“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?”