as no sign of
Meg anywhere. This puzzled her a little, but did not render her
uneasy; and as no other girl in the school said a word about Meg
Drummond--she was not a favourite by any means, and never would
be--Hollyhock came to the conclusion that the poor thing must be ill,
and must have taken to her bed, in which case she would inquire for her
tenderly when the right time came, and thank her affectionately for her
loving forbearance.

But, alack and alas! just as breakfast was coming to an end, there was
a whir and a hoot, and a motor-car was heard rushing up the spacious
avenue and stopping before the great front-door.

A girl who was seated next to Hollyhock said, 'That must be Meg
Drummond coming back. About an hour after you left us, Hollyhock, her
mother came and fetched her. Why, there she is, to be sure, and her
mother along with her. Whatever can be wrong?'

Hollyhock felt a fearful sinking at her heart. She longed to rush
Leucha, poor little Leucha, out of the school, to hide her, to screen
her from what was certain to follow. But she was too stunned by these
unexpected events to say a word or take any action.

'You are a little white, Hollyhock,' said Leucha, who was seated at her
side. 'Don't you feel well?'

'Oh, Leucha darling, don't ask me. It's all up with me,' groaned
Hollyhock. 'Oh Leucha, say once again that you love me!'

'Love you, Holly? I love no one in the world as I love you!'

'Well, you have said it for the last time,' thought poor Hollyhock to
herself. Her little victory, her little triumph, was at an end, for
Hollyhock knew Leucha far too well to believe for an instant that she
would forgive a horrible hoax played upon her.

If Meg Drummond was a cold, severe-looking girl, she was not nearly so
severe or so cold as her mother. Mrs Drummond, accompanied by her
daughter, entered the great hall, where prayers were to be said, with a
face of icy marble. Proud indeed was she in spirit; determined was she
in action. She would save her precious daughter's soul alive, come
what might. No other girl was of any importance to Mrs Drummond. Meg
was her all, and she was wrecked--yes, wrecked--on the ghastly rock of
sin. The Devil would claim Meg, unless she, her mother, came to the
rescue.

Mrs Macintyre was somewhat surprised at the arrival of Mrs Drummond, a
woman to whom she did not at all take. For that matter, she had never
been enamoured of Meg herself, considering he