our dear old alms-women have. I was telling
Mrs. Church about it last Sunday. She took a keen desire to belong to
us, and I sort of half, in a kind of a way, promised her. Is there
likely to be a vacancy soon, Aunt Katie?"

"Well, dear, there is a vacancy at the present moment. Mrs. Hagan
breathed her last, poor soul! and was waked not a fortnight ago. We'd
better wire to your father to keep the little cottage vacant until we
know more. This is going to be interesting, and you may be quite sure
that if there is going to be a lark that I'm the one to help you, my
colleen bawn."

Kathleen and her aunt talked until late into the night, and when the
young girl laid her head on her pillow she was lost immediately in
profound slumber.

It was not at all difficult for Kathleen to wake early, and accompanied
by Miss O'Flynn, she arrived at Merrifield at half-past eight on the
following morning. She had no time, however, to change her dress, but
after washing her hands and smoothing out her tangled hair, and leaving
Miss O'Flynn in the care of Mrs. Tennant--who, to tell the truth, found
her considerably in the way--Kathleen, accompanied by Alice, started for
school.

"You'll catch it," said Alice.

"Oh, that's very likely, darling," said Kathleen; "but I don't think I
much care. Did you see Miss Ravenscroft last night, and was she very,
very angry?"

"I saw her, and she was more than angry--she was astonished. I think you
will have to put up with a rather serious conversation with her this
morning. She asked me questions with regard to you and your doings
which, of course, I could not answer; but you will have to answer them.
I don't think particularly well of you, Kathleen; your ways are not my
ways, nor your ideas mine; but I don't think, bad as you are, that you
would tell a lie. You will have to speak out the truth to Miss
Ravenscroft, Kathleen, and no mistake about it."

"Thank you," replied Kathleen. "I think I can manage my own affairs,"
she added, and then she was silent, not exactly cross, but lost in
thought.

The girls reached the school without any further adventure. Prayers were
held as usual in the great hall, and then the members of the different
classes went to their places and the work of the morning began. The work
went on, and to look at those girls, all steadfast and attentive and
studious-looking, it was difficult to realize that in some of their
hearts was wild rebellion and a naughty and ever-i