“I can’t answer you, Miss O’Hara.  You are a very naughty, rebellious girl.  You have come to school to be disciplined.  Go back immediately.”

For a minute Kathleen thought of rebelling, but then she said to herself, “It isn’t worth the fuss,” and returned to her place once again in the centre of the class.

“I have been called back,” she said in a whisper to her little peppermint companion.  “I was naughty to go out, and I am called back.  I am in disgrace.  Isn’t it a lark?”

The little girl felt quite excited.  Never was there such and big and fascinating inmate of the lower fifth before.  It was worth coming to school now to be in the vicinity of one so handsome and so gay.

The weary morning came to an end at last.  The girls seldom returned for afternoon school, generally doing their preparations at home.  Alice Tennant, however, sometimes preferred the quiet school to the noisy life she lived with her brothers at home.  She looked now eagerly for Kathleen, who had shunned her from the instant they had entered the school; she stood just by the gate waiting for her.  Kathleen, on her part, was looking for Ruth Craven.  Ruth had been monopolised by Cassandra Weldon.

“You must come home with me,” she said.

“But my grandparents will be expecting me,” said Ruth.

“Never mind; we will go round by your cottage and ask them.  I know all about you, and I want to know you better.  You will, won’t you?”

“Thank you very much,” said Ruth.

“We will go on at once without waiting for the others,” said Cassandra, and they walked on quickly, while Kathleen searched in vain for her chosen friend.

“Come, Kathleen; I am waiting,” said Alice in a slightly cross voice.  “Mother said we were to be home early to-day.”

“All right,” said Kathleen; “but I can’t find Miss Craven anywhere.

“You can’t wait for her now.  Indeed, she has gone.  I saw her walking down the road with Cassandra Weldon.”

“And who is she?”

“The head girl of the school; and such a splendid creature!  I am glad she is taking up Ruth.  It isn’t possible for every one to notice her; although, for my part, I have no patience with that sort of false pride.  Of course, a lot of the foundation girls are very common; but when one sees a perfect lady like Ruth one ought to recognize her.”

“Of course,” said Kathleen, fidgeting a little as she walked.

“And how did you get on?” asked Alice, noticing the dejected tone of her voice.

“I got on abominably,” said Kathleen.

“What class are you in?”

“I don’t know.  I am with a lot of babies; I suppose I am to be a sort of caretaker to them.  There wasn’t anything to learn.  I am going to write to father.  I can’t stay in that horrid school.”

“Oh, yes, you can.  You will get to like it very much after a time.  You have never been at school before, and of course you find it irksome.”