of humbug and balder-dash in the world,"
said Hannah Johnson.

Ruth's remark was unexpected, but the girls pooh-poohed Hannah's. Who
was Hannah Johnson that she dared to speak so rudely to one so charming
and beautiful as Kathleen O'Hara? There was a disconcerting pause, and
then Kathleen said:

"Hannah, doubtless you are right. There is plenty of humbug in the
world; but I don't think I am one. Now the question is: Shall I be on
the side of the foundationers, or shall I be on the side of the paying
girls in the Great Shirley School?"

"Indeed, darling," said Rosy Myers, "you shall be on our side. Those
horrid, stuck-up paying girls don't want you; and we do. Nothing will
induce us to give you up. It is a chance to get a girl like you, so
lovely and so sweet and so rich, to be one of us."

"Well, I think I can give you a good time, and I can show those others
with their snobbish ways--"

"Hear, hear!" cried the excited girls.

"I can show the others what I think of them. They won't snub me, but
perhaps I shall snub them. Well, girls, as we have decided to band
together, we must draw up rules; and when they are drawn up we must obey
them. I, of course, will be your head; as you have made me queen, that
is the natural thing to expect."

"Of course," said Susy.

Kathleen clapped her hands.

"This is going to be a real good secret society," she said. "What fun it
all will be!"

The girls laughed, and clustered with more and more friendliness round
Kathleen.

"You are our queen," said Kate. "There are eight of us here, and we all
swear allegiance to you.--Don't we, girls?"

"Certainly," said Susy.

"Unquestionably," remarked Mary.

"With all my heart," said Rose.

"And mine," echoed Clara.

"And mine," said Kate.

"I will join the others, although I don't approve," said Hannah Johnson,
with a somewhat unwilling nod.

"And I am neutral. I don't think I ought to join at all," said Ruth.

"Oh, yes, you will, Ruth. I want you to be my Prime Minister, I want you
to be with me in all things."

"I don't know that I can."

"And why should she be your Prime Minister?" said Kate in an ugly voice.
"She's no better than the others, and she's very new. Some of us have
been at the school for some time. Ruth Craven has only just joined.

"The queen must have her way," said Kathleen, stamping her foot. "The
queen must have her way in all particulars, and she wishes to elect Ruth
Craven as her Prime Minister--t