"In her room, with a headache that unfits her for duty. Come here, Daisy." Up to this moment Alan Warburton has kept the hand of the child clasped in his own. He now releases it with evident reluctance, and the little fairy bounds toward her stepmother. "Mamma, how lovely you look!" reaching up her arms to caress the head that bends toward her. "Mamma, take me with you where the music is." "Have you been to Papa's room, Daisy? You know we must not let him feel lonely to-night." "Exceeding thoughtfulness," mutters Alan Warburton to himself, as he turns to resume his domino. Then aloud, to his sister-in-law, he says: "I have just visited my brother's room, Mrs. Warburton; he wished to see you for a moment, I believe. Daisy, will you come with me?" He extends his hand to the child, who gives a willful toss of the head as she replies, clinging closer to her stepmother the while: "No; I going to stay with my new mamma." As Alan Warburton turns away, with a shade of annoyance upon his face, he meets the mirthful eyes of Carmen, and is greeted by a saucy sally. "What a bear you can be, Alan, when you try your hand at domestic discipline. Put on your domino and your dignity once more. You look like a school boy who has just been whipped." "Ah, Winnie," he says seriously, coming close to her side and seeking to look into the blue, mocking eyes, "no need for me to see _your_ face, your sweet voice and your saucy words both betray you." "Just as your bad temper has betrayed you! It's a pity you can't appreciate Millie, sir; but then your sense of the ridiculous is shockingly deficient. There goes a waltz," starting forward hastily. "It's my waltz; wait, Winnie." But the laughing girl is half way down the long drawing-room, and he hurries after, replacing his mask and pulling on his domino as he goes. Then Leslie Warburton, with a sigh upon her lips, draws the child again toward her and says: "You may wait here, Millie; I will take care of Daisy for a short time. And, Millie, remember in future when Mr. Warburton addresses you, that you are to answer him respectfully. Come, darling." She turns toward the entrance, the child's hand clasped tightly in her own, and there, directly before her, stands a figure which she has longed, yet dreaded, to meet--the Goddess of Liberty. With a gasp of surprise, and a heart throbbing with agitation, Leslie Warburton hurriedly replaces her mask and turns to Millie. "Millie, on second thought, you may take Daisy to her papa's room, and tell him I will be there soon. Daisy, darling, go with Millie." "But, Mamma,--" "There, there, dear, go to papa now; mamma will come." With many a reluctant, backward glance, Daisy suffers herself to be led away, and then the Goddess of Liberty advances and bows before the lady of the mansion. "I am not mistaken," whispers that lady, glancing about her as if fearing an eavesdropper; "you are--"