re you don't lock the door," called Alice after her. "I sha'n't be
up for quite an hour, and you will be sound asleep by that time."

"I won't lock it," replied Kathleen gently.

When Kathleen had gone upstairs, Mrs. Tennant turned and spoke to her
daughter.

"You know, Alice," she said, "the child is very lovable and
kind-hearted--a little barbarian in some senses of the word, but a fine
nature--of that I am certain."

"I am so busy to-night, mother," replied Alice. "Can't we defer talking
of the charms of Kathleen's character until after I have done my
lessons?"

"Of course, dear," said her mother.

She drew her basket of mending towards her, put stitch after stitch
into the shabby garments, and thought all the time of Kathleen with her
bright face and beautiful, merry eyes.

Meanwhile that young lady, having arranged a bolster in her bed to look
as like a human being as possible, put on her hat and jacket and ran
downstairs. There was no one in the hall, and she was absolutely daring
enough to go out by that door. Mrs. Tennant raised her head when she
heard the door gently shut.

"Can that be the post?" she said; but as no one replied, she forgot the
circumstance and went on with her mending.

A few doors down the street Susy Hopkins was waiting for Kathleen.

"Oh, there you are!" she said. "We are so excited! There will be about
eight of us waiting for you in the old quarry. You are good to come. You
don't know what this means in our lives. You are good--you are
wonderfully good."

"Where's the quarry?" asked Kathleen. "You have chosen such a funny
place. I should not have imagined that a quarry--a dear, romantic
quarry--could be found anywhere in this neighborhood."

"Yes, but there is, and a good big one, too. It is about half a mile
away, just at the back of Colliers' Buildings. It is the safest place
you can possibly imagine, for no one will ever look for us there. Now do
be quick; we will find the others before us. You can't think how excited
we are."

"Oh, I'm willing to be quick," replied Kathleen. "I am doing all this
for you, you know, because I am sorry for the foundationers, and think
it so very ridiculous that there should be distinctions made. Why, you
are quite as good as the others. They are none of them much to boast
of."

"What fun this is!" cried Susy again. "I assure you the paying girls
think no end of themselves. They are under the supposition that there
never were such fine l