he has also
the power of making enemies. It is my opinion she will get into very
serious trouble before she leaves Great Shirley School. I shall be sorry
for her, of course."

"But what do you mean? What sort of trouble can she get into?"

"There are whispers about her that I don't quite understand. But if it
were known that she does lead other girls astray, she would be had up
before the governors, and then she would not find herself in a very
pleasant position."

Ruth did not say anything. Her face turned white. Cassandra glanced at
her, uttered a quick sigh, and resumed:

"Whether you like it or not, I am glad you are out of the whole thing. I
should hate you to get into trouble. You are so clever, and so different
from the others, that you are certain to succeed. And now let us hurry
home. I must tell you all about our scheme. You must come to me every
day; Miss Renshaw will be with us each evening from six to seven. Oh!
you don't know how happy you are making me."

Ruth smiled and tried to look cheerful.

Mrs. Weldon came out to meet the two girls as they entered the pretty
little cottage. Her face was smiling.

"Ah, Cassandra!" she said, "now you will be happy."

"Yes; Ruth has accepted our offer."

"Indeed I have, Mrs. Weldon," said Ruth; "and I scarcely know how to
thank you."

"Come in, dear, and have some dinner.--Cassandra, I have just heard
from Miss Renshaw, and she is coming this afternoon.--You can either
stay, Ruth, when dinner is over, or come back again."

"I will come back," said Ruth. "Granny is not very well, and I ought not
to have left her, even to have dinner here; but I couldn't help myself."

Cassandra brought her friend into the house. They had a pleasant meal
together, and Ruth tried to forget that she had absolutely quarrelled
with Kathleen, and that Kathleen's heart was half-broken on her account.

But Kathleen herself was determined not to give way to any real feelings
of misery on account of Ruth's desertion.

"I have no time to think about it," she said to herself.

When she returned to the house she found a telegram waiting for her. She
tore it open. It was from Aunt Katie O'Flynn:

"I have arrived. Come and have dinner with me to-night at the Metropole,
and bring any friend you like."

"What a lark!" thought Kathleen. "And what a chance for Ruth if only she
had been different! Oh, dear! I suppose I must ask Alice to come with
me."

"Whom is your telegram from, de