Ruth just glanced at her teacher, and then lowered her eyes. Her beautiful little face was beginning to have its usual effect upon most of the ladies present. Some of the stony despair had left it; the color came and went in her cheeks. She ceased to fiddle with her apron, and clasped her two little white hands tightly together.
"My child," said Mrs. Naylor, "your object in coming to school is doubtless the best object of all."
"I mean," said the little old lady, "that you want to learn all you can--to gain knowledge and wisdom, to learn goodness and forbearance and long-suffering and charity."
"If," continued Miss Mackenzie, interrupting Mrs. Naylor, and speaking in a very firm tone--"if, instead of these pleasant things happening, a little girl learns to join insurrectionists, to forget those to whom she is indebted for such tremendous advantages, then how do matters stand--eh, Ruth Craven?"
Her trembling and fear had come back to her.
"The dear child is frightened, Miss Mackenzie," said Mrs. Naylor.
"I hope not," said Miss Mackenzie; "but I as chairwoman am obliged to question her.--Ruth Craven, is it true that you became a member of a silly schoolgirl society called the Wild Irish Girls, and that you wore a badge like this?"
Again Ruth was silent. Miss Mackenzie glanced at the other ladies. After a pause she continued:
"We will leave that matter for the present. Please write down, Miss Judson"--here she turned to the clerk--"that Ruth Craven has refused to answer my question with regard to Kathleen O'Hara. We will return to that point later on.--Why did you leave the society?"
"I did so because I wanted to join a scheme proposed by a girl who was not a foundationer and not a member of the society. Her name is Cassandra Weldon."
"One of our best and most promising pupils," interrupted Miss Ravenscroft.
"I know her," said Miss Mackenzie. "We have every reason to be proud of Cassandra Weldon.--And so she, this charming and excellent Cassandra Weldon, is your friend, little Ruth Craven?"
"She has been extremely good to me, madam. She offered me the services of her own coach in order that I might work up for the Ayldice Scholarship."
"And do you think you have a chance of getting it?"