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 your heart, miss! it is you that are kind. You mean kindly--no one more so--and so I have said to them." "But it will be a nice thing if my girl gets expelled owing to her," said a sour-faced woman, coming forward now and placing her arms akimbo just in front of Kathleen. "Is it that that every one is thinking about?" said Kathleen. She stood still for a minute. The color left her face. She felt a wave of tempestuous blood pressing against her heart; then it all rushed back in a fiery color into her cheeks and in brightness to her eyes. "And Alice knew of this," she said to herself; "and when I didn't come to school this morning she thought that I was afraid. Afraid!--Don't keep me, good people," said Kathleen. "Make way, please. I am sorry I am a little late." She walked past them all. When she got as far as the school door she turned to Mrs. Hopkins. "You can tell your aunt that the almshouse is safe," she said, and then she blew a kiss to her and disappeared into the school. CHAPTER XXVIII. WHO WAS THE RINGLEADER? In the passage a monitress was standing, and when she saw Kathleen she came up to her and said in an agitated tone: "They are all assembled in the great hall. Go in quickly; you may be in time, after all." The voice of the monitress quite shook, and there was a troubled, very nearly tearful expression in her eyes. "But why is the whole school in the central hall?" asked Kathleen. "Why are they not in their different classrooms?" "Go in--go in," said the monitress. "You will know when you find yourself there; and there is not a moment to lose."