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?”