Go at once, laddie; go at once. You know who she is.'

'Oh yes, I know,' said Jasper. 'She's a horrid, detestable girl.'

'There, you hear him,' said the Duke. 'I thought so myself; but if a
poor worm can help to pull _her_ round, why, that worm shall come and
do her duty. Bring her along with you, Jasper, my boy.'

Thus it happened, to the astonishment of the unhappy school, that young
Jasper Constable arrived on the scene, took Leucha roughly by the hand,
gave her a look of the most unutterable contempt, and told her to come
away at once.

Nobody interfered, for nobody was doing her ordinary work that day in
the school; and on their way between the Palace of the Kings and The
Paddock, Jasper had the pleasure of giving Leucha a piece of his mind.
He did it with all his boyish wrath.

'She asked to kiss you, and you _refused_. She wonders now on her
_deathbed_ whether you 'll _still_ refuse.'

'Oh Jasper, have pity on me--have pity! I 'm in agony,' said Leucha;
but neither Jasper nor the Duke of Ardshiel had any pity to spare for
Leucha. She was, however, by order of the doctors, who remained to see
the effect, allowed to enter the spacious sickroom where Hollyhock was
lying.

Hollyhock felt confused. She did not recognise her father or Jasper or
Aunt Cecilia, and she was not in the least put out by the great
doctors; but when Leucha entered, a quick and quieting change came over
her face.

'Well, Leuchy, perhaps you'll kiss me _now_,' she muttered; and Leucha
knelt down by her bedside and kissed her softly, gently, tears pouring
from her eyes.

'Oh Holly, Holly, I love you, I love you,' sobbed Leuchy; 'I love you!'

'Gently, gently; that's enough, my lass,' said Sir Alexander. 'Don't
cry, or make a fuss, but sit softly by her, and if she asks for another
kiss, why, give it; but no tears, mind.'

So Leucha, the hopelessly naughty one, was established in the sickroom.
Oh, how happy she felt again; how glad, how more than glad, that
Hollyhock should have called out to _her_ in her illness and trouble!

CHAPTER XXVIII.

WHAT LOVE CAN DO.

Why and wherefore the fever went down and the girl got better no one
could quite tell. Of course, it was supposed to be the work of Leucha,
and perhaps in a measure it was; for when a very warm heart longs for
one thing, and that thing is denied her by passion, ill-temper, and
spite, and then at the critical moment--the most critical moment of
all--is giv