ort?'

'No; 'tis nothing,' replied Hollyhock.

'Well, however it happened is your secret; but I can only say that your
jaw was very nearly broken. It isn't broken, however, and I 'll get a
soothing liniment, which you are to keep on constantly during the day.
I suppose I mustn't inquire how this occurred?'

'Best not,' said Mrs Macintyre; 'only get the dear child well.'

'I won't be long over that job, with one like Miss Hollyhock.'

So Hollyhock was petted very much all day; excused, by the doctor's
express orders, from all lessons; and sat cosily by the fire, enjoying
her new and very exciting story. By evening, however, the swelling had
gone down a great deal, and her mischievous spirit awoke again. The
girls, even the daughters of the Marquis of Killin, were positively
furious with Leucha, and more than ever took the part of the brilliant,
fascinating child, who had already won their hearts.

It was the final straw to Lady Leucha when Barbara and Dorothy Fraser
declared boldly that they could not stand such a cruel fuss about
nothing.

'If I were to tell our father, the Marquis, I really do not know what
he 'd say,' remarked Lady Dorothy.

'_Almost_ to break a girl's jaw just for a mere joke,' added Lady
Barbara. 'Well, we intend to be friends with Hollyhock, whether you
wish it or not, Leucha.'

So Lady Leucha felt herself to be the most desolate girl in the whole
school, the one person who clung to her side being little Daisy Watson,
whom she did not like and only put up with.

The next morning Hollyhock was as well as ever, and told her sisters
that if Leuchy would make up with her, she was willing to extend the
hand of forgiveness.

'You really are noble in your own funny way, Hollyhock,' said Jasmine.
She repeated Hollyhock's words to Leucha, taking care to do so when a
number of the girls were present. But Lady Leucha, whatever she was,
was obstinate. On her father's side she was well-born; but her mother
was a cross-grained lady, extremely ambitious and proud of nothing at
all, and Lady Leucha took after her mother. She wondered if it was
possible for her to get out of this odious school.

She turned her white face, with her small, pale eyes, and fixed them on
Jasmine. 'I presume your silly sister wants an answer.'

'She 's not silly,' replied Jasmine; 'but she would like an answer.'

'Well, tell her from me that as far as the North Pole is from the
South, so am I from her, and ever w