.

"Good gracious! what a likeness," he exclaimed, and he turned and sat
down on the bench beside Anne and the baby.

"I hope the little thing didn't get hurt by that fall," he said to the
small maid.

Anne, who was accustomed to having all admiration bestowed on her baby,
replied briefly that missy was right enough. As she spoke she turned
baby Angus round so that the stranger might see his radiant little face.
The dark eyes, however, of the pretty boy had no attraction for the man.
He still watched Daisy, who had resumed her amusements at a little
distance.

Anne, who perceived that Daisy had attracted the stranger's admiration,
was determined to stay to watch the play out. She pretended to amuse
little Angus, but her eyes took furtive glances at the foreign-looking
man. Presently Daisy, who was not at all shy, came up.

"You never thanked me for picking you up from the ground," said the
stranger to the little girl.

Four year old Daisy turned up her eyes to his face.

"I wor _so_ busy," she apologized. "T'ank 'ou now."

The light on her face, her very expression, caused this rough-looking
man's heart to beat strangely. He held out his hand. Daisy put her soft
little palm into his.

"Come and sit on my knee," he said.

Daisy accepted the invitation with alacrity. She dearly liked
attention, and it was not often, with baby by, that she came in for the
lion's share.

"What a funny red beard you have!" she said, putting up a small finger
to touch it delicately.

This action, however, scandalized Anne, who, awaking to a sudden sense
of her responsibilities, rose to depart.

"Come along, Miss Daisy," she exclaimed; "'tis time we was a-moving
home, and you mustn't trouble the gentleman no further, missy."

"I s'ant go home, and I will stay," responded Daisy, her face growing
very red as she clung to her new friend. The man put his arm round her
in delight.

"Sit down, my girl," he said, addressing Anne, "the little miss is not
troubling me. Quite the contrary, she reminds me of a little lassie I
used to know once, and she had the same name too, Daisy. Daisy Wilson
was her name. Now this little kid is so like her that I shouldn't a bit
wonder if she was a relation--perhaps her daughter. Shall I tell you
what your two names are, little one?"

Daisy nodded her head and looked up expectantly. Anne, hoping no harm
was done, and devoured with curiosity, resumed her seat.

"Your mamma's name was Daisy Wilson