you, Ruth?"

Ruth made no reply in words. The great bell rang, the doors of the
school were flung wide, and the girls, Ruth amongst them, entered.

CHAPTER XXVII.

AFTER THE FUN COMES THE DELUGE

Kathleen O'Hara's nature was of the kind that rises to the top of the
mountains and sinks again to the lowest vales. She had been on the
tip-top of the hills of her own fantasy all that evening. When she ran
quickly home under the stars she began to realize what she had done She
had done something of which her mother would have been ashamed. Not for
a moment had Kathleen thought of this way of looking at her escapade
until she read the truth in the eyes of the unknown but most kind lady.
She despised herself for her own action, but she did not dread
discovery. It did not occur to her as possible that what she and her
companions had done could be known. If no one knew, no one need be at
all more sorry or at all more unhappy on account of her action.

"Poor Wild Irish Girls! they are getting into hot water," she said to
herself. "But this little bit of fun need never be told to any one."

Kathleen had let herself out of the house by the strong rope of ivy; she
meant to return to her bedroom the same way. Alice was a very sound
sleeper; it did not occur to her that Alice on that particular night
might be awake. She reached the foot of the window in perfect safety,
saw that the ivy looked precisely as it had looked when she climbed down
it, and began her upward ascent. This was decidedly more difficult than
her downward one; but she was light of foot and agile. Had she not
climbed dangerous crags after young eaglets at home? By-and-by she
reached the window-sill. How nice! the window was partly open. She
pushed it wider and got in. The room was in darkness. So much the
better. She stepped softly, reached her own bed, undressed, and lay
down. How nice of Alice to be sound asleep! Then of course it was not
Alice she saw standing on the platform looking at her with reproachful,
horrified eyes.

"I must have dreamt it," thought Kathleen. "Now all is well, and I shall
sleep like a top until the morning."

This, however, was no easy feat. Alice's quiet breathing sounded not
many feet away, and after a time it seemed to get on Kathleen's nerves.
She moved restlessly in her bed. Alice awoke, and complained of the
cold.

"The window is a little open," said Kathleen. "Shall I shut it?"

Alice made no answer. Kathleen jum