house.

"I will go. I haven't the slightest idea how I am to get there, but I
will go to Aunt Katie O'Flynn. I shall be in the train and far enough
away before they have discovered that I have gone," was her thought.

From Mrs. Tennant's house to the station was the best part of a mile,
but Kathleen was fleet of foot and soon accomplished the distance. She
was just arriving at the station when she saw Ruth Craven coming to meet
her. Ruth had enjoyed her hour with Miss Renshaw, and was altogether in
high spirits. Kathleen stopped for a minute.

"Oh, Ruth," she said, "will you come to town with me? It would be so
nice if you would. I am going to meet Aunt Katie O'Flynn. It would not
be a bit wrong of you to come. Do come--do, Ruthie."

"But I can't in this dress," said Ruth, who felt suddenly very much
tempted.

"Of course you can. Why, Aunt Katie is such a darling she'll take us out
if we want things and buy them on the spot. And what does dress matter?
We'll be back in no time. What time does your grandmother expect you
home?"

"Oh, I don't know. I told granny I did not exactly know what time I
should be back, but she certainly wouldn't expect me to be out late."

"Never mind; you are doing me a kindness. I must go to see Aunt Katie,
and it isn't convenient for the Tennants to go with me. If we go
together it won't be a bit remarkable. Do come, Ruthie. You hurt my
feelings awfully this morning; you needn't hurt them again."

"Very well," said Ruth. "I don't know London at all, and I should like
to go with you."

The two girls now turned into the railway station. Kathleen gave a
puzzled glance around her for a minute, then walked boldly up to a
porter, asked him to direct her to the proper place to book for London.
He showed her the right booking-office, and she secured two first-class
single tickets for herself and Ruth. The girls were directed to the
right platform, and in process of time found themselves in the train. It
so happened that they had a compartment to themselves. Kathleen had now
quite got over her burst of anger, and was in the highest spirits.

"This is fun," she said. "It is so awfully nice to have met you! Do you
know that Miss Ravenscroft--the Great Unknown, as we Wild Irish Girls
call her--had the cheek to send me a letter?"

Ruth looked attentive and grave.

"She wanted me to go and see her at six o'clock. Well, it is half-past
six now, and she will have to whistle for me. Ruth, darli