Susy Hopkins stood for a minute to watch Kathleen as she went up the
little narrow path of Sans Souci. When Kathleen reached the porch she
waved her hand, and Susy, putting wings to her feet, ran as fast as she
could in the opposite direction. She felt very much elated and really
pleased. In the whole course of her life she had never met a girl of the
Kathleen O'Hara type before. Her beauty, her daring and wild manner, the
flash in her bright dark eyes, the glints of gold in her lovely hair,
all fascinated Susy.

"What a queen she'd make!" she thought. "We must make her our queen.
We'd have quite a party of our own in the school if she took us up. And
she will; I'm sure she will. This is a lark. This is worth a great
deal."

Meanwhile Kathleen rang the bell at Sans Souci in a very smart,
imperative manner. A little maid, neatly dressed, came to the door.

"Please," said Kathleen, "will you say that Miss O'Hara has called and
would be glad to see Miss Ruth Craven for a few minutes?"

The girl withdrew. Presently she returned.

"Mrs. Weldon will be pleased if you will go in, miss. She is sitting in
the drawing-room. The two young ladies are out in the garden."

"Thank you," said Kathleen.

After a brief hesitation she entered the house, and was conducted across
the narrow hall into a very sweet and charmingly furnished room. The
room had a bay-window with French doors; these opened on to a little