l promise
that I will never be naughty again after to-day."

Mrs. Tennant said nothing more. A minute or two later Alice left the
house.

It was quite an hour after Alice had departed that Kathleen took it into
her head that she might as well stroll towards the school. On Saturdays
school was over a little earlier than other days. There was a special
class which she was anxious not to miss, for in spite of herself she was
becoming interested in certain portions of her lessons. Her depression
had now left her, and she felt excited, but at the same time irritated.
A spirit of defiance came over her. She went upstairs and selected from
her heterogeneous wardrobe one of her very prettiest and most
fashionable and most unsuitable dresses. She put on a hat trimmed with
flowers and feathers, and a sash of many colors round her waist. Over
all she slipped her dark-blue velvet jacket, and with rich sables round
her neck and wrists, she ran downstairs.

"Why, Kathleen, any one would suppose you were going to a concert," said
Mrs. Tennant.

"Ah, my dear good friend, I like to look jolly once in a way. I am
certain to get a bad mark for unpunctuality, so I may as well get it
looking my best as my worst. You don't blame me for that, do you?"

"No. Go off now, dear, and don't let me find you so troublesome again."

Kathleen started off. She ran across the common, and reached the doors
of the great school exactly one hour after she ought to have arrived. To
her amazement, she saw quite a crowd of people waiting outside, and
amongst them was Mrs. Hopkins. There were several other mothers as well,
and when they saw Kathleen they turned their backs on her, and one or
two were heard to say aloud:

"It's she who has done it."

But Mrs. Hopkins did not turn her back on Kathleen; she came close to
her, and even took her hand.

"Why are you late, miss?" she said. "But perhaps it is best. Miss
O'Hara, you won't forget my poor aunt; you will be sure to get her the
little almshouse in Ireland?"

"Yes, of course I will," said Kathleen. "Aunt Katie has written about it
already, and I will write to-night. You may tell Mrs. Church that it is
absolutely quite certain that she will get it. What is the matter, Mrs.
Hopkins? How strange you look! And all those other women--they seem
quite cross with me. What have I done?"

"Ah, miss! I keep saying to them that it is because you are Irish and
don't know frolic from serious mischief. Bless y