y bonnie
dearie.'

'Suppose, now, you had been me, Duncan, what would you have done?' said
Hollyhock suddenly.

'Why, gone to Ardshiel, of course.'

'Duncan, I hate you. You 're another traitor.'

'No, I'm no,' said Duncan; 'but I ken what's richt, and I ken what's
wrang, and when a little lass chooses betwixt and between, why, I says
to myself, says I, "Halt a wee, and the cantie lass'll come round,"
says I. Shall I take the dogs or no, Miss Hollyhock?'

'Yes, take them; I don't want them,' said Hollyhock.

'The poor maister, he's that loaded wi' work.-- Come away, doggies;
come away.-- Guid-nicht to ye, missie; guid-nicht. Bed's the richt
place for ye. I 'm sorry that Magsie 's no here to cuddle ye a bit.'

'Thanks; I'm glad she's gone. I hate her,' said Hollyhock.

'Ay,' said the old man, coming close to the child and looking into her
eyes. 'Isn't it a wee bit o' the de'il ye hae in ye the nicht, wi'
your talkin' o' hatin' them that luves ye!--Come, doggies; come. My
poor beasties, ye 'll want your rest; and there's no place like bed for
missie hersel'.'

'You 'd best go to your own bed, too, Duncan,' called Hollyhock after
him. 'You are a very impertinent old man, and getting past your work.'

'Past my work, am I, now? Aweel, ye 'll see! Guid-nicht, miss. I
bear no malice, although I pity the poor maister.'

Duncan departed, taking the greyhound and the bloodhound with him. As
soon as she was quite sure that he had gone, and silence, deep and
complete, had fallen on the house, Hollyhock took down an old cloak
from where it hung in a certain part of the hall, and wrapping it
firmly round her shoulders, went out into the night. It was better out
of doors--less suffocating, less lonely--and the girl's terribly low
spirits began to rise. She was in for an adventure, and what Scots
lassie did not love an adventure?

So she crept stealthily down the avenue, slipped through the smaller of
the gates, and presently found herself on the highroad. It was still
comparatively early, and certainly neither Lennox nor old Duncan missed
her. Duncan thought she was in bed; Lennox was too absorbed in his
heavy work to give his naughty little girl a thought. She had chosen
to stay behind. It was very troublesome and awkward of her, but he was
confident that her rebellious spirit would not last long. Accordingly
Hollyhock went the short distance which divided Ardshiel from The
Garden, entered by the g