"
"It is very cruel to me," began Ruth.
"My dear, the path of right is sometimes cruel. We must put this matter
down with a strong hand. Do you or do you not know where Kathleen O'Hara
and her society are to meet this evening?"
"I've been thinking it out," said Ruth; "I have had no one to consult.
If I were to tell I should be a traitor to Kathleen. I did not care for
the society, although I love her. I joined it at first--I can't quite
tell you how--but afterwards I left it. I left it entirely for my own
benefit. There is a girl in this school whom you all love and respect. I
don't suppose any other girl in the whole school bears such a high
character. Her name is Cassandra Weldon."
"Of course I know Cassandra Weldon," said the head-mistress. "She is our
head girl."
"She is; and she is not proud, and she is--oh, so kind! She offered me
a very great help. She presented to me a tremendous temptation."
"What was that, Ruth?"
Miss Ravenscroft began by being cold and indifferent; she was now really
interested.
"You can sit down if you like," she said.
But Ruth did not sit; she only put one pretty little hand on the back of
a chair as though to steady herself.
"I will tell you everything that concerns myself," she said. "I don't
mind how badly you think of me. I had joined the other foundationers as
a member of Kathleen's society. Then Cassandra presented the temptation.
She offered to give me the services of her coach, Miss Renshaw, to work
up for the Ayldice Scholarship.
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