Miss Pidsley had once said that if she was wanted at home she could go, and Kitty had never, since then, felt herself a prisoner at school.

She did hope that she might not meet them, or any one else she knew, for time was very precious, and explanations would cause delay; but that they might forbid her to go never once entered her head.

Her mind was full of but one thought--Betty was lost, and no one but herself had any clue as to her whereabouts.
But the only person that Kitty met was a telegraph boy.

Miss Pidsley and Miss Hammond, coming home by another route, met the telegraph boy too at the gate, and took the telegram from him.
"Oh," exclaimed Miss Pidsley as she opened it and mastered its contents, "dear, dear! This brings bad news for Katherine Trenire.

Listen," and she read aloud, "Mrs.Pike seriously ill.