lf-holiday, and the classes broke up at twelve o'clock.
Cassandra hoped to have a talk with Ruth before she went home, but when
she looked round for her little favorite she could not find her
anywhere. The foundationers were standing in knots talking eagerly to
each other. There was a sort of buzz or whisper going on in their midst.
Kathleen O'Hara darted from one group to another, smiled at one set of
girls, patted the shoulder of a favorite girl in another group, laughed
one time, said an emphatic word to another, and presently disappeared,
accompanied by Susy Hopkins.

Alice Tennant was standing by herself; she looked dull and depressed.
Cassandra went up to her.

"It there anything the matter, Alice?" she asked.

"Matter!" replied Alice. "Surely you must know that for yourself. Have
you not heard what a condition the school is in?"

"I have, of course, heard about the Wild Irish Girls," said Cassandra,
lowering her voice. "But surely the fact that there are a few naughty
girls in our midst need not upset the whole school?"

"It upsets me, anyhow," said Alice, "for I feel that I have brought it
on the school. I could cry. I only wish that mother had never been
induced to take Kathleen as a boarder. She is worse than troublesome;
she is a girl without principle."

"Oh, I don't think quite so bad as that, dear," said a gay voice at that
moment; and turning, Alice saw the piquant and beautiful face of the
girl she loathed. "I guessed, of course, that you must be alluding to
me," said Kathleen. "I am bad, but I have my own principles--and a good
old-fashioned set, worth a great deal."

She nodded impertinently to both the girls, and then reentered the
school.

"I left my satchel and came back for it," she said as she vanished from
their view.

"Yes," said Alice, "that is just like her--just the sort of thing she
would do. She is always daring every one. I do wish some strong
influence could be brought to bear on her. There is no doubt she is very
clever, and when she likes she can be extremely agreeable."

"She is extremely pretty, you know, and that goes a long way."

"Not with me, thank goodness!" said Alice. "In fact, I almost hate her
face. I detest people who are always grinning and smiling and showing
themselves off. My opinion is that schoolgirls ought to be modest, and
attentive to their books, and not thinking of giving themselves airs.
But there! no one agrees with me. Mother and the boys are fairl