The girls had been about a fortnight at school, and work was in full swing, when Kathleen, springing from her seat, said abruptly, "Queen, I want to propose something."
"Well, what is it?" asked Maggie, who was lying back against a pile of cushions and supplying herself daintily from a box of chocolates which her adorers had purchased for her.
"I want us all," said Kathleen, "to give a party to the other queen and her subjects; and I want it to be about the very jolliest entertainment that can be found. We must, of course, ask Mrs. Ward's leave; but she is certain to give it."
"Oh, she is--certain sure," said Kathleen. "May I go and ask her now?"
"Do you dare?" said Rosamond Dacre, looking at Kitty's radiant face with some astonishment.
"Dare!" cried Irish Kitty. "I don't know the meaning of anything that I don't dare. I am off. I'll bring you word in a few minutes, girls." She rushed out of the room.
Janet Burns looked after her, slightly raising her brows. Rosamond Dacre and the two Roaches began to sound her praises. "She is sweet, isn't she?"
"Yes," said Clara; "and I do so love her pretty Irish brogue."
"Mother tells me," said Janet, who was Scotch, "that Irish characters are not much good--they're not reliable, I mean."
"I don't think we need discuss characters," said Maggie. "I don't know a great deal about the Irish, but I do know that Kitty is a darling."
"Yes, so she is--one of the sweetest girls in the whole school," said Molly Tristram, who was quite as excited as Kathleen herself with regard to the party scheme.
Meantime Kitty found herself tapping at Mrs. Ward's private door. Mrs. Ward said, "Come in," and the pretty girl, with her great dark-blue eyes and wild-rose complexion, entered abruptly.
"Well, Kathleen?" said Mrs. Ward in her pleasant tone.
"Oh, please, Mrs. Ward, I've come with such a lovely scheme."
"Oh yes, please, do say you will before I let you into the secret!"
"I can't do that, dear; you must just tell me what is in your mind, and be satisfied with my decision. The only thing that I can assure you beforehand is that if it is a workable scheme, and likely to give you great pleasure, I will do my best to entertain it."
"Then we're certain to have it--certain," said Kathleen.