Meanwhile things were moving rather rapidly in another direction. Kathleen O'Hara, walking home that day in the company of Susy Hopkins, eagerly questioned that young lady.
"How prim and proper every one looked in the school to-day!" she said. "What is wrong?"
"There is plenty wrong," said Susy. "I tell you what
it is, Kathleen, I feel rather frightened. I suppose it will come to our all being expelled."
"Oh, not a bit of it," said Kathleen.
"Well, it looks rather like it," said Susy. "Do you know what they are doing?"
"What?"
"They are bringing pressure to bear upon Ruth Craven. The governors convened a special meeting yesterday; they had Ruth before them, and then tried by every means in their power to get her to tell. You see, she is in the position of the person who knows everything. She belonged to us for a time, and now she doesn't belong to us."
"Well?" said Kathleen, feeling interested and a little startled.
"She wouldn't tell."