take Jasmine to keep you company when we go to the Riviera, and
you 'll meet your friend again at Easter. Will you oblige a very old
man so far, my blessing?'

'Oh Duke, oh Ardshiel, you are the blessedest and the best,' said
Hollyhock. 'How pleased Leuchy will be about the locket! And may I
tell her my own self? And may she really come to your castle with me?'

'Yes, my bonnie one, she may. She 'll come with you as a sort of
nurse, I take it; and you may tell her what you like, Holly, for there
's nought that I wouldn't do for you.'

So Hollyhock was moved on Christmas Eve to Ardshiel's great castle, and
the Duke was nearly beside himself with delight. He was a little
sharp, however, with wee Leuchy, for he had managed to pick out all her
poor story by now, and had learned how Hollyhock had once frightened
and then nursed her, and he guessed by the look on her face that Leuchy
belonged to the unforgiving of the earth.

Nevertheless, she had saved Hollyhock now, and he was bound to be good
to her for that reason. His nephew, the next heir to the title, was
staying at the Castle, and this Cameron had a son of his own, 'the
bonniest lad you could clap eyes on,' who would, all in good time, be
Duke and owner of great possessions.

The old Duke twinkled his eyes when he saw Leucha making up to the
goodly youth; but he said no words, for he had other plans for his
grand-nephew--very different plans. As for young Cameron, he took such
a very violent dislike to poor Leucha on the spot that she soon ceased
to pay him attention.

Lady Crossways, hearing of this delightful visit, had sent down a whole
boxful of gaudy and unsuitable clothes for Leucha; but Hollyhock, with
her true and rare eye for colour, would not let Leucha be so attired.
She spoke privately to the Duke.

'Ardshiel,' she remarked, 'is your purse still wide open?'

'For _you_, my lassie; for _you_.'

'But I want it to be wide open for another,' said Holly.

'Well, I must do as you wish, Hollyhock, my blessing. I suppose you
want me to'----

'Hark and I 'll tell you,' said Hollyhock, putting her pretty mouth to
the old man's ear.

The result of that whisper was that two boxes of clothes arrived from
the most expensive dressmaker in London, and the old Duke, who had a
passion for dress and for good taste in all respects, presented the
contents of one box to his beloved Holly, and the contents of the other
to Leucha.

'There, lass; there,'