"I live in the same terrace," said Miss Spicer eagerly, "and my piano is hardly ever used. If you only would come and make use of it. There is a fire in my sitting-room, and you could come at any hour whenever you have a fancy. Will you? It would be a great pleasure to me." "You are very kind. Yes, I will come." Kathleen bent towards the music mistress and, somewhat to that lady's astonishment, printed a kiss on her forehead. The kiss went right down into Miss Spicer's somewhat frozen heart. Immediately after school that day Cassandra held out her hand to Ruth. Ruth went up to her gravely. "Well, Ruth," she said, "have you decided? I hope you have. You told me you would let me know to-day." "I have, Cassandra," said Ruth. Kathleen, who was standing not far away, suddenly darted forward and stood within a foot of the two girls. "Have you really decided, Ruth?" she said. Her tone was imperious. Ruth felt her gentle heart beat high. She turned and looked with dignity first at Kathleen and then at Cassandra. "I will join you, Cassandra," she said.--"Kathleen, I told you this morning what my decision was." "And I hate you!" said Kathleen. She tossed her head and walked away. Cassandra waited until she was out of hearing. "You look very pale, dear Ruth," she said. "Come home with me, won't you?" Ruth did not speak. Cassandra laid her hand on her arm. "Why, you are trembling," she said. "What has that horrid girl done to you?" "Nothing--nothing." "But she has." "Please, Cassie, she is not horrid." "Oh, well, we won't discuss her. She is not my sort. Won't you come and have lunch with me, and we can arrange everything? You are going to take advantage of mother's offer?" "I can't help myself. It is much too good to be refused. It means--I can't tell you what it means to me, Cassie. If I can only get a scholarship I shall be able to help grandfather. And yet--I must tell you the truth--I was very nearly declining it." "I don't think I should ever have spoken to you again if you had." "Even so, I was very nearly declining it; for you know I could not have accepted your offer and been friends with Kathleen O'Hara in the way she wants me to be. Now I am very fond of Kathleen, and if I could please myself I would retain her friendship. But you know, grandfather has lost some more money. He heard about it two nights ago, and that made me make up my mind. Of course I love you, Cassie. I have loved you ever since I came to the school. You have been so very, very kind to me. But had I the choice I would have stayed with Kathleen."