"No."

"Why did you join it?"

"Because I loved Kathleen O'Hara."

"She is the promoter, then?"

Ruth was silent.

"You have heard me?"

"Yes, madam."

"Kathleen O'Hara is the promoter?"

Again Ruth was silent. Miss Mackenzie glanced at the other ladies. After
a pause she continued:

"We will leave that matter for the present. Please write down, Miss
Judson"--here she turned to the clerk--"that Ruth Craven has refused to
answer my question with regard to Kathleen O'Hara. We will return to
that point later on.--Why did you leave the society?"

"I did so because I wanted to join a scheme proposed by a girl who was
not a foundationer and not a member of the society. Her name is
Cassandra Weldon."

"One of our best and most promising pupils," interrupted Miss
Ravenscroft.

"I know her," said Miss Mackenzie. "We have every reason to be proud of
Cassandra Weldon.--And so she, this charming and excellent Cassandra
Weldon, is your friend, little Ruth Craven?"

"She has been extremely good to me, madam. She offered me the services
of her own coach in order that I might work up for the Ayldice
Scholarship."

"And do you think you have a chance of getting it?"

"I don't know. I mean to try."

Her dark-blue eyes flashed with intelligence and longing as she uttered
these words.

"I think we are now in possession of the facts," said Miss Mackenzie.
"Is that not so, Mrs. Ross? Ruth Craven was a member of the
objectionable society; she very wisely left it, knowing that she would
better herself by doing so.--Now then, Ruth, we expect you to tell us
all about the society--where it meets, and as much as you know about its
rules. And you must also acquaint us with the names of the girls who are
members."

Ruth again was silent, but now she held herself erect and looked full at
Miss Mackenzie.

"You hear me, child. Speak. You can make your narrative brief. Where
does the society meet? What does it do? What are its rules? Go on; you
are not stupid, are you?"

"No, Miss Mackenzie," said Ruth, "I am not stupid; and I am very, sorry
indeed to seem rude, but I cannot answer your questions. You know that
Kathleen's society exists; that fact I cannot hide from you, but you
will not hear anything more from me. It would be a very terrible thing
for me to be expelled from this school; it would mean great sorrow to my
grandfather and grandmother; but I cannot betray my friend Kathleen, nor
any of the other girls of the