really occurred.

Daisy Watson, it is true, ventured to peep into Leucha's room; but the
excited girl told her, with a wild shriek, to go away and never come
near her again, and Hollyhock and Magsie managed Leucha between them.

Hollyhock was now the soul of calm. She coaxed the sick girl to sleep,
and when she awoke she told her funny stories, which made her laugh;
and she herself sat during the greater part of that day with her hand
locked in the hot hand of Leucha. It was she who applied the soothing
eau de Cologne and water to Leucha's brow. It was she who swore to
Leucha that their friendship was to be henceforth great and eternal.
On one of these occasions, when Hollyhock had to go downstairs to one
of her meals, Leucha welcomed her back with beaming eyes.

'Oh Hollyhock, I used to hate you!'

'Don't trouble, lassie. You have taken another twist round the other
way, I 'm thinking.'

'I have--I have. Oh Hollyhock, there never was anybody like you in the
world!'

'I 'm bad enough when I like,' said Holly. 'Shall I sing you a bit of
a tune now? Would that comfort you?'

'I 'm thinking of that awful ghost,' said Leucha.

'Do not be silly, Leucha, my pet. Didn't I tell you he will not try
his hand again on an English girl? Now, then, I 'm going to sing
something so soothing, so soft, that you cannot, for a moment, but love
to listen.'

The rich contralto voice rose and fell. The girl in the bed lay
motionless, absorbed, listening. This was sweet music indeed. Could
she have believed it possible that Hollyhock could put such marvellous
tenderness into her wonderful voice?

'Ye Hielands and ye Lowlands,
Oh! where hae ye been!
They hae slain the Earl o' Murray,
And hae laid him on the green.

'Now wae be to thee, Huntley,
And whairfore did ye say
I bade ye bring him wi' you,
But forbid you him to slay!

'He was a braw gallant,
And he rid at the ring,
And the bonnie Earl o' Murray,
Oh, he might hae been a king!

He was a braw gallant,
And he played at the ba';
And the bonnie Earl o' Murray
Was the flower amang them a'!

'He was a braw gallant,
And he played at the gluve;
And the bonnie Earl o' Murray,
Oh, he was the Queen's luve!

'Oh, lang will his lady
Look owre the Castle downe,
Ere she see the Earl o' Murray
Come sounding thro' the town!'

Leucha's eyes half closed, half opened, and she was soothed
ine