ear through life like a torch in flame,
And, falling, fling to the host behind--
'Play up! play up! and play the game!'

Mrs Constable, as she repeated these words to Hollyhock, noticed the
flame in her cheeks and the radiance in her black glorious eyes; knew
only too well that this fearless girl would play her part--yes, to the
very letter. For one like Hollyhock there would most certainly be a
conflict, and also most assuredly a victory. She would 'play up! play
up! and play the game!' Her own heart beat as she watched the child.
Eton, that princely school, would be the first training-ground for
Major Constable's young sons; but for Hollyhock there would be both at
school and afterwards in the world the greater battlefield. Her heart
went out to the child, and she pressed her close for a moment to her
heart. Mrs Constable felt very happy to-night. She knew well that she
herself was a very efficient teacher; she was also a very persuasive
teacher, and Mrs Macintyre had eagerly agreed to her suggestion that
she should be her kindergarten mistress, thus helping Mrs Constable to
pay in part for the enormous expense of sending five boys to Ardshiel.
But, after all, this sum of money was but a drop in the ocean; and her
delight was intense, her thanksgiving to Almighty God extreme, when she
was told that she _herself_ might get her laddies back and start an
Annex School for the boys, who were really too old to be at Ardshiel.
The departure of one would mean the departure of all; and now, as she
sat by Hollyhock's side, holding her little brown hand, she had already
secured for herself quite fourteen boys, who were all to arrive at the
Annex, or the dear Paddock, as she loved to call it, on the following
Monday morning. But this apparent breaking up of Mrs Macintyre's
school had not been mentioned as yet to any of the children. Mr
Lennox, of course, knew and approved, and Hollyhock was really the
first of the Flower Girls to whom the news was broken.

'Well, my dear,' said Mrs Constable, 'I have news for you, which I
expect will please you. What do you say to two schools in this
neighbourhood?'

'Two schools!' said Hollyhock, looking with amazement at gentle Mrs
Constable.

'Yes, my love, that's my news. And I 'm to be at the head of one,
though by no manner of means the teacher. That wouldn't do. But I 'm
to superintend, and guide, and influence, and what you may call
"mother." I'm getting my own b