself in
+order to work up your lessons for Miss Renshaw. But what is the matter,
+Ruth? You don't look well."
+
+"I am quite well," answered Ruth; "but I don't think I'll be able to
+come back with you to-day, Cassie."
+
+"Oh, what a pity, dear! Is your grandmother ill?"
+
+"No; she's quite well."
+
+"And your grandfather?"
+
+"They are both quite well. It is--no, it's not nothing, for it is
+something; but I can't tell you. Please don't ask me."
+
+"You look very sad."
+
+"I feel miserable."
+
+"I wonder--" said Cassandra thoughtfully.
+
+Ruth looked at her. There was absolute despair in the eyes generally so
+clear and steadfast and bright. At this moment Kathleen O'Hara was seen
+passing through the playground in a sort of triumphal progress. She was
+accompanied by quite a tail of girls: one hung on her right arm, another
+on her left; a third danced in front of her; and other girls followed in
+a thick procession.
+
+"I feel like a queen-bee that has just swarmed," she remarked _en
+passant_ to Cassandra Weldon.
+
+Her rude words, the impertinent little toss of her head, and the defiant
+glance out of her very dark-blue eyes caused Cassandra to stamp her
+foot.
+
+"Ruth," she said, "I don't like your friend Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+"But I love her," said Ruth.
+
+"That is just it. She makes you all love her and then she gets you into
+trouble."
+
+"But getting into trouble for a friend doesn't make you hate that
+friend," said Ruth.
+
+"Well, I fail to understand her. I agree with Alice Tennant about her. A
+girl of that sort--fascinating, handsome, dangerous--works havoc in a
+school."
+
+"Listen, Cassie," said Ruth suddenly. "A good many people will be saying
+bad things about Kathleen before long, and perhaps you will be
+questioned. I know that Alice Tennant has been questioned already. Will
+you promise me something, Cassie?"
+
+"You look so imploring that I'd like to promise you anything; but what
+is it?"
+
+"Do take her part when the time comes. You are certain to be asked."
+
+"But I don't know her. How can I take her part?"
+
+"You can say--oh, the kindest things. You can explain that she has
+always been bright and gay and loving and kind."
+
+"I don't know that she has."
+
+"Cassie," said Ruth, "your goodness to me has been almost past
+understanding; but I could hate you if you spoke against her, for I love
+her."
+
+Just then a teacher came out, touched Ruth Craven on her arm, and said:
+
+"Will you go at once to see Miss Ravenscroft?"
+
+"Why, have you got into a scrape, Ruth? Is that why you look so pale and
+excited and distressed?" said Cassandra.
+
+She spoke in a whisper. Ruth's eyes looked full into hers.
+
+"God help me," she said under her breath.--"Cassie, if you knew, if you
+could guess, you'd pity me."
+
+Ruth turned away and followed the teacher into the school. A moment
+later she was standing before the head-mistress.
+
+"Now, Ruth," said that lady, "I have given you as long a time as
+possible. Are you prepared to tell me what you know of the Wild Irish
+Girls?"
+
+Ruth was silent.
+
+"I can't give you any further time. There is to be a meeting of the
+governors at four o'clock this afternoon--a special meeting, convened in
+a hurry in order to look into this very matter. If you don't tell me in
+private what you can tell me, I shall be obliged to ask you to appear
+before the governors. In that case it would be a matter of insurrection
+on your part, and it is very doubtful if you would be allowed to remain
+in the school."
+
+"It is very cruel to me," began Ruth.
+
+"My dear, the path of right is sometimes cruel. We must put this matter
+down with a strong hand. Do you or do you not know where Kathleen O'Hara
+and her society are to meet this evening?"
+
+"I've been thinking it out," said Ruth; "I have had no one to consult.
+If I were to tell I should be a traitor to Kathleen. I did not care for
+the society, although I love her. I joined it at first--I can't quite
+tell you how--but afterwards I left it. I left it entirely for my own
+benefit. There is a girl in this school whom you all love and respect. I
+don't suppose any other girl in the whole school bears such a high
+character. Her name is Cassandra Weldon."
+
+"Of course I know Cassandra Weldon," said the head-mistress. "She is our
+head girl."
+
+"She is; and she is not proud, and she is--oh, so kind! She offered me
+a very great help. She presented to me a tremendous temptation."
+
+"What was that, Ruth?"
+
+Miss Ravenscroft began by being cold and indifferent; she was now really
+interested.
+
+"You can sit down if you like," she said.
+
+But Ruth did not sit; she only put one pretty little hand on the back of
+a chair as though to steady herself.
+
+"I will tell you everything that concerns myself," she said. "I don't
+mind how badly you think of me. I had joined the other foundationers as
+a member of Kathleen's society. Then Cassandra presented the temptation.
+She offered to give me the services of her coach, Miss Renshaw, to work
+up for the Ayldice Scholarship. That means sixty pounds a year. We are
+poor at home, Miss Ravenscroft. My grandfather and grandmother are very
+poor people; but my father was a gentleman, and my mother was a lady,
+and their great longing in life was to have me well educated. My
+grandparents can scarcely afford the expense of keeping me in this
+school. I know I am a foundationer and my education is free; but there
+are other small expenses that have to be met. Even for me to live at
+home is almost more than they can compass. You can therefore imagine the
+great and wonderful delight of being able to secure a scholarship of
+sixty pounds a year. I could scarcely have managed it without this help.
+It was noble of Cassandra to offer it, and I--I accepted it, Miss
+Ravenscroft. After that, of course, I couldn't remain in Kathleen's
+society, for Kathleen and Cassandra hate each other, and I couldn't be
+one moment with one girl and another with the other; so I gave up the
+society and joined Cassandra. But I can't now betray those who were my
+friends. I have made up my mind; I can't."
+
+"You have really made up your mind?"
+
+"Quite--quite; indeed I cannot."
+
+"Do you know what this means?"
+
+"I can guess."
+
+"We shall be obliged to call a meeting of the governors. You will be had
+up before them. If you still persist in keeping your knowledge to
+yourself they will be obliged to strike your name off the school roll.
+You will not then be able to get the Ayldice Scholarship. You are a
+clever girl, Ruth. My dear child, the whole thing is a mistake. You do
+wrong to conceal insurrection. I can tell your special friend Kathleen,
+who will no longer be queen of the Wild Irish Girls, to-morrow morning,
+that I have forced this confession out of you. She will not hate you;
+she will forgive you. She will understand. My dear, why should you
+sacrifice everything for the sake of this naughty Irish girl?"
+
+"Because I love her, and because it would be mean," answered Ruth, and
+now she burst into tears.
+
+Miss Ravenscroft talked to her a little longer, but Ruth was firm. When
+she left the head-mistress's presence she felt a certain sense almost of
+elation.
+
+"Now I don't feel so absolutely horrible," she said to herself. "Of
+course I will face the governors. I will just say that I know but that I
+can't tell. Yes, I believe I have done right. Anyhow, I don't feel quite
+so bad as before I went to see Miss Ravenscroft."
+
+Meanwhile Susy Hopkins was having a busy time. She went to school in the
+morning, but as soon as ever lesson hours were over she flew back to her
+mother's shop. There Mrs. Hopkins awaited her with a tray full of good
+things.
+
+"Now, Susy," she said, "Tom will help you, for I have got him to
+promise. He will borrow a wheelbarrow, and all the things can be
+stacked away tidily into it, and he will take them straight off to Aunt
+Church's house with you immediately after dinner. You had best spend the
+afternoon with the old lady and encourage her all you can. It is a
+blessed relief to have two months of that debt wiped out, and I am very
+much obliged to you, child, and I will help you all I can."
+
+"You can't think how exciting it is, mother," said Susy. "And you know
+the best of the fun is, they are making no end of a fuss in the school.
+They're trying to find out all about poor Kathleen's society, in order
+to put a stop to it and to call the foundationers to order; but the only
+effect of the fuss is to make more and more of the girls want to join. I
+saw Kathleen for a few minutes this morning, and she said that she had
+twelve applications for badges already to-day, but she told the new
+girls that they had best not come to the meeting to-night, as there
+wouldn't be room for them. Kathleen is in the highest spirits; she is
+just laughing and dancing about and looking like a sunbeam."
+
+"Dear, dear!" said Mrs. Hopkins. "I do hope it's nothing wicked. You
+girls of the present day are so queer, there's no being up to half your
+pranks. It would be a sorry day for me if you were banished from the
+school, Susy."
+
+"Oh, I won't be. It will be all right. Anyhow, this is delicious fun,
+and I mean to go on with it. What have you got for the old lady's tea,
+mother?"
+
+"Well, now, look here. Of course, she's only going to give tea to Miss
+O'Hara and Miss O'Flynn--I haven't seen that lady--and yourself and Tom.
+That's about all."
+
+"And Tom will have a pretty keen appetite," said Susy. "I'll tell Miss
+Kathleen that she is to be at Aunt Church's house quite half-an-hour
+before the rest of the girls, so that aunty can have her talk with her
+and arrange about the almshouse, and also that Kathleen and Miss O'Hara
+may have their meal in comfort. What's the grub, mother? Tell me at
+once."
+
+"Bread-and-butter," said Mrs. Hopkins, beginning to count on her
+fingers, "a pot of strawberry-jam--"
+
+"Oh, golloptious!" burst from Susy.
+
+"A plumcake--"
+
+"Better and better!" cried Susy.
+
+"A little tin of sardines--some ladies are fond of a savory--"
+
+"Yes, mother; quite right. And so is aunty, for that matter. You haven't
+forgotten the water-cress, have you?"
+
+"Here's a great bunch of it. You must turn the tap over it and wash it
+as clean as clean. And what with new-laid eggs, and tea with cream in
+it, and loaf-sugar, why, I think that's about enough."
+
+"So it is, mother; and it's beautiful. But, mother, I do think Aunt
+Church would relish a pound of sausages. It isn't often she has anything
+of that kind to eat; she lives very penuriously, you know, mother."
+
+"Well, I suppose I can fling in the sausages. I'll just run round to the
+shop and buy them. Now then, eat your own dinner, Susy, and be quick.
+Tom has eaten his, and has gone to fetch the wheelbarrow from Dan Smith,
+the cartwright."
+
+Mrs. Hopkins's programme was carried out. Tom arrived at the door with
+the wheelbarrow about two o'clock. The provisions were stowed safely
+away in the bottom and covered over with a piece of old matting, and
+then Tom and Susy started off. Both boy and girl were in high spirits.
+The day was as fine as it had been on the previous day, and Susy
+chattered to her heart's content.
+
+"My word," said Tom, "I must be in it!"
+
+"But you can't, Tom. You are a boy. That would be the final straw. If
+the ladies of the school and those awful governors were to come along
+and to see a boy in the midst of forty girls, I do believe we'd all be
+put in prison. You must clear out, Thomas; make up your mind to that as
+soon as ever you have handed over the things to Aunt Church."
+
+"You wait and see," said Tom. "You may suppose you are a favorite with
+Aunt Church, but you are nothing at all to me; I can just twist her
+round my fingers. It's a fine time I mean to have. I won't worry you at
+all when you are having your commotion in the yard. For the matter of
+that, I'll creep into the pig-sty with Brownie, and we can look over the
+doorway."
+
+"Oh, Tom, you are certain to be discovered. And you'll just pinch that
+pig and make him squeal like anything."
+
+Tom laughed.
+
+"I mean to have my fun," he said; "and don't you suppose for a moment
+I'm going to funk a lot of stupid, silly girls. How much do you think
+I'm going to eat, miss?"
+
+"I'm sure you are going to be horribly greedy. But perhaps when you see
+Miss O'Hara and Miss O'Flynn you'll take a fit of shyness. It's to be
+hoped you will."
+
+"Shyness!" cried Tom. "What's that?"
+
+"It's what you ought to have, Tom, and it's to be hoped you will have it
+when the time comes."
+
+"Looks like it!" cried Tom, rubbing his hands in a meaning way. "Never
+frightened of anybody in the whole course of my life. Mean to have a
+lark with your pretty Miss Kathleen; mean to get a sov. or two out of
+that charming Miss O'Flynn; mean to coax Aunty Church to give me that
+microscope when she moves across the sea to Ireland. Tell you, Susy,
+I'm up to a lark, and the best of the supper goes down my throat. Now
+you know, and there's no use worriting, for what can't be cured must be
+endured. Tom Hopkins is part and parcel of this 'ere feast, and the
+sooner you make up your mind to endure me the better."
+
+Susy felt slightly alarmed, but she knew from experience that Tom's bark
+was worse than his bite; and she trusted to Aunt Church desiring him in
+a peremptory manner to go when the time approached, and to Tom's being
+forced to obey her.
+
+They arrived in good time at their destination, and Mrs. Church received
+them figuratively with open arms. And now began the real fuss and the
+real preparation. Tom took a brush and kicked up, as Aunt Church
+expressed it, no end of a shindy. The little sitting-room was a cloud of
+dust. The table, the chairs, and the little sideboard were pushed about;
+everything seemed to be at a loss until Susy peremptorily took the
+duster out of Tom's hand and reduced chaos to order. Then the tea was
+unpacked. A very white cloth from Mrs. Hopkins's most precious store was
+produced; real silver spoons--from the same source--made their
+appearance; a few cups and saucers of good old china were added. The
+table looked, as Tom expressed it, "very genteel." Then the provisions
+were placed upon the board.
+
+"Now we are ready," said Mrs. Church; "and I must say," she added, "that
+I am pleased. I have known good genteel living in my lifetime, and I
+expect that Providence means me to know it again before I die. Susy and
+Tom, you are both good children. You have your spice of wickedness in
+you, but when all is said and done you mean well, and I may as well
+promise you both now that when I get to Ireland I will have you over in
+the holidays. You will enjoy that--won't you, Thomas?"
+
+"See if I don't, Aunt Church. And I always was your own boy, wasn't I?
+And you won't mind, old lady--say you won't mind--leaving me the
+microscope when you cross the briny? I'm fairly taken with that
+microscope. I dream of it at night, and think of it every minute of the
+day."
+
+"Come here and look me in the eyes, Tom," said Mrs. Church.
+
+Tom went over. Out of his freckled face there beamed two honest
+light-blue eyes. His forehead was broad and slightly bulgy; his carroty
+hair was cut short to his head. Mrs. Church raised her wrinkled old hand
+and laid it for a minute on Tom's forehead.
+
+"You resemble your great-uncle, my husband," she said. "He was the
+cleverest man I ever came across. He had a real turn for the
+microscope."
+
+"Then, of course, you will leave it behind you; of course you will give
+it to me," said Tom, quite triumphant with eagerness.
+
+"No, my boy, that I won't. If you are a good boy, and do me credit, and
+get on with your books, and do well in that calling which Providence
+means you to work in, why, I may leave it to you when I am called hence,
+Tom."
+
+"There, Tom!" said Susy, coming forward. "Don't worry Aunt Church any
+more. She's got plenty to think about.--Won't you turn him out now, Aunt
+Church? It is time for you to be dressing, you know."
+
+"So it is," said Mrs. Church, looking round her in some alarm. "Whatever
+is the hour, child?"
+
+"It is going on for six o'clock; and they will be here at half-past
+seven at the latest."
+
+"Very well," said Tom; "if I must go I will have a talk with Brownie."
+
+He looked at Susy as if he meant to defy her, but Susy was too wise to
+anger him at that moment. As soon as ever he was out of the house she
+fetched hot water, soap and a clean towel. Having helped old Mrs. Church
+with her ablutions, she produced a clean cap and a little black shawl.
+The old lady said that she felt very smart and refreshed, and altogether
+in a state to do honor to that dear little almshouse.
+
+"I am quite taking to you, Susy," she said. "But I do hope you will
+marshal those dreadful girls into the backyard without frightening my
+hens or Brownie."
+
+"Pigs aren't remarkable for sensitiveness," said Susy. "But I tell you
+what, Aunt Church; Tom's after mischief; he means to witness all the
+proceedings of dear Miss Kathleen's great society, and we oughtn't to
+let him. It would do a lot of mischief if the school heard of it, and we
+would most likely be expelled. He don't mind a word I say, so will you
+talk to him, aunty?"
+
+"But he can't be in the yard without being seen; you say that they are
+bringing lamps and will make the place as bright as day."
+
+"Yes, but he will be in the sty with Brownie; and he as good as said
+he'd give her a pinch to make her squeal."
+
+"Oh, indeed! I'm afraid that must be put a stop to," said the old lady.
+"Send him to me this minute."
+
+Susy went out and called her brother. There was no answer for a minute;
+then Tom appeared, looking somewhat rakish and disheveled.
+
+"Brownie and I were chumming up like anything," he said; then he pushed
+Susy aside and walked into the old lady's presence.
+
+What she said to him even Susy did not hear, but when the little girl
+returned to Mrs. Church, Tom was nowhere to be seen.
+
+"Has he gone home, Aunt Church," she asked.
+
+"You leave the boy alone," was Mrs. Church's answer. "He's a good boy,
+and the moral of his grand-uncle; and I'll leave him that microscope.
+See if I don't."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+THE GOVERNORS OF THE SCHOOL EXAMINE RUTH.
+
+
+At four o'clock that afternoon the governors of the Great Shirley School
+met in the room set aside for the purpose. There were six governors, and
+they were all ladies. Their names were Miss Mackenzie, Mrs. Naylor, Mrs.
+Ross, the two Misses Scott, and Miss Jane Smyth. The founders of the
+Great Shirley School had ordained that it should always be governed by
+women--that women should conduct its concerns, should see to the best
+possible education of its pupils, and should manage these things to the
+best of their ability. Even the trustees of the trust fund were women.
+
+Amongst these ladies Miss Mackenzie was reckoned as head. She was a
+tall, strong-minded woman, with iron-gray hair, false teeth, a prominent
+nose, and small steel-gray eyes. Miss Mackenzie was between sixty and
+seventy years of age; she always dressed in the severest and most
+old-fashioned manner, and wore her iron-gray hair in ringlets on each
+side of her head. She was an excellent woman of business, and was
+dreaded not only by the schoolgirls, but also by one or two of the
+ladies of the committee; those who most feared her were the two Misses
+Scott and Miss Jane Smyth. Mrs. Ross was a fashionable woman who went a
+good deal into London society, talked about the Great Shirley School to
+her different friends, and was considered an expert on the subject of
+girls' education. Mrs. Ross had a husband and a beautiful home; she
+dressed remarkably well, and was looked down on in consequence by Miss
+Mackenzie. Mrs. Naylor was the oldest of the governors. She was a
+little, wizened lady with a face like a russet apple, a kindly smile,
+and a sweet voice.
+
+It was the custom of the governors to meet four times a year as a matter
+of course, and as a matter of expediency they met about as many times
+again. But a sudden meeting to be convened within forty-eight hours'
+notice was almost unheard of in their experience.
+
+When they were all seated round the table Miss Mackenzie, who was
+chairwoman, took out the agenda and read its contents aloud. These were
+brief enough:
+
+"To inquire into the insurrection amongst the foundationers, and in
+particular to cause full investigation to be made with regard to the
+Irish girl, Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+"This is really very astonishing," said Miss Mackenzie, turning to the
+other governors. "An insurrection amongst the foundationers! Had we not
+better summon Miss Ravenscroft, who will tell us what she means?"
+
+A clerk who attended the meetings (also a woman) went away now to summon
+Miss Ravenscroft. She appeared in a few minutes, was asked to seat
+herself, and was requested to give a full explanation. This she did very
+briefly.
+
+"At the beginning of the term," she said, "a girl of the name of
+Kathleen O'Hara joined our number. She was eccentric and untrained. She
+came from the south-west of Ireland. I had her examined, and found that
+she knew extremely little. We were forced to put her into much too low
+a class for her years and general appearance."
+
+"Well," said Miss Smyth, "that, after all, isn't a crime. I don't quite
+understand."
+
+"If you will kindly resume your story we shall be obliged, Miss
+Ravenscroft," said Miss Mackenzie.
+
+Miss Ravenscroft did resume it. She traced Kathleen's conduct from the
+first day of her arrival to the present hour. Short as the time was--not
+more than six weeks--she had worked havoc in the school. Her influence
+was altogether felt amongst the foundationers. They crowded round her at
+all hours; a glance from her eyes was sufficient to compel them to do
+exactly what she wished. They ceased to be attentive to their lessons;
+they were often discovered in school in a state of semi-drowsiness; they
+were rebellious and impertinent to their teachers--in short, they were
+in a state of insurrection.
+
+"And you trace this disgraceful state of things to the advent of the
+Irish girl?" said Miss Mackenzie.
+
+"I am sorry to say, Miss Mackenzie, that I do. When I noticed that
+Kathleen O'Hara had a disturbing influence over the girls I caused
+further inquiries to be made, and I then made a discovery which
+distressed me very much. My eyes were first opened by the fact that one
+of our teachers picked up off the floor, just where a certain Clara
+Sawyer, one of the best and most promising of the foundationers, was
+sitting, a small locket, evidently a badge. She brought it to me, and I
+now hand it to you ladies for inspection."
+
+The little silver heart-shaped badge was passed from one lady to
+another. The Misses Scott thought it pretty and quaint. Miss Jane Smyth
+murmured the words "Wild Irish Girls" under her breath. Mrs. Ross pushed
+it away from her as though it was beneath notice. Mrs. Naylor said:
+
+"Very pretty; quite touching, isn't it? Heart-shaped. I always think
+that such a sweet emblem, don't you, Miss Mackenzie?"
+
+But Miss Mackenzie, with a sniff, took up the little talisman and turned
+it from right to left.
+
+"'Wild Irish Girls,'" she said aloud. "What can this mean?"
+
+"I can throw some light on the subject, but not much," said Miss
+Ravenscroft. "It is quite evident that a society calling itself by this
+name exists, and that it has been instituted and formed altogether by
+Kathleen O'Hara, who has induced a great number--I should say fully
+half--of the foundationers to join her. They meet, I have discovered, at
+night; their rendezvous being, up to the present, a certain quarry a
+short distance out of town. What they do at their meetings I cannot
+tell, but I believe they are very riotous, with singing and dancing and
+sports of all sorts. Of course, as you know, Miss Mackenzie, such
+proceedings are altogether prohibited in our school."
+
+"But this takes place out of school," said Mrs. Naylor.
+
+"Mrs. Naylor, I should be much obliged if you would allow Miss
+Ravenscroft to continue," said Miss Mackenzie.
+
+Miss Ravenscroft did continue.
+
+"Putting aside that question," she said, "the effect on the girls is
+most disastrous. They are completely out of my control, and I know for a
+fact that they do not care to please any one except Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+"Of course our duty is plain," said Miss Mackenzie. "We must get the
+ringleader into custody, so to speak, and either bind her over to break
+up the society, and so keep the peace, or expel her from the school."
+
+"She is a difficult girl to deal with," said Miss Ravenscroft. "She has
+a great deal that is good in her; she is handsome and rich, very
+affectionate, and full of spirit."
+
+"But what has a girl who is handsome and rich to do in a school like the
+Great Shirley?" asked Mrs. Ross.
+
+"That is the curious part of it. Kathleen's mother was educated in this
+school, and she made up her mind that her daughter should never go to
+any other. Kathleen lives with the Tennants. I should be sorry if she
+were expelled; there is so much that is good in her. It would be a pity
+to harden her or hold her up to public disgrace. I hope some other way
+may be discovered of bringing her to order."
+
+"You are quite right. Miss Ravenscroft," said Miss Smyth. "I never did
+hold with the severe hardening process."
+
+"Certainly in the case of Kathleen it would do no good," said Miss
+Ravenscroft.
+
+"But what do you propose to do, then?" said Miss Mackenzie. "You have
+not, I presume, asked us to come here without having some plan in your
+head."
+
+"The first thing to do is to get hold of all possible facts," said Miss
+Ravenscroft. "Now, there is one girl in the school who could tell us--a
+charming girl, a new girl--for she also only joined this term--but in
+all respects the opposite of Kathleen O'Hara. She for a short time
+belonged to the rebels, as I must call the Wild Irish Girls, but she saw
+the folly of her conduct and left them. She could tell us all about them
+if she liked, and help us to bring the insurrection to an end."
+
+"Then that is capital," said Miss Mackenzie in a tone of enjoyment.
+"Have the girl summoned, please, Miss Ravenscroft."
+
+Miss Ravenscroft turned to the clerk, who went away at once in search
+of Ruth. Ruth came in looking very white, her face dogged, her usual
+beauty and charm of manner having quite deserted her. She wore her
+little school-apron and she kept folding it between her fingers as she
+stood in the presence of her judges.
+
+"Your name?" said Miss Mackenzie.
+
+"Ruth Craven."
+
+"Your age?"
+
+"I am fourteen."
+
+"Where do you live?"
+
+"In No. 2 Willow Cottages."
+
+"Oh, I know," said Miss Mackenzie, looking with more approval at the
+child. "I have often met your grandfather. You live with him and his
+wife, don't you?"
+
+"Yes, madam."
+
+"And you have been admitted here as a foundationer?"
+
+"Yes, madam."
+
+"In what class is Ruth Craven, Miss Ravenscroft?"
+
+"Ruth is a very diligent pupil. She is in the third remove," replied
+Miss Ravenscroft, looking with kindly eyes at the child.
+
+Ruth just glanced at her teacher, and then lowered her eyes. Her
+beautiful little face was beginning to have its usual effect upon most
+of the ladies present. Some of the stony despair had left it; the color
+came and went in her cheeks. She ceased to fiddle with her apron, and
+clasped her two little white hands tightly together.
+
+"My child," said Mrs. Naylor, "your object in coming to school is
+doubtless the best object of all."
+
+Ruth raised inquiring eyes.
+
+"I mean," said the little old lady, "that you want to learn all you
+can--to gain knowledge and wisdom, to learn goodness and forbearance and
+long-suffering and charity."
+
+"Oh, yes," said Ruth, her eyes dilating.
+
+"If," continued Miss Mackenzie, interrupting Mrs. Naylor, and speaking
+in a very firm tone--"if, instead of these pleasant things happening, a
+little girl learns to join insurrectionists, to forget those to whom she
+is indebted for such tremendous advantages, then how do matters
+stand--eh, Ruth Craven?"
+
+"I don't understand," said Ruth.
+
+Her trembling and fear had come back to her.
+
+"The dear child is frightened, Miss Mackenzie," said Mrs. Naylor.
+
+"I hope not," said Miss Mackenzie; "but I as chairwoman am obliged to
+question her.--Ruth Craven, is it true that you became a member of a
+silly schoolgirl society called the Wild Irish Girls, and that you wore
+a badge like this?"
+
+Ruth nodded.
+
+"Don't nod to me. Speak."
+
+"It is true," said Ruth.
+
+"Are you now a member of that society?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Why did you join it?"
+
+"Because I loved Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+"She is the promoter, then?"
+
+Ruth was silent.
+
+"You have heard me?"
+
+"Yes, madam."
+
+"Kathleen O'Hara is the promoter?"
+
+Again Ruth was silent. Miss Mackenzie glanced at the other ladies. After
+a pause she continued:
+
+"We will leave that matter for the present. Please write down, Miss
+Judson"--here she turned to the clerk--"that Ruth Craven has refused to
+answer my question with regard to Kathleen O'Hara. We will return to
+that point later on.--Why did you leave the society?"
+
+"I did so because I wanted to join a scheme proposed by a girl who was
+not a foundationer and not a member of the society. Her name is
+Cassandra Weldon."
+
+"One of our best and most promising pupils," interrupted Miss
+Ravenscroft.
+
+"I know her," said Miss Mackenzie. "We have every reason to be proud of
+Cassandra Weldon.--And so she, this charming and excellent Cassandra
+Weldon, is your friend, little Ruth Craven?"
+
+"She has been extremely good to me, madam. She offered me the services
+of her own coach in order that I might work up for the Ayldice
+Scholarship."
+
+"And do you think you have a chance of getting it?"
+
+"I don't know. I mean to try."
+
+Her dark-blue eyes flashed with intelligence and longing as she uttered
+these words.
+
+"I think we are now in possession of the facts," said Miss Mackenzie.
+"Is that not so, Mrs. Ross? Ruth Craven was a member of the
+objectionable society; she very wisely left it, knowing that she would
+better herself by doing so.--Now then, Ruth, we expect you to tell us
+all about the society--where it meets, and as much as you know about its
+rules. And you must also acquaint us with the names of the girls who are
+members."
+
+Ruth again was silent, but now she held herself erect and looked full at
+Miss Mackenzie.
+
+"You hear me, child. Speak. You can make your narrative brief. Where
+does the society meet? What does it do? What are its rules? Go on; you
+are not stupid, are you?"
+
+"No, Miss Mackenzie," said Ruth, "I am not stupid; and I am very, sorry
+indeed to seem rude, but I cannot answer your questions. You know that
+Kathleen's society exists; that fact I cannot hide from you, but you
+will not hear anything more from me. It would be a very terrible thing
+for me to be expelled from this school; it would mean great sorrow to my
+grandfather and grandmother; but I cannot betray my friend Kathleen, nor
+any of the other girls of the society."
+
+Miss Mackenzie was silent for quite a minute. The other ladies fidgeted
+as they sat. Ruth, having delivered her soul, looked down. After a long
+pause Miss Mackenzie said quite gently:
+
+"Ruth Craven, you scarcely realize your own position. We cannot possibly
+let a little girl who is rebellious, who keeps secrets to herself which
+she ought to tell for the benefit of the school, continue in our midst.
+We will give you three days to think over this matter. If at the end of
+three days you are still obstinately silent, there is nothing whatever
+for it but that you should be expelled from the school. Do you
+understand what that means?"
+
+"It means that I must go, that I shall lose all the advantages," said
+Ruth.
+
+"It means that and more. It means that in the presence of the whole
+school you are pronounced unworthy, that you leave the school publicly,
+being desired to do so by your teacher. It is an unpleasant ceremony,
+and one which you will never be able to forget; it will haunt you for
+life, Ruth Craven. I trust, however, my dear child, that such extreme
+measures will not be necessary. You think now that you are honorable in
+making yourself a martyr, but it is not so. We who are old must know
+more than you can possibly know, Ruth, with regard to the benefits of a
+great establishment like this. Insurrection must be put down with a
+firm hand. You will see for yourself how right we are, and how wrong and
+silly and childish you are.--Miss Ravenscroft, a special meeting of the
+governors will take place in this room on Saturday morning. This is
+Wednesday. Until then we hope that Ruth Craven will carefully consider
+her conduct, and be prepared to answer the very vital questions which
+will be put to her.--You can go, Ruth."
+
+Ruth left the room.
+
+"An extraordinary child," said Miss Mackenzie.
+
+"A sweet child, I call her," said Mrs. Naylor. "What a beautiful face!"
+
+"My dear Mrs. Naylor, does the beauty of Ruth Craven's face affect this
+question? She is, in my opinion, extremely silly, and a very naughty
+child.--Miss Ravenscroft, we leave it to you to bring the little girl to
+reason. I have known her grandfather ever since he kept a grocer's shop
+in the High Street. I have respected him more than any man I ever knew.
+This child in appearance is one of Nature's ladies, but we must get her
+to see things in the right light, and if necessary she must be made an
+example of. It will be very painful, but it must be done."
+
+"I will do what I can," said Miss Ravenscroft; "but from the little I
+have seen of Ruth, I imagine she would go to the stake before she would
+betray those who are kind to her. I will, however, confide in Cassandra;
+she is extremely fond of Ruth, and she may influence her where others
+fail. I can't help saying, Miss Mackenzie, that it would be a very
+terrible thing, and would, I believe much injure the school, if a girl
+like Ruth were expelled. The other foundationers would feel it; there
+would be a sense of martyrdom. Sides would be taken for and against her.
+I trust that this extreme step will not be necessary."
+
+"If she does not tell us what she knows, it will be not only necessary,
+but it will be carried into effect, and in my presence," said Miss
+Mackenzie. "But now to return to the more immediate business. You say
+these girls meet in a quarry?"
+
+"I have heard rumors to that effect."
+
+"Do you think they meet there every night? Are their scandalous
+proceedings a nightly occurrence?"
+
+"Oh, no; I do not think they meet oftener than once a week."
+
+"Have you any idea what night they choose?"
+
+"I am rather under the impression that this is the night."
+
+"Then send some one to see, Miss Ravenscroft. One or two of the teachers
+would be the best. They could go to the quarry to-night and wait there
+in order to see if the girls arrive. If they do, my orders are that they
+take no apparent notice of them, but write down the names of all
+present. If that can be done, and you are successful in finding the
+girls, we shall have the matter, as it were, in a nutshell, and we shall
+soon crush this disgraceful rebellion."
+
+"And what about Kathleen?" asked Miss Ravenscroft.
+
+"There is very little doubt that she will have to be expelled. Such a
+girl as that is a firebrand in a school, and however rich she may be,
+and however well-born, the sooner she leaves us the better."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+THE SOCIETY MEETS AT MRS. CHURCH'S COTTAGE.
+
+
+That evening at about a quarter to eight a band of perfectly silent
+girls might have been seen walking along the road that led to Mrs.
+Church's cottage. They walked as much as possible on the grass, and
+glided in single file. Each one, as they expressed it, had her heart in
+her mouth. Occasionally they looked behind them; sometimes they started
+at an ordinary shadow, thinking that a policeman at least would be
+waiting for them. The foundationers who called themselves the Wild Irish
+Girls had very little doubt what it would mean if their scheme was
+discovered. They knew, of course, that Miss Ravenscroft would be
+furiously angry, that the governors would have something to say to them,
+and that they might be dismissed from the school unless they promised to
+cease to belong to the society. Perhaps there were worse things than
+that. There was a timid little girl called Janey Ford, who whispered to
+her friend that the Wild Irish Girls belonged to the rebels in Ireland,
+and that it might be considered necessary by the government of the
+country to have them taken up and put into prison. Nobody for a single
+moment believed Janey Ford's silly remarks, but nevertheless they gave a
+sort of thrill to the occasion. It was all delightful, this stealing
+away in the dark, this pressing one against another as they walked down
+the little road. And then Kathleen was so fascinating; her eyes were so
+bright; she was such a valiant sort of leader. If they were men and she
+was a man, Janey Ford had whispered to her great friend Edith Hart, they
+would follow her to the death.
+
+"We'd form a crusade for her," Edith had whispered, back. "She is
+magnificent."
+
+And then both girls felt the little heart-shaped lockets round their
+necks and thought of themselves as heroines.
+
+The entire party, numbering about forty-three in all, arrived at the
+cottage. Susy suddenly put in her appearance.
+
+"Girls," she said, "it isn't at all certain that we are safe. I saw a
+man going by not ten minutes ago, and he looked suspiciously at the
+house. Miss Ravenscroft would do anything to catch us; but Aunt Church
+says that if you go into the yard she doesn't think you will be seen or
+heard.--May I take the girls into the yard, Kathleen? And may I take you
+and Miss O'Flynn into the house to see Aunt Church?"
+
+Kathleen nodded in reply. She also felt excited and pleased and
+completely carried out of herself.
+
+Susy ushered her visitors with great pride and pomp into Mrs. Church's
+little sitting-room. Really she felt herself quite rising in the social
+scale as she saw her old relative dressed in her best, with the manners
+she used to wear when she was housekeeper at Lord Henshel's, and with
+that most appetizing, most _recherche_ tea on the table.
+
+"I will be back in a minute," said Susy.--"Aunt Church, here they are,
+and I know you will give them welcome."
+
+"I am proud to do that," said Mrs. Church. "I presume I am talking to
+Miss O'Flynn? Will you take a chair here by the fire, miss? I'm afraid
+the night is a little bit chilly.--Miss Kathleen, I wish I could get up
+and offer you a seat, but as it is--"
+
+"Oh, nonsense!" said Kathleen. "What are young legs for if not to wait
+on old legs? Oh, what a heavenly, delicious tea! What is that I see?
+Honey! Oh, don't I just adore honey? Don't you, Aunt Katie?"
+
+"That I do," said Miss O'Flynn; "and I eat it comb and all. It never yet
+disagreed with me; but then I've got the digestion of an ostrich."
+
+"Indeed, then, madam, I think you are rather silly to eat the comb,"
+said Mrs. Church; "and you ought always to put butter on your bread when
+you eat honey. My poor mother told me so, and I have always followed in
+her steps. If you butter your bread and don't eat the comb, honey agrees
+with you as well as anything else."
+
+"Mrs. Church," said Kathleen, "you are perfectly sweet, and I can't tell
+you how grateful we are; but we are in something of a hurry, so perhaps
+you wouldn't mind telling the rest of that story about butter and honey
+to Aunt Katie when you are in Ireland. Have you made the tea, Mrs.
+Church? Shall I make it?"
+
+"The tea is in that little brown caddy," said Mrs. Church, "and there's
+a measuring spoon close to it. I allow--"
+
+"Oh, I know," said Kathleen.
+
+She began to ladle out spoonful after spoonful and put it into the
+little brown teapot, which she then filled up with hot water. Mrs.
+Church looked on with a mingled feeling of approval and disapproval. She
+was being carried completely off her feet. She to give up her dear
+little neat house in this reckless way; she to give up her most precious
+tea to be absolutely wasted and practically lost--for Kathleen put in
+quite three times too much tea into the little teapot; she to forgive
+Susy's mother two months of that debt which she owed her. Oh, what did
+it mean? She was going to be ruined in her old age!
+
+"I'd just like to say, miss," she said, looking at Miss O'Flynn and
+then at Kathleen--"I'd like to say that I am willing to help the young
+ladies, and the old ladies too for that matter, but I want to know if it
+is settled that I am to have the almshouse and six shillings a week. I
+am a plain-spoken body and I'd like to know it; for if so it can be
+done, I ought to give notice to the landlord of this little house, where
+I have lived in peace and comfort for over twelve years. I'd like to
+know, and as soon as possible."
+
+"We have written about it, Mrs. Church," said Miss O'Flynn. "I wrote to
+my brother-in-law this very day, and I expect an answer soon. Of course,
+we can't tell you to a certainty whether the house is still to be had,
+but I didn't hear that it was let. We must hope for the best."
+
+"And if it is let," said Kathleen suddenly, running up to the old lady
+and whispering in her ear, "I'll get Dad to send me a cheque, and you
+shall have it, so you won't lose one way or the other."
+
+This whisper of Kathleen's was very soothing to Mrs. Church. She nodded
+her head twice and said:
+
+"Thank you, dear," and just then Susy returned, and tea began in real
+earnest.
+
+While the ladies were enjoying their meal they did not observe that a
+round boyish face occasionally appeared at the little glass partition
+which divided Mrs. Church's sitting-room from her bedroom. The glass
+reached down about two feet from the ceiling, and was the only light the
+bedroom had. The boyish face bobbed up now and again, made appealing
+faces in Mrs. Church's direction, and then disappeared. Mrs. Church
+shook her head at the apparition, but for a time no one noticed the
+circumstance. Then Susy began to observe it.
+
+"What can it mean?" she thought, and she turned and looked.
+
+The face appeared, the tongue now stuck into the cheek, one eye winking
+furiously.
+
+"Well, I never!" said Susy.
+
+"What are you saying, 'Well, I never!' for?" asked Kathleen. "And why do
+you and Mrs. Church keep gazing up at that ugly glass across the room?
+What is the glass for?"
+
+"It is the window that lights my bedroom, miss," said Mrs. Church. "And
+I don't see," she added, "why I may not look at any part of my own house
+that I take a fancy to."
+
+"Of course," said Kathleen. But Tom was now making pantomimic signs for
+refreshments. He was touching his mouth, which he opened into a round O,
+pointing at the cake and honey, and going on altogether in a way that
+distracted poor Susy. And just as Susy looked up Kathleen looked up, and
+the latter burst into a loud laugh, and said:
+
+"I do declare there's a boy in there."
+
+The next instant she had burst into the bedroom and dragged Tom out.
+
+"Oh, you are Tom Hopkins," she said; "you are Susy's brother. Now sit
+down here and have a right good meal. It was silly of you to hide in
+there; as if we minded."
+
+"But Kathleen, you ought to mind," said Susy; "for it would be the very
+last straw if we were discovered and there is a boy found amongst us. I
+declare I never felt so nervous in my life.--Do go back to the bedroom,
+Tom.--Aunt Church, oughtn't he to go?"
+
+"Come and sit by me," said Mrs. Church. "And here's a fresh egg for you.
+Take your place, Tom; and when the others go into the yard for their
+foolish mummeries--for I can't make out that there's a bit of sense in
+this scheme from first to last--why, you and I will finish up what is
+left of the good things."
+
+"You are a brick, Aunt Church," said Tom.
+
+He took a seat at the table, and gazed with wonder, delight, and
+admiration at Kathleen. He told his schoolfellows that at that moment
+he lost his heart to Kathleen. He said that she bowled him over
+completely.
+
+"I haven't a scrap of heart in my body to-day," he remarked to his
+chosen friends. "I took it out and put it at her feet; and if you'll
+believe me, she spurned it. That's the way of girls. Don't you have
+anything to do with them, boys."
+
+But the boys only begged more earnestly than ever to have a look at
+Kathleen. Tom finally promised to secure her photograph by hook or by
+crook, and to show it to them.
+
+When the meal, which was but a short one after all, came to an end, Miss
+O'Flynn and Kathleen got up and were preparing to go to the yard at the
+back of the house, when there came the sound of horse's hoofs on the
+stones outside. They stopped at the cottage, and a loud knock at the
+door was next heard.
+
+"They have come," said Susy, her face white as a sheet. "I knew they
+would. I wonder what will happen, Kathleen. Aren't you awfully
+frightened?"
+
+"Not I," said Kathleen. "Why should I be afraid? Whoever is there has
+nothing to do with us."
+
+Susy's state of panic amused both Miss O'Flynn and Kathleen, and Tom was
+the only one found brave enough to go to the door in answer to the
+knock. He came back the next instant with a telegram, which was
+addressed to Miss O'Flynn. She tore it open, and gave a loud scream.
+
+"It's my poor cousin Peggy Doharty. She has fallen from her horse and
+has concussion of the brain. I must go to her at once. Oh, alannah,
+alannah! What is to be done?"
+
+Here Miss O'Flynn turned a face of anguish in Kathleen's direction.
+
+"It is I that must leave you, my darling," she said. "I will go back to
+town with the messenger, get off to London to-night, and cross in the
+morning. Ah, the creature! And she's my dearest friend. Let us hope that
+Providence will spare her precious life. Oh dear, dear, dear! This is
+awful!"
+
+"I don't see why you should go, Aunt Katie," said Kathleen. "I want you
+very badly indeed just now."
+
+"Then, my sweet child, come straight away with me to Dublin; for as to
+leaving Peggy in her hour of extremity, I wouldn't do it even for you,
+Kathleen, and that's saying a good deal."
+
+"But how can I come? I have my society and--and the school."
+
+"Well, then, stay, love; only don't keep me now. Good-bye to you, pet; I
+haven't a minute to lose--Tom--is that your name?--go out and tell the
+messenger that I will go back with him to Merrifield."
+
+"And what about my almshouse?" screamed out Mrs. Church. "This is a nice
+state of things, I must say. Who minds what a slip of a young lady
+says?--meaning no offence to you, miss; but I have been spending my
+money right and left, getting tea that beats all for gentility, and now
+one of the ladies is off as it were in a flash of an eye. What about my
+almshouse?"
+
+Miss O'Flynn looked rather indignant.
+
+"You shall have your almshouse if it can be got. How unfeeling you are
+to think only of yourself when my dearest friend may be at death's door.
+Here's a sovereign, which will more than cover the expenses of the
+tea.--Good-bye, Kathleen, core of my heart.--Good-bye, all of you."
+
+Miss O'Flynn flung a sovereign on the table. Mrs. Church made a grab at
+it, and held it tightly in her hand, which was covered by a black
+mitten. The next moment the good lady had departed, and Kathleen,
+looking thoroughly bewildered, was left alone.
+
+"Dear, dear!" she said. "Yet I am an Irish girl, and I'm not going to
+show funk. There are all those poor girls waiting in the yard so long. I
+will go to them at once. Come with me, Susy."
+
+There were about forty girls in the yard, and they sat close together.
+The night was sufficiently cold to make them somewhat chill, and the
+fears which little Janey Ford had put into their hearts began to grow
+greater and more fixed each moment. When Kathleen appeared all was
+immediately changed. Susy preceded her, carrying the little paraffin
+lamp. This was placed on the table which was arranged in the yard for
+the purpose, and its light fell now on the vivid coloring and beautiful
+face of the Irish girl. She took off her favorite blue velvet cap and
+pushed her hand through her masses of radiant hair, and then flung
+herself into what she was pleased to call an attitude, but which was
+really a very graceful and natural pose. Then she said, speaking aloud:
+
+"Girls of the society, Wild Irish Girls, I am sorry to tell you that my
+aunt, Miss O'Flynn--Miss Katie O'Flynn--who I hoped would have joined
+our numbers to-night, and would have been a perfect rock of strength for
+us all, has been obliged to suddenly go back to Ireland, owing to an
+accident that has happened to her dearest friend."
+
+"Dear, dear, how sad!" said one or two.
+
+"So we are without her, girls," continued Kathleen. "And now I want to
+know if you are prepared to stand by me through thick and thin?"
+
+"That we are!" was shouted in one vivid, clear girlish note.
+
+"I am glad to hear it. And if you will stand by me, you may be quite
+sure that I will stand by you. It is whispered in the school that we are
+found out, and the school, bless it! is angry. It doesn't want us, you
+foundationers and me, to have our fun--our little bit of innocent fun."
+
+"Very mean of it!" said one or two, while the others groaned.
+
+"It wants to crush us," continued Kathleen. "We mean the school no harm,
+and why shouldn't it let us alone? All we want is our fun, a little bit
+of liberty, and to show those companions who look down upon us that we
+are as good as they, and that we will fight for each other, and have our
+own way, and meet when we please, and do as we like out of school hours.
+It is a sort of Manifesto of Independence, that is what it is, girls,
+and I want to know if you will stick to it."
+
+All the hands were raised up at this juncture, and all the voices said:
+
+"Yes, yes, yes."
+
+"That's splendid," said Kathleen. "I didn't know I had such an
+enthusiastic following. Well girls, we'll have to run a certain risk. We
+will have to conceal all we can about this society; we'll have to be
+true to each other, whatever happens; and we'll meet wherever we like,
+girls. Let the head-mistress and the governors say what they please."
+
+"Hurrah for Kathleen O'Hara! Hurrah for the Wild Irish Girls for ever!"
+they shouted.
+
+"That's about it," said Kathleen. "I called you all to-night to tell you
+that we are suspected, and we are called insurrectionists; but let them
+call us what they like."
+
+"Please," here put in the timid voice of Janey Ford, "are we likely to
+be put in prison? For that would break mother's heart, and do none of us
+any good."
+
+"Oh, you little goose!" cried Kathleen, with her ringing laugh. "Not a
+bit of it. The worst that could happen to us is to be expelled from the
+school."
+
+Now this worst, which was really a matter of little importance in the
+eyes of Kathleen, was somewhat serious to the other girls. To be
+expelled meant to deprive them of their chance of being well educated
+and of earning a decent living by-and-by. They all felt very grave, and
+Kathleen, who had a great power of reading what went on in the hearts of
+those in whom she was interested, felt somehow that their enthusiasm had
+abated.
+
+"But nothing will happen," she cried, "if we are faithful to each other,
+stand shoulder to shoulder, and do not whatever happens, betray each
+other. Why girls, Miss Ravenscroft and the governors can do nothing to
+us unless they have proof, and they will have no proof if we are all
+true to each other. Now that's the whole of it for to-night. We'll meet
+in the quarry on Saturday night, and then we'll make a plan for a great
+expedition all by ourselves to London in the course of next week."
+
+"Oh dear," said Susy, "doesn't it make your heart throb?"
+
+"And I want to add," continued Kathleen, "that I will frank you. I
+can't do it always, but I will on this occasion. Aunt Katie O'Flynn has
+given me some money for that purpose. So you will stick to me, won't you
+girls?"
+
+"That we will!" came from the mouths of all.
+
+"And I am your captain, am I not girls?"
+
+"Indeed you are. We could die for you," said one or two. "And we'll
+never betray you or one another."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+RUTH'S HARD CHOICE: SHE CONSULTS HER GRANDFATHER.
+
+
+The next morning Cassandra Weldon was much surprised, on arriving at the
+school, to receive a message asking her to step into Miss Ravenscroft's
+special sanctum. She went there at once, wondering if the head-mistress
+wanted to give her particular instructions with regard to the great
+scholarship examination which would take place at the end of the term.
+Cassandra was remarkable for her calm and somewhat stately bearing; she
+was the sort of girl who never gave herself away. She was admired rather
+than passionately loved by her companions. No one could help giving her
+a most sincere respect. But one or two adored her, and amongst these was
+Florence Archer, a handsome, bright-faced, original sort of girl who was
+in the same form as Cassandra.
+
+"Be sure you come and tell me afterwards what it all means, Cassie,"
+said Florence, touching her friend affectionately on the shoulder.
+
+Cassandra nodded. She did not suppose the matter was of special import.
+The rest of the girls proceeded to their different classes, and
+Cassandra found herself in Miss Ravenscroft's presence. Now to Kathleen
+the fact of being interviewed by Miss Ravenscroft only caused a sense of
+annoyance, and unwonted irritation; Ruth was surprised, partly delighted
+and partly afraid; but Cassandra, whose father had been a teacher, and
+who lived all her life in the scholastic world, considered it an honor
+almost too great for words that she should be specially interviewed by
+so great a person as Miss Ravenscroft. She made, therefore, a most
+respectful curtsy, and stood modestly before the head-mistress.
+
+"Sit down, dear," said Miss Ravenscroft kindly. "I have sent for you,
+Cassandra, neither to reprove nor to give you ordinary counsel. I have
+sent for you to consult you, my dear child."
+
+"You are very good," said Cassandra, flushing all over her delicate
+face; "and I am sure," she added, "if it is possible for me to help one
+like you, I should be only too proud."
+
+"That is what I feel; and I think you can help me. We are at present in
+a very unpleasant position in the school. The unanimity and harmony of
+this entire large place is in danger, and the foundationers are in
+extreme peril. You perhaps know to what I allude."
+
+"I could not be in the school without having heard rumors of a sort of
+insurrection which seems to be spreading a good deal," said Cassandra.
+
+"Of course," said Miss Ravenscroft. "It has been brought to our ears
+that a society has been formed by an Irish girl of the name of Kathleen
+O'Hara. She has called it the Wild Irish Girls. There are several
+members, and she herself is the leader. Now, Cassandra, without going
+into particulars, it is the firm intention, not only of myself as
+head-mistress, but also of the governors, to crush this matter in the
+bud. It is true that the bud is rapidly blossoming into most dangerous
+flower and fruit, but if we are in time we shall stop all further
+mischief. Now to do this we must get all particulars. There is one girl
+who can furnish us will all we want to know, but she dreads, doubtless
+from conscientious motives, to betray her late companions. I allude to
+Ruth Craven."
+
+"Poor little Ruth!" said Cassandra. "I thought as much. The child is
+very unhappy. I take a great--- very great--interest in Ruth, Miss
+Ravenscroft. She is a most sweet girl; she is a lady placed in a
+position which a lady should scarcely occupy, but through it all she
+will never betray the true instincts of her nature."
+
+"I am sure of that. I quite like the child myself," said Miss
+Ravenscroft; "and your opinion of her, Cassie, confirms my own. She told
+me, too, that you have been extremely kind to her. I quite expect that
+is the case. But, my dear, the time has come when Ruth will either have
+to tell us what she knows or to resign her place in the school."
+
+Cassandra's face looked troubled.
+
+"There are no two opinions on the matter," continued Miss Ravenscroft.
+"Yesterday a meeting of the governors was convened. They assembled in
+the committee-room, and I was present. Ruth was sent for and questioned
+by Miss Mackenzie, our chairwoman. She was asked certain questions,
+which she absolutely refused to answer. The only thing we could get out
+of her was that she had been a member of the society but was one no
+longer."
+
+"She left them because of me," said Cassandra. "She felt she could not
+be with me and with those who do not approve of the paying girls."
+
+"There you are!" said Miss Ravenscroft. "Think of the monstrous
+mischief that is going on in our midst. Children like the foundationers,
+who are received at the school without being expected to pay anything,
+who get the most admirable education free of all cost, daring to set up
+their opinion against girls who, without being in any sense their
+superiors--one doesn't want to imply that for an instant--are yet vastly
+superior in numbers. The thing must be put a stop to, and with a high
+hand; and to show you, my dear, what we mean to do, we have presented an
+ultimatum to Ruth Craven. She will either tell publicly what she knows
+of the Wild Irish Girls or be publicly expelled."
+
+"Oh, poor Ruth!" said Cassandra.
+
+"We are naturally most anxious that such a painful scene should not take
+place," said Miss Ravenscroft. "I beg of you, therefore, Cassie, to see
+her and use your influence to induce her, not from quixotic motives, to
+ruin herself and injure the other girls of the school."
+
+"I will do what I can. But Ruth is peculiar. She is, with all her
+sweetness, very obstinate. Still, I faithfully promise to do what I
+can."
+
+Cassandra left the presence of Miss Ravenscroft and returned to her
+place in class. Nothing would induce her not to work with her usual
+diligence, but when on certain occasions she raised her head she saw
+that Florence Archer was watching her with curiosity and affection, and
+that Ruth darted quick glances at her and then bent her head, with its
+curly hair falling over her face, to resume her lessons.
+
+This was a half-holiday, and the classes broke up at twelve o'clock.
+Cassandra hoped to have a talk with Ruth before she went home, but when
+she looked round for her little favorite she could not find her
+anywhere. The foundationers were standing in knots talking eagerly to
+each other. There was a sort of buzz or whisper going on in their midst.
+Kathleen O'Hara darted from one group to another, smiled at one set of
+girls, patted the shoulder of a favorite girl in another group, laughed
+one time, said an emphatic word to another, and presently disappeared,
+accompanied by Susy Hopkins.
+
+Alice Tennant was standing by herself; she looked dull and depressed.
+Cassandra went up to her.
+
+"It there anything the matter, Alice?" she asked.
+
+"Matter!" replied Alice. "Surely you must know that for yourself. Have
+you not heard what a condition the school is in?"
+
+"I have, of course, heard about the Wild Irish Girls," said Cassandra,
+lowering her voice. "But surely the fact that there are a few naughty
+girls in our midst need not upset the whole school?"
+
+"It upsets me, anyhow," said Alice, "for I feel that I have brought it
+on the school. I could cry. I only wish that mother had never been
+induced to take Kathleen as a boarder. She is worse than troublesome;
+she is a girl without principle."
+
+"Oh, I don't think quite so bad as that, dear," said a gay voice at that
+moment; and turning, Alice saw the piquant and beautiful face of the
+girl she loathed. "I guessed, of course, that you must be alluding to
+me," said Kathleen. "I am bad, but I have my own principles--and a good
+old-fashioned set, worth a great deal."
+
+She nodded impertinently to both the girls, and then reentered the
+school.
+
+"I left my satchel and came back for it," she said as she vanished from
+their view.
+
+"Yes," said Alice, "that is just like her--just the sort of thing she
+would do. She is always daring every one. I do wish some strong
+influence could be brought to bear on her. There is no doubt she is very
+clever, and when she likes she can be extremely agreeable."
+
+"She is extremely pretty, you know, and that goes a long way."
+
+"Not with me, thank goodness!" said Alice. "In fact, I almost hate her
+face. I detest people who are always grinning and smiling and showing
+themselves off. My opinion is that schoolgirls ought to be modest, and
+attentive to their books, and not thinking of giving themselves airs.
+But there! no one agrees with me. Mother and the boys are fairly mad on
+Kathleen; and as to the servants, there's nothing they wouldn't do for
+her. Every one combines to spoil her; I don't see that she has the least
+chance."
+
+Cassandra talked a little longer to Alice, and then prepared to go home.
+She was disappointed that she had not seen Ruth; but Ruth had promised
+to be with her quite early in the afternoon. They were both to work for
+two hours, and afterwards their coach was to arrive. Ruth would spend
+the entire afternoon at Cassandra's home. On her way back Florence
+Archer suddenly joined her.
+
+"Now, Cassie," she said, "what is it?"
+
+"Oh, can't you guess for yourself, Flo? It is this. The school has got
+into trouble, and the governors and Miss Ravenscroft mean to sift the
+matter to the very bottom. It is pretty bad when all things are
+considered, for if the girls won't tell they will be expelled--expelled
+without any hope of returning. And I rather fancy Kathleen is the sort
+of girl whom no one will betray. It is extremely awkward, and I feel
+very miserable about it."
+
+"You look it; and yet it isn't your affair. Your place in the school is
+secure enough."
+
+"What does that matter, Flo, when those you love are in danger?"
+
+"Those you love in danger, Cassie! What do you mean now?"
+
+"I mean just what I say. I am decidedly fond of little Ruth Craven. She
+is placed in a hard position, but she is so clever and so pretty that
+she could do anything. Well, I am certain that Ruth won't betray her
+companions."
+
+"I forgot," said Florence, "that she did belong to that silly society.
+What a little goose she was!"
+
+"She was led into it by Kathleen. They all were for that matter.
+Kathleen seems to have a singular power over them."
+
+"But Ruth doesn't belong to it now."
+
+"No. I can't in justice to her explain any further, Florence. I will
+tell you all I can, of course; but may I say good-bye now, for I have a
+good deal to do before dinner?"
+
+"You are not half as friendly as you used to be," said Florence,
+pouting. "You hardly ever ask me to your house, and when I ask you to
+mine you always have an excuse ready. It is somewhat hard on me that
+Ruth Craven should have come between us."
+
+"But she hasn't. I wish that you would believe that she hasn't. I have
+to give her a sort of protecting love; but you and I, Flo, are equal in
+our love. Surely we can afford to be kind to a little girl who has not
+our advantages."
+
+"Oh, if you put it in that way, I don't mind a bit," said Florence
+cheerfully. "Well, good-bye for the present. We'll meet to-morrow
+morning."
+
+The girls parted, and Florence went on her way home.
+
+Meanwhile Ruth had also gone on her way. She walked slowly. Once or
+twice she stopped. Once when in a somewhat narrow and lonely path she
+paused and looked up at the sky, and then down at the ground beneath her
+feet. Once she uttered a short, expressive sort of sigh; and once she
+said half-aloud:
+
+"I do hope God will help me. I do want to do just what is right."
+
+Thus, lagging as she walked, she by slow degrees reached her home. Mrs.
+Craven happened to be out, but old Mr. Craven was seated by the fire. He
+was feeling rather poorly to-day. He had a large account-book open in
+front of him, and when Ruth entered he laid down the pen with which he
+had been summing up his figures.
+
+"I can't make them quite right," he said slowly.
+
+"Why, grandfather, what is the matter?" said Ruth in some surprise.
+
+The old man's large clear blue eyes were fixed on the child.
+
+"I had a curious feeling this morning," he said; "but I know now it was
+only a dream. I thought I was back in the shop again. I was up, my dear;
+I had taken a bit of a walk, and I came in and sat down by the fire. It
+came over me all of a sudden how lazy I was, and how wrong to neglect
+the shop and not give your grandmother a bit of help with the customers;
+and so strong was the notion over me that I unlocked the old bureau and
+took out the account-books. I said to myself I can at least square
+everything up for her, and that will help her as much as anything. She
+was always a rare one to see a good balance at the end of the week. If
+she had a good balance and all things nicely squared up, we'd have a
+nice little joint for Sunday; and she'd put on her little bonnet and
+best mantle, and we'd go for a walk in the country arm-in-arm, just like
+the Darby and Joan we were, Ruthie, and which we are. But if the balance
+didn't come out on the right side she'd stay at home. She'd never cry or
+despair; that wasn't her way, bless you! She'd say, 'We must think of
+some way of saving, John, or we must do a bit more selling of the
+stock.' She was a rare one to contrive."
+
+Ruth had heard this story of her grandmother many and many a time
+before, but her grandfather's look frightened her. She went up to him
+and closed the big account-book.
+
+"You have balanced things a long time ago," she said. "Don't fret now.
+May I put the account-book aside?"
+
+"You may, darling; you may. But the accounts ain't balanced, Ruthie; we
+are on the wrong side of the ledger, my love--on the wrong side of the
+ledger."
+
+Ruth said nothing more. She put the book back into the drawer and locked
+it. Then she sat down by her grandfather's side.
+
+"Would you rather I got you your dinner," she said, "or would you rather
+I talked to you for a little?"
+
+"I'd a sight rather my little Ruth sat near me and let me place my hand
+on her hair. Your hair is jet-black, Ruthie--almost blue-black. So was
+your father's hair, my child. He was a very handsome boy. I never looked
+for it that he would die in the foreign parts and leave you to your
+grandmother and me. But you have been a rare blessing to us--a rare
+blessing."
+
+"Sometimes I think," said Ruth slowly, "that I have been a great care.
+It must have cost you a great deal to feed and clothe me."
+
+"No, no, child; far from that. You were always the bit of good luck--on
+the right side of the balance--always, always."
+
+Ruth took the old man's hand and pressed it between both her own.
+Presently she rubbed her cheeks softly against it.
+
+"Grandfather," she said, "are you all right now--quite wide awake, I
+mean? Has the dream about the shop and the wrong accounts passed out of
+your head?"
+
+"Why, yes, darling; of course it was only a dream."
+
+"Then I'd like to ask you something."
+
+"Ask away, my little Ruth. You are such a busy little maid now, what
+with your school, and what with your lessons, and what with that big
+scholarship--sixty pounds a year. Ah! we shall have a fine right side of
+the ledger when little Ruth has brought home sixty pounds a year."
+
+Ruth stifled a groan.
+
+"I am rather puzzled," she said, "and I want to put a question to you."
+
+"Yes, my darling; I am prepared to listen."
+
+"I know a girl," said Ruth after a pause--she thought that she would
+tell her story that way--"I know a girl at school, and she has been
+kindly treated. She is one of the foundation girls, but some of the
+girls who are not foundationers have singled her out and been specially
+good to her."
+
+"Eh, eh! Well, that's good of them," said old Mr. Craven.
+
+"They have been very good to her; but that Irish girl whom I told you
+about, she started a society--no special harm in itself--at least it
+didn't seem harm to the girl I have been telling you about, and she
+joined it. She joined it for a bit, and she liked it--that is, on the
+whole--but afterwards a girl who had not joined the society and did not
+belong to the foundationers, one whom I am sorry to say the
+foundationers did not care for at all, offered a great kindness to this
+girl--a very special and tremendous kindness--and the girl in her own
+mind decided that she would be doing wrong not to accept it. So she did
+accept it, and--Are you listening, grandfather?"
+
+"Indeed I am, little maid. Go on, my child; I'm attending to every
+word."
+
+"The girl decided to accept the kindness from the paying girl, and to do
+that she had to give up the society. She was sorry to give it up, but it
+seemed to her that it was the only right and honorable thing to do. She
+could not belong to both--to one side of the school and to the other;
+she must take her stand with one or the other; so she decided for her
+own special benefit to take her stand with the paying girls."
+
+"On the whole, perhaps, she was right," said the old man. "Can't say
+unless I know everything; but on the whole, perhaps, she was right."
+
+"I think she was, grandfather," said Ruth slowly. "But now please
+listen. The head-mistress at the school and the governors have found out
+about the secret society. They have found out that it exists, but they
+don't know much more. They know, however, that its influence is bad in
+the school, and they are determined to crush it out. In order to do this
+they must get full particulars. They must get the name of the leader. I
+am afraid that they know the name of the leader, but they must also get
+the names of her companions--all the names--and as much as possible of
+the rules of the society. Now the only girl not a member of the society
+who can give those particulars is the girl I have been talking about;
+for, of course, she knows, as she belonged to it at one time although
+she has now left it. And the governors and the head-mistress sent for
+this girl and asked her to betray her companions--those girls to whom
+she had sworn fealty--and the girl refused."
+
+"Quite right," said old Mr. Craven.
+
+The color rushed into Ruth's cheeks. She clasped her grandfather's hand
+firmly.
+
+"She thought it right, but something dreadful is going to happen. It
+will be terribly hard for the girl if she sticks to her resolve, for the
+governors of the school have presented what they call an ultimatum to
+her; they have given her from now till Saturday to make up her mind, and
+if she refuses on Saturday grandfather, she is to be expelled publicly.
+Her sentence will be proclaimed in the presence of all the school, and
+she will be watched walking out of the schoolroom and out of the big
+gates, which will close behind her for ever, and all her chance
+goes--all her golden prospects. Nevertheless, grandfather, speaking to
+me from your own heart, ought the girl to betray her companions?"
+
+"Upon my word!" said the old man, who was intensely moved by Ruth's
+story. It did not occur to him for one moment that the little girl was
+talking about herself. "I tell you what, Ruth," he said; "I must think
+over it. I pity that poor girl. I don't think the governors ought to put
+any girl in such a position."
+
+"They are sorry, but they say they must. They must get at the truth;
+they must crush out the insurrection."
+
+"But it is turning king's evidence," said the old man. "I don't see how
+a girl is to be expected to betray her companions."
+
+"That is the position, grandfather. And now I think I will get you your
+dinner."
+
+Ruth went out of the room into the little kitchen. For a minute she
+pressed her hands against her face.
+
+"Grandfather agrees with me," she said to herself. "I am glad I
+consulted him. No one ever had a clearer head for business or for right
+and wrong than grandfather when he is at his best. He was at his best
+just now. I feel stronger. I won't betray Kathleen O'Hara."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+RUTH WILL NOT BETRAY KATHLEEN.
+
+
+Soon after dinner Ruth walked over to Cassandra's house. Cassandra was
+so anxious to see her, so determined to use her influence on what she
+considered the scale of right, that she was waiting for Ruth at the
+little gate.
+
+"Ah! here you are," she said. "I am so glad to see you. Mother has gone
+out for the day; we will have a whole delightful afternoon to ourselves.
+We can do some good work."
+
+"Let us," said Ruth.
+
+She felt feverish and excited. As a rule she was very calm, but now her
+heart beat too fast. She was thinking of her grandfather, and of what it
+would mean to him and the old grandmother when she came back on Saturday
+a disgraced girl, expelled from her high estate, her golden chance
+snatched from her. Nevertheless she had always been pretty firm, and
+pretty well resolved to do what she thought right. She was firmer now,
+and quite resolved.
+
+"Shall we go in at once and set to work?" she said. "I want to read that
+bit of Tasso over again before Miss Renshaw comes."
+
+"No, no," said Cassandra. "You are always in such a fidget to learn,
+Ruth. Come into the garden; I want to talk to you."
+
+Ruth looked full round at her companion. She saw something in
+Cassandra's eye which made her slightly shiver. Then she said:
+
+"Very well."
+
+Cassandra opened the little gate which led into the tiny fruit and
+vegetable garden. There was a narrow path, bordered on each side with a
+box-hedge, down which the girls walked. Presently Cassandra slipped her
+arm round Ruth's waist.
+
+"You knew, of course," she said, "how much I love you."
+
+"You are awfully good to me, Cassie."
+
+"As a rule I am not fond of what schoolgirls call falling in love,"
+continued Cassandra; "but I love you. There is nothing I wouldn't do for
+you."
+
+"Thank you," said Ruth again.
+
+She wondered what Cassandra would say on Saturday. Surely after Saturday
+no girl who belonged to the Great Shirley School would like to speak to
+her.
+
+"Now I want to tell you something," continued Cassandra. "I saw Miss
+Ravenscroft this morning. She told me about you and your position with
+the governors."
+
+"Oh, need we talk of that?" said Ruth coloring, stopping in her walk,
+and turning to face Cassandra.
+
+"Why shouldn't we? I wish you would tell me everything. Why are you
+going to be so obstinate? But of course you won't be. You will--you
+must--change your mind. She told me--Miss Ravenscroft did--because she
+likes you, Ruth, and she would be so terribly sorry if you got into
+trouble over this matter. She said you are certain to get into most
+serious, terrible trouble, for the governors will on no account depart
+from their firm resolve to expel you from the school. You will have
+defied their authority, and that is what they cannot permit. It is on
+that ground they will expel you, but it is strong enough; no one can
+suppose for a moment that they are acting with injustice."
+
+"I am glad it is on that ground," said Ruth softly.
+
+"Then of course you will be wise, Ruth. It is silly and quixotic, for
+the sake of a girl like Kathleen O'Hara, to ruin all your own
+prospects."
+
+"It is scarcely that--and yet it is that," said Ruth slowly. "It is
+because I will not be a traitor," she added, lowering her voice, then
+flinging up her head and gazing proudly before her.
+
+"I knew you were quixotic. I knew that was at the bottom of it," said
+Cassandra. "But you will think it over, Ruth. It would be too terrible
+to see you denounced in the presence of the whole school, and sent out
+of the school for ever. Think of losing your scholarship. Think of the
+help you want to give your grandparents. Think of your own future."
+
+"I think of them all," said Ruth; "but I also think of what father would
+have said if he were alive. You see Cassandra, before all things he was
+a gentleman."
+
+Cassandra started. She looked full at Ruth.
+
+"Is that a slap at me?" she asked.
+
+"No; I did not mean it as a slap at you or anybody. I only see how the
+matter looks to me, and how it would have looked to father, and how it
+looks to grandfather. There are some people born that way; I think,
+after a fashion, I am one of them. There are others who would look at
+the thing from a different point of view, but I don't think I envy those
+others. Shall we go in now and set to work?"
+
+"You are an extraordinary girl," said Cassandra. "I really don't know
+whether I love you or hate you most for being such a little goose. Well,
+Ruth, if that is your mind, I don't know why you care to go in to work,
+for it will be all over in a day or two--all over--and your fate
+sealed."
+
+"Nevertheless I should like to read that piece of Tasso, and do my work
+with Miss Renshaw. Shall we go in?" said Ruth.
+
+Cassandra somehow did not dare to say any more. Afterwards, when Ruth
+had returned to her own home, Cassandra sat with her head in her hands
+for the best part of an hour. Her mother asked her what ailed her.
+
+"I have a headache," she replied. "I was with a girl to-day who is fifty
+times too good for me."
+
+"What nonsense you are talking, Cassandra! There are few people good
+enough for you."
+
+"To think of her gives me a headache," continued Cassandra. "If you
+don't mind, mother, I will go to bed now."
+
+Meanwhile things were moving rather rapidly in another direction.
+Kathleen O'Hara, walking home that day in the company of Susy Hopkins,
+eagerly questioned that young lady.
+
+"How prim and proper every one looked in the school to-day!" she said.
+"What is wrong?"
+
+"There is plenty wrong," said Susy. "I tell you what it is, Kathleen, I
+feel rather frightened. I suppose it will come to our all being
+expelled."
+
+"Oh, not a bit of it," said Kathleen.
+
+"Well, it looks rather like it," said Susy. "Do you know what they are
+doing?"
+
+"What?"
+
+"They are bringing pressure to bear upon Ruth Craven. The governors
+convened a special meeting yesterday; they had Ruth before them, and
+then tried by every means in their power to get her to tell. You see,
+she is in the position of the person who knows everything. She belonged
+to us for a time, and now she doesn't belong to us."
+
+"Well?" said Kathleen, feeling interested and a little startled.
+
+"She wouldn't tell."
+
+"Of course she wouldn't. She is a brick. The Ruth Cravens of the world
+are not traitors," said Kathleen. "And so that is what the governors are
+doing--horrid, sneaky, disagreeable things! But they are not going to
+subdue me, so they needn't think it. I tell you what it is, Susy. Why
+should we put off till next week our picnic to town? Can't we have it
+this week?"
+
+"I wish we could," said Susy. "It would be glorious," she continued. "I
+do think somehow, Kathleen, that they will catch us in the long run. It
+might be dangerous to put off our glorious time till next week."
+
+"It might? It certainly would," said Kathleen. "We will go to-morrow
+evening. School is always over at four. We can meet at the railway
+station between five and six, and go off all by ourselves to--But where
+shall we go when we get to town?"
+
+"Couldn't we go to a theatre--to the pit at one of the theatres?"
+
+"If only Aunt Katie O'Flynn was with us it would be as right as right,"
+said Kathleen; "but dare we go alone?"
+
+"I am sure we dare. I shouldn't be frightened. I think some of the girls
+know exactly how to manage."
+
+"Well, I tell you what. You know most of the names of the members. Go
+round to-day and see as many as you can. Tell them that I am game for a
+real bit of fun, and that I will stand treat. We will go to town by the
+quarter-to-six train to-morrow evening. We will have some refreshments
+at a restaurant, and then we will go to the pit of one of the theatres.
+It will be a lark. There will be about forty of us altogether."
+
+"We are sure to be found out. It is too risky; and yet I think we'll do
+it," said Susy. "Oh, there never was such a lark!"
+
+"Nothing could happen to forty of us," said Kathleen. "I am going to do
+it just to defy them. How dare they try to make dear little Ruth betray
+us? But she won't. I am certain she won't."
+
+Susy talked a little longer to Kathleen, and finally agreed to take her
+message to as many of the Wild Irish Girls as she could possibly reach.
+
+"They will all hear of it safe enough," said Susy. "The whole forty of
+us will meet you at the station to-morrow night. Oh dear! of course it
+is wrong."
+
+"It is magnificently wrong; that is the glorious part of it," said
+Kathleen. "Oh dear! I feel almost as jolly as though I were in old
+Ireland again."
+
+She laughed merrily, parted from Susy, and ran all the rest of the way
+home.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+KATHLEEN AND GRANDFATHER CRAVEN.
+
+
+Friday was emphatically a summer's day in winter. The sky was cloudless;
+the few leaves that still remained on the trees looked brilliant in
+their autumn coloring. The ground was crisp under foot; the air was
+soft, gentle, and pleasant. Girls, like all other creatures, are
+susceptible to weather; they do their best work and have their best
+feelings aroused when the sun shines and the day looks cheerful. The
+sunshiny weather puts heart into them. But it is sad to relate that when
+a girl is bent on mischief she is even more mischievous, more daring,
+more defiant when the sun shines and the earth looks gay.
+
+Kathleen awoke on the special morning after a night of wild dreams. She
+raised herself on her elbow and looked across at Alice.
+
+"What a lovely day! Why, I see sunshine quite plainly from where I am
+lying. Wake up, won't you, Alice?" she said.
+
+"How tiresome of you to rouse me!" said Alice, opening her eyes and
+looking crossly at Kathleen.
+
+Kathleen smiled back at her. Her face was rosy. Her hair was tossed in
+wild confusion about her head and shoulders; it tumbled also over her
+forehead, and made her eyes look more dancing and mischievous than ever
+beneath its heavy shadow.
+
+"I wonder--" said Kathleen softly.
+
+If she had spoken in a loud voice Alice would have taken no notice, but
+there was something pathetic and beautiful in her tone, and Alice raised
+herself and looked at her.
+
+"I wonder," she said "why you hate me so much?'
+
+"Fudge!" said Alice.
+
+"But Alice, it isn't fudge. Why should I have made myself so terribly
+obnoxious to you? The others are fond of me; they don't think me
+perfect--and indeed I don't want them to--but they love me for those
+qualities in me which are worthy of love."
+
+"How you chatter!" said Alice. "I have hitherto failed to perceive the
+qualities in you that are worthy of love. It wants another quarter of an
+hour before our hot water is brought in. Do you greatly object to my
+sleeping during that time?"
+
+"No, cross patch," said Kathleen, turning angrily on her pillow. "You
+may sleep till doomsday as far as I am concerned."
+
+"Polite," muttered Alice.
+
+She shut her eyes, folded her arms, and prepared for further slumber;
+but somehow Kathleen had effectually aroused her. She could not get the
+radiant face out of her head, nor the words, a little sad in their
+meaning, out of her ears. She looked up as though moved to say
+something.
+
+"As you have asked me a question, I will give you an answer. I know a
+way in which you can secure my good opinion."
+
+"Really!" said Kathleen, who was too angry now to be properly polite.
+"And what may that way be?"
+
+"Why, this: if you will tell the truth about your horrible society, and
+spare dear little Ruth Craven, and make Cassandra Weldon happy."
+
+"I don't care twopence about your tiresome Cassandra; but little
+Ruth--what ails her?"
+
+"The governors are going to insist upon her telling what she knows."
+
+"But she won't," said Kathleen, laughing merrily. "She is too much of a
+brick."
+
+"Then she'll be expelled."
+
+"What nonsense!"
+
+"You wait and see. You don't know the Great Shirley School as well as I
+do. However, I have spoken; I have nothing more to say. It is time to
+get up, after all."
+
+The girls dressed in silence. Alice had long ceased to torment Kathleen
+about her own side of the room. Provided Alice's side was left in peace,
+she determined to shut her eyes to untidy wardrobes, to the chest of
+drawers full to bursting, to a boot kicked off here and a shoe
+disporting itself there, to ribbons and laces and handkerchiefs and
+scarves and blouses scattered on the bed, and even on the floor. Alice
+had learnt to put up with these things; she turned her back on them, so
+to speak.
+
+The two girls ran downstairs together. Just for a moment Kathleen had
+felt frightened at Alice's words, but then she cast them from her mind.
+It was quite, quite impossible to suppose that anything so monstrously
+unfair as that a little girl should be expelled from the school could
+happen. Ruth, too, of all the girls--Ruth who was absolutely goodness
+itself. So Kathleen ate her breakfast with appetite, remarked on the
+brightness of the day to Mrs. Tennant and the boys, and then with Alice
+started off to school with her satchel of books slung over her shoulder,
+her gay, pretty dress making her look a most remarkable figure amongst
+all the girls who were going towards the great school, and her saucy
+bright face attracting attention on all sides. There was nothing about
+Kathleen to indicate that that evening she meant to steal from home
+and, in company with forty companions, go to London. She was able to
+keep her own counsel, and this last daring scheme was locked tightly up
+in her heart. On her way to school she met Ruth.
+
+"There is Ruth," she said, turning to Alice. "Oh! and there's Susy in
+the distance. I want to speak to them both. You can go on, of course,
+Alice; I will follow presently."
+
+"We are rather late as it is," said Alice. "In addition to your
+misdemeanors, I should advise you not to be late for prayers just at
+present."
+
+"Thanks so much!" said Kathleen in a sarcastic tone.
+
+She left Alice and ran towards Ruth.
+
+"Why, Ruth," she said, "you do look pale."
+
+"Oh, I am all right," said Ruth, brightening at the sight of Kathleen.
+
+"Then you don't look it. Ruth, is it true that they want you to tell?"
+
+"They want me to, Kathleen," said Ruth; "but I am not going to. You can
+rest quite satisfied on that point."
+
+"You are a splendid, darling brick," said Kathleen, "and I love you to
+distraction. Dear Ruth, what can I do for you?"
+
+"Give up the society as fast as you can," said Ruth.
+
+"What? And yet you won't tell!"
+
+"It's because it's dishonorable to tell," said Ruth. "Don't keep me now,
+Kathleen; I want to get into school in good time. Grandfather is not
+well, and I must hurry back to him."
+
+"Your nice white-haired grandfather that you have talked to me about?"
+
+"He was ill all night. He talked about you a little. Do you know,
+Kathleen, I think he'd like to see you. Would you greatly mind coming
+back with me after school, just to see him for a minute? I have told him
+so much about you, and I have told granny too, and they both picture you
+somewhat as you are. Do you think you could come, just to give them both
+pleasure?"
+
+"Come?" said Kathleen gaily. "Why, of course I'll come, heart of my
+life. I'd do anything on earth to please you. I'll join you after
+school, and well go straight away. It doesn't matter a bit about my
+being late for dinner at the Tennants'. Ah! there's Susy. I want to have
+a word with her."
+
+Kathleen pushed past Ruth and ran up to Susy. Susy was looking intensely
+agitated: there were vivid spots of color on her cheeks, and her eyes
+were as bright as stars.
+
+"I have managed everything," she said in a whisper. "It's all right;
+it's splendidly right. We are all coming; not one of us will stay
+behind. We know what it means, of course."
+
+"You look very mysterious," said Kathleen. "I wonder why you talk like
+that. What does it mean, in your opinion?"
+
+"Oh, Kathleen, can't you understand? And one does it sometimes in life.
+I have read about it in story-books, and there are cases of it in
+history; you have one great tremendous fling; you do what is wrong; you
+have a good--a very good--time, and you know it won't last; you know
+that afterwards will come--the deluge."
+
+"You are a silly!" said Kathleen. "Why, what could happen? Nobody need
+know; we will be far too careful for that. I can't tell you how
+splendidly I have planned things. I have got up my headache already, in
+order to go to my room and thus avoid all suspicion."
+
+"Oh dear!" said Susy. "It doesn't sound right, does it?"
+
+"Right or wrong, it is fun," said Kathleen. "I am going to have it so.
+I have got the money, and I mean to have a magnificent time. Now don't
+keep me; I must run into school. It is horrid of them to grudge us our
+little bit of amusement."
+
+Susy agreed with her friend; indeed, during those days she was nearly
+lifted off her feet, so excited was she, so charmed, so altogether
+amazed at Kathleen O'Hara's condescension to her. Before Kathleen
+arrived at the school Susy was a good little girl, who helped her mother
+in the shop, and had dreams of going into another shop herself
+by-and-by. In those days she did not consider herself a lady, nor expect
+ladies to take any special notice of her. But those dull and stupid days
+were no more. Gold and sunshine and rich color and marvellous dreams had
+all come into her life since the arrival of Kathleen at Merrifield. For
+Kathleen had discrimination; it mattered nothing to her whether a girl
+paid or did not pay for her lessons, whether she belonged to the
+despised foundationers or was respected and looked up to by paying
+girls. Indeed, if anything, Kathleen had a decided leaning towards the
+foundationers; and she, Kathleen, was a lady--she belonged to what her
+mother and Aunt Church called the "real quality." "None of your
+upstarts," Aunt Church had said, "but one who for generations has
+belonged to the aristocrats; and they are of the kind who are too great
+in themselves to be proud. They are proud in the right way, but they
+never look down on folks." Yes, Susy was a happy girl now.
+
+But, after all, was she quite happy? Was she not at this very minute
+more or less oppressed by a secret fear? Suppose any single individual
+in Merrifield heard of the midnight picnic--the great, daring, midnight
+excursion into the heart of London. Susy knew far better than Kathleen
+what a mad action the girls were about to perpetrate. She knew because
+she lived with the class who discussed such things very openly. If their
+frolic was not discovered, all would be well; if it was, it would be
+ruin--ruin complete and absolute. The ladies of the town would fight shy
+of her mother's shop. Aunt Church would be very unlikely to get her
+little almshouse in Ireland, for surely even Kathleen's friends would be
+very angry with her if they knew. Susy herself would be expelled from
+the school, and she in her fall would bring down her mother and brother.
+Yes, terrible would be the consequences _if_ they were discovered. But
+then, they needn't be. Plucky people were not as a rule brought into
+trouble of that sort. It only needed a brave heart and a firm foot, and
+courage which nothing could daunt; and the other girls, the thirty-eight
+who were to join Kathleen and Susy, would keep them company.
+Nevertheless Susy was as unhappy as she was happy that day. She was so
+absorbed in her feelings, and in wondering what would happen during the
+next twenty-four hours, that she was not attentive at her lessons, and
+did not notice how the teachers watched her and made remarks. It was
+very evident to an onlooker that the teachers were particularly alert
+that morning, and that their gaze was principally fixed upon the
+foundationers.
+
+No remarks, however, were made. The school came to an end quite in the
+usual manner. Immediately afterwards Kathleen dashed off to find Ruth.
+Ruth was waiting for her just outside the gates.
+
+"Here I am," said Kathleen. "Take my arm, won't you, Ruthie? I shall be
+very glad indeed to be introduced to your grandfather."
+
+Ruth made no answer. Her face was white, but this fact only increased
+the rare delicacy, the sort of fragrance, which her appearance always
+presented. Kathleen and Ruth, did they but know it, made a most charming
+contrast as they walked arm-in-arm across the common; for Ruth belonged
+more or less to the twilight and the evening star, and Kathleen--her
+face, her eyes, her voice, her actions--spoke to those who had eyes to
+see of the morning. Kathleen was all enthusiasm, gay life, valor,
+daring; Ruth's gentle face and quiet voice gave little indication of the
+real depth of character which lay beneath.
+
+"This is such a lovely day," said Kathleen, "and somehow I feel so
+downright happy. Perhaps I am wrong, perhaps I am right, but I feel
+happy. I think it is on account of the day."
+
+They had now reached the little path which led up to the cottage. Ruth
+went first, and Kathleen followed. What a tiny place for her darling
+favorite to live in! But Kathleen felt she loved her all the better for
+it.
+
+Ruth softly unlatched the door and peeped in. The front-door opened
+right into the kitchen, and Mrs. Craven was seated by the fire.
+
+"Hush!" she said, putting her finger to her lips; "he is asleep."
+
+"I have brought Kathleen O'Hara, granny. I thought you'd like to see
+her, and I thought granddad would like to see her."
+
+"To be sure, child," said Mrs. Craven, bustling up and removing her
+cooking-apron. "Bring Miss O'Hara in at once. Is she waiting outside?
+Where are your manners, Ruth?--Ah, Miss O'Hara, I'm right pleased to see
+you! I am sorry my dear husband is not as well as could be wished; but
+perhaps if you'd be good enough to sit down for a minute or two, he
+would wake up before you go."
+
+Kathleen entered, held out her hand, greeted Mrs. Craven with a frank
+smile, showing a row of pearly teeth, and then sat down near the fire.
+
+"This is cosy," she said. "Aren't you going to give me a little bit of
+dinner, Mrs. Craven?"
+
+"Oh, my dear young lady, but we live so plain!"
+
+"And so do I when I am at home," said Kathleen. "I do hate messy dishes.
+I like potatoes better than anything in the world. Often at home I go
+off with my boy cousins, and we have such a good feed. I think potatoes
+are better than anything in the world."
+
+"Well, miss, if you'd like a potato it's at your service."
+
+"I should if it is in its jacket."
+
+"What did you say, miss?"
+
+"If the potato is boiled in its jacket. Ah! I see they are. Please let
+me have one."
+
+Kathleen did not wait for Mrs. Craven's reply. She herself fetched a
+plate and the salt-cellar from the dresser, and putting these on the
+table, helped herself to a potato from the pot.
+
+"Now," she said, "this is good. I can fancy I am back in old Ireland."
+
+Mrs. Craven began to laugh.
+
+"Ruth, do have a potato with me," said Kathleen; "they are first-rate
+when you don't put a knife or fork near them."
+
+But Ruth had no inclination for potatoes eaten in the Irish way.
+
+"I will go in and see how grandfather is, granny," she said, and she
+disappeared into the little parlor.
+
+"You know," said Kathleen, helping herself to a second potato, and
+fixing her eyes on Mrs. Craven's face--"you know how fond I am of Ruth."
+
+"Indeed, my dear young lady, she has been telling me about you; and I am
+glad you notice her, dear little girl!"
+
+"But it is not only I," said Kathleen; "every one in the school likes
+her. She could be the primest favorite with every one if she only chose.
+She is so sweetly pretty, too, and such a lady."
+
+"Well, dear, her mother was a real lady; and her father was educated by
+my dear husband, and was in the army."
+
+"It doesn't matter if her father was a duke and her mother a dairymaid,"
+said Kathleen with emphasis. "She is just a lady because she is."
+
+Before she could add another word Ruth came in.
+
+"Do come, Kathleen," she said. "He is much better after his sleep. I
+told him you were here, and he would like to see you."
+
+"He has been bothered like anything about those accounts," said Mrs.
+Craven. "I can't make out what has put it into his head. Years ago it
+was an old story with him that something had gone wrong with the books;
+but, dear hearts! he had forgotten all about it for a weary long while.
+Now within the last week he has been at it again, just as if 'twas
+yesterday."
+
+"He has an old account-book on the table now, granny," said Ruth.
+
+"Well," said Mrs. Craven, "we must humor him.--Don't you take any
+notice, Miss O'Hara; don't contradict him, I mean."
+
+Kathleen nodded. There was a look on Ruth's face which made her feel no
+longer interested in the Irish potatoes. She slipped her hand inside her
+friend's, and they went into the parlor. Mr. Craven was seated by the
+fire. His white locks fell about his shoulders; there was a faint touch
+of pink on each of his sallow cheeks, and his blue eyes were bright.
+
+"Ah!" he said, raising his face when he saw Kathleen. "And is this the
+little lady--the dear little lady--- from over the seas, from the heart
+of Ireland itself? I was once in Ireland. I spent a month in Dublin, and
+I bought the very best paper for packing my sugars and teas in that I
+ever came across. Ah! I had a good time. We used to sit in Phoenix Park.
+I liked Ireland, and I could welcome any Irish maiden.--Give me your
+hand, missy; I am proud to see you."
+
+Kathleen gave her hand. She came up close to the old man and said:
+
+"Do you know, you have a look of my own old grandfather. He is dead and
+in his grave; but he had white, white hair like yours. Do you mind if I
+put my hand on your hair and stroke it just because of grandfather?"
+
+"Ah, my dear, you may do what you like," said the old man. "And you have
+been good to my little lass--my little woman here. She has told me you
+have been good to her."
+
+"She has been very good to me. I am glad to see you, Mr. Craven. I hope
+when you get strong again you will come over and stay with father and
+mother and me at Carrigrohane Castle."
+
+"No, no, my love. There was a time when I'd have liked it well, but not
+now. You see, dear--" his voice faltered and his eyes grew anxious--"I
+must mind the shop. When a man doesn't attend to his own business,
+accounts go wrong. Now there was quite a deficiency last week--the wrong
+side of the ledger. It was really terrible. I think of it at night, and
+when I wake first thing in the morning I remember it. I must get to my
+accounts, little miss, but I am right glad to see you."
+
+Kathleen felt a lump in her throat. Ruth, with her bright eyes fixed on
+her grandfather, stood close by.
+
+"But there!" said the old man hastily. "It's splendid for Ruth. She's
+got into that school, and she's trying for a scholarship. I know what
+Ruth tries for she will get, for her brain is of that fine quality that
+could not brook defeat, and her mind is of that high order that it must
+adjust itself to true learning. I was a bit of a scholar when I was
+young, although I made my money in grocery. Well, well! Ruth is all
+right. Even if the old man can't square up the ledger, Ruth is as right
+as right can be. Thank you, Miss--I can't remember your name--- but
+thank you, little Irish miss, for coming to see me; and good-bye."
+
+Kathleen found herself outside the room. Mrs. Craven was not in the
+kitchen. Ruth and Kathleen went into the garden.
+
+"How can you stand it?" said Kathleen. "Doesn't it break your heart to
+see him?"
+
+"Oh no," said Ruth. "You see, I am accustomed to him. He talks like
+that. I am sorry he is so bothered about the accounts, but perhaps that
+phase will pass."
+
+"He is so pleased about you and the scholarship."
+
+"Yes," said Ruth. She turned pale. "Whatever happens," she added, "he
+must never know."
+
+"What do you mean about whatever happens?"
+
+"He must never know if I do not get it. Good-bye now, Kathleen. I am
+glad you have seen grandfather and granny. I must go back to granny now.
+She is very tired; she gets so little rest at night."
+
+Kathleen went slowly home. The meal was over at the Tennants', but
+somehow her couple of potatoes had satisfied her. She felt much more
+sober than she had done in the morning; she was inclined to think, to
+consider her ways. She felt an uncomfortable sensation of being haunted
+by the faces of Ruth and the old man.
+
+"But of course Ruth will get her scholarship," she said to herself. "Of
+course--of course her grandfather is right. Her brain is of the right
+order, and her mind is attuned to learning. How nicely he spoke, and how
+beautiful he looked--how like my dear old grandfather who has been with
+God for so many years now."
+
+There came a loud rat-tat at the front-door. David went out and brought
+in a telegram. It was addressed to Kathleen. She opened it in some
+surprise, and read the contents slowly. There was amazement on her face;
+a feeling of consternation stole into her heart. The telegram, not a
+long one, was from her father:
+
+     "Have just seen Aunt Katie O'Flynn. Do not approve of your
+     society. Squash the whole thing at once, or expect my serious
+     displeasure.--O'HARA."
+
+"Is there an answer?" asked David.
+
+"No," said Kathleen. "I mean yes. Yes, I suppose so. Can I have a form?
+Mrs. Tennant, can I have a telegraph form?"
+
+Mrs. Tennant began to hunt about for one. Telegrams were by no means
+common things at the Tennants' house. David suggested that the messenger
+boy might have one. This turned out to be the case. Kathleen began to
+write, but she suddenly changed her mind.
+
+"No, no; there is no answer," she said. "I can write by post."
+
+She crushed the telegram up and thrust it into her pocket. After this
+she went out for a little; she was too restless to stay still. The
+fascination of the coming sport grew greater as obstacles appeared in
+the way of its realization. Whatever her father might say, she could not
+desert the girls who belonged to her society now.
+
+"What can have ailed Aunt Katie to betray me in such a fashion?" she
+thought.
+
+She came home in time for tea; but, to her amazement she found another
+telegram waiting for her. This was from Dublin, from Aunt Katie herself:
+
+     "Have told your father. He received letter from
+     school-mistress this morning. Very angry about Wild Irish
+     Girls. You must give the whole thing up or you will incur his
+     serious displeasure. Don't be a goose; nip the thing in the
+     bud immediately.--AUNT KATIE."
+
+"But indeed I won't," thought Kathleen. "Whatever happens, we will have
+our fun to-night. Whatever happens, neither father nor Aunt Katie, nor
+Ruth Craven can keep me back."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+KATHLEEN HAS A GOOD TIME IN LONDON.
+
+
+So the head-mistress had written; she had dared to write to Kathleen's
+father. What she said to him was a matter of no moment; she had written,
+and to complain of her!
+
+"She thinks, I suppose," said Kathleen, "that she'll subdue me by these
+means. She wants to bring, not the long arm of the law, but father's arm
+right across the sea to stop me. No, no, daddy, your Kathleen will be
+your Kathleen to the end--always loving, always daring, always true,
+but always rebellious; the best and the worst. I am going to-night, and
+I am going all the more surely because you wired to me not to go, and
+because they are daring to bully dear little Ruth Craven. And after I
+have had my fling I will come back in good time. No fear; nothing will
+go wrong. Your Kathleen wouldn't hurt a fly, much less your heart. But I
+mean to have my fun to-night."
+
+Kathleen quite sobered down as these thoughts came to her. It was now
+getting dusk. The girls were to meet at the station at half-past five.
+They were to go in quite quietly by twos and twos; each couple of girls
+was to go to the booking-office and take their tickets, and walk away
+just as though nothing special had happened. They were on no account to
+collect in a mass. They were not even to take any notice of each other
+until they were off. Once the train was in motion all would be safe;
+they might meet then and talk and be merry to their hearts' content. Oh,
+it was a good, good time they were about to have!
+
+This arrangement about meeting one another had been suggested by Kate
+Rourke, who knew a good deal about theatres, and who also knew how
+dangerous it would be for so many girls to be seen at the station
+together; but dressed quietly, and just dropping in by couples, nobody
+would remark them.
+
+"And then we must go straight to the theatre," she said, "and stand
+outside the pit, and take our chance; but we will have time enough for
+that if we leave Merrifield by the quarter-to-six train."
+
+Kathleen noticed that evening that Alice watched her as she moved about
+the room; that Alice occasionally lifted her eyes and glanced at her
+when she sat down to read; and when she approached the tea-table and
+helped herself to tea and bread-and-butter and jam, Alice also kept up
+that gentle sort of espionage. It annoyed Kathleen; she found herself
+watching for it. She found herself getting red and annoyed when the
+calm, steadfast gaze of Alice's brown eyes was fixed on her face.
+Finally she said:
+
+"What are you doing? Why do you stare at me?"
+
+"Sorry," replied Alice. She bent over her book, and did not glance again
+at Kathleen.
+
+By-and-by Kathleen went upstairs. She went to their mutual room, and
+turned the key in the lock.
+
+"I must get out of the window," she said to herself. "I can easily do
+it; it is but to swing on to that thick cord of ivy and I shall reach
+the ground without the slightest trouble. The back-gate that leads into
+the garden is never locked, and the window I mean to emerge from looks
+into the garden. I shall go off without anybody's noticing me."
+
+Kathleen had to take a great deal of money with her. If there were forty
+girls, their tickets would cost a good deal. It is true they were to buy
+their own in the first instance, but Kathleen was to return them the
+money in the train. Then the omnibuses they were to go on, the seats at
+the theatre, their supper of some sort must be paid for by the head of
+the society.
+
+"I promised to frank them, and I must frank them," thought the girl.
+
+She slipped some sovereigns into her purse, tucked it for safety into
+the bosom of her dress, and then put on her hat and jacket. Some
+instinct told the wild, ignorant child to dress quietly. She put on her
+plainest hat and a little reefer coat which looked neat and substantial.
+She was just drawing a pair of gloves on her hands when Alice was heard
+turning the handle of the door.
+
+"Let me in at once, Kathleen," she cried.
+
+Kathleen did not reply at all for a moment; then she said in a sleepy,
+smothered sort of voice which seemed to proceed from the bed:
+
+"I have a splitting headache; don't disturb me."
+
+"Very sorry," answered Alice, "but I really must come in."
+
+Kathleen made no answer. After a long pause, during which Alice once or
+twice felt the handle of the door again, the sound of her retreating
+footsteps was heard.
+
+"Now is my time," thought Kathleen.
+
+To tell the truth, Alice was not at all taken in by Kathleen's headache.
+
+"She is very clever," thought that young lady, "but she has tried that
+dodge on so often before that I am not going to be deceived by it now."
+
+Accordingly she went into her mother's room and stood by the window. Now
+the window of Mrs. Tennant's bedroom looked also into the garden, and
+was really parallel with the window by which Kathleen meant to escape.
+There was an interval of silence, and then Alice had her reward! for the
+window of their mutual bedroom was flung wide open, and Kathleen, neatly
+dressed, appeared on the window-sill. She looked around her for a minute.
+Alice caught a glimpse of her bright face by the light of the moon,
+which was already getting up in the sky. The next minute Kathleen caught
+firm hold of the arm of old ivy and let herself down deftly and quickly
+to the ground. The action was done so neatly, and in fact so
+beautifully, that Alice in spite of herself felt inclined to cry
+"Bravo!" She knew that if she were to trust herself to that ivy she
+would probably fall to the bottom and get, if not really killed, at
+least half so. But Kathleen stood serenely on the ground, and glanced
+up at the window from which she had let herself down. Just at that
+moment Alice rushed into their bedroom. Kathleen had shut the window
+behind her before she trusted herself to the ivy; she had also unlocked
+the door. In a moment Alice had put on her hat and jacket, had rushed
+downstairs, opened the hall door, and was following Kathleen across the
+common. Now, quite the nearest way to the railway station was across the
+common. Kathleen walked fast.
+
+"Kathleen, Kathleen!" cried Alice.
+
+Kathleen looked behind her. She saw Alice, and took to her heels.
+
+"No, no, Kathleen; I will follow you until I drop. You must let me come
+up with you."
+
+But Kathleen made no answer. If she could do anything well, she could
+run in a race. Her swift feet scarcely touched the ground. She ran and
+ran. How soon would Alice get tired? She did not dare to go to the
+railway station as long as she was following. And the time to catch the
+train was very short. At the other side of the common was a long,
+narrow, winding passage which, after a quarter of a mile of tortuous
+turning, led right up a back-way to the great terminus. Kathleen had
+given herself exactly the right length of time. Had nothing happened to
+hinder her, she would have been on the platform three minutes before the
+train came in. For reasons of her own she did not wish to be long there.
+She had crossed the common when she looked behind her; Alice was still
+running, but she was also in the distance.
+
+"If I could only double, hide for a minute, and make her give up the
+chase, all would be well," thought the mischievous Irish girl.
+
+There was a great tree, which cast a huge shadow, just before the
+winding passage was reached. Kathleen darted towards it. In an instant
+she had climbed up and was seated securely in one of its lower branches.
+
+"Now, if only she will be quick, she will run past me into the passage.
+She will never get to the end in time. I shall slip down and go the long
+way. I know it is a good bit farther, but she is not in it with me as
+far as running is concerned," was Kathleen's thought.
+
+Alice came up as far as the tree; she paused a minute and looked around
+her. Kathleen in the gray darkness looked down at her. Kathleen's face
+was completely in the shadow, but the light fell full on Alice's, and
+her face, white and anxious, almost made the other girl laugh.
+
+"If the situation wasn't quite so tremendous I could enjoy this," she
+thought.
+
+Presently Alice ran down the passage. Kathleen waited until her
+footsteps had died away, and then she descended from the oak-tree. She
+flew as fast as she could the long way to the railway station.
+
+"Alice can't think that I want to go by train," thought Kathleen.
+
+Now she was truly a very swift runner, but as she was running to-night,
+whom should she meet but Mrs. Hopkins. Mrs. Hopkins was on her way home
+after doing a little shopping on her own account. She saw Kathleen,
+observed her panting for breath, and stood directly in her path.
+
+"Miss O'Hara," she said, "can I speak to you for a moment? It is
+something very particular indeed. I am very thankful I happened to meet
+you."
+
+"I will see you to-morrow--to-morrow," panted Kathleen. "I am in a great
+hurry. To-morrow, Mrs. Hopkins."
+
+"No, Miss O'Hara; it ought to be to-night. You are going to the railway
+station, aren't you, miss?"
+
+Kathleen felt inclined to knock that interfering woman down. She darted
+to one side of the road.
+
+"Oh, let me pass!" she said. She was shaking with her quick run. She
+knew the moments were flying; already she heard the bell at the station
+ring. The train for London was signaled; she had not an instant to lose.
+
+"Don't--don't keep me," she said.
+
+"But you mustn't go, miss; it would be madness--wicked. You musn't; you
+daren't."
+
+Kathleen pushed past her. This time Mrs. Hopkins had no power to stop
+her. She rushed on, reached the station, flew up the steps, and found
+herself on the platform just as the train was coming in.
+
+Instead of the forty girls she expected to meet, she saw not more than
+about half-a-dozen. They all crowded up to her at once.
+
+"I have got your ticket for you," said Susy. "I was just able to screw
+out the money to get one for you and myself. Here's the train; let us
+hop in at once."
+
+"But where are all the others--the forty?" gasped Kathleen.
+
+"They funked it, almost all of them. Oh! come along; here's the train."
+
+The great train thundered into the station. The girls ran wildly looking
+for a third-class carriage. At last they found one and tumbled into it;
+the door was slammed, and they were off. Kathleen wondered--she was not
+sure, but she wondered--if she really did see, or if it was only a
+dream, a pair of brown eyes looking at her from the station, and the
+severe young figure and shocked face of Alice Tennant.
+
+"It must have been a dream; she could not have guessed that I was going
+to the station. What a good thing she didn't meet Mrs. Hopkins!" thought
+Kathleen. Then she turned to her companions--to the six girls who had
+decided to brave all the terrors of their expedition. They were Susy
+Hopkins, Kate Rourke, Clara Sawyer, Rosy Myers, Janey Ford, and Mary
+Wilkins.
+
+Kathleen sat quite still for a minute until she had recovered her
+breath. She looked around her. To her relief, she saw that they were
+alone. There was no one else in the compartment.
+
+"Now then," she said, "how is it that all the others have funked it?"
+
+"There has been so much muttering and whispering and suspecting going on
+during the whole livelong day that they were positively afraid," said
+Susy. "Indeed, if it hadn't been for you, Kathleen, I doubt if any of us
+would have come."
+
+"Well, girls, we can't help it," said Kathleen. "If the rest are so
+timid, there's more fun for us; isn't that so?"
+
+She looked round at her companions.
+
+"I mean to enjoy myself," said Kate Rourke. "I have been to a theater
+twice before. Once I went with my grandfather, and another time with an
+uncle from Australia. I didn't go to the pit when I went with uncle. He
+took me to a grand stall, and we rubbed up against the nobility, I can
+tell you."
+
+It suddenly occurred to Kathleen that Kate Rourke was rather a vulgar
+girl. She drew a little nearer to her, however, and fixed her very
+bright eyes on the girl's face."
+
+"But we needn't go to the pit, need we?" she said. "I meant to pay for
+forty. If there are only six, why shouldn't we have jolly seats
+somewhere, and not waste our time outside the theater?"
+
+"That would be nice," said Kate Rourke. "I always enjoy myself so much
+more if I am in good company. I have been looking up the plays at the
+theaters, and there is a very fine piece on at the Princess'. That is in
+Oxford Street. It is a sort of melodrama; there's a deal of killing in
+it, and the heroine has to do some desperate deeds."
+
+"Oh, dear!" said Susy, with a sigh; "I don't feel, somehow, as if I much
+cared where we went. It will be awful afterwards when the fun is over."
+
+"But we will enjoy ourselves, Susy, while the fun lasts," said Kathleen.
+She tried to believe that she was enjoying herself and was having a
+right good time. She tried to forget the fact that Alice Tennant might
+really have seen her off, and that Mrs. Hopkins had justice in her
+remarks when she begged and implored of Kathleen not to go to the train.
+
+"What can she have found out?" she thought.
+
+She now turned to Susy.
+
+"Has your mother learned anything, Susy?" she said.
+
+"What do you mean?" said Susy, turning very pink.
+
+"Well, you know, as I was running here--Oh, girls, I had such a lark!
+What do you think happened? That horrid Alice--Alice Tennant--ran after
+me as I was leaving the house. I raced her across the common, and then
+to get rid of her I climbed up into an oak-tree. She never saw me, and
+ran on down the passage. Of course, my only chance of getting to the
+station was to go by the long way.--Half-way there I came across your
+mother, Susy, and she tried to stop me, and said she must speak to me.
+Dear, she did seem in a state! Evidently there's a great deal of
+excitement and watching going on in that school."
+
+"There will be a great deal of excitement to-morrow," said Susy. "It
+strikes me it will be all up with us to-morrow--that is, if Ruth tells."
+
+"If Ruth tells! What do you mean?"
+
+"They are going to do their utmost to get her to tell; and if she does
+tell they will call out our names and expel us, that's all. Oh! I can't
+bear to think of it--I can't bear to think of it."
+
+Susy's voice broke. Tears trembled in her bright black eyes, and she
+turned her head to one side. Kathleen gave her a quick glance.
+
+"It will be all right," she said. "Ruth won't tell. Ruth is the kind who
+never tells. She told me to-day she wouldn't."
+
+"She'll be a brick if she doesn't," said Kate Rourke. "But then, of
+course, you know--"
+
+"I know what?"
+
+"Oh, nothing. What's the good of making ourselves melancholy on a night
+like this?"
+
+"If I were expelled," said Clara Sawyer, "I should leave Merrifield. I
+could never lift up my head again. You can't think what impudent sort of
+boys my brothers are, and they have always twitted me for my good
+fortune in getting into the Great Shirley School. They say that if we
+are to be expelled it will be done in public. The governors are
+determined to read us a lesson. That's what they say."
+
+"Who cares what they say?" said Kathleen. "Let them say."
+
+"Well, that's what I think; and I dare say half of it is untrue," said
+little Janey Ford.
+
+"I am sure, Janey, wonders will never cease when we see you in this
+thing," said Susy. "It was disgusting of the others to funk it. But I
+suppose they were on the right side; only I do sometimes hate being on
+the right side.--Don't you, Kathleen?"
+
+"Yes," said Kathleen in a whisper, and she squeezed Susy's hand. It
+seemed to her that her soul and Susy's had met at that moment, and had
+saluted each other like comrades true.
+
+"But how was it you came, Janey? Didn't your little heart funk it
+altogether?" continued Kate.
+
+"I was so mad to come," said Janey. "I am shaking and trembling now like
+anything. But I had never been to a theater, and it was such a
+tremendous temptation. I said about ten times to myself that I wouldn't
+come, but eleven times I said that I would; and the eleventh time
+conquered, and here I am. I do hope we'll have a right good time."
+
+With this sort of chatter the girls got to London. Here Kate Rourke took
+the lead. She marshaled the little party in two and two, and so conveyed
+them out of the station. Outside the yard at Charing Cross they all
+climbed on the top of an omnibus, and soon were wending their way in the
+direction of the Princess' Theater, which Kate most strongly advocated.
+There was no crowd at the theater this special evening. The piece which
+was presented on the boards happened to be a fairly good one. The girls
+got excellent seats, and found themselves in the front row of the family
+circle. From there they could look down on dazzling scenes, and
+Kathleen, who had never been to a theater in the whole course of her
+life, was delighted. She at least had forgotten what might follow this
+expedition. Oh, yes, they were having a glorious time; and it was quite
+right to do what you liked sometimes, and quite right to defy your
+elders. Oh, how many she was defying: Ruth Craven, who would almost
+have given her life to keep her back from this; Miss Ravenscroft, the
+head-mistress, to whom Kathleen's heart did not go out; her own father;
+her own aunt; Alice Tennant--oh, bother Alice Tennant! And last, Mrs.
+Hopkins.
+
+"Quite an army of them," thought Kathleen. "I have dared to do what none
+of them approved of, and I am not a bit the worse for it. Darling dad,
+your own Kathleen will tell you everything, and you may give me what
+punishment you think best when the fun is over. But now I am having a
+jolly time."
+
+So Kathleen did enjoy herself, and made so many saucy remarks between
+the acts, and looked so radiant notwithstanding her very plain dress,
+that several people looked at the beautiful girl and commented about her
+and her companions.
+
+"A school party, my dear," said a lady to her husband.
+
+"But I don't see the chaperone," he remarked.
+
+And then the lady, who looked again more carefully, could not help
+observing that these seven girls were certainly not chaperoned by any
+one. A little wonder and a little uneasiness came into her heart. She
+was a very kind woman herself; she was a motherly woman, too, and she
+thought of her own girls tucked up safely in bed at home, and wondered
+what she would feel if they were alone at a London theater at this hour.
+Presently something impelled her to bend forward and touch Kathleen on
+her arm. Kathleen gave a little start and faced her.
+
+"Forgive me," she said; "I see that you and your companions are
+schoolgirls, are you not?"
+
+To some people Kathleen might have answered, "That is our own affair,
+not yours;" but to this lady with the courteous face and the gentle
+voice she replied in quite a humble tone:
+
+"Yes, madam, we are schoolgirls."
+
+"And if you will forgive me, dear, have you no lady looking after you?"
+
+"No," said Kate Rourke, bending forward at that moment; "we are out for
+a spree all by our lone selves."
+
+Kate gave a loud laugh as she spoke. The lady started back, and could
+not help contrasting Kathleen's face with those of the other girls. She
+bent towards her husband and whispered in his ear. The result of this
+communication was that, the curtain having fallen for the last time, the
+actors having left the stage, the play being completely over, and the
+seven girls being about to get back to Charing Cross as best they could,
+the lady touched Kathleen on her arm.
+
+"You will forgive me, dear," she said; "I am a mother and have daughters
+of my own. I should not like to see girls in the position you are in
+without offering to help them."
+
+"But what do you mean?" said Kathleen.
+
+"I mean this, my dear, that my husband and I will see you seven back to
+your home, wherever it is."
+
+Kathleen burst out laughing; then she looked very grave, and her eyes
+filled with tears as she said:
+
+"But wouldn't mother approve of it?"
+
+"If your mother is the least like me she would not approve of it; she
+would be horrified."
+
+"I don't think the lady can see us home," here remarked Clara Sawyer,
+"for we live at Merrifield, a good long way from London."
+
+Again the lady and her husband had a talk together, and then she
+suggested that they should take the girls back with them to Charing
+Cross and put them into their train.
+
+"But we thought we'd have a bit of supper," said Kate Rourke.
+
+"I can get you some things at the railway station; you ought not to wait
+for supper in town," said the gentleman in a stern voice.
+
+Then somehow all the girls felt ashamed of themselves, Kathleen slightly
+more ashamed than the others. They left the theater very slowly, with
+all the lightsomeness and gladness of heart gone.
+
+Two cabs were secured for the little party, and with their kind
+protectors they were taken back to Charing Cross. Eventually they got
+seats in a comfortable carriage, and found themselves going back again
+to Merrifield.
+
+"Well, it has been a dull sort of thing altogether," said Clara Sawyer.
+"What meddlesome people!"
+
+"Don't!" said Kathleen.
+
+"Don't what, Kathleen O'Hara? Why should you speak to me in that
+reproving voice?"
+
+"It isn't that; only they were like two angels. I know it; I am sure of
+it. We did an awful thing coming to town; I know we did, and I feel--oh,
+detestable!"
+
+Kathleen bent her head forward, covered it with her hands, and sat
+still. No tears shook her little frame, but there was a storm within. To
+her dying day Kathleen never forgot that return journey. Truly the fun
+was all over; the dregs of the cup of pleasure were in their mouths, and
+there was a fear, great, certain, and very terrible, in their hearts.
+But with all her fears--and they were many--Kathleen thought again and
+again of the lady who had girls of her own, and of the gentleman who was
+both stern and chivalrous, who had the manners of a prince and the look
+of a gentleman. As long as she lived she remembered those two faces, and
+the words of the lady, and the smile with which she said good-bye. She
+never learned their names; perhaps she did not want to.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LEDGER.
+
+
+Ruth got up rather earlier than usual on that Saturday morning. She had
+a dull, stunned kind of feeling round her heart. She was glad of that;
+she was glad that she was not acutely sorry, or acutely glad, or acutely
+anxious about anything.
+
+"If I could always be like this, nothing would matter," she said to
+herself.
+
+She dressed with her usual scrupulous neatness, and after hesitating for
+a moment, put on her best Sunday serge dress. It was a dark-blue serge,
+very neatly made. She combed back her luxurious hair and tied it with a
+ribbon to match the dress. She then ran downstairs.
+
+"Why, Ruth?" said her grandmother, who was pouring some porridge into
+bowls, "what are you wearing that frock for?"
+
+"I thought I would like to, granny."
+
+"Well, to be sure. I trust to goodness you are not getting extravagant.
+It will be doomsday before we can get you another like it. You must
+remember that I saved up for it sixpence by sixpence, and it took me all
+my time and my best endeavors to get it."
+
+"I know it, granny; and when I wear it I feel that you were very kind to
+give it me. A girl who wears a dress like this ought to be very, very
+good, oughtn't she, granny?"
+
+"Well, to be sure, little woman; and so you are. There never was a
+better child. Sit down now and sup your porridge. It is extra good this
+morning, and there's a drop of cream in that jug which will give it a
+flavor."
+
+Ruth sat down to the table and drew her bowl of porridge towards her.
+The warm, nourishing food seemed to choke her; but, all the same, she
+ate it with resolution."
+
+"That's right, dear," said her grandmother. "'It's putting a bit of
+color into your cheeks. You are too white altogether, Ruth. I hope, my
+dear, you are not working too hard."
+
+"Oh, that's all right," said Ruth, keeping back a groan.
+
+"It's a fine thing your getting into that school," continued Mrs.
+Craven; "it gives you a chance. Do you know, now, when I look at you and
+see the pretty little girl you are turning into, and observe your
+lady-like ways, which every one remarks on, I think of the time when
+your father was your age."
+
+"Yes, granny," said Ruth, brightening up and looking earnestly at the
+old lady; "you never care to talk about father, but I should greatly
+like to hear about him this morning."
+
+"Well, child, I don't talk of him because it hurts me too much. He was
+the only child I ever had, and if I live to be a hundred I sha'n't get
+over his death. But he was like you--very neat in his person, and very
+particular, and always keen over his books. And do you know what he said
+to his father? It was when he was fifteen years old, just for all the
+world about the age you are now. I mind the time as well as if it was
+yesterday. Her father and I were sitting by the hearth, and the boy came
+and stood near us. Your grandfather looked up at him, and his blue eyes
+seemed to melt with love and pride, and he said:
+
+"'What will you be, my boy? Will you let me teach you the business, and
+save up all the money I can for you to sell groceries on a bigger scale?
+There's many a small business like mine which, when built up, means a
+great big business and much wealth. If you have a turn that way I could
+set you on your legs; I am certain of it. I'd like to do it. Would you
+like that best, or would you rather have a profession and be made a
+gentleman?'
+
+"'The gentleman part doesn't matter,' said our boy in reply to that;
+'but I think, father, if you can give me my choice, I'd like best to be
+that which, if necessary, would oblige me to give my life,'
+
+"'What do you mean?' asked his father, and the lad explained with his
+eyes shining.
+
+"'I have only got one life,' he said, 'and I'd like to give it if
+necessary.'"
+
+"To tell the truth, Ruth, I could not understand him."
+
+"But I can," said Ruth. She hastily put down her porridge spoon and
+jumped to her feet. "I can understand," she continued; "and I am proud
+of him."
+
+"So he went into the army. I wish you could have seen him in his
+uniform; and his father paid for every scrap of the whole thing, and
+educated him and all. Oh, dear! it was a proud moment. But we weren't
+proud afterwards when we heard that he was killed. His father reminded
+me of his words: 'I'd like to be that for which I could give my life if
+necessary,'"
+
+There was quite a pink color in each of Ruth's cheeks now, and her eyes
+were very bright.
+
+"I will go and see grandfather," she said, "and then I must be off to
+school."
+
+She left the kitchen and went into the tiny parlor where the old man
+was seated. It was his fashion to get up early and go straight to the
+parlor and read or talk softly to himself. For a couple of months now he
+had never sat in the kitchen; he said it caused a buzzing in his head.
+Mrs. Craven brought him his meals into the little parlor. He had
+finished his breakfast when Ruth, in her neat Sunday dress, entered the
+room. There was an exalted feeling in her heart, caused by the narrative
+which her grandmother had told her of her father.
+
+"Well, little woman," said the old man, "and you are off to school? Or
+is it school? Perhaps it is Sunday morning and you are off to church."
+
+"No, grandfather; it is Saturday morning--quite a different thing."
+
+"Well, my love, I am as pleased as Punch about that school. I can't tell
+you how I think about it, and love to feel that my own little lass is
+doing so well there. And if you get the scholarship, why, we will be
+made; we won't have another care nor anxiety; we won't have another
+wrinkle of trouble as long as we remain in the world."
+
+Ruth went straight over to the old man, knelt down by his side, and
+looked into his face.
+
+"Stroke my hair, granddad," she said.
+
+He raised his trembling hand and placed it on her head.
+
+"That is nice," she said, and caught his hand as it went backwards and
+forwards over her silky black hair, and kissed it.
+
+"Granddad," she said after a pause, "is it the best thing--quite the
+best thing--always to come out on the right side of the ledger?"
+
+"Eh? Listen to the little woman," said the old man, much pleased and
+interested by her words. "Why, of course, Ruth; it is the only thing."
+
+"But does it mean sometimes, grandfather--dishonor?"
+
+"No, it never means that," said Mr. Craven gravely and thoughtfully.
+"But I will tell you what, Ruthie. It does mean sometimes all you have
+got."
+
+"Yes," said Ruth, "I understand." She rose to her feet. Do you think my
+father would have come out on the right side of the ledger?"
+
+"Ah, child! when he lay dead on the field of battle he came very much
+out on the right side, to my thinking. But why that melancholy note in
+your voice, Ruth? And why are your cheeks so flushed? Is anything the
+matter?"
+
+"Kiss me," said Ruth. "I am glad you have said what you did about
+father. I am more glad than sorry, on the whole, this morning. Good-bye,
+grandfather."
+
+She kissed him; then she raised her flower-like head and walked out of
+the room with a gentle dignity all her own.
+
+"What has come to the little woman?" thought the old man.
+
+But in a minute or two he forgot her, and called to his wife to bring
+him the account-books.
+
+"Why do you bother yourself about them?" she asked.
+
+"It has come over me," he replied, "that I have counted things wrong,
+and that I'll come out on the right side if I am a bit more careful. Put
+the books on this little table, and leave me for an hour or two. That's
+right, old woman."
+
+"Very well, old man," she replied, and she pushed the table towards him,
+put the account-books thereon, and left the room.
+
+Meanwhile Ruth went slowly to school. She was in good time. There was
+no need to hurry. The morning was fresh and beautiful; there was a
+gentle breeze which fanned her face. It seemed to her that if she let
+her soul go it would mount on that breeze and get up high above the
+clouds and the temptations of earth.
+
+"I am glad," she said to herself, "the right side of the ledger means
+giving up all, and the best of life is to be able to lose it if
+necessary. I will cling to these two thoughts, and I don't believe if
+the worst comes that anything can really hurt me."
+
+When she got near the school she was met by Mrs. Hopkins. She was amazed
+to see that good woman, as at that hour she was usually busily engaged
+in her shop. But Mrs. Hopkins took the bull by the horns and said
+quietly:
+
+"I came out on purpose to see you, Ruth Craven."
+
+"Well, and what do you want?" asked Ruth.
+
+"My dear, you are not looking too well."
+
+"Please do not mind my looks."
+
+"It is just this, dear. There will be no end of a fuss in the school
+to-day."
+
+Ruth did not reply.
+
+"And they will press you hard."
+
+Still Ruth made no answer.
+
+"You know what it will mean if you tell?"
+
+Ruth's grave eyes were fixed on Mrs. Hopkins's face.
+
+"Child, I don't want to doubt you--nobody who knows you could do
+that--but it will mean ruin to poor Susy and to many and many a girl at
+the Great Shirley School. It isn't so much Miss O'Hara we mean. Miss
+O'Hara has gone into this with her eyes open; and she is rich, and what
+is disgrace to her in this little part of England, when she herself
+lives in a great big castle in Ireland, and is a queen, lady, and all
+the rest? But it means--oh, such a frightful lot to so many! Now, Susy,
+for instance. I meant to apprentice her to a good trade when she had
+gone through her course of work at the Great Shirley; but she will have
+to be a servant--a little maid-of-all-work--and I think that it would
+break my heart if she was expelled."
+
+"And what do you want me to do, Mrs. Hopkins?"
+
+"Oh, my dear, not to think of yourself, but of the many who will be
+ruined--not to tell, Ruth Craven."
+
+Ruth gave a gentle smile; then she put out her small slim hand and
+touched Mrs. Hopkins, and then turned and continued her walk to the
+school.
+
+There were a group of foundationers standing round the entrance. Ruth
+longed to avoid them, but they saw her and clustered round her, and each
+and all began to whisper in her ears:
+
+"You will be faithful, Ruth; nothing will induce you to tell. It will be
+hard on you, but you won't ruin so many of us. It is better for one to
+suffer than for all to suffer. You won't tell, will you, Ruth?"
+
+Ruth made no reply in words. The great bell rang, the doors of the
+school were flung wide, and the girls, Ruth amongst them, entered.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+AFTER THE FUN COMES THE DELUGE
+
+
+Kathleen O'Hara's nature was of the kind that rises to the top of the
+mountains and sinks again to the lowest vales. She had been on the
+tip-top of the hills of her own fantasy all that evening. When she ran
+quickly home under the stars she began to realize what she had done She
+had done something of which her mother would have been ashamed. Not for
+a moment had Kathleen thought of this way of looking at her escapade
+until she read the truth in the eyes of the unknown but most kind lady.
+She despised herself for her own action, but she did not dread
+discovery. It did not occur to her as possible that what she and her
+companions had done could be known. If no one knew, no one need be at
+all more sorry or at all more unhappy on account of her action.
+
+"Poor Wild Irish Girls! they are getting into hot water," she said to
+herself. "But this little bit of fun need never be told to any one."
+
+Kathleen had let herself out of the house by the strong rope of ivy; she
+meant to return to her bedroom the same way. Alice was a very sound
+sleeper; it did not occur to her that Alice on that particular night
+might be awake. She reached the foot of the window in perfect safety,
+saw that the ivy looked precisely as it had looked when she climbed down
+it, and began her upward ascent. This was decidedly more difficult than
+her downward one; but she was light of foot and agile. Had she not
+climbed dangerous crags after young eaglets at home? By-and-by she
+reached the window-sill. How nice! the window was partly open. She
+pushed it wider and got in. The room was in darkness. So much the
+better. She stepped softly, reached her own bed, undressed, and lay
+down. How nice of Alice to be sound asleep! Then of course it was not
+Alice she saw standing on the platform looking at her with reproachful,
+horrified eyes.
+
+"I must have dreamt it," thought Kathleen. "Now all is well, and I shall
+sleep like a top until the morning."
+
+This, however, was no easy feat. Alice's quiet breathing sounded not
+many feet away, and after a time it seemed to get on Kathleen's nerves.
+She moved restlessly in her bed. Alice awoke, and complained of the
+cold.
+
+"The window is a little open," said Kathleen. "Shall I shut it?"
+
+Alice made no answer. Kathleen jumped up, shut the window, and fastened
+it. She then got back into bed. In the morning Alice called out to her:
+
+"Is your headache better?"
+
+"Had I one?" began Kathleen. Then she blushed; then she laughed; then
+she said, "Oh, it's quite well."
+
+Alice gazed steadily at her. It seemed to Kathleen that Alice's eyes
+were full of something very terrible.
+
+"Are you coming to school to-day?" asked Alice the next moment.
+
+"Of course. Why do you ask such a strange question?"
+
+"I shouldn't think you would wish to; but there is no accounting for
+what some people can live through."
+
+"Alice, what do you mean?"
+
+"What I say."
+
+"Explain yourself."
+
+"No."
+
+"Is there anything very awful going to happen at school?"
+
+"You will find out for yourself when you get there."
+
+"Dear me!" said Kathleen; "you look as if the deluge was coming."
+
+"And so it is," said Alice.
+
+She had finished dressing by now, and she went out of the room. The two
+girls went down to breakfast. Alice's face was still full of an awful
+suppressed knowledge, which she would not let out to any one; but Mrs.
+Tennant was smiling and looking just as usual, and the boys were as
+fond of Kathleen as was their wont. She had completely won their
+immature masculine hearts, and they invariably sat one on each side of
+her at meals, helped her to the best the table contained, and fussed
+over her in a way that pleased her young majesty. Kathleen was very glad
+that morning to get the boys' attention. She determined to sit with her
+back slightly turned to Alice, in order not to look into her face. They
+were about half-way through breakfast when there came a ring at the
+front-door, and Cassandra Weldon's voice was heard.
+
+Alice went out to her. The two girls kept whispering together in the
+passage. Presently Alice returned to the breakfast-room, and Kathleen
+now noticed that her eyes were red, as though she had just been
+indulging in a bout of crying.
+
+"What can be the matter?" she thought.
+
+"Why, my dear Alice," said her mother, looking up at this moment, "what
+did Cassandra want? And what is the matter with you? Have you had bad
+news?"
+
+"Yes, mother," answered Alice.
+
+"But what is it, dear?"
+
+"You will know soon enough, mother."
+
+"That is exactly what you said to me upstairs," said Kathleen, driven
+desperate by Alice's manner. "I do wish you would speak out.--Do get her
+to speak out, Mrs. Tennant. She hints at something awful going to happen
+at school to-day. I declare I won't go if it is as bad as that."
+
+"It would be like you not to come," said Alice. "But I think you will
+come. I don't think you will be allowed to be absent."
+
+"Allowed!" said Kathleen. "Who is going to prevent me staying away from
+school if I wish to?"
+
+"The vote of the majority," said Alice very firmly. "Now, look here,
+Kathleen; don't make a fuss. It is wrong for the girls of the Great
+Shirley School to absent themselves without due reason."
+
+"Well, I have a headache. I had one last night."
+
+"No, you had not."
+
+"Alice, dear, why do you speak to Kathleen like that?" said her mother.
+"What is the matter with you?--Kathleen, do keep your temper.--Alice, I
+am sorry something has annoyed you so much."
+
+"It is past speaking about, mother. You will understand all too
+soon.--Kathleen, it is time for us to be going."
+
+"I am not going," said Kathleen, "so there!"
+
+"Kathleen, you are."
+
+"No."
+
+"Come, Kathleen; come."
+
+"You needn't fuss about me; I am not coming."
+
+"Kathleen, dear, I think you ought to go. Go for my sake," said Mrs.
+Tennant.
+
+Kathleen looked up then, saw the anxiety in Mrs. Tennant's face, and her
+heart relented. She was in reality not at all afraid of what might be
+going to happen at school. If there was to be a fray, she desired
+nothing better than to be in the midst of it.
+
+"All right," she said, "I will go; but I won't go yet. I am going to be
+late this morning. I can see by your manner, Alice, that I have got into
+disgrace. Now, I can't think what disgrace I have got into, unless some
+horrid girls have been prying and telling tales out of school. That sort
+of thing I should think even the Great Shirley girls would not attempt.
+Unless some one has been mean enough to act in that way, there is
+nothing in the world to prevent my going to school, and taking my
+accustomed place, and disporting myself in my usual manner. I shall get
+a bad mark for being late; that is the worst that can happen to me. I am
+going to be very late, so you can go on by yourself, Alice."
+
+Alice very nearly stamped her foot. She went so far as to beg and
+implore of Kathleen, but Kathleen was imperturbable.
+
+"You are very naughty, Kathleen," said Mrs. Tennant, but Kathleen ran up
+to her and kissed her.
+
+"You and I will have some fun, perhaps, this afternoon," she said. "I
+have got a lot of new plans in my head; they are all about you, and to
+make you happy and not so tired. Don't be cross with me. I'll promise
+that I will never be naughty again after to-day."
+
+Mrs. Tennant said nothing more. A minute or two later Alice left the
+house.
+
+It was quite an hour after Alice had departed that Kathleen took it into
+her head that she might as well stroll towards the school. On Saturdays
+school was over a little earlier than other days. There was a special
+class which she was anxious not to miss, for in spite of herself she was
+becoming interested in certain portions of her lessons. Her depression
+had now left her, and she felt excited, but at the same time irritated.
+A spirit of defiance came over her. She went upstairs and selected from
+her heterogeneous wardrobe one of her very prettiest and most
+fashionable and most unsuitable dresses. She put on a hat trimmed with
+flowers and feathers, and a sash of many colors round her waist. Over
+all she slipped her dark-blue velvet jacket, and with rich sables round
+her neck and wrists, she ran downstairs.
+
+"Why, Kathleen, any one would suppose you were going to a concert," said
+Mrs. Tennant.
+
+"Ah, my dear good friend, I like to look jolly once in a way. I am
+certain to get a bad mark for unpunctuality, so I may as well get it
+looking my best as my worst. You don't blame me for that, do you?"
+
+"No. Go off now, dear, and don't let me find you so troublesome again."
+
+Kathleen started off. She ran across the common, and reached the doors
+of the great school exactly one hour after she ought to have arrived. To
+her amazement, she saw quite a crowd of people waiting outside, and
+amongst them was Mrs. Hopkins. There were several other mothers as well,
+and when they saw Kathleen they turned their backs on her, and one or
+two were heard to say aloud:
+
+"It's she who has done it."
+
+But Mrs. Hopkins did not turn her back on Kathleen; she came close to
+her, and even took her hand.
+
+"Why are you late, miss?" she said. "But perhaps it is best. Miss
+O'Hara, you won't forget my poor aunt; you will be sure to get her the
+little almshouse in Ireland?"
+
+"Yes, of course I will," said Kathleen. "Aunt Katie has written about it
+already, and I will write to-night. You may tell Mrs. Church that it is
+absolutely quite certain that she will get it. What is the matter, Mrs.
+Hopkins? How strange you look! And all those other women--they seem
+quite cross with me. What have I done?"
+
+"Ah, miss! I keep saying to them that it is because you are Irish and
+don't know frolic from serious mischief. Bless your heart, miss! it is
+you that are kind. You mean kindly--no one more so--and so I have said
+to them."
+
+"But it will be a nice thing if my girl gets expelled owing to her,"
+said a sour-faced woman, coming forward now and placing her arms akimbo
+just in front of Kathleen.
+
+"Is it that that every one is thinking about?" said Kathleen. She stood
+still for a minute. The color left her face. She felt a wave of
+tempestuous blood pressing against her heart; then it all rushed back in
+a fiery color into her cheeks and in brightness to her eyes.
+
+"And Alice knew of this," she said to herself; "and when I didn't come
+to school this morning she thought that I was afraid. Afraid!--Don't
+keep me, good people," said Kathleen. "Make way, please. I am sorry I am
+a little late."
+
+She walked past them all. When she got as far as the school door she
+turned to Mrs. Hopkins.
+
+"You can tell your aunt that the almshouse is safe," she said, and then
+she blew a kiss to her and disappeared into the school.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+WHO WAS THE RINGLEADER?
+
+
+In the passage a monitress was standing, and when she saw Kathleen she
+came up to her and said in an agitated tone:
+
+"They are all assembled in the great hall. Go in quickly; you may be in
+time, after all."
+
+The voice of the monitress quite shook, and there was a troubled, very
+nearly tearful expression in her eyes.
+
+"But why is the whole school in the central hall?" asked Kathleen. "Why
+are they not in their different classrooms?"
+
+"Go in--go in," said the monitress. "You will know when you find
+yourself there; and there is not a moment to lose."
+
+So Kathleen, impelled by a curious power which seemed to drive her
+whether she will it or not, opened the door of the great central hall
+and entered. She found it quite full. The four hundred girls who
+composed the Great Shirley School were all present; so were the
+teachers, and so were the professors who came to give them music and
+drawing and literature lessons. So was the head-mistress, Miss
+Ravenscroft; and also, seated on the same little raised platform, were
+the six ladies who formed the governors. The governors sat in a little
+circle, Miss Mackenzie in the middle. Miss Mackenzie looked hard and
+very firm. Her iron-gray hair, her false teeth, her prominent nose, and
+her rather cruel steel-gray eyes made themselves felt all down the long
+room. The other ladies also looked as they usually did, except that Mrs.
+Naylor had traces of tears in her eyes, and bent forward several times
+to whisper something to Miss Mackenzie, who invariably shook her head
+and looked more stern than ever. There was evidently a moment's pause,
+and the whole school was in a waiting attitude when Kathleen made her
+appearance. All eyes were then turned in her direction; all eyes fixed
+themselves on the showily dressed and very handsome child who suddenly
+entered the room.
+
+"It is Kathleen O'Hara;" "It is Kathleen O'Hara herself;" "Well, she has
+come at last;" "Yes, it is Kathleen O'Hara," passed from lip to lip,
+until Kathleen felt that her name had got round her and above her and to
+right and left of her. She had an instant's sensation of absolute fear.
+She had a flashing desire to turn tail and run out of the room; but the
+same power which had pushed her into the room now sent her right up the
+long central hall past all the watching, expectant, eager-looking girls.
+Outside some one had said that she would be afraid. No, whatever the
+danger, she knew she could keep her own. She was not Kathleen O'Hara of
+Carrigrohane Castle for nothing.
+
+"Come here, Miss O'Hara," said the voice of Miss Ravenscroft at that
+moment.
+
+Kathleen obeyed at once. She found a seat on the front bench, dropped
+into it, and at the same moment encountered the almost malicious glance
+of Alice Tennant. She turned away from Alice. That look seemed suddenly
+to steady her nerves. She was afraid just for a moment that she might
+give way to something, she knew not what, but Alice's look hardened her
+heart. Time had been given Kathleen to take her place, to recover any
+emotion she might have felt by her sudden entrance, and then Miss
+Ravenscroft rose to her feet.
+
+"It is my painful duty," she said, "to have to say something which
+distresses me far more than I can give you any idea of. My dear girls,
+you have all been summoned to attend in this hall to-day in order to
+meet the governors of the school, Miss Mackenzie, Mrs. Naylor, Mrs.
+Ross, the Misses Scott, and Miss Jane Smyth. These ladies have come to
+meet you, because they wish thoroughly to investigate a most disgraceful
+matter which has lately been going on in the school."
+
+Miss Ravenscroft paused and looked round her.
+
+"I allude," she said, "to the insurrection in our midst--a sort of civil
+war in our camp. There are, I am given to understand, in the midst of
+this hitherto well conducted and admirable school, a number of girls who
+have banded themselves together in disregard of its laws, and who have
+made for themselves laws contrary to the peace-abiding principles of
+this great school and noble institution: who meet at unseemly hours, who
+preach rebellion each to the other, who dare to publicly break the laws
+of the school, and who defy the express wishes of myself as
+head-mistress and the governors of the school by insisting on continuing
+their wicked meetings. And last night a certain number of these girls
+actually took it upon themselves to go to London--to do what, I can't
+say--and to return at midnight, alone and unchaperoned. Such conduct is
+so unworthy, so undignified, and so absolutely sinful that there is only
+one course to pursue. The girls who are rebellious in the school must be
+exposed; their conduct must be investigated, and a very heavy punishment
+awarded to them."
+
+Here Miss Ravenscroft looked round her. She caught the eye of Miss
+Mackenzie, who beckoned to her and whispered something in her ear.
+
+"Miss Mackenzie bids me say that if the girls who belong to this society
+will at this moment give up the name of their ringleader they themselves
+will be forgiven. What punishment they receive will only be connected
+with their work in the school, and may possibly exclude them from
+competing for certain scholarships during this present term, but for the
+rest nothing further will be said. But it is essential that the name of
+the ringleader, as well as her rules and her motives, should be
+declared."
+
+Miss Ravenscroft paused again and looked down the whole length of the
+long hall. She looked to right and left.
+
+"Don't let any girl think," she said after a pause, "that she is acting
+nobly by suppressing information which is for the benefit of the school.
+I do not ask the girls who are spoken of as the paying girls to expose
+their companions, nor do I ask those foundationers who have not joined
+the band of insurgents to betray their fellows; but what I do ask is
+this: that the girls themselves--the rebels--should rise in a body and
+point to their leader. With that leader the governors will deal. The
+girls themselves will have forgiveness."
+
+Miss Ravenscroft again paused. The silence which followed might be felt.
+Susy Hopkins bent her head and sobbed. Janey Ford trembled all over, and
+clutched tightly the hand of her companion. But no one spoke. It was at
+that moment that Kathleen calmly and slowly raised her face and looked
+around her. She looked back, and caught the eyes of at least a dozen of
+those foundationers whom she had pitied and helped and been jolly with.
+She looked to the right then, and met as many more faces of girls whom
+she knew, and who were members of the Wild Irish Girls' Society. Then
+very calmly she resumed her nonchalant attitude in the front row of the
+schoolgirls. Miss Ravenscroft meanwhile stood waiting. Still no one
+spoke.
+
+"Will no one speak?" she said. "Will no girl present be brave enough to
+save the school?"
+
+Still there was silence.
+
+"This is a very good and a great school," said Miss Ravenscroft. "It
+gives for a very trifling sum an education worthy of the very best and
+most expensive schools in England. It was founded some hundred years
+ago, by those who thought much and in advance of their time. In an age
+when girls were almost uneducated, when nothing further was required
+from them than a smattering of reading and writing, these wise and
+far-seeing people said that they would give the girls of the future a
+chance. So they left money for the purpose, and that money, wisely
+invested, has borne fruit. The great school was built, and has for
+generations helped many girls who otherwise might not have been able to
+earn their own bread. Even for the paying girls the expense for all they
+receive is but a trifle. But the school does more than that. It was the
+wish of the founders that there should always be one hundred
+foundationers on the school lists, and these girls are admitted free;
+they pay nothing in hard cash for what they receive. They are taught
+liberally; they have the best rooms, the best laboratories; the best
+music, the best art, are supplied to them. If they have talent they have
+every chance of bringing it to the fore, for the education is thorough
+and generous. But the school does even more than this. It opens up
+scholarships--many scholarships--of great value for those special girls
+who call themselves foundationers. Now my dear girls of the Great
+Shirley School, you must clearly understand that no establishment of
+this kind can be worked except on certain lines, and these lines mean
+order, method, and obedience. Rules must be made, and these rules at any
+cost must be obeyed. These rules are made not only to enable the girls
+to get the best possible education out of the school, but also that the
+greater education of mind and heart, which alone can build up a fine and
+useful character, may not be neglected. That sort of education can only
+be given by conforming to principles. Now, there are certain principles
+which every girl who comes into this school is bound to adhere to. She
+is bound on all occasions to behave with sobriety, with a sense of
+modesty and true womanly feeling; she is never, if she is a true member
+of the school, to join herself to rebels who do not believe in its
+rules. Now, there is not the slightest doubt that the society which you
+girls--a certain number of you--have joined is rebellious, has bad
+effects, and has rules of its own which are absolutely contrary to the
+rules of the Great Shirley School. It is impossible for you to be
+members of this society and to be members of the Great Shirley School.
+If, therefore, you do not immediately forsake that society, and
+immediately promise here and now that you will give it up forever, we
+shall have the painful duty of expelling you from the school. You have a
+few minutes in which to decide. Nobody wants to be hard on you; nobody
+wants to be hard on your founder, although she must no longer take her
+place as a member of this school; but if you don't confess, very
+stringent and terrible methods will have to be resorted to."
+
+Miss Ravenscroft here resumed her seat. There was a faint applause which
+came from different parts of the room, but was not unanimous, and soon
+died away. After that there was silence. Miss Mackenzie bent forward and
+made some notes in a little black book which she held upon her lap. Mrs.
+Naylor took her handkerchief and wiped the tears from her eyes; the
+other governors looked depressed and uneasy. Meanwhile Miss Ravenscroft
+sat with her eyes fixed on the different girls in their different forms.
+There was no movement. Kathleen drew herself up proudly.
+
+"They're not quite such cads," she said under her breath.
+
+But just as the thought came to her, Miss Mackenzie, the woman most
+respected and most dreaded in the whole of Merrifield, rose slowly to
+her feet.
+
+"Girls of the Great Shirley School," she said, "your head-mistress, Miss
+Ravenscroft, has conveyed to you a message from me and from the other
+governors. The message is to the effect that if those silly girls who
+have allied themselves to that most ridiculous society, the Wild Irish
+Girls, will give the name of their leader, they shall be forgiven. Do
+you accept, foundationers, or do you decline?"
+
+Dead silence ensued.
+
+"I presume," said Miss Mackenzie after a pause of a full minute, "that
+your silence means refusal I have therefore to turn to a certain young
+girl in this school who was a member of the Wild Irish Girls' Society,
+and who has now left it.--Ruth Craven, have the goodness to step
+forward."
+
+Ruth had been seated in the fourth bench. She rose slowly. Kathleen felt
+a curious tremor run through her, but she did not move a muscle; only
+when Ruth appeared at the edge of the platform, it was with the greatest
+effort she could keep herself from jumping up, taking her hand, and
+mounting the platform by her side.
+
+"Step up here, Miss Craven," said Miss Mackenzie.
+
+Ruth did so.
+
+"Will you have the goodness to stand just here, Miss Craven?"
+
+Ruth went to the place indicated.
+
+"You can now face me, and your schoolfellows can also see you.--Girls, I
+have requested Ruth Craven to take the prominent position she now
+occupies in order that you may all see her. You all know her, do you
+not? Those who know Ruth Craven, hold up their hands."
+
+Immediately there was a great show of uplifted hands.
+
+"I presume that you all like her?"
+
+Again the hands went up, and Kathleen's was raised the highest of all.
+Ruth's little face, however, remained perfectly white and still; only
+her eyes were dark with emotion. She kept thinking of her father.
+
+"I should like that which would make me give _my life_ if necessary," he
+had said; and her grandfather had said, "Sometimes when you come out on
+the right side of the ledger it means giving _all_ that you possess."
+
+Ruth could scarcely see the faces which rose up like a great ocean
+beneath her, but she remembered her father's words very distinctly.
+
+"You all see Ruth Craven," continued Miss Mackenzie. "As far as I know,
+she is a good girl; and I judge by your method of answering my question
+that she is a popular girl. I know, alas! that she is poor. I have heard
+a great deal about her intellectual endowments, and believe that this
+school could be of immense advantage to her. I believe, in short, that
+she is the typical sort of girl of whom the founders thought when they
+instituted this great and noble house of learning. Nevertheless, Ruth
+Craven must fall if necessary for the good of the many.--Ruth, I wish to
+ask you a certain question. You were a member of that rebellious
+society, the Wild Irish Girls?"
+
+"Yes, Miss Mackenzie."
+
+Ruth's "Yes" was very clear; her face looked modest but firm. There was
+not the slightest hesitation in the words she uttered. Her speech was
+not loud, but it could be heard to the end of the great hall.
+
+"You are no longer a member?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Three days ago I and the other governors sent for you to ask you
+certain questions. You refused to answer those questions then. We gave
+you three days to consider, telling you that if at the end of that time
+you still kept to your resolution there was only one thing for us to do,
+and that was to make an example of you in the presence of the entire
+school--in short, to take from you your right of membership, and to
+expel you from the school, taking from you all privileges, all chances
+of acquiring learning and the different valuable scholarships which this
+school was opening to you. We came to this most painful resolve knowing
+well that it would cast a blight upon your life, that wherever you went
+the knowledge that you had been publicly expelled from the Great Shirley
+School would follow you--that you would, in short, step down, Ruth
+Craven. I quite understand from the expression of your face that you are
+the sort of child who imagines that she is doing right when she keeps
+back the knowledge which she thinks she ought not to betray; but we
+governors do not agree with you. There are six of us here, and we wish
+to tell you that if you now refuse the information which we wish to
+obtain from you, you will do _wrong_. You are young, and cannot know as
+much as we do. We earnestly beg of you, therefore; not to make a martyr
+of yourself in a silly and ridiculous cause.--Mrs. Naylor, will you now
+say what you think to Ruth Craven?"
+
+"I think, dear child," said Mrs. Naylor, speaking in a tremulous voice,
+which could scarcely be heard half-way down the room, "that it would be
+best for you not to conceal the truth."
+
+"And I agree," said Mrs. Ross.
+
+"We all agree," said the Misses Scott and Miss Jane Smyth.
+
+"We all think, dear," continued Mrs. Naylor, "that for the sake of any
+chivalrous ideas, quite worthy in themselves, it is a considerable pity
+for you to spoil your life. You are not the sort of child who could
+stand disgrace."
+
+"And you don't look the sort of child who would under ordinary
+circumstances act the idiot," said Miss Mackenzie sharply. "As to the
+chivalrous nature of your silence, I fail to see it. I hope you have
+carefully considered the position and are prepared to act openly and
+honorably. By go doing you will save the school and yourself. Now then,
+Ruth Craven, will you come a little more forward? Stand just
+there.--Girls, you can all see Ruth Craven, can you not?"
+
+The girls held up their hands in token that they could.
+
+"I will therefore at once proceed to question her," continued Miss
+Mackenzie.
+
+There was just a moment's pause, and during that complete silence a
+dreadful rushing noise came into Kathleen O'Hara's head. The floor for
+an instant seemed to rise up as though it would strike her; then she
+felt composed, but very cold and white. She fixed her eyes full on Ruth.
+
+"I will hear her out. I must hear the thing out," she kept saying to
+herself. "Afterwards--afterwards--But I must hear the whole thing out."
+
+Miss Mackenzie turned, and in a very emphatic voice began to question.
+
+"You are prepared to reply to the following questions?" she said.
+
+Ruth's very steady eyes were raised; she fixed them on Miss Mackenzie.
+Her lips were firmly shut. Nothing could be quieter than her attitude;
+she did not show a trace of emotion. Always pale, she looked a little
+paler now than her wont. Her darks eyes seemed to darken and grow full
+of intense emotion; otherwise no one could have told that she was
+suffering or feeling anything in particular.
+
+"But I know what she is going through," thought Kathleen. She clenched
+her hands so tightly that the nails went into the delicate flesh. She
+was glad of the pain; it kept her from screaming aloud.
+
+"The first question I have to ask," said Miss Mackenzie, "is this: How
+many of the foundation girls have joined the rebels?"
+
+Ruth came a step nearer.
+
+"How many? I can't quite hear you."
+
+"I am sorry," said Ruth then, "but I can't tell you."
+
+Miss Mackenzie, without any show of emotion, immediately entered Ruth's
+answer in a little book which she held in her hand.
+
+"Oh, don't, Miss Mackenzie! Don't be harsh," gasped little Mrs. Naylor.
+
+Miss Mackenzie, as though she had not heard the voice of her sister
+governor, proceeded:
+
+"What is the name of the founder of the society?"
+
+"I am not prepared to say," replied Ruth.
+
+Again this answer was recorded.
+
+"Can you give me an exact account of the rules of the society, its
+motives, its bearing generally?"
+
+The same negative reply was the result of this question.
+
+"Do you know anything whatever of the disgraceful escapade which took
+place last night, when a certain number of the members of this society
+went to London and returned by themselves at midnight?"
+
+Ruth's face cleared a little at this question.
+
+"I cannot answer because I know nothing," she said.
+
+A slight look of relief was visible on the faces of the unfortunate
+girls who had gone to town with Kathleen on the preceding night. A few
+more questions were asked, Ruth replying on every occasion in the
+negative. "I can't say," or "I will not say," were the only words that
+were wrung from her lips.
+
+"In short," said Miss Mackenzie very quietly, "you have decided, Ruth
+Craven--you, an ignorant, silly little girl--to defy the governors of
+this school. All justice has been dealt out to you, and all patience.
+The consequence of your mad action has been explained to you with the
+utmost fullness. You have been given time--abundant time--to consider.
+You have chosen, from what false motives it is impossible to say--"
+
+"My dear," interrupted Mrs. Naylor, "the child means well, I am
+assured."
+
+"From what false motives it is impossible to say," continued Miss
+Mackenzie, not taking the slightest notice of the little governor's
+futile appeal, "you have decided to wreck your own life and to ruin the
+school. It was to have been your noble privilege to save the school in a
+time of extremity. You have chosen the unworthy course. It is therefore
+my painful duty to call upon Miss Ravenscroft as head-mistress to expel
+you, Ruth Craven, from this school. You are no longer a member of the
+Great Shirley School; you are--"
+
+"Hold!" cried Kathleen.
+
+Her voice rang out sharp and clear. It was heard all over the school,
+and was so imperative, so startling, so unexpected, that even Miss
+Mackenzie lost her self-control and fell back in silence.
+
+"Hold!" cried Kathleen again. "You have said enough. I don't think you
+ought to go on. You are torturing the noblest girl in the world. But
+Kathleen O'Hara, bad as she is, cannot endure this last insult.
+Girls--Wild Irish Girls, you who belong to my society--I as your queen
+desire you to come forward. Come forward in a body at once."
+
+What was there in the young voice that impelled? What was there in the
+young face that stimulated, that caused fear to slink out of sight and
+courage to come to the fore, that caused hearts to beat high with
+generous emotion? Not a single girl failed Kathleen in this moment of
+her appeal. They clambered over their seats; they bent under the forms;
+they got out in any fashion, until she was surrounded by the sixty girls
+who formed her society. She glanced round her; her dark-blue eyes grew
+full of sweetness, and there was a look on her face which made the girls
+for the moment feel that they would die for her.
+
+"Come, girls," said their queen--"come; there is room on the platform."
+
+She sprang up the couple of steps without another word, and the girls
+followed her.
+
+"Do what you like with Ruth Craven, Miss Mackenzie," she cried; "but put
+your questions over again to me, and I will answer them one after the
+other. Then expel me and my companions; turn us out of the school, but
+keep the girl who would be a credit to you."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+END OF THE GREAT REBELLION.
+
+
+No one quite knew what happened next. Some of the girls went off into
+violent hysterics; others rushed out of the great hall, half-fainting;
+while others controlled themselves and listened as best they could. The
+scene was vivid and picturesque. Mrs. Naylor sobbed quite audibly, and
+took hold of Ruth's hand, and even kissed it. But as she did so Kathleen
+herself came near and flung her arm round Ruth's neck.
+
+"If you mean to expel Ruth you will expel me," she said. "But won't you
+forgive her? If her ideas were wrong, they were at least generous; and
+you know that I won't trouble you any more. I am very sorry, but I don't
+think that I was made to suit a great school like this, and I give up
+the society--yes, absolutely--so you won't have any rebels present in
+your midst again. Expel me, but keep her, for she will be the flower of
+your school, the greatest ornament, one you will talk of in the dim
+years of the future. Don't let me feel that I have spoilt her life."
+
+"But why did you act so, Kathleen O'Hara?" said Miss Mackenzie. "Why did
+you, a silly young girl, come over here, a stranger, to ruin the school
+and make us all unhappy?"
+
+"I can't answer you that," said Kathleen, flinging out her hands. "I did
+what I was made to do. I am a rebel by nature. I believe I shall always
+be a rebel. I shall go home to father and mother and tell them I am not
+suited for a school like this. But don't expel Ruth, and don't expel the
+others."
+
+"But we will all go if you are not kept," suddenly cried one of the
+sixty, Kathleen never quite knew which; and suddenly one girl after
+another began to speak up for her, and all promised that if Kathleen
+were allowed to remain, and if the whole story of the great rebellion
+was allowed to blow over, they would work as they had never done before.
+They wanted their queen to stay with them. Would the governors forgive
+their queen, just because she was an Irish girl and like no one else?
+
+How it came to pass it was impossible to tell. There was something about
+Kathleen--the bold, bright, and yet generous look on her face, the love
+which darted out of her eyes when she grasped Ruth's hand--that even
+impressed Miss Mackenzie. She said after a pause that she was willing to
+reconsider matters, and that she and all the other governors would meet
+in a day or two to give their opinion.
+
+Thus the school broke up. It had lived through its greatest and most
+exciting hour. But when Kathleen was seen going through the gates, her
+arm flung round Ruth's waist, and all the sixty girls following at her
+heels, such a cheer went up from the anxious mothers and fathers and
+brothers--for many fresh people had come to swell the crowd since
+Kathleen entered the school--as was never heard before in Merrifield.
+
+Thus ended the great rebellion. It is spoken of to this day as the
+greatest and most conspicuous event in the school's history. For, after
+all, the governors were lenient, and no girl was expelled. Kathleen, as
+years went on, became far and away the most popular girl in the school.
+Her talents were of the most brilliant order; her very faults seemed in
+one way to add to her charms. In one sense she was always a more or less
+troublesome girl; but where she loved she loved deeply, and from that
+hour she gave up all thought of rebellion either against the governors
+or against Miss Ravenscroft. Ruth was Kathleen's greatest friend. Her
+grandfather got better; his heart was never broken by the knowledge of
+that terrible disgrace which the child so feared that she would bring
+him. Mrs. Church became one of the Irish alms-women, and grumbled a good
+deal at the change in her position. Mrs. Hopkins's debt was cleared off;
+and all the characters in this story did well, and were proud to admit
+that they owed most of their future prosperity to the Wild Irish Girl,
+Kathleen O'Hara.
+
+THE END.
+
+
+TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:
+
+p.2  Typo fixed: changed OE to OF
+p.2  Typo fixed: changed upside-down V in VERY
+p.9  Added missing opening quote before THE BUTCHER
+p.15  Added missing opening quote before I HOPE TO
+p.27  Typo fixed: changed KATLHEEN to KATHLEEN
+p.29  Removed an extra closing quote after STICKY
+p.44  Typo fixed: changed SAN into SANS
+p.47  Typo fixed: changed CASSANDA to CASSANDRA
+p.57  Typo fixed: changed TOMORROW to TO-MORROW
+p.61  Typo fixed: changed AND to AN
+p.68  Typo fixed: changed RUTH RAVEN to RUTH CRAVEN
+p.76  Added missing closing quote after ON THE TABLE
+p.98  Typo fixed: changed TENNAN'T to TENNANT'S
+p.99  Typo fixed: changed HOMOR to HUMOR
+p.101 Typo fixed: changed EQUISITELY to EXQUISITELY
+p.113 Typo fixed: changed SCHOOL-FELLOWS to SCHOOLFELLOWS
+p.118 Typo fixed: changed WAN'T to WANT
+p.125 Added missing line: -ING ANY LONGER.
+p.177 Typo fixed: changed POSESSED to POSSESSED
+p.180 Typo fixed: changed TODAY to TO-DAY
+p.183 Typo fixed: changed METROPOLE to METROPOLE
+p.184 Typo fixed: changed METROPOLE to METROPOLE
+p.197 Typo fixed: changed ABOUNT to ABOUT
+p.205 Typo fixed: changed ARMCHAIR to ARM-CHAIR
+p.205 Typo fixed: changed PLUM-CAKE to PLUMCAKE
+p.209 Typo fixed: changed TENANT to TENNANT
+p.209 Typo fixed: changed PROFUND to PROFOUND
+p.220 Typo fixed: changed LADYLIKE to LADY-LIKE
+p.235 Removed an extra closing quote after GOOD THINGS
+p.241 Typo fixed: changed A SOON AS to AS SOON AS
+p.247 Removed an extra closing quote after HER JUDGES
+p.260 Typo fixed: changed FAVORIATE to FAVORITE
+p.267 Added missing closing quote after THAT, DEAR
+p.284 Added missing closing quote after THAT POINT
+p.285 Removed extra opening quote before I CAN'T TELL YOU
+p.290 Typo fixed: changed FOUND to FOND
+p.294 Typo fixed: changed GREAW to GREW
+p.295 Typo fixed: changed TEATABLE to TEA-TABLE
+p.297 Typo fixed: changed WINDOWSILL to WINDOW-SILL
+p.301 Removed an extra closing quote after THE GIRL'S FACE
+p.309 Removed an extra closing quote after WITH RESOLUTION
+p.325 Added missing closing quote after AWARDED TO THEM
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Rebel of the School, by Mrs. L. T. Meade
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