to learn. My aunt Katie
O'Flynn--she's the finest figure of a woman you ever laid eyes
on--thought that I ought to have learning; mother thought so too, but
the dad didn't much care. However, I needn't worry you about that. I
have been sent here, and here I am. When I came to your wonderful school
and looked all around me, I said to myself, 'If I'm not to have
companions, why, I'll die; the heart of Kathleen O'Hara will be broken.
Now, who amongst the schoolgirls will suit me? I saw that very dull
Cassandra Weldon, and I noticed a few companions of hers who were much
the same sort. Then I observed dear, pretty little Ruth Craven, and some
one said to me, 'You won't take much notice of Ruth, for she's only a
foundation girl.' That made me mad. Oh yes, it did--Give me your hand,
Ruth.--That made my whole heart go out to Ruth. Then I was told that a
lot of the girls were foundation girls, and they weren't as rich as the
others, and they were somewhat snubbed. So I thought, 'My time has come.
I am an Irish girl, and the heritage of every Irish girl, handed down to
her from a long line of ancestors, is to help the oppressed,' So now I
am going to help all of you, and we are going to found this society, and
we are going to have a good time."

Kathleen's somewhat incoherent speech was received with shouts of
applause.

"We must make a few rules," she continued when her young companions had
ceased to shout--"just a few big rules which will be quite easy for all
of us to obey."

"Certainly," said Kate. "And I have brought a note-book with me, and if
you will dictate them, Kathleen, I will jot them down."

"That is easy enough," said Kathleen. "Well, I am queen."

"Certainly you are!" "Who else could be?" "Of course you are queen!"
"Darling!" "Dear!" "Sweet!" "Duck!" fell from various pairs of lips.

"Thank you," said Kathleen, looking round at them, her dark-blue eyes
becoming dewy with a sudden emotion. "I think," she added, "I love you
all already, and there is nothing on earth I wouldn't do for you."

"Hear her, the dear! She is bringing a fine change into our lives, cried
a mass of girls who stood a little out of the line of light.

"Well," said Kathleen, "I am queen, and I have my Cabinet. Now the girls
of my Cabinet are the following: Ruth Craven is my Prime Minister; Kate
Rourke comes next in importance; then follow Susy Hopkins, Clara Sawyer,
Hannah Johnson, Rosy Myers, and Mary Rand. Now all of you girls whom I