Kathleen thought rapidly.  She had no brothers of her own, but their loss was made up for by the adoration of about twenty young cousins who were always loafing about the place and following Kathleen wherever she turned.

“What would most aggravate Pat if he were here,” thought the girl, “or dear old Michael?  Ah, well!  Michael—­” The girl’s face slightly changed.  “I was never very naughty with Michael,” she said to herself.  “He is different from the others.  I wouldn’t like to see that sort of sorry look in his dear dark-blue eyes.  Oh, I mustn’t think of Michael now.  When I was going away he said, ’Bedad, you’ll come back a princess, and I’ll be proud to see you.’  No, I mustn’t think of Michael.  Pat, the imp, would help me, and so would Rory, and so would Ted.  But what shall it be?”

She thought excitedly.  There came a rattle at the handle of the door.

“Let me in, please, Kathleen; let me in,” called Alice’s voice.

“Presently, darling,” replied Kathleen in her most nonchalant tone.

“But I am in a hurry.  I must be back at school by half-past two.  Let me in immediately.”

“What a nuisance it all is!” thought Kathleen.  “But, after all, my naughtiness needn’t make that stupid old Alice late for her darling lessons.”

She scrambled off the bed, drew back the bolt, and returned to her old position.  Alice came quickly in.  She glanced at Kathleen with disgust.

“I wish you wouldn’t lie on the bed in your muddy boots.”

No answer.

“I must ask you not to lock the door.  It is my room as well as yours.”

No answer.  Kathleen’s eyes were fixed on the window; they were brimful of mischief.  After a time she said: 

“Darling.”

“I wish you wouldn’t talk to me in that silly way.”

“Faith! honey, then.”

“I do wish—­”

Kathleen suddenly sprang upright on her bed.

“Don’t you like the sky when it looks as it does now?  I wish you could see it from Carrigrohane.  You don’t know the sort of expression it has when it seems to be kissing the sea.  We have a ghost at Carrigrohane.  Oh, wisha, then, if you only could see it!  I can tell the boys about it.  Sha’n’t I make them creep?”

“It is very silly to talk about ghosts.  Nobody believes in them,” said Alice.

“I’ll ask father if I may have you at Carrigrohane in the summer, and then see if you don’t believe.  She wears white.”

“I am going out now, Kathleen; aren’t you coming with me?”

“No, thank you, my love.”

“You ought to, Kathleen.  I am busy preparing for my scholarship examination or I would stay and argue with you.  It is an awful pity to have gone to the expense of coming here if you don’t mean to do your utmost.”

“Thank you, darling, but it is rather a waste of breath for you to talk so long to me.  I mean to be naughty this afternoon.”