"Ay, I believe thee, but it weer very hard to bear. I deserved it, though, for I might hev knowed that he niver meant to wed my poor lass. Bud theer that's all past and gone--past and gone. Hey, ma'am, look at them two i' the garden. They seem good friends enew now. And so she's to be married to Master Dick to-morrow?" "Yes, Joe," said Mrs Glaire, hastily, "it will be for the best. My son is all that I could wish for now;" and they sat looking out at the two young girls as they stood talking. Their conversation had been on indifferent things for some time, but Daisy felt a guilty knowledge of something she ought to tell, for Eve was so sweet and gentle with her; not one word or look of reproach had been said, but there had so far been no word of the future. At length Daisy spoke out. "Do you quite forgive me, Miss Eve?" she said. "I could not help it then, though I fought against it, and was wretched all the time." "Yes, Daisy, yes," cried Eve, eagerly; and she took the other's hand; "but tell me truly--do you--do you--oh, I cannot say it." "Do I care for Mr Richard Glaire?" said Daisy, with a strange smile. "Do I feel hurt because you will be married to him to-morrow? Not a bit. Don't think that, dear Miss Eve, for I love poor Tom with all my heart, and only wish I could make him a better wife." "And you will be married soon, too?" exclaimed Eve. "Maybe in a month or two," said Daisy, looking sadly at her visitor; "we do not want to hurry it on. I wish you every happiness, Miss Eve." "And I you, Daisy," said Eve, looking at her with a wondering wistful look, and asking herself how it was that Richard should have conceived so mad a passion for this girl, while for her his attentions had been of the coldest type. "Mr Selwood is going to marry you, then?" said Daisy, quietly, for want of something to carry on the conversation. "But what ails you, Miss Eve, are you ill?" "No, no, nothing," said Eve, hastily. "It is hot to-day, that's all." And then the two girls stood silent for a while, Eve thinking that the vicar came so seldom now, and then his visits were so quiet and formal; while Daisy kept asking herself one question, and that was-- "Shall I tell her?" And the answer-- "No, it would be cruel now, and once they and I are married, all that will be over." When the visitors had gone, Daisy went up to her bedroom, and took from a little drawer a note which she had received the previous night. It ran as follows:--