that
would rise up and urge her to desperate actions. Then all of a sudden
there came the patter of small feet, and those feet stopped, not at
Rosamund's door, but at her own. It was opened and a little face peeped
in. Irene, in Rosamund's room, could not see the face, but she heard the
sound, and her heart seemed to stand still. She rose softly, opened the
door of communication between the two rooms, and peeped in.

With a cry, Agnes flew to her side.

"Oh, Irene! I have come back. I couldn't sleep in Frosty's bed. I
thought--I did think--oh, don't ask me any questions! Just let me sleep
with you to-night. And oh, Irene, don't be angry with me!"

"I angry with you?" said Irene, melted on the spot. "No, I won't ask a
single question, you sweet, you dear, you treasure! Yes, we will sleep
together. Yes, little Agnes, I love you with all my heart for ever and
for ever."

CHAPTER XXV.

REVENGE.

After this incident there was peace in the school for some time; Lucy
was defeated. Agnes was more Irene's chosen chum and adored little
friend than ever. The child seemed to have completely lost her terrors,
and she gave Miss Frost rather less than more of her society. Rosamund
watched in silent trepidation. If only Lucy would not interfere! But she
did not trust Lucy, nor did she trust another girl in the school,
Phyllis Flower, who--small, thin, plain, but clever--had suddenly become
Lucy's right-hand. At first Phyllis had rather shrunk away from Lucy,
but now she was invariably with her. They talked a good deal, and in low
tones, as though they had a great many secrets which they shared each
with the other. On one occasion, towards mid-term, when all the girls
had settled comfortably to their tasks and life seemed smooth and
harmonious once more, even Irene being no longer regarded with dislike
and terror by the rest of the girls, Lucy Merriman and Phyllis Flower
took a walk together.

"I am very glad we have this chance of being alone," said Lucy, "for I
want to speak to you."

"What do you want to say?" asked Phyllis. She was flattered by Lucy's
confidence, for some of the girls admired this prim though rather
handsome girl very much. Besides, was she not the daughter of their own
master and mistress? Had she not a sort of position in the school which
the rest of them would have envied a good deal? Lucy was beginning to
exercise her power in more than one direction, and she and Rosamund
between them really