'Oh Holly, but I do love you!' said Meg, laying her head for a minute
on Hollyhock's shoulder.

Hollyhock, who, as is well known, could not bear kisses, gently patted
Meg's hand, and then stood up.

'Well, girls,' she said, 'to-morrow will be the great day, the grand
day, when the Duke gives prizes to the school. I think nothing myself
of the prizes, having a right on my mother's side to the grand crest of
the Camerons; but I 'm drowsy. Most of you have done your best, and
even Leuchy will be put about if she does not get a prize. Listen to
me, lassies. I have yet to perform my feat, and no one knows what the
feat is.'

'I suppose it will be to-morrow morning that you will do it?' said Meg.
'Please don't run into danger, Holly, for that would break the heart of
every girl in the school.'

'_Me_--run into danger! Is it like me, now? Do you think I 'm the
sort who 'd wilfully imperil my life? No, not me! But I 'm tired of
these constant headaches, and I 'd like a wee bit of rest. You say
I'll perform my feat in the morning. Some are clever at guessing--let
that be. But whatever happens in the future--and no one can tell--I
want Leuchy to know that I bear her no malice, and that if she thinks
me like poor Jean, the kitchen cat at The Garden, why, I'm satisfied.
You are all here round me with the exception of Leuchy, and I 'm
thinking of her loneliness. Well, whatever happens--and I don't think
for a moment anything _will_ happen--I'd like Leuchy to know that all
through this bitter, sad time, while Meg here was saving her soul--and
quite right you were, Meg--I have never ceased to love Leuchy--never.
She was not the sort of girl I 'd take up; but I did her a wrong, and
so I took her up; and I want her to forgive me, if indeed there is
anything to forgive. Now, good-night; I 'm off to my bed to ease my
troubled head. There's nothing like sleep for that, is there?'

To the astonishment of the girls, Hollyhock kissed one and all, and
said, 'I'm getting sentimental. I must to bed to cure my headache. A
very good night to you!'

She flitted out of the room, the girls looking after her in startled
amazement.

'I don't like it, for my part,' said Meg Drummond.

'Oh, but it's all right,' said Gentian. 'It's only our Holly's way.
She's excited, that's all.'

'Yes, I expect that's about all,' said Jasmine, but she spoke with a
certain uneasiness, which was not, however, apparent in her voice.

By-and-b