"I will do what I can," said Miss Ravenscroft; "but from the little I
have seen of Ruth, I imagine she would go to the stake before she would
betray those who are kind to her. I will, however, confide in Cassandra;
she is extremely fond of Ruth, and she may influence her where others
fail. I can't help saying, Miss Mackenzie, that it would be a very
terrible thing, and would, I believe much injure the school, if a girl
like Ruth were expelled. The other foundationers would feel it; there
would be a sense of martyrdom. Sides would be taken for and against her.
I trust that this extreme step will not be necessary."

"If she does not tell us what she knows, it will be not only necessary,
but it will be carried into effect, and in my presence," said Miss
Mackenzie. "But now to return to the more immediate business. You say
these girls meet in a quarry?"

"I have heard rumors to that effect."

"Do you think they meet there every night? Are their scandalous
proceedings a nightly occurrence?"

"Oh, no; I do not think they meet oftener than once a week."

"Have you any idea what night they choose?"

"I am rather under the impression that this is the night."

"Then send some one to see, Miss Ravenscroft. One or two of the teachers
would be the best. They could go to the quarry to-night and wait there
in order to see if the girls arrive. If they do, my orders are that they
take no apparent notice of them, but write down the names of all
present. If that can be done, and you are successful in finding the
girls, we shall have the matter, as it were, in a nutshell, and we shall
soon crush this disgraceful rebellion."

"And what about Kathleen?" asked Miss Ravenscroft.

"There is very little doubt that she will have to be expelled. Such a
girl as that is a firebrand in a school, and however rich she may be,
and however well-born, the sooner she leaves us the better."

CHAPTER XXI.

THE SOCIETY MEETS AT MRS. CHURCH'S COTTAGE.

That evening at about a quarter to eight a band of perfectly silent
girls might have been seen walking along the road that led to Mrs.
Church's cottage. They walked as much as possible on the grass, and
glided in single file. Each one, as they expressed it, had her heart in
her mouth. Occasionally they looked behind them; sometimes they started
at an ordinary shadow, thinking that a policeman at least would be
waiting for them. The foundationers who called themselves the Wild Irish
Girl