's somewhat frozen heart.

Immediately after school that day Cassandra held out her hand to Ruth.
Ruth went up to her gravely.

"Well, Ruth," she said, "have you decided? I hope you have. You told me
you would let me know to-day."

"I have, Cassandra," said Ruth.

Kathleen, who was standing not far away, suddenly darted forward and
stood within a foot of the two girls.

"Have you really decided, Ruth?" she said. Her tone was imperious. Ruth
felt her gentle heart beat high. She turned and looked with dignity
first at Kathleen and then at Cassandra.

"I will join you, Cassandra," she said.--"Kathleen, I told you this
morning what my decision was."

"And I hate you!" said Kathleen. She tossed her head and walked away.

Cassandra waited until she was out of hearing.

"You look very pale, dear Ruth," she said. "Come home with me, won't
you?"

Ruth did not speak. Cassandra laid her hand on her arm.

"Why, you are trembling," she said. "What has that horrid girl done to
you?"

"Nothing--nothing."

"But she has."

"Please, Cassie, she is not horrid."

"Oh, well, we won't discuss her. She is not my sort. Won't you come and
have lunch with me, and we can arrange everything? You are going to take
advantage of mother's offer?"

"I can't help myself. It is much too good to be refused. It means--I
can't tell you what it means to me, Cassie. If I can only get a
scholarship I shall be able to help grandfather. And yet--I must tell
you the truth--I was very nearly declining it."

"I don't think I should ever have spoken to you again if you had."

"Even so, I was very nearly declining it; for you know I could not have
accepted your offer and been friends with Kathleen O'Hara in the way she
wants me to be. Now I am very fond of Kathleen, and if I could please
myself I would retain her friendship. But you know, grandfather has lost
some more money. He heard about it two nights ago, and that made me make
up my mind. Of course I love you, Cassie. I have loved you ever since I
came to the school. You have been so very, very kind to me. But had I
the choice I would have stayed with Kathleen."

"Well, it is all a mystery to me," said Cassandra. "I don't like
Kathleen; I will frankly say so. I don't think she has a good influence
in the school. That sort of very rich popular girl always makes
mischief. It is far better for the school not to have anybody like her
in its midst. She has the power of attracting people, but s