king,
half-scared girl rushed in and said, 'Oh, the poor thing--the poor
thing--and I meant no harm--I did not, really!'

'What is the matter?' said Mr Lennox.

'I am called Margaret Drummond, and there's such an awful to-do at the
Palace of the Kings that I 'm afraid to go back there!'

'But what have _you_ to do with it? What can be wrong?' said Lennox.

'Oh, I had a great deal to do with it; but, please, I 'd rather not
say, for the one I speak of bade me not to say. Oh, but there is a
fuss! It's poor Leucha. She's screaming and crying, and nothing will
help her. The doctor has been there, but he can't quiet her a bit.
She clings to Hollyhock and says, "Save me from the ghost; save me from
the ghost!" And the doctor says that if she is not quieted, she may
get really bad before the morning.'

'Father,' said Jasmine suddenly, 'I know Margaret Drummond well, and
she's a fine girl; and if you'll allow me, I 'll go straight back with
her to the Palace of the Kings.'

'But why should you, my love? Our Hollyhock has had nothing to do with
this!'

'Nothing; less than nothing,' muttered Margaret Drummond.

'She could not have had, for this girl, Leucha, or some such name, is
clinging to her. But still, if you wish to go, Jasmine, and think that
you can do any good, start away at once, my lass. You can come back
to-morrow morning.'

So Jasmine went with Margaret, who looked really sick with terror, and
clung to her companion as Leucha had clung to Hollyhock.

'There now, there now, we'll soon put things right,' said Jasmine.
'It's an awful pity that you don't tell the truth, Meg!'

'I do tell the truth--I do. I cannot go back on my word.'

'Well, then, you must leave the matter to me. The only thing I can do
is to soothe Leucha as best I can; while you must walk boldly into the
house. It's your bed-hour and past it, isn't it?'

'Yes, yes; but I have no heart to eat or to sleep.'

'Well, you go straight up to your room, Meg, and get into bed as fast
as you can, and I 'll bring you up something. If you have sworn
secrecy you must keep it; but whatever happens, don't be frightened.
Leucha is very weak of nerve, and has been feeling our desertion most
cruelly, I 'm thinking.'

'Not a bit of it,' said Meg. 'She's a perfectly horrid girl. Even
Daisy has left her now!'

'Dear, dear, poor thing!' said Jasmine. 'Then she must be lonely!'

'She is, I have no doubt; but she has got our Hollyhock with