"
All the hands were raised up at this juncture, and all the voices said:
"Yes, yes, yes."
"That's splendid," said Kathleen. "I didn't know I had such an
enthusiastic following. Well girls, we'll have to run a certain risk. We
will have to conceal all we can about this society; we'll have to be
true to each other, whatever happens; and we'll meet wherever we like,
girls. Let the head-mistress and the governors say what they please."
"Hurrah for Kathleen O'Hara! Hurrah for the Wild Irish Girls for ever!"
they shouted.
"That's about it," said Kathleen. "I called you all to-night to tell you
that we are suspected, and we are called insurrectionists; but let them
call us what they like."
"Please," here put in the timid voice of Janey Ford, "are we likely to
be put in prison? For that would break mother's heart, and do none of us
any good."
"Oh, you little goose!" cried Kathleen, with her ringing laugh. "Not a
bit of it. The worst that could happen to us is to be expelled from the
school."
Now this worst, which was really a matter of little importance in the
eyes of Kathleen, was somewhat serious to the other girls. To be
expelled meant to deprive them of their chance of being well educated
and of earning a decent living by-and-by. They all felt very grave, and
Kathleen, who had a great power of reading what went on in the hearts of
those in whom she was interested, felt somehow that their enthusiasm had
abated.
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