“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.