they were not going away from the
Doves just yet.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

A STARTLING DISCOVERY.

All through her dreams that night Daisy sobbed and moaned. Primrose,
lying awake by her side, felt more and more alarmed and concerned.
What was the matter with her little sister? She felt completely
puzzled. The bright little castle in the air she and Jasmine had been
building; the cheerful thought of the cosy rooms which the girls were
to share together in their friend's house; the dear delight of having
furniture of their very own again; all these very healthful and
natural dreams were fading and fading, for whenever Primrose even
alluded to their leaving their present quarters Daisy clutched her
hand, and looked at her with such pleading eyes, and used hurried
words of such anguished entreaty, that at last the eldest sister felt
obliged to say--

"We will stay where we are, Daisy, until you wish to leave."

Then the poor little thin face relaxed into a wan smile, the lids
drooped over the tired blue eyes, and the child slept more
peacefully.

When Primrose felt her head, however, it was feverish, and her little
hands burned to the touch. She went into the next room and called
Jasmine.

"Jasmine," she said, "I am going round to Mrs. Egerton's; I am going
to tell her all about Daisy's alarm and terror. I am going to consult
her, for I know she means to be a good friend to us. Jasmine, promise
me one thing--don't leave Daisy alone while I am out. I cannot in the
least understand how it happened, but I feel sure she must have got
some fright when you were out last night."

"Oh, she couldn't have," answered Jasmine--"I locked the door after
me. I never leave Daisy alone without locking the door. I won't leave
her now, of course, Primrose--I will take my little writing table
close to her bedside, and if she wakes I can read her a part of my
novel."

Primrose gave one or two more directions, and then hurried out, and
Jasmine, after she had washed up the breakfast things, and put the
little sitting-room perfectly tidy, moved her small writing-table into
the bedroom, and sat down by Daisy's side. She was in the scribbling
stage of her great work, and with her head bent low, her cheeks
flushed, and her fingers much stained with ink, was writing away with
great rapidity, when she was startled by some very earnest words from
the little sleeper.

"Oh, no, indeed, Mr. Dove--oh no, you may be quite certain. I know
wh