They belong to Ireland and to me--to
the home of the free and to Kathleen O'Hara. They seal you as my loving
friends and followers for ever and ever."
Girls are easily impressed, and Kathleen's words were so fervent that
some of them felt quite choky about the throat. They received their
badges with hands that very nearly trembled. Kathleen next handed a
slightly handsomer badge, but with exactly the same device, to the
members of her Cabinet. Finally, she took the box of pale-blue cashmere
blouses and opened it in the light of the lamps. The enthusiasm, which
had been extremely keen before the appearance of the blouses, now rose
to fever-height. Whom were these exquisite creations meant for? Kathleen
smiled as she handed one to Mary Rand, another to Ruth Craven, another
to Kate Rourke, and finally to each member of her Cabinet.
"I wish I could give you all a blouse apiece," she said to the other
girls of the society, "but I am afraid that is not within my means. I
chose these sweet blouses on purpose, because I know you could wear them
at any time, girls," she added, turning to the members of her Cabinet.
"Outsiders won't know. They will wonder at the beauty of your dress, but
they won't know what it means; but _we_ will know," she shouted aloud to
her companions--"we will know that these girls belong to us and to old
Ireland, and in particular to me, and they will be faithful to me as
their queen."
"Oh dear," said little Alice Harding, a pale-faced girl, who loved fine
dress and never could aspire to it, "what means can I take to become a
member of the Cabinet?"
"By being a very good outside member, and trusting to your luck,"
laughed Kathleen.
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