her now.'

'That is altogether too remarkable,' said Jasmine. 'I fear I shall
have to look into the mystery. But get you to bed, Meg. Don't appear
at all. I 'll see that some supper reaches you soon. In the meantime
I must attend to Leuchy and her new nurse, Hollyhock! My word!
Hollyhock turned into a nurse!'

Accordingly, the two girls entered the great hall, which was empty
except for one or two teachers, who were still sitting up with anxious
expressions on their faces.

Meg took the opportunity to fly to her room, where presently a great
bowl of Scots gruel was brought to her. She had long ere now carefully
removed the last traces of the ghostie. There was no sign of the ghost
about this commonplace girl any longer. She was glad to get her gruel,
and tumbled into bed, trusting that Jasmine, who was so wise and
clever, would put wrong right. But, alas for Margaret Drummond! wrong
is seldom put right in this world of ours without pain, and although
she slept soundly that night, her task of confession lay before her on
the following morning.

Jasmine, entering the house, went boldly up to her sister's room, which
she found empty. She then, without knocking, opened the door of
Leucha's bedroom. Leucha was supported in bed by Hollyhock, who was
feeding her with morsels of choice and nourishing food, and was talking
to her in the gentlest and most soothing way.

'Who is that?' said Leucha in an angry tone.

Hollyhock looked annoyed for a moment, but then the irrepressible fun
in her nature sparkled in her bold, black eyes. She sat in such a
position that the pale-eyed Leucha was resting against her shoulder.
Her soft hands were gently soothing Leucha's long, thin hair, and she
kept on saying, 'Whist, lassie; whist! He did a daring thing, but he
'll never do it again to you, my bonnie bit of London town.'

'Are you sure, Hollyhock? Are you certain he won't come back?'

'Haven't I dried his hair and sent him to his rest in the bottom of the
lake, and didn't I tell him not to dare to speak to a lady again who
was not Scottish born and bred? He was frightened, was the poor ghost,
and he went away _so_ humble. He would not go without my drying his
hair. No, no, you have nothing to fear!'

'Oh Hollyhock, I hated you so much; but I love you now. I do really.
Couldn't you sleep in the bed with me?'

'To be sure, my lassie; and whyever not? You got a nasty stroke of a
fright; but he 'll come no mor