nd. The playground was very large, and was asphalted, and in consequence quite dry and pleasant to walk on. There was a field just beyond, and int
st of it. I never saw anything uglier than poor old Towser when he broke his leg and cut his upper jaw; but although he was ugly, he was the darling of my heart. He died, and I cried a l
please, Miss O'Hara," said
ld him that I was going to curry favor with the girls of the Great Shirley School? And what would mother say? No, no; I may pick up a few smatterings,
th. "I know you are kind,
e kissed? You have a sweet little voice of your own, although it hasn
ss Tennant don't
. But you are the one my heart has gone out to. Ah! that is the way of Irish hearts. They go straight out to their k
h class for her age, and was already absorbed in her work. Kathleen drummed with her fingers on her desk and l
'Hara?" the English teac
your heart, darling
in spite of herself, was attracted by the sweet voi
so comical that all the small girls in th
id Miss Dove in a
ing, I'm t
e affectionate
it?" said Kathleen, and she clas
for the present. She began to question Kathleen as to her acquirements, and found that she must l
e tiny tots looked towards her. Presently she thrust out a moist little hand, and out of the moisture produced a half-melted peppermint dro
she drummed her fingers once more on the edge of the desk.
chool; do
as the ti
s go
I-I c
e deadly stupid. Forgive me, girls; you are all bla
Her cheeks were hot, her hair in disorder, and her h
did they send me across the cold sea to a place of this sort-a detestable place? Oh, the fresh air is reviving. I wa
r came out and bec
Miss O'Hara? Come in immediat
ty. Do you ever feel your heart beat wild, dear, and your spirits all in a sort of throb? And did you, when
ry naughty, rebellious girl. You have come to
e said to herself, "It isn't worth the fuss," and retur
little peppermint companion. "I was naughty to go out, a
d fascinating inmate of the lower fifth before. It was worth coming
es preferred the quiet school to the noisy life she lived with her brothers at home. She looked now eagerly for Kathleen, who had shunned her from the instant they h
e home with m
ts will be expecti
e and ask them. I know all about you, and I
very much,"
rs," said Cassandra, and they walked on quickly, wh
lice in a slightly cross voice. "Mothe
leen; "but I can't fin
, she has gone. I saw her walking d
who i
every one to notice her; although, for my part, I have no patience with that sort of false pride. Of course, a lo
thleen, fidgeting a
asked Alice, noticing the
ominably," s
ass are
a sort of caretaker to them. There wasn't anything to learn. I
y much after a time. You have never been at sc
it? Oh, glory! It's purgatory, my dear, that's what it
rn; you don't want t
in the cold sea; I can turn somersaults and dive and dance on the waves, and do every mortal thing as though I were a fish, not a girl. And give me a gun and see me bring down a bird on the wing. Ah! those things ought to be counted in the education of a woman. I can do all those things, and I can mix whisky punch, a
You can't go about the world i
lashed her eyes at Alice and made her fe
and two young brothers. These brothers were schoolboys of the unruly type. Alice consider
ard a whistle proceeding from the attic; a cat
eadful boys again. Whatever you do, Kathleen
boy. I am glad you have got brothers, Alice. I haven't any; but th
ched the large bedroom which t
all your things about in my room," cried Alice.
"I don't know the meaning of the
golden hair, and, without glancing at her
Alice to herself. "The house was bad enough bef
barely furnished, and had kamptulicon instead of a carpet on the floor. Mrs. Tennant, looking careworn and anxious, was seated at
er to-day," said Mrs. Tennant. "I d
her mother in s
th the boys, appeared. Mrs. Tennant pointed to a seat, and she sat down. The Irish girl had a healthy appetite, and was indifferent t
fallen i
ar Kat
t, bonniest thing I ever saw in my life. I am going to hunt round for h
ou know, mother," continued Alice, "Kathleen is not very advanced for her age, and Miss Dove wants to get her into a proper class as quickly as possible; therefore she is t
eplied Kathleen in her
t.-Mustn't s
to learn. Alice can teach you; she can help you very much. She means
lly naughty sometimes. I mean to be terribly naughty all the afternoon. If you will let me have my fling, I do assure you, Mrs. Tennant, that I w
said David Tennant, s
she added, springing to her feet, "I have eaten enough, an