“Is that a slap at me?” she asked.

“No; I did not mean it as a slap at you or anybody.  I only see how the matter looks to me, and how it would have looked to father, and how it looks to grandfather.  There are some people born that way; I think, after a fashion, I am one of them.  There are others who would look at the thing from a different point of view, but I don’t think I envy those others.  Shall we go in now and set to work?”

“You are an extraordinary girl,” said Cassandra.  “I really don’t know whether I love you or hate you most for being such a little goose.  Well, Ruth, if that is your mind, I don’t know why you care to go in to work, for it will be all over in a day or two—­all over—­and your fate sealed.”

“Nevertheless I should like to read that piece of Tasso, and do my work with Miss Renshaw.  Shall we go in?” said Ruth.

Cassandra somehow did not dare to say any more.  Afterwards, when Ruth had returned to her own home, Cassandra sat with her head in her hands for the best part of an hour.  Her mother asked her what ailed her.

“I have a headache,” she replied.  “I was with a girl to-day who is fifty times too good for me.”

“What nonsense you are talking, Cassandra!  There are few people good enough for you.”

“To think of her gives me a headache,” continued Cassandra.  “If you don’t mind, mother, I will go to bed now.”

Meanwhile things were moving rather rapidly in another direction.  Kathleen O’Hara, walking home that day in the company of Susy Hopkins, eagerly questioned that young lady.

“How prim and proper every one looked in the school to-day!” she said.  “What is wrong?”

“There is plenty wrong,” said Susy.  “I tell you what it is, Kathleen, I feel rather frightened.  I suppose it will come to our all being expelled.”

“Oh, not a bit of it,” said Kathleen.

“Well, it looks rather like it,” said Susy.  “Do you know what they are doing?”

“What?”

“They are bringing pressure to bear upon Ruth Craven.  The governors convened a special meeting yesterday; they had Ruth before them, and then tried by every means in their power to get her to tell.  You see, she is in the position of the person who knows everything.  She belonged to us for a time, and now she doesn’t belong to us.”

“Well?” said Kathleen, feeling interested and a little startled.

“She wouldn’t tell.”

“Of course she wouldn’t.  She is a brick.  The Ruth Cravens of the world are not traitors,” said Kathleen.  “And so that is what the governors are doing—­horrid, sneaky, disagreeable things!  But they are not going to subdue me, so they needn’t think it.  I tell you what it is, Susy.  Why should we put off till next week our picnic to town?  Can’t we have it this week?”

“I wish we could,” said Susy.  “It would be glorious,” she continued.  “I do think somehow, Kathleen, that they will catch us in the long run.  It might be dangerous to put off our glorious time till next week.”