impatiently, and ruffled her beautiful hair, that the thing had come to
pass in a flash. It seemed only yesterday that she was at home in the
old house, petted by the servants, adored by her father, worshipped by
all her relatives--the young queen of the castle, free as the air,
followed by her dogs, riding on her pony--and now she was here in this
hideous, poor, fifth-class house, going to that ugly school.

"I can't stand it," she thought. "There's only one way out. I must have
a real desperate burst of naughtiness. What shall I do that will most
aggravate them? For do that thing I will, and as quickly as possible."

Kathleen thought rapidly. She had no brothers of her own, but their loss
was made up for by the adoration of about twenty young cousins who were
always loafing about the place and following Kathleen wherever she
turned.

"What would most aggravate Pat if he were here," thought the girl, "or
dear old Michael? Ah, well! Michael--" The girl's face slightly changed.
"I was never _very_ naughty with Michael," she said to herself. "He is
different from the others. I wouldn't like to see that sort of sorry
look in his dear dark-blue eyes. Oh, I mustn't think of Michael now.
When I was going away he said, 'Bedad, you'll come back a princess, and
I'll be proud to see you.' No, I mustn't think of Michael. Pat, the imp,
would help me, and so would Rory, and so would Ted. But what shall it
be?"

She thought excitedly. There came a rattle at the handle of the door.

"Let me in, please, Kathleen; let me in," called Alice's voice.