“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.