s of tears in her eyes, and bent forward several times
to whisper something to Miss Mackenzie, who invariably shook her head
and looked more stern than ever. There was evidently a moment's pause,
and the whole school was in a waiting attitude when Kathleen made her
appearance. All eyes were then turned in her direction; all eyes fixed
themselves on the showily dressed and very handsome child who suddenly
entered the room.

"It is Kathleen O'Hara;" "It is Kathleen O'Hara herself;" "Well, she has
come at last;" "Yes, it is Kathleen O'Hara," passed from lip to lip,
until Kathleen felt that her name had got round her and above her and to
right and left of her. She had an instant's sensation of absolute fear.
She had a flashing desire to turn tail and run out of the room; but the
same power which had pushed her into the room now sent her right up the
long central hall past all the watching, expectant, eager-looking girls.
Outside some one had said that she would be afraid. No, whatever the
danger, she knew she could keep her own. She was not Kathleen O'Hara of
Carrigrohane Castle for nothing.

"Come here, Miss O'Hara," said the voice of Miss Ravenscroft at that
moment.

Kathleen obeyed at once. She found a seat on the front bench, dropped
into it, and at the same moment encountered the almost malicious glance
of Alice Tennant. She turned away from Alice. That look seemed suddenly
to steady her nerves. She was afraid just for a moment that she might
give way to something, she knew not what, but Alice's look hardened her
heart. Time had been given Kathleen to take her place, to recover any
emotion she might have felt by her sudden entrance, and then Miss
Ravenscroft rose to her feet.

"It is my painful duty," she said, "to have to say something which
distresses me far more than I can give you any idea of. My dear girls,
you have all been summoned to attend in this hall to-day in order to
meet the governors of the school, Miss Mackenzie, Mrs. Naylor, Mrs.
Ross, the Misses Scott, and Miss Jane Smyth. These ladies have come to
meet you, because they wish thoroughly to investigate a most disgraceful
matter which has lately been going on in the school."

Miss Ravenscroft paused and looked round her.

"I allude," she said, "to the insurrection in our midst--a sort of civil
war in our camp. There are, I am given to understand, in the midst of
this hitherto well conducted and admirable school, a number of girls who
have banded