r past eight. She must be out of
the house in a little over a quarter of an hour if she was to meet Ruth
Craven at the White Cross Corner. She sat down to the table, helped
herself to a piece of toast, and spread some butter on it.

"A cup of tea, please, Alice," she said.--"Oh, what letters are those?
Any for me? David, if you give me a letter I'll--I'll love you ever so
much. Ah, two! Dave, you are a treasure; you are a darling; you are
everything that is exquisite."

It was Alice's place to pour out the tea. She poured some out now, very
unwillingly, for Kathleen, who drew the cup towards her, stirred it
absently, and began to read her letters. Presently she uttered a little
shriek.

"It is from Aunt Katie O'Flynn, and she is crossing the Channel, the
darling colleenoge. She is coming to London, and she wants me to see
her. Oh, golloptious! What fun I shall have! Boys, aren't you delighted?
It was Aunt Katie O'Flynn who sent me that wonderful trunk of clothes.
Won't she give us a time now? I declare I scarcely know whether I'm on
my head or my heels.--Alice, you'd best make yourself agreeable and join
in the fun, for I can assure you it's theaters and concerts and teas and
dinners and--oh! shopping, and every conceivable thing that can delight
the heart of man or woman, boy or girl, that will be our portion while
Aunt Katie--the duck, the darling, the treasure!--is in London. Let me
see; what hotel is she going to? Oh, the Metropole. Where is the
Metropole?"

"In Northumberland Avenue. But, of course, we are not going up to
London," said Alice. "We are only schoolgirls. We are at school and must
mind our lessons. I am trying for my scholarship, and I mean to get it.
And I don't suppose, even if your aunt is coming at a most inopportune
time, that she is going to upset everything."

"That remains to be proved," said Kathleen. "I am not going to have Aunt
Katie so close to me without having my bit of fun. Oh, dear, dear! look
at the time. I must be off."

"Why are you going so early? It is only half-past eight."

"I have business, darling--a friend to meet. Have you any objection?"

Kathleen did not wait for Alice's answer. She dashed upstairs, and on
the first landing she met Mrs. Tennant, who had been suffering from
headache, and was in consequence a little late for breakfast.

"Mrs. Tennant," shouted Kathleen, "I have the top of the morning as far
as news is concerned. It is herself that is crossing the br