Then they wont, some of them silently, some of them
with a rush, to Hollyhock.

Leucha forced herself to praise the place, and nudged Daisy to do
likewise; but her praise was feigned, and the Scots girls did not pay
this uninteresting Leucha much attention. The fact that she had now
been a fortnight at the school did not affect them at all. The further
fact that she was the daughter of the Earl of Crossways had not the
least influence on them. They were jolly, merry, everyday sort of
girls; there was nothing specially remarkable about them, but as they
themselves said, 'Did not they belong to Old Scotia, and was not that
fact sufficient for any lassie?' Hollyhock entertained them in her
swift, bright way. She was not specially impressed by them, but they
were Scots of the Scots, as she was herself.

So Leucha and the miserable Daisy spent their time alone, Leucha
arguing and wrangling with Daisy, and saying to her once or twice,
'What earthly good are you, Daisy Watson? Can you not think of any
plan by which to defeat that mischievous Scotch brat?'

'I know of nothing,' replied Daisy. 'How can two English girls fight
against sixty and more? It isn't to be done, Leucha dear.'

'It shall be done; it must be done!' retorted Leucha.

'Well, I can't see my way,' replied Daisy. 'The best plan of all would
be for you to sink your silly pride, Leucha, and to join the others.'

'And have _her_ queen it over me,' said Leucha.

'Well, I don't see how you can help it,' answered Daisy. 'She _does_
queen it over you, for it isn't only the Scots girls who turn to her,
but the English and the French. I don't see for myself what possible
hope you have. Never yet since the world was made could two overcome
sixty-eight. And, for that matter,' continued Daisy, 'I 'm feeling so
dull that although I _am_ fond of you, Leucha, I really am strongly
tempted to join that merry group, who are always singing and laughing
and making the hours go by on wings. It is very dull indeed for me to
have no one but you to talk to, and you grumbling all the time.'

'Oh, I saw it would come to this,' said Leucha, rising in her rage.
'My last friend--my very last! I 'll write to mother and get her to
remove me from this school.'

'Oh, I won't desert you, Leucha; only I do wish you were a little more
cheerful, and that we might join the others in their sport. You made
such a fuss just on the day Hollyhock came'----

'Don't mention her