The two girls ran downstairs together.  Just for a moment Kathleen had felt frightened at Alice’s words, but then she cast them from her mind.  It was quite, quite impossible to suppose that anything so monstrously unfair as that a little girl should be expelled from the school could happen.  Ruth, too, of all the girls—­Ruth who was absolutely goodness itself.  So Kathleen ate her breakfast with appetite, remarked on the brightness of the day to Mrs. Tennant and the boys, and then with Alice started off to school with her satchel of books slung over her shoulder, her gay, pretty dress making her look a most remarkable figure amongst all the girls who were going towards the great school, and her saucy bright face attracting attention on all sides.  There was nothing about Kathleen to indicate that that evening she meant to steal from home and, in company with forty companions, go to London.  She was able to keep her own counsel, and this last daring scheme was locked tightly up in her heart.  On her way to school she met Ruth.

“There is Ruth,” she said, turning to Alice.  “Oh! and there’s Susy in the distance.  I want to speak to them both.  You can go on, of course, Alice; I will follow presently.”

“We are rather late as it is,” said Alice.  “In addition to your misdemeanors, I should advise you not to be late for prayers just at present.”

“Thanks so much!” said Kathleen in a sarcastic tone.

She left Alice and ran towards Ruth.

“Why, Ruth,” she said, “you do look pale.”

“Oh, I am all right,” said Ruth, brightening at the sight of Kathleen.

“Then you don’t look it.  Ruth, is it true that they want you to tell?”

“They want me to, Kathleen,” said Ruth; “but I am not going to.  You can rest quite satisfied on that point.”

“You are a splendid, darling brick,” said Kathleen, “and I love you to distraction.  Dear Ruth, what can I do for you?”

“Give up the society as fast as you can,” said Ruth.

“What?  And yet you won’t tell!”

“It’s because it’s dishonorable to tell,” said Ruth.  “Don’t keep me now, Kathleen; I want to get into school in good time.  Grandfather is not well, and I must hurry back to him.”

“Your nice white-haired grandfather that you have talked to me about?”

“He was ill all night.  He talked about you a little.  Do you know, Kathleen, I think he’d like to see you.  Would you greatly mind coming back with me after school, just to see him for a minute?  I have told him so much about you, and I have told granny too, and they both picture you somewhat as you are.  Do you think you could come, just to give them both pleasure?”

“Come?” said Kathleen gaily.  “Why, of course I’ll come, heart of my life.  I’d do anything on earth to please you.  I’ll join you after school, and well go straight away.  It doesn’t matter a bit about my being late for dinner at the Tennants’.  Ah! there’s Susy.  I want to have a word with her.”