“I’m sorry,” she said, quietly, after the short pause, “but I can’t go back.” “Why not?” demanded two or three of the girls at once. Mae was just about to make some teasing remark about getting married, when, catching sight of the girl’s expression, she took the warning to be careful. “We can’t afford it,” said Daisy, sadly. “Mother had to choose between this trip and my last year at school, and, for the sake of my health, she chose this. I’m really glad, for my best friends are here, and I can get my diploma later at night school.” The girls were absolutely silent for a moment, nonplussed at their chum’s announcement. No one had had the slightest idea of the change in her circumstances, and, although Marjorie and Alice had both remarked about something strange in Daisy’s manner, both had attributed it to ill health. And while no one asked any questions, Daisy was started now, and meant to go on with the whole story. “You see, our family have been under tremendous expense lately,” she explained, fingering the tatting on her handkerchief, and avoiding the girls’ eyes. “My sister--she’s only twenty--always was very excitable, and we sort of expected her to do something crazy. Well, she did! Last Easter she went to the seashore with another girl, but she didn’t come back with her. Instead, she ran off and married a man she had known only three days!” “My gracious!” cried Alice, who was now sitting on the edge of her chair, “How thrilling!” “And did your father have to support him?” asked Florence, jumping to the natural conclusion. Daisy shook her head sadly. How she wished their problem were as simple as that! “No, he turned out to be a splendid young man--papa met him afterwards, though of course I never saw him. Well, to get back to the story, Olive--that’s my sister, you know--sent a telegram to say they were married, giving the man’s name. But unfortunately it was Smith--a Thomas Smith!” “Why unfortunately?” asked Alice. She could see no dishonor in marrying a man of that name. “Because, as you’ll see later, we had to trace her, and the name is too common. It was in April that we received this telegram; in May, Thomas Smith came to see the family alone. Olive had disappeared, and he didn’t know where.” “But why did she run away?” asked Alice, incredulously. “Was he cruel to her?” “No; as I said before, papa said he was lovely. Of course, I was at school myself, and didn’t meet him, but I’d trust papa’s judgment any day. And he said he had never seen anybody look so sad. The poor young man seemed to take all the blame on himself.” “I wonder why!” exclaimed Doris, with pity.