d go back with Jasmine and the
others to Ardshiel on Monday morning--that is, if _you_ wish it, daddy?'

'Is the choice entirely your own, my child?' said George Lennox.

'Yes, it is. You 'll want me, perhaps, when you haven't got me, but
I'm away to school with the others. It's right--it _is_ right.'

'Well, my Hollyhock, I thank you,' said her father. 'I shall miss you,
beyond a doubt; but work has set in for me to such an extent that I
have no time to attend to you, and your being in the house and
uneducated has been a sore trial to me, Holly. You 'll be a good lass
at school, my child. You must promise me that.'

'You 'll have a right-down lovely time, Holly,' cried Jasmine.

'Yes, won't she?' echoed Gentian.

'But I haven't told you all the story yet,' said Hollyhock. She
suddenly went up to Jasper and took his big hand. 'I was trusted by a
lady, whose name I mustn't mention, with another bit of news, Jasper,
boy--and, oh! it's sore it makes my heart. _You_ have to go to the
lady, Jasper, boy, and so has Garnet, and so has Sapphire, and so have
Opal and Emerald. In addition, the boys at Ardshiel are to go to a new
Annex--under protest, no doubt; but still it has to be. You 'll be
taught by men, my bonnie Precious Stones, and we lassies will have to
do with the women folk.'

'Well, this is astounding,' said Jasper. 'Is it true?--Can you
explain, Uncle George?'

'Yes, my boy; and I don't think you 'll mind when it's explained to
you. The "lady" whom my Hollyhock wouldn't mention is your _own_
mother.'

'Mother!' cried Emerald, in a voice of rapture. 'Eh, mother, I have
missed you!'

He was only a little fellow--the youngest of the Precious Stones--and
he suddenly burst out crying.

'There, now, be a brave lad,' said Mrs Constable. 'No tears, my little
son, for they don't become a gentleman. They don't become the son of
Major Constable. Ho died fighting for his country, and no son of his
and mine should be seen with tears in his eyes. You all do come back
to your mummy, my children, and a lot of other boys come as well; and
The Paddock is to be partly changed, so that I can mother you, my
Emerald, but not teach you--no, no, none of that. There 'll be that
fine gentleman, the Reverend James Cadell, to put Latin and Greek into
you; and there'll be Alan Anderson to teach you games, as boys should
play them; and there 'll be young Mr Maclure to help him with your
English and your lessons al