at once.
'Oh, auntie, those blue eyes!' and the excited, hysterical girl burst
into tears.

'There must be something at the back of this, Hollyhock.'

'Oh, nothing--nothing indeed.'

'Well, I won't press for your confidence, dear. Little girls and
little boys should be friends and nothing more for long years to come;
and although I at first quite hoped that Mrs Macintyre's mixed school
would be a great success, I now see that it is best for me to have my
little corner in the Lord's vineyard alone. But don't for a moment
imagine, Hollyhock, that you girls of Ardshiel and my boys of the Annex
won't be the best of friends, meeting constantly and enjoying life and
fun together. Think of your Saturday to Monday, Hollyhock! Think of
my Precious Stones meeting you Flower Girls! Think of the old life
being brought back again!'

'Yes, I suppose it is best,' said Hollyhock, but she heaved a sigh as
she spoke. Her sigh was mostly caused by the fact that she had given
in. She, who had made such a grand and noble stand, was going to
Ardshiel after all.

CHAPTER XI.

SOFT AND LOW.

But when Hollyhock went downstairs, dressed so charmingly and with a
rich colour in her cheeks, with the sparkle of excitement in her eyes,
and when she saw Jasper, Garnet, and the other boys, who all rushed
toward her with a cry of delight, she began to enjoy herself once more.

Old Duncan was moving about the great hall and whistling gently to
himself. 'Soft and low, soft and low. It 's that that does it,'
whispered the old man. Then he broke out again in his cracked old
tones, 'And for bonnie Annie Laurie I wad lay me doun and dee!'

'Duncan, you might remember that we are in the room,' said Hollyhock.

'To be sure, lassies; and don't ye like the sound o' the grand old
tunes and words? Did ye never hear me sing "Roy's Wife o'
Aldivalloch"?'

'No; and I don't wish to,' said Hollyhock.

'Well,' said Duncan, who was never put out in his life, 'here are the
doggies, poor beasties, and I guess, Miss Hollyhock, you 'll be a sicht
better for a little company. I 'm reddin' up the place against the
maister's return. Ay, but we 'll hae a happy evenin'. Old times come
back again--"Should auld acquaintance be forgot"'----

'Duncan, you are incorrigible!'

But Duncan deliberately winked at Jasper, then at Garnet, then at his
beloved Miss Jasmine, and finally catching Delphy in his arms, trotted
up and down the great hall with h