In the distance Daisy, who had passed them ten minutes or so ago, was
seen returning with young Hardy and rising to her feet, Miss Betsey
said:

"I must go now, child; good-by. Try and be good and truthful and real,
and stick to your father, and sometime, maybe, you'll see me again."

Then she walked swiftly away, and Bessie saw her no more, but for days
she talked of the queer old woman on the terrace, who had called her
Betsey and who had bade her be good and truthful and real and stick to
her father.

Numerous were the questions put to her by her father and mother,
relative to the stranger whose identity with the American aunt they
scarcely doubted; and Archie was conscious of a bitter pang as he
reflected that she had been so near to him and yet had not tried to find
him. He had heard that she was expected in London, and he knew now how
strong had been the hope that he should meet her, and that she would do
something for him. He was so tired and so ashamed of the life he
led--now here, now there, now on the first floor, now on the fifth floor
back, now plenty now penury and absolute want, according to Daisy's
luck. For Daisy managed everything and bade him take things easy and
trust to her; but he would so much rather have staid quietly at
Stoneleigh with but one meal a day and know how that meal was paid for,
than to live what to his sense of propriety seemed a not very
respectable life. But he had lost his chance. The one who might have
made living at Stoneleigh possible had ignored him. She had been where
he was, and had not sought him, and his face was very gloomy that
evening as he sat in front of the hotel with Bessie in his lap, while
Daisy walked on the terrace with Lord Hardy and told him of the old
woman on the sands who must have been the American aunt.

One week later, there came a letter from old Anthony, saying he had
received a small package by express from London, directed to Miss Betsey
McPherson, care of Archibald McPherson. Should he keep it till his
master returned, or should he forward it to Aberystwyth? Archie replied
that he was to forward it, and two days after there came to him a small
box, containing a lovely turquois ring, of five stones, unmistakably
real, with a good sized pearl in the center, and on the gold band was
inscribed, "Little Betsey, 18--"

That settled the question, of the donor, and Daisy laughed till she
cried over what she called the old woman's spite.

"Nasty ol