“So Mr. Sherwood went away with my rash promise, and—and—yesterday I went out on my new wheel with my friend Annette, and, as I was not a very skillful cyclist, that awful accident happened. I might easily have been killed,” shudderingly. “Well, Mr. Bain brought me home in his buggy, and when I revived from my fainting spell he was holding me in his arms, and—oh, I blush to tell you!—but my heart rushed out to him! I realized I loved him wildly, madly, and could never love another. This morning he came—we could not meet formally—and we talked like old acquaintances. I hinted about his marrying you, but he denied it. I began to see that he—cared for me”—blushing vividly—“and I quickly made up my mind to break with Mr. Sherwood because he had deceived me intentionally, so as to leave me free to accept Dallas when he should propose. Oh, please don’t look as though you think me the vainest girl on earth! Indeed, I am not! And so, all at once, before I expected it, Dallas was impetuously asking me to marry him, and I accepted, meaning, of course, to tell him presently all about that other affair, and that I should break with Mr. Sherwood immediately; but in five minutes, before I had confessed to him, you came, and—spoiled—everything!” concluded Daisie, with a sob of despair.
Then she caught her breath, and waited; but Mrs. Fleming said never a word, only looked cold and incredulous.
Daisie rallied her courage, and persevered humbly:
“You see how it was, Mrs. Fleming, don’t you? I was weak, but not wicked. As for flirting, I never thought of it. I execrate it as much as you do, and I am very sorry I ever listened to your cousin. But you must see that he was to blame. Why did he try to prejudice me against the man I loved? He might have guessed I would find it out some time.”
Mrs. Fleming found her voice, and said huskily, trying to remedy Royall’s defeat and her own:
“You misjudge my cousin. He thought I was engaged to Mr. Bain because he knew he loved me, and I was very friendly with him. But when he proposed I refused him, because I couldn’t love a stranger I knew nothing about. It was simply through spite he turned to you, but he is gone now in anger, so my advice to you is to keep your promise to Royall, and let him go.”
“Could you advise me to act so basely? No, I can never marry Mr. Sherwood now. When he comes I want you to tell him all that happened here to-day, and that I set him free.”
“Indeed, I shall tell him nothing of the kind! I would not give him such pain as to tell him the girl he loves is a cruel little coquette. Think better of it, Daisie Bell, and marry Royall, who is so rich, and can give you a palace for a home and diamonds a princess might envy. He is of a sweet, sunny disposition, too, and will make you far happier than Dallas Bain, who is sullen, violent, and jealous. Besides, he is gone away, and you will never see him again, so I will keep your secret of this morning, and Royall need never know it,” coaxed the little widow.
CHAPTER VI.
“I CANNOT GIVE UP MY LOVE.”
But all her pleadings could not move Daisie from her resolve to tell Royall everything and break her engagement. She persisted in it, crying pleadingly: