you!'

'And for my sake you 'll abstain from tricks in the school?'

'I 'll not promise; but, at the same time, I 'll do my level best.'

Hollyhock, notwithstanding Mrs Macintyre's great kindness, spent a
really wretched day. She kept her word, however, as she had promised,
with regard to Meg, and during morning recess went to her side, and
tried with all that wonderful charm she possessed to be kind to her.
She did not allude to Meg's confession, but spoke to her with all her
old affection. Meg stared at the girl whom she now considered her
enemy in haughty surprise, refused to reply to any of Hollyhock's
endearments, and walked away with her head in the air.

'You dare,' she exclaimed at last, 'when you know too well that you
ought to be expelled!'

Meg then turned her back on Hollyhock, but was followed in her
self-imposed exile by the laughter and jeers of most of the girls in
the school, who flocked eagerly round their favourite, telling her that
they at least would ever and always be her dearest friends. Many of
the said girls assured poor Hollyhock that they were glad that the
nasty _kissing_ English girl was no longer to divide them from their
lively favourite. But Hollyhock's most loving heart was really full of
Leucha. Her nature could not by any possibility really suit Leucha's,
but Holly had taken her up, and it would be very hard now for her to
withdraw her love. Besides, she had done wrong--very wrong--and Leuchy
had a right to be angry.

During the whole of that miserable day Leucha absented herself from the
school, and all Mrs Macintyre's words proved so far in vain. She had
no good news to give Hollyhock; therefore she told her nothing. But
toward evening she had a very grave conversation with Jasmine, who made
a proposal of her own. If this idea fell through, Mrs Macintyre felt
that the mean nature of Meg, joined to the yet meaner nature of Leucha
herself, must for the present at least win the day. She had some hope
in this plan, but meanwhile her warm heart was full of sorrow for her
bonnie Hollyhock.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE END OF LOVE.

The plan was carried into effect. Mr Lennox was consulted, and being
the best and most amiable of men, after talking for a short time to his
young daughter Jasmine, he went over and had a consultation with Mrs
Macintyre. Mrs Macintyre agreed most eagerly to Jasmine's suggestion,
and accordingly, two days after Meg had 'saved her immortal sou