"I won't; but I hate that rule."
"And, girls, I think we must part now," said Kate Rourke. "It is getting late, and it would never do for our secret meetings to be discovered."
"Whatever happens, we must stick together," said Kathleen. "Well, good-night; we meet again this day week."
There was quite a flutter of excitement along that lonely road as the Wild Irish Girls returned to their different homes. Susy Hopkins felt quite the happiest and most light-hearted of any. By-and-by she and Ruth Craven found themselves the only girls who were walking down the road called Southwood Lane. This road led right into the centre of the shops where Susy's mother lived.
"What a good thing," said Susy, "that I took the latchkey with me! It is past ten o'clock. Mother would be wild if she had to sit up so late."
Ruth was silent.
"Aren't you happy, Ruthie? Don't you think it is all splendid?" cried Susy.
"Yes and no," said Ruth. "You see, I am a foundationer, and when she pressed me to join I hated not to; but now I am sorry that I have joined. What am I to do about Cassandra and about Alice?"
"You think a great deal about Cassandra, don't you?"
"Oh, yes; she is quite a splendid girl, and she has been so very good to me."