"I can scarcely understand the question, my dear. I should certainly say, if the first wife knew her husband was about to remarry, and she knew she was not separated from him by law or death, she was certainly a criminal in allowing the ceremony to proceed. Why, did you ever hear of such a peculiar case, my dear?" "No," replied Daisy, flushing crimson. "I was thinking of Enoch Arden." "Why, there is scarcely a feature in Enoch Arden's case resembling the one you have just cited. You must have made a mistake?" "Yes; you are right. I have made a mistake," muttered Daisy, growing deadly pale. "I did not know. I believed it was right." "You believed what was right?" asked Mrs. Tudor, in amazement. "I believed it was right for the first wife to go out of her husband's life if she had spoiled it, and leave him free to woo and win the bride he loved," replied Daisy, pitifully embarrassed. "Why, you innocent child," laughed Mrs. Tudor, "I have said he would _not_ be free as long as the law did not separate him from his first wife, and she was alive. It is against the law of Heaven for any man to have two wives; and if the first wife remained silent and saw the sacred ceremony profaned by that silence, she broke the law of Heaven--a sin against God beyond pardon. Did you speak?" she asked, seeing Daisy's white lips move. She did not know a prayer had gone up to God from that young tortured heart for guidance. Had she done wrong in letting Rex and the whole world believe her dead? Was it ever well to do a wrong that good should come from it? And the clear, innocent, simple conscience was quick to answer, "No!" Poor Daisy looked at the position in every possible way, and the more she reflected the more frightened she became. Poor, little, artless child-bride, she was completely bewildered. She could find no way out of her difficulty until the idea occurred to her that the best person to help her would be John Brooks; and her whole heart and soul fastened eagerly on this. She could not realize she had lain ill so long. Oh, Heaven, what might have happened in the meantime, if Rex should marry Pluma? She would not be his wife because _she_--who was a barrier between them--lived. CHAPTER XXXV. Daisy had decided the great question of her life. Yes, she would go to John Brooks with her pitiful secret, and, kneeling at his feet, tell him all, and be guided by his judgment. "I can never go back to Rex," she thought, wearily. "I have spoiled his life; he does not love me; he wished to be free and marry Pluma."