you'll easily win the prize. Listen now; I 'll put my name down this
very night for the _danger zone_, and you put your name down for the
essay. Then we 'll both be all right.'

The six subjects for competition were taken up by quite half the
school, the girls sending in their names under _noms de plume_ to Mrs
Macintyre, and in sealed envelopes. Never, surely, was there such an
exciting competition before, and never was there such eagerness shown
as by the various pupils who had resolved to try for the locket and
diamond crest of Ardshiel.

All was indeed going smoothly, and all would have gone smoothly to the
end but for the jealous temperament of Margaret Drummond. For a time
she had remained faithful to Hollyhock, but, as she said to Jasmine,
the immortal soul in her breast troubled her, and as the days went by
and jealousy grew apace that immortal soul troubled her more and more.
The final straw came in an unlooked-for and unfortunate way. Leucha
had been asked to spend from Saturday to Monday at The Garden, and on
the following Saturday Margaret Drummond was to accompany the Flower
Girls to their home. The thought of going there and arguing about her
precious soul occupied her much during the week. She was also a fairly
clever girl, and was absorbed in the contest she had entered
for--'General Attainment of Knowledge.' But on Saturday morning there
came a disappointment to her, which roused her ire extremely. It was
news to the effect that Aunt Agnes Delacour was coming to The Garden,
and that she had written a peremptory letter asking that on the
occasion of this rare visit she herself should be the only guest.

It was impossible not to accede to this request. Holly felt both angry
and alarmed, for she was not at all sure of Margaret Drummond; but
there was no help for it. On receiving her father's letter she went at
once to Margaret, who was packing her clothes for the great event, and
begged of her most earnestly to take the matter like a good lass, and
postpone her visit to The Garden until the following Saturday, giving
the true and only reason for this delay.

'Oh!' said Margaret, 'I don't believe you, not for a minute. No woman
would wish to keep a poor girl from her promised enjoyment.'

'You don't know Aunt Agnes, and at least it is not my fault, Margaret,'
said Hollyhock.

'For that matter, I know a lot more than you think,' retorted Meg.
'But times have changed--ay, and much changed,