"It's from Aunt Katie O'Flynn. She has come, the darling!" said Kathleen. "She wants me to go to London to dine with her to-night. Of course I'll go.--- You will come with me, won't you, Alice? She says I am to bring some one." "No, I can't come," said Alice; "and for that matter no more can you. It takes quite thirty-five minutes to get to Charing Cross, and then you have to get to the Métropole. We girls are not allowed to go to London by ourselves." "As if that mattered." "It matters to me, if it does not to you. Anyhow, here is a note for you. It is from Miss Ravenscroft, our head-mistress. I rather fancy that will decide matters." Kathleen tore open the note which Alice had handed to her. She read the following words: "DEAR MISS O'HARA,--I should be glad if you would come round to see me at six o'clock this evening. I have something of importance to say to you." "What can she mean?" said Kathleen. "I scarcely know Miss Ravenscroft. I just spoke to her the first day I went to the school." "She has asked me too. What can it be about?" said Alice. "Then you can take a message from me; I am not going," said Kathleen. "What?" cried Alice. "I don't think even you will dare to defy the head-mistress. Why, my dear Kathleen, you will never get over it. This is madness.--Mother, do speak to her." "What is it, dear?" said Mrs. Tennant, coming forward. Alice explained. "And Kathleen says she won't go?" "Of course I won't go, dear Mrs. Tennant. On the contrary, you and I will go together to see Aunt Katie O'Flynn. She is my aunt, and I wouldn't slight her for all the world. She'd never forgive me.--You can tell Miss Ravenscroft, Alice, that my aunt has come to see me, and that I have been obliged to go to town. You can manage it quite easily." Kathleen did not wait for any further discussion, but ran out of the room. "I do wish, mother, you'd try and persuade her," said Alice. "I am sure, whatever her father may be, he can't want her to come to school here to get into endless scrapes. There is some mystery afoot, and Miss Ravenscroft has got wind of it. I know she has, because I have heard it from one or two of the girls." "But what mystery? What can you mean?" said Mrs. Tennant. "I don't know myself," said Alice, "but it has something to do with Kathleen and a curious influence she has over the foundation girls. I know Kathleen isn't popular with the mistresses." "That puzzles me," said Mrs. Tennant, "for I never met a more charming girl." "I know you think so; but, you see, mere charm of manner doesn't go down in a great school like ours. Of course I am sorry for her, and I quite understand that she doesn't want to disappoint her aunt, but she ought to come with me; she ought, mother. I haven't the slightest influence over her, but you have. I don't think she would willingly do anything to annoy you."