flower-lawn. At one side of the house was a tiny conservatory full of
bright flowers. Compared to the house where the Tennants lived, this
tiny place looked like a paradise to Kathleen. She gave a quick glance
round her, then came up to Mrs. Weldon.

"I am one of the new girls at the Great Shirley School," she said. "My
name is Kathleen O'Hara. I am Irish. I have only just crossed the cold
sea. I am lonely, too. I want Ruth Craven. May I sit down a minute while
your servant fetches her? I like Ruth Craven. She is very pretty, isn't
she? She is the sort of girl that you'd take a fancy to when you're
lonely and far from home. May I sit here until she comes?"

"Of course, my dear," said Mrs. Weldon, speaking with kindness, and
looking with eyes full of interest at the handsome, striking-looking
girl. "I quite understand your being lonely. I was very lonely indeed
when I came home from India and left my dear father and mother behind
me."

"How old were you when you came home?"

"A great deal younger than you are: only seven years old. But that is a
long time ago. I should like to be kind to you, Miss O'Hara. Cassandra
has been telling me about you. You are living at the Tennants', are you
not? Alice Tennant and Cassandra are great friends."

"But I don't like either of them," said Kathleen in her blunt way.

Mrs. Weldon looked a little startled.

"Do you know my daughter?" she asked.