s had very little doubt what it would mean if their scheme was
discovered. They knew, of course, that Miss Ravenscroft would be
furiously angry, that the governors would have something to say to them,
and that they might be dismissed from the school unless they promised to
cease to belong to the society. Perhaps there were worse things than
that. There was a timid little girl called Janey Ford, who whispered to
her friend that the Wild Irish Girls belonged to the rebels in Ireland,
and that it might be considered necessary by the government of the
country to have them taken up and put into prison. Nobody for a single
moment believed Janey Ford's silly remarks, but nevertheless they gave a
sort of thrill to the occasion. It was all delightful, this stealing
away in the dark, this pressing one against another as they walked down
the little road. And then Kathleen was so fascinating; her eyes were so
bright; she was such a valiant sort of leader. If they were men and she
was a man, Janey Ford had whispered to her great friend Edith Hart, they
would follow her to the death.

"We'd form a crusade for her," Edith had whispered, back. "She is
magnificent."

And then both girls felt the little heart-shaped lockets round their
necks and thought of themselves as heroines.

The entire party, numbering about forty-three in all, arrived at the
cottage. Susy suddenly put in her appearance.

"Girls," she said, "it isn't at all certain that we are safe. I saw a
man going by not ten minutes ago, and he looked suspiciously at the
house. Miss Ravenscroft would do anything to catch us; but Aunt Church
says that if you go into the yard she doesn't think you will be seen or
heard.--May I take the girls into the yard, Kathleen? And may I take you
and Miss O'Flynn into the house to see Aunt Church?"

Kathleen nodded in reply. She also felt excited and pleased and
completely carried out of herself.

Susy ushered her visitors with great pride and pomp into Mrs. Church's
little sitting-room. Really she felt herself quite rising in the social
scale as she saw her old relative dressed in her best, with the manners
she used to wear when she was housekeeper at Lord Henshel's, and with
that most appetizing, most _recherche_ tea on the table.

"I will be back in a minute," said Susy.--"Aunt Church, here they are,
and I know you will give them welcome."

"I am proud to do that," said Mrs. Church. "I presume I am talking to
Miss O'Flynn? Will yo