en in the morning. You
had better start early, so as to be here again in time for breakfast,
and then you can tell your father that you will not return with your
sisters to The Garden on Saturday. I am sorry, my love; but order must
be maintained in the school. As to Leucha here, the story of the cat
will, I am sure, be known all over the school immediately; and Leucha,
when she shows her wounded hand, will have to explain _how_ she got
it--by slapping _you_ so violently on the cheek, thus rousing the
temper of the faithful cat. I shall insist on her publicly telling
what I know she did. Now, both girls, take your punishments like
gentlewomen and don't make a fuss. Good-night, good-night! I 'll send
Miss Kent to put a lotion on your cheek, Hollyhock, and to bind up your
hand, Leucha. Good-night! After prayers to-morrow the story of the
cat will be told, with, alas! Leucha's sad lack of forgiveness.'

CHAPTER XVI.

THE GIRL WITH THE WAYWARD HEART.

Hollyhock was a child who, with all her wildness, her insubordination,
her many faults, bore no malice. She did not know the meaning of
malice. The open look on her bonnie face alone proclaimed this fact.
She was really sorry for Leucha, and did not give her own swollen cheek
a serious thought. Of course it pained her, for Leucha had very hard,
bony little hands, and she struck, in her fury, with great violence.
But Hollyhock, as she termed it, would be but a poor thing if she
couldn't bear a scrap of pain. Nothing would induce her to grumble,
and although she bitterly regretted the punishment which lay before her
of not going home on Saturday, she would take it, as she expressed it,
'like a woman of sense.'

Accordingly she got up early on the following morning, released poor
Jean, and carried her back to The Garden. There she put her into the
astonished arms of the old housekeeper, who said, 'Whatever ails ye,
lassie; and where did you find the cat?'

'Here she is, and don't ask me any questions about her. Here she is,
safe and sound. She has been feeding on the richest cream, and if you
put her cosy by the fire, she 'll sleep off the effects. Is my Daddy
Dumps in, Mrs Duncan?'

'Yes, my lassie; he 's at his breakfast.'

'Well, I'm glad of that,' said Hollyhock. 'I have got to speak to him
for a minute, but I won't keep him long.'

'Richt ye are, my dear; but whatever swelled your bonnie cheek like
that?'

'Well,' said Hollyhock, 'it wasn'