of the ghost and her part therein was revealed.
Mrs Drummond was a most severe Calvinist, a puritan of the narrowest
type. She was shocked beyond measure with her daughter's narrative.
She sat down at once and read her a long chapter out of the Holy Book
on all liars and their awful fate.

Margaret shivered as she listened to her mother's words.

'My dear,' said Mrs Drummond, 'if you do not confess and get that
wicked Hollyhock--what a name!--into the trouble she deserves, you have
your share with those of whom I'm reading. I'll come with you on
Monday morning, and you 'll stand up in front of the entire school and
tell what you and Hollyhock did. Mrs Macintyre will lose her school if
such a thing is allowed.'

'But, oh, mother, I do love Hollyhock. Is there no other way out?'

'Having sinned,' said Mrs Drummond, 'you must repent. Having done the
wicked thing, you must tell of it. Mrs Macintyre will be very shocked,
but I think nothing of that. It is my lassie I have to think of. It
was Providence sent me to fetch you home to-day! There's no other way
out. Confession--full confession--is the only course. You must stand
up and do your part, and that wicked girl will as likely as not be
expelled.'

CHAPTER XXI.

THERE IS NO WAY OUT.

Hollyhock did not exactly know how she felt during that visit to the
dearly beloved old Garden. Besides the unwelcome presence of Aunt
Agnes, there was a fear over her which was wholly and completely moral,
for Hollyhock had, as may well be remarked, no physical fear
whatsoever. She was the sort of girl, however, to keep even moral
fears to herself, and she returned to the Palace of the Kings on Monday
morning, hoping for the best. So far everything seemed to be all right.

Leucha rushed to her friend, clasped her and kissed her, said how
deeply she had missed her, and how she had longed beyond words during
the latter half of Saturday and on Sunday for Hollyhock's return.

Meg, then, had been better than Hollyhock expected. When all was said
and done, Meg was good and true. Hollyhock made up her mind to be
specially good to Meg in future, to compensate her for her late
neglect--in short, to soothe her ruffled feelings and to feel for her
that love and admiration which the Scots girl had given to her in the
past. But where was Meg?

Hollyhock's quick eyes looked round the room, looked round the spacious
hall, looked round the vast breakfast parlour. There w