"To see Miss Ravenscroft," replied Alice. "I had a note asking me to call at six o'clock. Do you know anything about it, Miss Purcell?" "Perhaps she wants to question you about Miss O'Hara. There is some commotion in the school in connection with her. She seems to be displeasing some of those in authority." "Kathleen had a note too, asking her to call." "Then it must be about her. But where is she? Isn't she going with you?" Alice threw up her hands. "Don't ask me," she said; "perhaps the less I say the better. I am late as it is. I won't keep you now, Miss Purcell." Alice ran the rest of the way. She entered the great school, and knocked at the front entrance. This door was never opened except to the head-mistress and her visitors. After a time an elderly servant answered her summons. "I am Alice Tennant," said the young girl, "and I have come at Miss Ravenscroft's request to see her." "Oh yes, miss, certainly. She said she was expecting two young ladies." "Well, I am one of them. Can you let her know?" "Step in here, miss." Alice was shown into a small waiting-room. A moment later the servant returned. "Will you follow me, miss?" she said. They went down a passage and entered a brightly and cheerfully furnished sitting-room. There was a fire in the grate, and electric light made all things as bright as day. A tall lady with jet-black hair combed back from a massive forehead, and beautifully dressed in long, clinging garments of deep purple, stood on the hearth. Round her neck was a collar of old Mechlin lace; she wore cuffs of the same with ruffles at the wrist. Her hands were small and white. She had one massive diamond ring on the third finger. This lady was the great Miss Ravenscroft, the head of the school, one of the most persuasive, most fascinating, and most influential teachers in the whole realm of girlhood. Her opinion was asked by anxious mothers and fathers and guardians. The girls whom she took into her own house and helped with her own counsel were thought the luckiest in England. Even Alice, who was reckoned a good girl as good girls go, had never before come in personal contact with Miss Ravenscroft. The head-mistress superintended the management of every girl in the school, but she did not show herself except when she read prayers in her deep musical voice morning after morning, or when something very special occurred. Miss Ravenscroft did not smile when Alice appeared, nor did she hold out her hand. She bowed very slightly and then dropped into a chair, and pointed to another for the girl to take. "You are Alice Tennant?" "Yes, madam." "You are in the upper fifth?" "Yes," said Alice again. "I have had very good reports of you from Miss Purcell and Miss Dove and others; you will probably be in the sixth next year." "I hope so; it will be a very great delight to me."