“But before I knew how he had deceived me, I thought Mr. Sherwood very nice, indeed--for he is very amusing, really, and very good-looking, too--only, of course, not as handsome as Mr. Bain, who is perfectly grand, and no one else is worth looking at when he is by. But he did not seem to care about me in the least, although I found out that he had sent me an anonymous love poem; and I began to get piqued, and then hopeless, thinking he really did mean to marry you. And Aunt Alice kept coaxing and firing my ambition with your cousin’s riches, and he kept teasing and making himself agreeable--perhaps you know how a sore, aching heart may sometimes take comfort in the devotion of one it does not care for, and find in it some balm for wounded love and pride--so at last I consented, hoping I might learn to love him after, but stipulating that the engagement be kept secret a little while, for I feared that I might change, and, wish to break it, and did not want to make such a sensation public.” She paused, and fixed her pleading eyes on the other’s face, but it was cold, white, and stony, betraying no sympathy. Clasping her little hands piteously, Daisie Bell continued nervously: “So Mr. Sherwood went away with my rash promise, and--and--yesterday I went out on my new wheel with my friend Annette, and, as I was not a very skillful cyclist, that awful accident happened. I might easily have been killed,” shudderingly. “Well, Mr. Bain brought me home in his buggy, and when I revived from my fainting spell he was holding me in his arms, and--oh, I blush to tell you!--but my heart rushed out to him! I realized I loved him wildly, madly, and could never love another. This morning he came--we could not meet formally--and we talked like old acquaintances. I hinted about his marrying you, but he denied it. I began to see that he--cared for me”--blushing vividly--“and I quickly made up my mind to break with Mr. Sherwood because he had deceived me intentionally, so as to leave me free to accept Dallas when he should propose. Oh, please don’t look as though you think me the vainest girl on earth! Indeed, I am not! And so, all at once, before I expected it, Dallas was impetuously asking me to marry him, and I accepted, meaning, of course, to tell him presently all about that other affair, and that I should break with Mr. Sherwood immediately; but in five minutes, before I had confessed to him, you came, and--spoiled--everything!” concluded Daisie, with a sob of despair. Then she caught her breath, and waited; but Mrs. Fleming said never a word, only looked cold and incredulous. Daisie rallied her courage, and persevered humbly: