her into much too low
a class for her years and general appearance."

"Well," said Miss Smyth, "that, after all, isn't a crime. I don't quite
understand."

"If you will kindly resume your story we shall be obliged, Miss
Ravenscroft," said Miss Mackenzie.

Miss Ravenscroft did resume it. She traced Kathleen's conduct from the
first day of her arrival to the present hour. Short as the time was--not
more than six weeks--she had worked havoc in the school. Her influence
was altogether felt amongst the foundationers. They crowded round her at
all hours; a glance from her eyes was sufficient to compel them to do
exactly what she wished. They ceased to be attentive to their lessons;
they were often discovered in school in a state of semi-drowsiness; they
were rebellious and impertinent to their teachers--in short, they were
in a state of insurrection.

"And you trace this disgraceful state of things to the advent of the
Irish girl?" said Miss Mackenzie.

"I am sorry to say, Miss Mackenzie, that I do. When I noticed that
Kathleen O'Hara had a disturbing influence over the girls I caused
further inquiries to be made, and I then made a discovery which
distressed me very much. My eyes were first opened by the fact that one
of our teachers picked up off the floor, just where a certain Clara
Sawyer, one of the best and most promising of the foundationers, was
sitting, a small locket, evidently a badge. She brought it to me, and I
now hand it to you ladies for inspection."

The little silver heart-shaped badge was passed from one lady to
another. The Misses Scott thought it pretty and quaint. Miss Jane Smyth
murmured the words "Wild Irish Girls" under her breath. Mrs. Ross pushed
it away from her as though it was beneath notice. Mrs. Naylor said:

"Very pretty; quite touching, isn't it? Heart-shaped. I always think
that such a sweet emblem, don't you, Miss Mackenzie?"

But Miss Mackenzie, with a sniff, took up the little talisman and turned
it from right to left.

"'Wild Irish Girls,'" she said aloud. "What can this mean?"

"I can throw some light on the subject, but not much," said Miss
Ravenscroft. "It is quite evident that a society calling itself by this
name exists, and that it has been instituted and formed altogether by
Kathleen O'Hara, who has induced a great number--I should say fully
half--of the foundationers to join her. They meet, I have discovered, at
night; their rendezvous being, up to the present, a cert