"No one but a husband," he responded, promptly. "But you are too young to have such notions in your head yet awhile. Attend to your books, and don't think of beaus. Now that we are on the subject, I might as well speak out what I've had on my mind some time back. I don't want my little Daisy to fall in love with any of these strangers she happens to meet. You are too young to know anything about love affairs. You'll never rightly understand it until it comes to you. I must know all about the man who wants my little Daisy. Whatever you do, little one, do upright and honestly. And, above all, never deceive me. I have often heard of these romantic young school-girls falling in love with handsome strangers, and clandestine meetings following, ending in elopements; but, mark my words, no good comes of these deceptions--forewarned is forearmed. Daisy, you'll always remember my words, and say to yourself: 'He knows what is best.' You will remember what I say, won't you, Pet?" He wondered why the fair, sweet face grew as pale as a snow-drop, and the cold little fingers trembled in his clasp, and the velvety eyes drooped beneath his earnest gaze. "Yes," whispered Daisy; "I shall remember what you have said." In spite of her efforts to speak naturally and calmly the sweet voice would tremble. "Bal--ti--more!" shouted the brakeman, lustily. "Twenty minutes for breakfast. Change cars for the north and west!" "Ah, here we are!" cried John, hastily gathering up their satchels and innumerable bundles. "We must make haste to reach the uptown omnibus to get a seat, or we shall have to stand and cling to the strap all the way up. I'm an old traveler, you see. There's nothing like knowing the ins and outs." "Have a coach uptown, sir? Take you to any part of the city. Coach, sir?" cried innumerable hackmen, gathering about them. Daisy tightened her hold on John's arm. She quite believed they intended to pick her up and put her in the coach by main force. One of them was actually walking off with her reticule. "Hold there, young man," cried John, quickly, recovering the satchel. "Don't make yourself uneasy on our account. We would be pleased to ride in your conveyance if you don't charge anything. We have no money." The loquacious hackmen fell back as if by magic. Daisy was blushing like a rose, terribly embarrassed. John Brooks laughed long and heartily. "That's the quickest way in the world to rid yourself of those torments," he declared, enjoying his little joke hugely. "Why, Daisy, if you had come on alone some of those chaps would have spirited you away without even saying so much as 'by your leave.'"