den treat.'

While this conversation was taking place Hollyhock was listening
intently from her small bed. She would not for the world let the girls
think that she missed school, and the only chance of keeping up this
deception was by retiring to bed and feigning illness. Not that she
felt _quite_ well; she was altogether too lonely and miserable for
that. She had not a book to read; she had not a thing to do. The dogs
were off with their master, and she had hardly even an animal to speak
to, with the exception of the kitchen cat, which came up and lay on her
bed, until she shooed her off with quick, angry words.

Well, Saturday had come, and the girls had come, and she must keep up
her supposed illness at any cost, or they would suspect that she was
regretting her decision. But what a time they did take havering with
old Duncan! Tiresome man, Duncan! He was nearly as tiresome as the
dogs, Tocsin and Curfew, and the kitchen cat, Jean.

When the children burst into the room, Hollyhock looked at them out of
her black eyes with a dismal stare.

'Here we are back again,' said Jasmine. 'Haven't you a word of welcome
for us, Holly?'

'Why should I?' replied Hollyhock. 'I 'm suffering from a reeling
head, and can't stand any noise at all.'

'Dear, dear!' exclaimed Gentian.

'I don't want any of _your_ fondling,' said Hollyhock in an angry tone,
for was not Gentian the girl whom the beautiful blue-eyed boy had paid
so much attention to?

'Whatever have _I_ done?' said Gentian in amazement.

'Oh, I'll leave it to your conscience. I'm not going to enlighten you.'

'Dear, dear, what _can_ the matter be?' said Delphy.

'Don't talk so loud. Keep your school manners for your school,' said
Hollyhock.

'Dear, deary me!' cried Jasmine in an anxious tone, 'I think we ought
to get the doctor to see her. There's Dr Maguire, and Duncan will
fetch him. He 'll soon put you right, Hollyhock.'

'He won't, for I won't see him,' said Hollyhock. 'Don't you bring him
to this room. I suppose, if I am faithful to my own Daddy Dumps, and
my own dear home, I may at least have my own way with regard to a
doctor. I 'm not ill _exactly_, but I 'm reeling in the head, and no
one can force me to have a doctor except Daddy Dumps, and he's away
with Lord Ian at Dundree until dinner-time.'

'All the Precious Stones are coming over for dinner,' said Rose, as
softly as she could speak.

'Are they? I don't want them.'

'But t