It was the custom of the governors to meet four times a year as a matter
of course, and as a matter of expediency they met about as many times
again. But a sudden meeting to be convened within forty-eight hours'
notice was almost unheard of in their experience.
When they were all seated round the table Miss Mackenzie, who was
chairwoman, took out the agenda and read its contents aloud. These were
brief enough:
"To inquire into the insurrection amongst the foundationers, and in
particular to cause full investigation to be made with regard to the
Irish girl, Kathleen O'Hara."
"This is really very astonishing," said Miss Mackenzie, turning to the
other governors. "An insurrection amongst the foundationers! Had we not
better summon Miss Ravenscroft, who will tell us what she means?"
A clerk who attended the meetings (also a woman) went away now to summon
Miss Ravenscroft. She appeared in a few minutes, was asked to seat
herself, and was requested to give a full explanation. This she did very
briefly.
"At the beginning of the term," she said, "a girl of the name of
Kathleen O'Hara joined our number. She was eccentric and untrained. She
came from the south-west of Ireland. I had her examined, and found that
she knew extremely little. We were forced to put her into much too low
a class for her years and general appearance."
"Well," said Miss Smyth, "that, after all, isn't a crime. I don't quite
understand.
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