regard to Dundree and Ardshiel? It was
solely and entirely because of Ardshiel that Dumpy Dad was going to be
an agent. It was entirely on account of Ardshiel that Aunt Cecilia was
going to stoop to be a sort of nursery-governess. Well and cleverly
had those wicked women, Aunt Agnes and Mrs Macintyre, laid their plans.
'But the plans o' the de'il never prosper,' thought Hollyhock.
'They'll come to their senses yet; but meanwhile what am _I_ to do?
How ever am I to stand this awful loneliness?' Hollyhock was not a
specially clever child. She was passionate, fierce, and loving; but
she was also rebellious and very determined. There was a great deal in
her which might make her a fine woman by-and-by; but, on the other
hand, there was much in her which showed that she could be, and might
be, utterly ruined.

Suddenly a wild and naughty idea entered her brain. Nothing, not all
the coaxing, not all the petting, not all the language in all the
world, would get her to go to Ardshiel as a pupil; but might she not go
there now, and peep in at the windows and see for herself what was
going on, what awful process was transforming the Flower Girls and the
Precious Stones into other and different beings?

Her father had said good-night to her, but it was still quite
early--between eight and nine o'clock. The Ardshielites, those wicked
ones, would still be up. She would have time to go there, to look in
and see for herself what was going on.

She was the sort of girl who did nothing by halves. The servants had
no occasion to come into the hall again that night. 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.'

'Weel, that 's exactly what I 'm thinkin',' said the old man. 'Ye 'll
gang to your rest and have a fine sleep. That's what a body wants when
she's eaten up wi' loneliness. I ken fine that ye are missin' the
ithers, lassie.'

'I'm not missing them a bit,' replied Hollyhock. 'As if I could miss
_traitors_.'

'Come, come, noo; don't be talkin' that way.' Here Duncan shut the
great shutters with a bang. 'Why should a young maid talk so ignorant?
Ye 'll be a' richt yet, lassie; but there, ye 're lonesome, m