He laughed, disclosing his handsome white teeth. "You can not guess, eh?" he said. "Then it is certainly evident I did not make much of an impression upon you. I am disappointed. I will not keep you in suspense, however. We met at Whitestone Hall, on the night of the lawn fête, and my name is Lester Stanwick." Ah, she _did_ remember him, standing beneath a waving palm-tree, his bold, dark eyes following her every motion, while she was waltzing with Rex. He saw the flash of recognition in her eyes, and the blush that mantled her fair, sweet face. "I am very grateful to you, sir, for saving me. But won't you take me home, please? I don't want to go back to Madame Whitney's." "Of course not," he said, with a twinkle in his eyes, "when you left it in such a remarkable manner as running away." "How did you know I ran away?" asked Daisy, flushing hotly. "Madame Whitney has advertised for you," he responded, promptly. Although he well knew what he uttered was a deliberate falsehood, he merely guessed the little wild bird had grown weary of the restraint, and had flown away. "Did she do that?" asked Daisy, thoroughly alarmed, her great blue eyes dilating with fear. "Oh, Mr. Stanwick, what shall I do? I do not want to go back. I would sooner die first." "There is no occasion for you to do either," he replied. "You are in good hands. Stay here until the storm blows over. In all probability the madame has sent detectives out in all directions searching for you." Daisy was so young, so unsuspecting, so artless, and knew so little of the ways of the world or its intriguing people that she quite believed his assertion. "Oh, what shall I do?" she sobbed, covering her face with her hands. "Oh, I _must_ go back to Uncle John, and--to--to--" Stanwick had no idea she meant Rex. He took it for granted she meant John Brooks and Septima. "It is quite uncertain when John Brooks returns to Allendale," he said; "and I suppose you are aware his sister has also left the place--gone, no one knows whither--the Brookses' cottage on the brow of the hill stands empty." "Gone!" cried Daisy, catching her breath swift and hard, "did you say, sir? Aunt Septima has gone--no one lives in the cottage?" Poor Daisy quite believed she was losing her senses. "Yes," said Stanwick, smothering a low, malicious laugh, "that is what I said; but I am quite surprised that it is news to you. You are all alone in the world, you see. Of course you could not go back to Allendale. You can do no better than stay in your present quarters for at least a week or so, until you fully recover from your mad frolic on the water and gain a little strength." * * * * * "Where am I?" asked Daisy, "and how did I get here? and who lives here?" "One question at a time, if you please," laughed Stanwick, gazing admiringly at the beautiful, questioning, eager face.