'Your sister! Then whyever doesn't she come to this splendid school?'

'Oh, we 'll get her yet, Ivor.'

'We must,' said Ivor. 'I can see by her face that she 'll be no end of
fun.'

'Fun!' replied Jasmine. 'She 's the very life of The Garden.'

'The Garden? What do you mean by The Garden?'

'That's where we happen to live,' replied Jasmine.

'You are not a weekly pupil, are you, Ivor?'

'No, alas! I 'm not. My home's too far away.'

'Well,' said Jasmine, 'I 'll beg Mrs Macintyre to let me invite you to
dine with us at The Garden on Sunday.'

'But will your sister scowl at me, the same as when you kissed hands to
her just now?' asked Ivor.

'Oh no; but you must be very polite to her. You must try to coax her
in your manly way to become a pupil at the school.'

'Well, I 'll do my best,' said Ivor Chetwode. 'She is certainly
handsome, but she has a scowl that I don't like.'

'Well, try not to speak against her, Ivor. Remember she is my sister.'

'I am awfully sorry, Jasmine, and I do think you 're a ripping kind of
girl.'

Hollyhock sat down to the midday meal at The Garden in exceedingly low
spirits, but her father had now got through what she called his
arithmetic, and was full of mirth. He ate heartily and laughed
heartily, and said in his most cheery voice, 'Well, my pet Hollyhock,
you and your Dumpy Dad must make the best of each other.'

'Oh Dumps, do you _want_ me to stay with you?'

'Why not? What do you think?'

'Dumpy, I've had a miserable morning.'

'I 'm sorry for that, my little Flower; but it need not happen again.
You ought not to be unhappy. You 'll have holidays always from now
onwards.'

'Oh daddy, am I never to learn anything more?'

'Well, I don't exactly know how you can. The teaching goes on at
Ardshiel, and as you naturally wish to stay with your father, and as I
naturally wish to keep you, and as the expense of sending my other
Flowers to such a costly school is very great, I have undertaken some
estate work, which must occupy a good deal of my time. Your aunt, too,
dear woman, has secured a post as kindergarten teacher at the great
school. Therefore, my little Hollyhock will have holidays for ever.
She will be our little dunce. Think how jolly that will be!'

Hollyhock felt a dreadful lump in her throat. She managed, however, to
eat, and she struggled hard to hide her great chagrin.

'For the rest of the afternoon I am entirely at your service, my
child,