r. But now I am having a
jolly time."

So Kathleen did enjoy herself, and made so many saucy remarks between
the acts, and looked so radiant notwithstanding her very plain dress,
that several people looked at the beautiful girl and commented about her
and her companions.

"A school party, my dear," said a lady to her husband.

"But I don't see the chaperone," he remarked.

And then the lady, who looked again more carefully, could not help
observing that these seven girls were certainly not chaperoned by any
one. A little wonder and a little uneasiness came into her heart. She
was a very kind woman herself; she was a motherly woman, too, and she
thought of her own girls tucked up safely in bed at home, and wondered
what she would feel if they were alone at a London theater at this hour.
Presently something impelled her to bend forward and touch Kathleen on
her arm. Kathleen gave a little start and faced her.

"Forgive me," she said; "I see that you and your companions are
schoolgirls, are you not?"

To some people Kathleen might have answered, "That is our own affair,
not yours;" but to this lady with the courteous face and the gentle
voice she replied in quite a humble tone:

"Yes, madam, we are schoolgirls."

"And if you will forgive me, dear, have you no lady looking after you?"

"No," said Kate Rourke, bending forward at that moment; "we are out for
a spree all by our lone selves."

Kate gave a loud laugh as she spoke. The lady started back, and could
not help contrasting Kathleen's face with those of the other girls. She
bent towards her husband and whispered in his ear. The result of this
communication was that, the curtain having fallen for the last time, the
actors having left the stage, the play being completely over, and the
seven girls being about to get back to Charing Cross as best they could,
the lady touched Kathleen on her arm.

"You will forgive me, dear," she said; "I am a mother and have daughters
of my own. I should not like to see girls in the position you are in
without offering to help them."

"But what do you mean?" said Kathleen.

"I mean this, my dear, that my husband and I will see you seven back to
your home, wherever it is."

Kathleen burst out laughing; then she looked very grave, and her eyes
filled with tears as she said:

"But wouldn't mother approve of it?"

"If your mother is the least like me she would not approve of it; she
would be horrified."

"I don't think t