"My dear Bessie, you are too painfully matter-of-fact," said Elma. "Gwin meant that your nature is transparent--it is a beautiful trait in any character." "Well, Bessie, will you come or will you not?" interrupted Gwin. "Yes, I'll come. I'll manage it somehow," said Bessie. I can't resist the temptation." "And you too, Alice?" said Gwin, turning to Alice Denvers, who was watching Bessie with envious eyes. "I don't suppose mother will let me. I am ever so vexed," said Alice. "But why not, dear; you have nothing special to do to-day?" "Well, I had a bad mark for unpunctuality, and--" "What does that signify?" "But listen; I have gone down several places in class. Father and mother are so particular; they seem to think my whole future life depends upon my position in school. Of course I know we are not very rich, like you--" Here she flushed and hesitated. Gwin Harley flushed also. "When you talk like that," she said, "I feel quite ashamed of being well off. I often long to be poor like--like dear little Elma here." As she spoke she patted her somewhat squat little companion on her arm. "But never mind, girls; I am not one of those who intend to throw away all my money; that is one reason why I want to have a good talk this afternoon. You must come, Alice; you simply must." "But there is another reason," said Alice. "Kitty Malone is coming to-day." "Kitty Malone! Who in the name of fortune is she?" "Oh, a wild Irish girl." "Truly wild, I should think, with that name. 'Kitty Malone, ohone!' I seem to hear the refrain somewhere now. Isn't there a song called 'Kitty Malone'?" "There is a song called 'The Widow Malone,'" said Bessie; "don't you know it? You read all about it in 'Harry Lorrequer.'" "But who is Kitty Malone, Alice?" "I say a wild Irish girl." "And what has she got to do with you?" "She is coming to board with us. She is going to join the school, and mother is to have the charge of her. A precious bore I shall find it." "When did you say she was coming?" asked Gwin eagerly. "I expect she is at home by now; she was to arrive this morning." "Delightful!" said Gwin, clapping her hands, "she shall come too. I want beyond anything to become acquainted with a real aborigine, and of course any girl called Kitty Malone hailing from the sister-isle must belong to that species. Bring the wild Irish girl with you by all means, Alice; and now, as you have no manner of excuse, I'll say ta-ta for the present." She kissed her pretty hand lightly to the two girls, and went on her way, once more accompanied by her faithful satellite, Elma. "Isn't she fascinating?" said Alice; "aren't you quite in love with her, Bessie?" "Dear me, no," answered Bessie Challoner. "I never fall in love in that sort of headlong fashion; but all the same," she added, "I admire Gwin very much, only I do wish she would not take up with Elma." "So do I," said Alice.