The Rebel of the School

d in Alice's room, she w

this detestable school. I won't tell you the plan, for you mightn't approve; in fact, I can guess in advance that you wouldn't approve. Anyhow, it is going to occupy the time and thoughts of your Kathleen. Now I want a good bit of money; not a pound or even five pounds, but more than that. Can you send me a ten-pound note, daddy mine, and say nothing whatever about it to the mother or the retainers at Carrigrohane? And can you let me have it as quick as quick can be? Maybe I will want more before the term is up, or maybe I won't. Anyhow, we will let that lie in the future. Oh, my broth of an old dad, wouldn't I like t

thl

re interesting to the children. There they sat side by side, and Kathleen told David about her old life. She was very outspoken and affectionate, and very fierce and very wild. To look at her, one would have said there never was any one less reserved; but Kathleen in her he

n her little bed, dreaming of Carrigrohane and the old home.

," she was saying in a tone which caused

trouble. I know that those three guineas a week that mother gets for having her are not worth

had determined to come very noisily into the room and bang her things about, to take rude possession of her own half of the room-which, after all, was the better half-was softened by the look on the girl's face. She knelt for

d to getting up almost at cock-crow at Carrigrohane, and when Ali

's up to mischie

he had no hat on, and no jacket. She was stepping along leisurely, looking u

t seven. The Great Shirley School met at nine. Alice was seldom downstairs until past eight. When she came down this morning she saw, to her amazement, Kath

en and bring up the hot bacon and the porridge? I will, wit

ticed, looked with adoring

doing my own work," she said. "I am

ke to help you," said Kathle

and appeared the next

a tray and I will fill it up and take the things upstairs with my own hands. You think it is beneath me, perhaps; but I am a lady

y eyes appeased her. She and Kathleen had almost a quarrel as to who was to carry up the tray, but Kathleen won the day;

help you, you dear, tired, worn

h to do the household work; but as she has been sent here to gain so

ng? That is the question," said

was

that overworked slavey-I think you call her Maria-then perhaps I'll do less. And when there's some one else to mend the

David kicked him back to stay quiet. A

ise to Susy Hopkins. She had neatly packed the little Irish

me, at whatever place you like to appoint, this e

ning a note under my desk. Be sure

ry with Ruth for having, as she said to herself, "snubbed her" the day before. But beauty always had a curious effect on the Irish girl, and when she observed Ruth's r

ecent-looking colleen I have met in this G

through a great mass of incoming gi

g recess. She will have something to say, and I want

now what you w

Hopkins; she will kno

"The school-bell has just rung, and th

," replied

n up t

d there is a note inside. Read it, and g

ith delight. Some of the paying girls looked at her in astonishment. Susy walked into the school with he

whispered Susy to Kate Rourke as they ma

as big, black-eyed, impudent. She was jealous of the paying girls

rossly. "And what you do mean by a gl

it to me. But I have no time to talk now; only meet me, and bring as many of the foundationers as you ca

take no notice of Susy's remarks-little Susy Hopkins, the daughter of a small stationer in the town, a gir

or style; she made style her idol. The look that Cassandra wore as she walked quietly across the room, the set of her dress, the still more wonderful set of her head as it was placed on her queenly young shoulders-these were the things that burnt into Kate's soul and made her restless and dissatisfied. She would willingly have given all her father's wealth-and he was quite well-to-do for his cl

st raised her head, looked over the shoulders of her companions, and saw Susy Hopkins darting restlessly about, catching one girl by the sleeve, another by the arm, whispering in the ear of a third, flinging her arm round the neck of a fourth; and as she spoke to the girls they looked interested, astonished, and cordial. They moved away to that lonely part of the playground which was si

here?" she said. "Do you h

w and asked me to join her and some other girls at th

sy's; she is a most contemptible little wretch; but I may a

hesit

s probably some mischief on foot, and it

ipped her hand through her arm and pulled her alo

y making friends with Florence, who was very angry with her for her desertion of the day before, and to

und, but nothing had ever been done at the back of the Laboratory. When the two girls arrived they found five other girls waiting for them. Their names were, of course, Susy Hopkins, who considered herself on this delightful occasion quite the leader; a gentle and refined-looking girl of the name of Mary Rand; Rosy Myers, who was prett

rick of bricks. She will make the most tremendous difference in our lives. You know, although you pretend not to feel it, but you all must know how we foundationers are sat upon and objected to in the school. We bear it as meekly as we can for the sake of our so-called advantages; but if we can be snu

up, Susy?" said Mary Rand. "We are foun

d; we ought not to forget

h as though she wo

n to be pretty, they take you up. I wonder one of your fine frie

d much rather be a foundationer. I mean to prove that I am every bit a

s passing, and we must get to the bottom of Susy Hopk

the Irish girl who has come

y I do,"

n. She's a regular

d Ruth Craven. "Sh

had stuck in the bosom of her dress. The diamond had been polished, and flashed brightly; the silver setting was also as good as was

ins, that we won't be able to bear you

tell us what you want. Your horrid brooch d

a castle over in the wild west of Ireland. Her father is very rich, and he keeps dogs and horses and carriages and-oh, everything that rich people keep. Compare

m not surprised,

ing!" said C

r feet!" exclaim

h a hasty exclamation. "She thinks that we are just as good as herself. There is no false pride about a real lady, girls; and the end of it is that she has a plan to propose-some

fellow; but all managed to read the words: "Get as many foundation girls as you can to meet me, at whatever place you like to appoint, this evening. I have a plan to propose." This letter and the en

arry," whis

place!" ex

ll then know what she wants, and if there is anything in it. We can form a co

school Susy pinned a piece of paper under Kathleen's desk, on which she wrote: "The old quarr

ption. Hitherto she had been taught anyhow, but now she was all keen to receive real instruction. Her intuitions were rapid indeed; she could come to startlingly quick conclusions, and as a rule her guesses were correct rather than otherwise. Kathleen had a passion for music; she had never been properly taught, but the soul of m

hat," s

t on the keys. She played one or two bars perforce and very badly;

isn't my style. May I pla

ng at the girl, whose cheeks were flushed

st begin to practice properly. What I c

e allowed?"

once through Tara's Halls." From one Irish melody to another her light fingers wandered. She played with perfect

reat Shirley School; I can't. When I am back again at home I shall play 'The Harp that once through Tara's Halls,' but I can't do it justice here. You will excuse me; I can't. I am sorry if I a

he piano and brought forth a few sobbing,

for this, Miss Spicer, but I

not punish her. On the contrary,

e said. "I see you are not like others. I w

" said Kathleen. "Thank you, all