"Well, you had better talk to her, young sir. Felicity is a curious place, and curious characters are found there from time to time. These characters belong, not to the insane, but to the uncontrolled of the earth. As a rule, and I have attended at the school for many years, my dear friend, Mrs. Faithful, has, by her admirable system, managed to reclaim these naughty girls, and they have left Felicity with their characters altered, and their chance of doing good work in the world assured."
"Thank you," said Dominic. He shook hands with the doctor, who, finding out where he was staying, invited him to come in and have a chat with him that evening. This the boy gratefully accepted. He then whistled for Maureen, who came to him looking very pale, but much as usual.
"Lean on me, acushla machree," said the young lad.
They went in the direction of the school together.
"What in the world were you talking to Dr. Halsted about?" she asked.
"I was telling him how you got that burn."
"But, darling Dom, that was through my awkwardness. I can't imagine how I twisted the table-cloth round my feet."
"You didn't twist it round, aroon, bless your dear little heart. It was the act of that fiery one. I watched her when she was pretending to kiss you. She did it very quickly and cleverly, and I was just about to prevent your rising when you were too quick for me. Oh, dear little Maureen, I can't leave you at Felicity, I can't."
Maureen's clear brown eyes were raised to her cousin's face, "But indeed and truly you can, Dominic, for my work is at Felicity, and even you, and even Uncle Pat, shall not, must not keep me back from my work."
"It's hopeless," said the lad, "quite hopeless. Oh, Maureen darling, even you cannot do the impossible."