did not mention the fact that she had smacked
the cat's mistress.

'I wish that young person, whatever her rank, to be punished,' she said.

'Very well, my dear Leucha, come with me at once. I have now got to
hear _her_ side of the story.'

'But surely you believe me?'

'In a school like this, Leucha, I like to hear both sides. Whatever
happens among my girls, I must be impartial. Now come, for it is
getting late, and I myself must retire.'

They went first of all into Leucha's room, which looked perfectly snug
and comfortable, all trace of the cat having been removed.

'I see nothing wrong here,' said Mrs Macintyre.

'She is too cute; she has hidden everything,' said Leucha.

'Well, we 'll go to her room. Her room is next to yours. I thought,
being contrasts, you would be such friends.'

Leucha shrugged her shoulders contemptuously, then waited with a
furiously beating heart while Mrs Macintyre knocked at Holly's door.

'May I come in, my dear child?' she said gently.

'Yes.' Hollyhock flew to the door and flung it open. 'Yes, please do,
dear Mrs Macintyre. I know I am a bold, bad girl.--Come in, Leuchy; I
don't mind you a bit.'

'But how swollen your cheek is, my child!' said the head-mistress.

'Oh, that's less than nothing. Poor little Jean is sleeping under my
bed, and if we talk too loud we may disturb her. I did it for
mischief. I 'm not going to deny it. I wanted to be friends with
Leuchy, but she would not have it; so then the soul of mischief got
into me, and I ran home to The Garden and fetched the cat, and put her
into Leuchy's bed. Oh! I know it was wrong of me. I 'm a bad Scots
lassie. But I love you, and I love the school, if only Leuchy there
would be friendly.'

'Which I have no intention of being,' said Leucha. 'You see for
yourself, Mrs Macintyre, she denies nothing. She ran away without
leave to fetch that odious cat and put it in my bed.'

'How did her cheek get so swollen?' said Mrs Macintyre.

'Ah, well, we won't talk of that,' said Hollyhock. 'Girls that dare
must also endure. I 'm sorry Leuchy was so vexed and wouldn't make it
up.'

'You are going to punish her, Mrs Macintyre,' said Leucha, 'are you
not?'

'Yes, Leucha; but I 'm going to punish you too.-- Hollyhock, my
darling, you did wrong, and this your first day at school, too. The
punishment I am going to give you I 'm afraid you will feel. You may
take the kitchen cat back yourself to The Gard