oncerned,
I shall only be able to stay at such a school for one year, for I must
then go on to a public school. But Mrs Macintyre has been talking to
mother, and says she can prepare me for Eton with perfect ease in a
year from now.'

'Oh, bother!' said Jasmine. 'We don't want other boys and girls. We
are quite happy by ourselves.'

'But mother thinks we must mix with the world, girls; and so does Mrs
Macintyre,' continued Jasper.

'Well, I'm not going to school, anyhow,' said Hollyhock. 'You and your
mother may go into raptures over Mrs Macintyre as much as ever you
please, but I stay at home with Dumpy Dad. Why should _he_ be left out
in the cold? He is the dearest Dump in the world, and I 'm not going
to have him slighted. You are very fond of romancing, Jasper, and I
don't believe a word of your story.'

'All right,' said Jasper, looking with his honest, Scots face full into
the eyes of Hollyhock. 'There they are--the principals, I mean.'

'Principals! What nonsense you do talk!'

'I mean my mother, your father, and Mrs Macintyre.'

'And what are they principals of?' asked the angry girl.

'Why, the school, of course.'

'The school? There's no school.'

'Well, let's run and ask them. Hearing is believing, surely.'

The ten children raced after Mrs Macintyre, Mr Lennox, and Mrs
Constable.

'Daddy,' exclaimed Hollyhock, 'there's not going to be a school set up
near here? You are not going to send your Flower Girls to school?'

'Wouldn't you like me to help you a little, darling?' said Mrs
Macintyre in her gentle voice. 'You look such an intelligent, pleasant
girl, and I would do all in my power for you; and although your father
and Mrs Constable are quite wonderful in educating you so far, I think
a little outside life, outside teaching, and the meeting with outside
boys and girls would be for your benefit, dear child. I do, really! I
don't think you'll oppose me, Hollyhock, when your father wishes it.'

'Dumpy Dad, do you wish it?'

'Well--ah, _yes_, I think it would be a good plan,' said George Lennox.

'Then I'm done,' said Hollyhock. 'Where's Magsie? She's the only bit
of comfort left to me. Let me seek her out and put a stop to this
madness.' Hollyhock really felt very, very angry. She was not yet
under Mrs Macintyre's charm. 'Where's my brave Magsie?' she cried, and
presently she heard an answering voice.

'Eh, but is that you, Miss Hollyhock? Why, lassie, you look pale