'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, too. I try to keep my soul calm, but I am not a fool. You don't care for me as you did, Hollyhock, and I imperilling my immortal soul all for you. You _are_ a queer girl, Hollyhock Lennox, to forsake one like me, and to take up with another, and she the shabbiest-natured pupil in the school.'
'Indeed, indeed you mistake, Margaret,' said Hollyhock. 'I did wrong--we both did wrong that night.'
'Oh, _you_ did wrong, did you? You are prepared to confess, I take it?'
'Oh Meg, to confess would be to ruin all. Have I not won her round? Is she not better than she was?'
'For my part,' said Meg, 'I see no change, except that she sits at your feet and smothers you with kisses; but I have my own soul to think of, and if you don't confess, Hollyhock Lennox, I have at least my duty to perform.'
'Please, please be careful, Meg. You don't know what awful mischief you 'll do.'
'I have to think of my soul,' replied Meg; 'but go your ways and enjoy yourself. No, thank you, I don't want to go to your house this day week. Perhaps I also can come round wee Leuchy. There's no saying what you 'll see and what you 'll hear on Monday morning!'
'Meg, you make me so wretched. Are you really going to tell her our silly little trick?'
'I make no promises; only I may as well say to you, Hollyhock, that my mind is made up.'
Hollyhock felt almost sick with terror. She flew to Jasmine and got her to talk to Margaret Drummond, but Margaret had the obstinacy of a very jealous nature. She was obstinate now to the last degree, and the departure of the Flower Girls gave her a clear field.
Leucha was extremely lonely without Hollyhock. In her presence she was cheerful and bright, but without her she was lonely. Tears stood in her eyes as she bade Hollyhock good-bye, and Hollyhock clasped her to her heart, feeling as she did so that all was lost, that all efforts were in vain, that she herself would be publicly disgraced, and that Leucha would naturally never speak to her again. These things might come to pass at once. As it was, they did come to pass a little later on, but on this special Saturday there was a slight reprieve both for Leucha and for Hollyhock.