-morrow, or that she might ask Miss
O'Flynn here."

"I am sorry you did that, mother."

"Well, darling, it seemed the only thing to do; and the child took it
very well. Isn't she going with you? She said she wouldn't be at all
long getting ready."

"She is not in her room, mother. I can't imagine what has happened to
her."

Mrs. Tennant ran upstairs in some alarm. Kathleen had certainly flown.
The disordered state of the room gave evidence of this; and then on a
nearer view Mrs. Tennant found a tiny piece of paper pinned in
conventional fashion to the pin-cushion. She took it up and read:

"Gone to London to Aunt Katie O'Flynn."

"Well, she is a naughty girl. How troublesome! I must follow her, of
course," said Mrs. Tennant. "Really this is provoking."

"Oh, mother, it isn't worth while fretting about her. She is quite
hopeless," said Alice. "But there! I must make the best of it to Miss
Ravenscroft, only I am sure she will be very angry with Kathleen."

Alice flew to the school. She was met by a teacher, who asked her where
she was going.

"To see Miss Ravenscroft," replied Alice. "I had a note asking me to
call at six o'clock. Do you know anything about it, Miss Purcell?"

"Perhaps she wants to question you about Miss O'Hara. There is some
commotion in the school in connection with her. She seems to be
displeasing some of those in authority."

"Kathleen had a note too, asking her to call."

"Then it must be about her. But where is she? Isn't she going with
you?"

Alice threw up her hands.

"Don't ask me," she said; "perhaps the less I say the better. I am late
as it is. I won't keep you now, Miss Purcell."

Alice ran the rest of the way. She entered the great school, and knocked
at the front entrance. This door was never opened except to the
head-mistress and her visitors. After a time an elderly servant answered
her summons.

"I am Alice Tennant," said the young girl, "and I have come at Miss
Ravenscroft's request to see her."

"Oh yes, miss, certainly. She said she was expecting two young ladies."

"Well, I am one of them. Can you let her know?"

"Step in here, miss."

Alice was shown into a small waiting-room. A moment later the servant
returned.

"Will you follow me, miss?" she said.

They went down a passage and entered a brightly and cheerfully furnished
sitting-room. There was a fire in the grate, and electric light made all
things as bright as day. A tall lady with jet-black hair