hing amiss on
her return, and went tranquilly on with her work. Eight o'clock struck.
Susy was in despair.

"I can't possibly fail Kathleen," she said to herself. "She started this
splendid idea in order to help me and give me pleasure. I must be at the
quarry whatever happens to-night. Something very unusual is detaining
mother. I know what I'll do: I'll shut up the shop at half-past eight,
leave a little note for mother, and then go to the quarry as fast as I
can. I will tell mother that I am due at an important meeting, and she
is sure not to question me; mother is always very kind, and gives me as
much liberty as she can."

Susy made a great struggle to keep her mind centered on her books, but
with all her efforts her thoughts would wander. They wandered to
Kathleen and the Wild Irish Girls' Society; they wandered to her other
schoolfellows; they wandered to the hardship of having to take care of
the shop when she wished to be otherwise employed; and finally they
settled themselves on Ruth Craven. She could not help wondering what
Ruth would do--whether she would continue to be a valuable aid to the
queen of the new society, or whether she would give them up altogether.

"I'd almost like her not to stay with us," thought Susy; "for then
perhaps Kathleen would make me her Prime Minister. I'd like that.
Kathleen is the dearest, truest, greatest lady I ever came across. She
doesn't think anything of birth, nor of those sort of tiresome
distinctions; she thinks of you for what you are worth yourself. And she
is so splendid to look at, and has such a gallant sort of way. I do
admire her just!"

The shop-bell rang. Susy was out in a moment. A woman had called for a
penn'orth of paper and an envelope. She put down her penny on the
counter, and Susy supplied her from a special box.

"I was in such a taking," said the woman. "I just remembered at the last
moment that all the shops were shut. I don't know what I should have
done if I hadn't recalled that Mrs. Hopkins kept hers open until nine
o'clock. I am obliged to you, little girl. I have to send this letter to
my son in India, and I'd miss the mail if it wasn't posted to-night. You
couldn't now, I suppose, oblige me with a stamp."

"Of course I can," said Susy, cheerfully. "Mother always keeps a supply
of stamps in the till."

She turned to the till as she spoke, and for the first time noticed that
the drawer was open.

"How careless of me not to have shut it!"