This was a half-holiday, and the classes broke up at twelve o’clock.  Cassandra hoped to have a talk with Ruth before she went home, but when she looked round for her little favorite she could not find her anywhere.  The foundationers were standing in knots talking eagerly to each other.  There was a sort of buzz or whisper going on in their midst.  Kathleen O’Hara darted from one group to another, smiled at one set of girls, patted the shoulder of a favorite girl in another group, laughed one time, said an emphatic word to another, and presently disappeared, accompanied by Susy Hopkins.

Alice Tennant was standing by herself; she looked dull and depressed.  Cassandra went up to her.

“It there anything the matter, Alice?” she asked.

“Matter!” replied Alice.  “Surely you must know that for yourself.  Have you not heard what a condition the school is in?”

“I have, of course, heard about the Wild Irish Girls,” said Cassandra, lowering her voice.  “But surely the fact that there are a few naughty girls in our midst need not upset the whole school?”

“It upsets me, anyhow,” said Alice, “for I feel that I have brought it on the school.  I could cry.  I only wish that mother had never been induced to take Kathleen as a boarder.  She is worse than troublesome; she is a girl without principle.”

“Oh, I don’t think quite so bad as that, dear,” said a gay voice at that moment; and turning, Alice saw the piquant and beautiful face of the girl she loathed.  “I guessed, of course, that you must be alluding to me,” said Kathleen.  “I am bad, but I have my own principles—­and a good old-fashioned set, worth a great deal.”

She nodded impertinently to both the girls, and then reentered the school.

“I left my satchel and came back for it,” she said as she vanished from their view.

“Yes,” said Alice, “that is just like her—­just the sort of thing she would do.  She is always daring every one.  I do wish some strong influence could be brought to bear on her.  There is no doubt she is very clever, and when she likes she can be extremely agreeable.”

“She is extremely pretty, you know, and that goes a long way.”

“Not with me, thank goodness!” said Alice.  “In fact, I almost hate her face.  I detest people who are always grinning and smiling and showing themselves off.  My opinion is that schoolgirls ought to be modest, and attentive to their books, and not thinking of giving themselves airs.  But there! no one agrees with me.  Mother and the boys are fairly mad on Kathleen; and as to the servants, there’s nothing they wouldn’t do for her.  Every one combines to spoil her; I don’t see that she has the least chance.”

Cassandra talked a little longer to Alice, and then prepared to go home.  She was disappointed that she had not seen Ruth; but Ruth had promised to be with her quite early in the afternoon.  They were both to work for two hours, and afterwards their coach was to arrive.  Ruth would spend the entire afternoon at Cassandra’s home.  On her way back Florence Archer suddenly joined her.