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Hollyhock, the soul of mischief, whom Leucha had so openly defied, was now her one support, her sole comfort. Jasmine made up her mind with some reluctance to let the matter lie over until the morning; then, of course, it must be told, and by Hollyhock herself.
They had tried not to think of it since, but Hollyhock seemed to confirm the weird words, and they began to wonder if they could stay long in this school, which, beautiful as it was, contained such an awful ghost a ghost who required a little girl to dry his locks for him. Surely such a terrible thing could not happen! It was quite past belief.
Ah yes, here was Duncan; she had better say something to him in order to lull his suspicions. The old man came in and began to close the shutters. 'Don't ye sit up ower long, Miss Hollyhock. Ye must be feelin' a bit dowy without the ithers, bless them. 'No, I don't, Duncan, replied Hollyhock. 'But, all the same, I 'd best go to bed, I expect.
She turned restlessly and feverishly on her pillow, and got up very early in the morning, hoping to have a quiet talk first with Hollyhock, then with Margaret Drummond. She was not particularly concerned about Margaret, who naturally followed the lead of a strong character like Hollyhock's.
'Leave her alone, children, and she 'll come round, was his remark. 'Do the reverse, and we'll have trouble with her. As soon as the children had departed to Ardshiel, Hollyhock and her father found themselves alone. She looked wildly round her for a minute; then she dashed into the pine-wood, flung herself on the ground among the pine-needles, and gave vent to a few choking sobs.
It was illuminated by electric light from attic to cellar, and there was such a buzz of young voices, such an eager amount of talk, such peals of happy, childish laughter, that Hollyhock was led thereby in the right direction, and could peep into a very large room which was arranged as a vast playroom on the ground floor, and where all the children at present at Ardshiel were clustered together.
Out putting our hollyhock family to bed?" laughed a crisp, comforting, jolly voice right at my elbow as a big, rough hand ruffled my beautifully smoothed hair and then gave a friendly shake to my left shoulder. "How do you find all our children after a three-year foreign sojourn?"
But still, if you wish to go, Jasmine, and think that you can do any good, start away at once, my lass. You can come back to-morrow morning. So Jasmine went with Margaret, who looked really sick with terror, and clung to her companion as Leucha had clung to Hollyhock. 'There now, there now, we'll soon put things right, said Jasmine. 'It's an awful pity that you don't tell the truth, Meg!
Mrs Constable raised her soft gray eyes. 'My dear child, she said, 'didn't you know that your father and I are not going to teach you any more? All the teaching in this place will be at Ardshiel. 'Then how am I to learn? said Hollyhock, in a tone of frightened amazement. 'Naturally, replied Mrs Constable, 'by going to Ardshiel. 'Never! replied the angry girl. 'I 'm not wanted.
Often she waved a timid hand to me; and I am glad to remember a certain sunny morning, illuminated now because I tossed her up a bright hollyhock in return. It was little to give out of a full and happy day; but Polly had nothing. Once she came near great good fortune, and missed it!
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