"I don't know myself," said Alice, "but it has something to do with
Kathleen and a curious influence she has over the foundation girls. I
know Kathleen isn't popular with the mistresses."

"That puzzles me," said Mrs. Tennant, "for I never met a more charming
girl."

"I know you think so; but, you see, mere charm of manner doesn't go down
in a great school like ours. Of course I am sorry for her, and I quite
understand that she doesn't want to disappoint her aunt, but she ought
to come with me; she ought, mother. I haven't the slightest influence
over her, but you have. I don't think she would willingly do anything to
annoy you."

"Well, I will see what I can do. She is a wayward child. I am sorry that
Miss Ravenscroft expects her to go to see her to-day, as she is so
devoted to her aunt and would enjoy seeing her."

Mrs. Tennant left the room, and Alice went steadily on with her
preparations. She wondered why her mother did not come back. Presently
she looked at the clock. It wanted a quarter to six.

"Dear me! I must go upstairs now and fetch Kathleen. She will have to
tidy herself, and I must try to persuade her not to put on anything
_outre_," thought Alice.

She rushed upstairs. She opened the bedroom door. The bedroom was empty.

"Where can she be?" thought Alice.

There were signs of Kathleen's late presence in the shape of a tie flung
on the bed, a hat tossed by its side, an open drawer revealing brushes
and combs, laces and colored ties, and no end of gloves, handkerchiefs,
&c.; but not the girl herself.

"She really is a great trial," thought Alice. "I suppose she has gone
with mother to town. I wonder mother yields to her. Kathleen will get
into a serious scrape at the school, that's certain."

Alice went to her own part of the room, which was full of order and
method. She opened a drawer, substituted a clean collar for the one she
had been wearing during the day, brushed out her satin-brown hair
neatly, put on her sailor-hat and a small black coat, snatched up a pair
of gloves, and ran downstairs. On the way she met Mrs. Tennant.

"Oh, mother," cried the girl, "where is Kathleen? I didn't find her in
her room, and I wondered what had become of her."

"Where is she?" said Mrs. Tennant. "I thought she was going with you. I
had a long talk with her. She did not say much, but she seemed quite
gentle and not at all cross. I kissed her and said that I would go with
her to London to see her aunt to