Now Cassandra Weldon had come to the school that day with the intention of asking Ruth Craven to come home with her.  She had a suggestion to make to Ruth.  She knew that the little girl was very poor and very clever.  Cassandra was working very hard for one of the big scholarships, and her mother had gone to the expense of getting a special coach to help her at home.  Cassandra had spoken to her mother, and her mother had agreed that Ruth might come back with her each evening and also take advantage of the services of Miss Renshaw.  If Ruth got a scholarship she would indeed be a happy girl, and it was Cassandra’s, opinion that, although she had been such a short time in the school, she would have a very good chance if she got a little outside help.

Accordingly Cassandra waited for Ruth outside the school when lessons were over.  During the morning her eyes had travelled in Ruth’s direction pretty often, and her eyes had conveyed to the little girl all sorts of kind and friendly messages.  But Ruth had avoided Cassandra’s eyes.  She had made up her mind.

“I can’t be two things,” she said to herself.  “I have elected to go with the foundationers and with Kathleen O’Hara, although I don’t care for the society, and I don’t want to belong to the girls who band themselves together against the paying girls.  But if I do this I certainly can’t take advantage of Cassandra’s kindness.  I do love her—­I am sure I should love her dearly—­but I can’t have much to say to her now.”

Accordingly, while Cassandra waited for Ruth, hoping that she would appear at any moment, and that she could tell her what a good thing she had arranged on her behalf, Ruth avoided Cassandra.  Presently Kathleen O’Hara, dressed somewhat extravagantly, and with her blue velvet cap perched upon the back of her golden hair, strolled out of school.  She had a crimson sash round her black velvet dress, and a wide lace collar encircled her neck.  She was fastening a heavily embroidered coat of blue cashmere when Cassandra accosted her.

“How do you do, Miss O’Hara?” she said.

“How are you?” replied Kathleen, just raising her brows, and then turning to say something to Susy Hopkins.

Cassandra frowned.

“How can Kathleen, who with all her eccentricities is a lady, waste her time talking to an insignificant little girl like Susy?” thought Cassandra.

Kathleen seemed to read her neighbor’s thoughts, for she slipped her hand inside Susy’s arm.

“I will walk with you a little way,” she said; “I have something I want to say.”

“One moment first,” said Cassandra.  “Have you seen Ruth Craven anywhere?”

“Oh yes; Ruth has left the school.  Didn’t you see her go?  There she is, crossing the field.  I suppose she is in a hurry to get home.”

“Thank you,” said Cassandra.

She caught up her books and started running in the direction of Ruth Craven.