will be proclaimed in the presence of all the school, and
she will be watched walking out of the schoolroom and out of the big
gates, which will close behind her for ever, and all her chance
goes--all her golden prospects. Nevertheless, grandfather, speaking to
me from your own heart, ought the girl to betray her companions?"

"Upon my word!" said the old man, who was intensely moved by Ruth's
story. It did not occur to him for one moment that the little girl was
talking about herself. "I tell you what, Ruth," he said; "I must think
over it. I pity that poor girl. I don't think the governors ought to put
any girl in such a position."

"They are sorry, but they say they must. They must get at the truth;
they must crush out the insurrection."

"But it is turning king's evidence," said the old man. "I don't see how
a girl is to be expected to betray her companions."

"That is the position, grandfather. And now I think I will get you your
dinner."

Ruth went out of the room into the little kitchen. For a minute she
pressed her hands against her face.

"Grandfather agrees with me," she said to herself. "I am glad I
consulted him. No one ever had a clearer head for business or for right
and wrong than grandfather when he is at his best. He was at his best
just now. I feel stronger. I won't betray Kathleen O'Hara."

CHAPTER XXIII.

RUTH WILL NOT BETRAY KATHLEEN.

Soon after dinner Ruth walked over to Cassandra's house. Cassandra was
so anxious to see her, so determined to use her influence on what she
considered the scale of right, that she was waiting for Ruth at the
little gate.

"Ah! here you are," she said. "I am so glad to see you. Mother has gone
out for the day; we will have a whole delightful afternoon to ourselves.
We can do some good work."

"Let us," said Ruth.

She felt feverish and excited. As a rule she was very calm, but now her
heart beat too fast. She was thinking of her grandfather, and of what it
would mean to him and the old grandmother when she came back on Saturday
a disgraced girl, expelled from her high estate, her golden chance
snatched from her. Nevertheless she had always been pretty firm, and
pretty well resolved to do what she thought right. She was firmer now,
and quite resolved.

"Shall we go in at once and set to work?" she said. "I want to read that
bit of Tasso over again before Miss Renshaw comes."

"No, no," said Cassandra. "You are always in such a fidget to learn