too. I try to keep my
soul calm, but I am not a fool. You don't care for me as you did,
Hollyhock, and I imperilling my immortal soul all for you. You _are_ a
queer girl, Hollyhock Lennox, to forsake one like me, and to take up
with another, and she the shabbiest-natured pupil in the school.'

'Indeed, indeed you mistake, Margaret,' said Hollyhock. 'I did
wrong--we both did wrong that night.'

'Oh, _you_ did wrong, did you? You are prepared to confess, I take it?'

'Oh Meg, to confess would be to ruin all. Have I not won her round?
Is she not better than she was?'

'For my part,' said Meg, 'I see no change, except that she sits at your
feet and smothers you with kisses; but I have my own soul to think of,
and if you don't confess, Hollyhock Lennox, I have at least my duty to
perform.'

'Please, please be careful, Meg. You don't know what awful mischief
you 'll do.'

'I have to think of my soul,' replied Meg; 'but go your ways and enjoy
yourself. No, thank you, I don't want to go to your house this day
week. Perhaps I also can come round wee Leuchy. There's no saying
what you 'll see and what you 'll hear on Monday morning!'

'Meg, you make me so wretched. Are you really going to tell her our
silly little trick?'

'I make no promises; only I may as well say to you, Hollyhock, that my
mind is made up.'

Hollyhock felt almost sick with terror. She flew to Jasmine and got
her to talk to Margaret Drummond, but Margaret had the obstinacy of a
very jealous nature. She was obstinate now to the last degree, and the
departure of the Flower Girls gave her a clear field.

Leucha was extremely lonely without Hollyhock. In her presence she was
cheerful and bright, but without her she was lonely. Tears stood in
her eyes as she bade Hollyhock good-bye, and Hollyhock clasped her to
her heart, feeling as she did so that all was lost, that all efforts
were in vain, that she herself would be publicly disgraced, and that
Leucha would naturally never speak to her again. These things might
come to pass at once. As it was, they did come to pass a little later
on, but on this special Saturday there was a slight reprieve both for
Leucha and for Hollyhock.

Mrs Drummond drove over from Edinburgh in a luxurious motor-car and
took her daughter away, promising to send her back to the school on the
following Monday morning.

Margaret devotedly loved her mother, and was not long in her presence
before the entire story