This road led right into the centre of the shops
where Susy's mother lived.
"What a good thing," said Susy, "that I took the latchkey with me! It is
past ten o'clock. Mother would be wild if she had to sit up so late."
Ruth was silent.
"Aren't you happy, Ruthie? Don't you think it is all splendid?" cried
Susy.
"Yes and no," said Ruth. "You see, I am a foundationer, and when she
pressed me to join I hated not to; but now I am sorry that I have
joined. What am I to do about Cassandra and about Alice?"
"You think a great deal about Cassandra, don't you?"
"Oh, yes; she is quite a splendid girl, and she has been so very good to
me."
"I suppose you are quite in love with her?"
"No, I don't think I am. It isn't my way to fall violently in love with
girls, like some of the rest of you. But I like her; and I like Alice
Tennant."
"All the same," said Susy, "it is worth sacrificing a little thing to
belong to the Wild Irish Girls. Did you ever in all your life see any
one look more splendid than Kathleen as she stood with the light of
those big lamps upon her? She is a wonderful girl--so graceful, and with
such a power of eloquence. And she has such a way of just taking you by
storm; and her language is so poetic. Oh, I adore her! She is the sort
of girl that I could die for. If all Irish girls are like her, Ireland
must be a wonderful country to live in."
"But they are not," said Ruth. "Half of them are quite commonplace.
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