"
"You look very sad."
"I feel miserable."
"I wonder--" said Cassandra thoughtfully.
Ruth looked at her. There was absolute despair in the eyes generally so
clear and steadfast and bright. At this moment Kathleen O'Hara was seen
passing through the playground in a sort of triumphal progress. She was
accompanied by quite a tail of girls: one hung on her right arm, another
on her left; a third danced in front of her; and other girls followed in
a thick procession.
"I feel like a queen-bee that has just swarmed," she remarked _en
passant_ to Cassandra Weldon.
Her rude words, the impertinent little toss of her head, and the defiant
glance out of her very dark-blue eyes caused Cassandra to stamp her
foot.
"Ruth," she said, "I don't like your friend Kathleen O'Hara."
"But I love her," said Ruth.
"That is just it. She makes you all love her and then she gets you into
trouble."
"But getting into trouble for a friend doesn't make you hate that
friend," said Ruth.
"Well, I fail to understand her. I agree with Alice Tennant about her. A
girl of that sort--fascinating, handsome, dangerous--works havoc in a
school."
"Listen, Cassie," said Ruth suddenly. "A good many people will be saying
bad things about Kathleen before long, and perhaps you will be
questioned. I know that Alice Tennant has been questioned already. Will
you promise me something, Cassie?"
"You look so imploring that I'd like to promise you anything; but what
is it?"
"Do take her part when the time comes.
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