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.”