'Here we are back again,' said Jasmine. 'Haven't you a word of welcome for us, Holly?'
'Why should I?' replied Hollyhock. 'I 'm suffering from a reeling head, and can't stand any noise at all.'
'I don't want any of _your_ fondling,' said Hollyhock in an angry tone, for was not Gentian the girl whom the beautiful blue-eyed boy had paid so much attention to?
'Whatever have _I_ done?' said Gentian in amazement.
'Oh, I'll leave it to your conscience. I'm not going to enlighten you.'
'Dear, dear, what _can_ the matter be?' said Delphy.
'Don't talk so loud. Keep your school manners for your school,' said Hollyhock.
'Dear, deary me!' cried Jasmine in an anxious tone, 'I think we ought to get the doctor to see her. There's Dr Maguire, and Duncan will fetch him. He 'll soon put you right, Hollyhock.'
'He won't, for I won't see him,' said Hollyhock. 'Don't you bring him to this room. I suppose, if I am faithful to my own Daddy Dumps, and my own dear home, I may at least have my own way with regard to a doctor. I 'm not ill _exactly_, but I 'm reeling in the head, and no one can force me to have a doctor except Daddy Dumps, and he's away with Lord Ian at Dundree until dinner-time.'
'All the Precious Stones are coming over for dinner,' said Rose, as softly as she could speak.
'But they are coming all the same, Hollyhock, and so is Aunt Cecilia; and to-morrow they are coming again with that dear boy Ivor Chetwode.'
'How can you know anything about his name?' said Jasmine in astonishment.
'Ask Gentian; perhaps _she'll_ tell you,' said Hollyhock with a wicked glance out of her black eyes at her sister's pale-gray ones.
But Gentian shook her head in bewilderment. 'She ought to see a doctor,' was her remark.
'Oh yes,' cried Hollyhock; 'but though she _ought_, she _won't_; and neither you nor that old Duncan can force me to; and I don't wish to hear a thing about your precious school, so for goodness' sake don't begin. You know the old proverb that new brooms sweep clean. Well, the school is a very new one, and the brooms are very new also. I expect you won't be in such _pretended_ raptures after another week or two, while I, the faithful one, remain at home, to do my duty.'
The four Flower Girls gazed in consternation at one another. They were certainly distressed when Hollyhock refused to go to school with them, but her behaviour on the first day of their return altogether upset them; and as for poor little Delphy, it was with difficulty that she could keep the tears back from her eyes.