So Hollyhock had her way; and although the girls whispered mysteriously downstairs, and Meg Drummond looked ghastly and miserable, neither Mrs Macintyre nor any of the teachers had the slightest suspicion of what had really occurred.
Daisy Watson, it is true, ventured to peep into Leucha's room; but the excited girl told her, with a wild shriek, to go away and never come near her again, and Hollyhock and Magsie managed Leucha between them.
Hollyhock was now the soul of calm. She coaxed the sick girl to sleep, and when she awoke she told her funny stories, which made her laugh; and she herself sat during the greater part of that day with her hand locked in the hot hand of Leucha. It was she who applied the soothing eau de Cologne and water to Leucha's brow. It was she who swore to Leucha that their friendship was to be henceforth great and eternal. On one of these occasions, when Hollyhock had to go downstairs to one of her meals, Leucha welcomed her back with beaming eyes.
'Don't trouble, lassie. You have taken another twist round the other way, I 'm thinking.'
'I have--I have. Oh Hollyhock, there never was anybody like you in the world!'
'I 'm bad enough when I like,' said Holly. 'Shall I sing you a bit of a tune now? Would that comfort you?'
'I 'm thinking of that awful ghost,' said Leucha.
'Do not be silly, Leucha, my pet. Didn't I tell you he will not try his hand again on an English girl? Now, then, I 'm going to sing something so soothing, so soft, that you cannot, for a moment, but love to listen.'
The rich contralto voice rose and fell. The girl in the bed lay motionless, absorbed, listening. This was sweet music indeed. Could she have believed it possible that Hollyhock could put such marvellous tenderness into her wonderful voice?
'Ye Hielands and ye Lowlands, Oh! where hae ye been! They hae slain the Earl o' Murray, And hae laid him on the green.
'Now wae be to thee, Huntley, And whairfore did ye say I bade ye bring him wi' you, But forbid you him to slay!
'He was a braw gallant, And he rid at the ring, And the bonnie Earl o' Murray, Oh, he might hae been a king!
He was a braw gallant, And he played at the ba'; And the bonnie Earl o' Murray Was the flower amang them a'!