"Well, the money has not been doubled; it's time enough to talk of our chickens when they are hatched," said Elma. She rose from her seat, looking despairingly at the open letter which she held in her hand. "After all, I may as well take this up to mother," she said. "One moment before you go, Elma. Would you like me to help you, or would you not?" "If you could help me, Carrie, of course I should be obliged." "And what is the punishment they have inflicted upon that Irish lass?" "Oh, dear me, Carrie, I told you all about that yesterday; she is in Coventry--we are none of us allowed to speak to her." "All the same, you did speak to her last night, don't forget." "Yes, I could not help myself; but if it was found out it would go hard with us both." "Then I am the one to interfere," said Carrie _sotto voce._ "I'll do my best, Elma, and trust to you to make it up to me when I have got you out of this scrape." "I wish you would do something, Carrie; but I don't suppose you can. It's awful to think of Aunt Charlotte coming now. If I can't help Kitty, Kitty is sure to tell, and then it will be all over the school. They won't blame her so much as they'll blame me. Oh dear, dear! if you would do something!" "Well, I promise that I just will," said Carrie. "Now go off to school with an easy mind." CHAPTER XIX. KITTY TELLS THE TRUTH. Early the next morning Kitty received her telegram. It certainly was not at all calculated to soothe her. She was restless and miserable before; now her hands shook so violently that she could scarcely eat her breakfast. Alice acted somewhat the part of a jailer; she had to convey the disgraced girl to Middleton School. "I am ill; I won't go," said Kitty, bursting into tears. "You had much better come, Kitty," said Alice, speaking almost kindly for the first time in her life; she really pitied poor Kitty at that moment. "If you will only take your punishment patiently it will soon be over, and I know for a fact," she continued, "that many of the girls are only too anxious to make it up to you by and by." "Oh, it's not that," said Kitty; "it is because I am so wretched. I have a great trouble at home; but there, there's no use in talking to you about it, Alice." "So you always say," answered Alice. "Whenever I want to be the least bit good to you, you put me off; but never mind, I am sure I can do without your friendship. Anyhow, I think you must come to school unless you are so ill that mother will be obliged to send for the doctor." "Oh, I don't want that," said Kitty, "I never had a doctor in my life. If you'll wait for me, Alice, I'll go upstairs and put on my hat." She rushed to her room, flung herself on her knees for a moment by her bedside, and uttered a frantic prayer to Heaven.