."

Daisy sat quite still for a moment; for all that her face expressed she
might never have heard. Then a sudden little tremor shook her, and she
tore the photograph of Diana which she held across and across, and threw
the fragments on the floor.

"Ah, Daisy, you are cruel," said Jeannie.

Daisy did not reply, and then suddenly her mouth began to tremble, and
tears ready to fall gathered in her eyes. It had hurt her cruelly, and
it was but the instinctive rebellion of one in sudden and incontrollable
pain that had made her tear the photograph. But, as Jeannie had
foreseen, with the hurt came healing.

It was not necessary to say any more, for she saw that already Daisy was
beginning to understand all that she had thought so incomprehensible,
and so vile when it was comprehended, in her, and the comprehension
brought with it the knowledge of the love and tenderness from which
these things sprang. And this time it was Daisy who held out her hands
to Jeannie, but falteringly, as if doubtful whether she dared. But she
need not have been afraid; next moment she was clasped close, and with
the sense of love surrounding and encompassing her the tears came, and
she sobbed her heart out. And even when the tumult of her weeping had
abated, it was but disjointedly that the words came.

"And so it was because of that, Aunt Jeannie," she whispered, "because
you had promised Diana that you would do your best to keep it from me?"

"Yes, my darling, but I have failed," said Jeannie.

"But how splendidly," whispered Daisy. "I should like to have f-failed
like that. And you were content that I should think you a b-beast, and
that he should?"

"No, dear, not content quite. But it was the best I could think of."

"And Mr. Braithwaite?" said Daisy. "Could you be content that he should
think so?"

Jeannie paused a moment before she replied. What she must say, if
she answered this, would hurt Daisy again, but again there was
healing there.

"I knew he would never think me a beast," she said at length. "I
knew he trusted me absolutely."

"And I didn't," said Daisy.

"No, dear, you didn't. But never mind that."

"I can't help minding that. I thought--I thought everything disgusting
about you. Oh, Aunt Jeannie, but I did try so much not to! I did try to
behave well, to realize that you and he had fallen in love with each
other, and that it was neither your fault nor his. But when Aunt Alice
told me that you were engaged to Mr.