“I am sorry you did that, mother.”

“Well, darling, it seemed the only thing to do; and the child took it very well.  Isn’t she going with you?  She said she wouldn’t be at all long getting ready.”

“She is not in her room, mother.  I can’t imagine what has happened to her.”

Mrs. Tennant ran upstairs in some alarm.  Kathleen had certainly flown.  The disordered state of the room gave evidence of this; and then on a nearer view Mrs. Tennant found a tiny piece of paper pinned in conventional fashion to the pin-cushion.  She took it up and read: 

“Gone to London to Aunt Katie O’Flynn.”

“Well, she is a naughty girl.  How troublesome!  I must follow her, of course,” said Mrs. Tennant.  “Really this is provoking.”

“Oh, mother, it isn’t worth while fretting about her.  She is quite hopeless,” said Alice.  “But there!  I must make the best of it to Miss Ravenscroft, only I am sure she will be very angry with Kathleen.”

Alice flew to the school.  She was met by a teacher, who asked her where she was going.

“To see Miss Ravenscroft,” replied Alice.  “I had a note asking me to call at six o’clock.  Do you know anything about it, Miss Purcell?”

“Perhaps she wants to question you about Miss O’Hara.  There is some commotion in the school in connection with her.  She seems to be displeasing some of those in authority.”

“Kathleen had a note too, asking her to call.”

“Then it must be about her.  But where is she?  Isn’t she going with you?”

Alice threw up her hands.

“Don’t ask me,” she said; “perhaps the less I say the better.  I am late as it is.  I won’t keep you now, Miss Purcell.”

Alice ran the rest of the way.  She entered the great school, and knocked at the front entrance.  This door was never opened except to the head-mistress and her visitors.  After a time an elderly servant answered her summons.

“I am Alice Tennant,” said the young girl, “and I have come at Miss Ravenscroft’s request to see her.”

“Oh yes, miss, certainly.  She said she was expecting two young ladies.”

“Well, I am one of them.  Can you let her know?”

“Step in here, miss.”

Alice was shown into a small waiting-room.  A moment later the servant returned.

“Will you follow me, miss?” she said.

They went down a passage and entered a brightly and cheerfully furnished sitting-room.  There was a fire in the grate, and electric light made all things as bright as day.  A tall lady with jet-black hair combed back from a massive forehead, and beautifully dressed in long, clinging garments of deep purple, stood on the hearth.  Round her neck was a collar of old Mechlin lace; she wore cuffs of the same with ruffles at the wrist.  Her hands were small and white.  She had one massive diamond ring on the third finger.  This lady was the great Miss Ravenscroft,