Killin. So
you 'd better not put on airs before me, Jasmine. Oh Jasmine, I do
love you; you are such a downright dear little thing. I 'm going to
ask you up to Hans Place at Easter if daddy and mother will give me
leave.'

'Thank you,' said Jasmine; but I couldn't afford to spend one minute
away from The Garden.'

'How queer of you! You seem devoted to your home.'

'I'm Scots,' replied Jasmine; 'and to the Scots there are no people
like the Scots.'

'Oh, do, do watch her!' suddenly exclaimed Lady Leucha. 'Barbara, do
you see--Dorothy, do you see?--she's walking up and down on the terrace
with that ugly Mary Barton and that nobody, Agnes Featherstonhaugh.
Why, Nancy Greenfield and Jane Calvert are hopping round her just as
though they were magpies on one leg.'

'Why should she not talk to those girls? They are very nice,' said
Jasmine. 'But, Leucha, Barbara, and Dorothy, do you not think you had
better prepare your French lessons? At least I must and will.'

Jasmine skipped away and was soon lost to view, but the Ladies Barbara,
Dorothy, and Leucha found themselves alone--alone and somewhat
slighted. Slighted, too, by those commonplace Scots girls! They, who
were the daughters of a marquis and an earl! The thing was not to be
endured!

Leucha whispered to her companions, and soon they got up and went out
in a little group into the grounds. They saw black-eyed Hollyhock,
surrounded by her adorers. She was talking in quite a gentle, subdued
voice, and did not take the least notice of the marquis's and the
earl's daughters. Never had Nancy Greenfield, Jane Calvert, Mary
Barton, Agnes Featherstonhaugh, and last, but not least, Margaret
Drummond felt so elated. Holly was talking in a very low, seductive
voice. Her rich curls were tumbling about her face and far down her
back. Her cheeks were like bright, soft fire, and the flash in her
glorious black eyes it would be difficult to surpass.

'I say, Jack,' exclaimed Leucha.

----'And, girls, as I was telling you, that poor cat, wee Jean, she
came and nestled on my bed'----

'I'm talking to you, Miss Lennox,' said Lady Leucha.

'Are you? I did not listen. You spoke to some one called Jack.
That's a boy. I happen to be a girl.--Well, girls, let's proceed.
I've _such_ a jolly plan in my head. I 'm thinking--whisper--that
young person must not hear.'

The whisper was to the effect that wee Jean was to be fetched from The
Garden by Holly that v