So her beautiful eyes grew dim with tears as she gave the kiss his eyes entreated, and whispered pitifully and prayerfully: “God help us both to bear our sorrow!” “If you would only try to love me!” he groaned entreatingly, and Daisie answered, with gentle patience: “I have been trying ever since--that night when you were hurt. I will keep on trying.” “You are an angel, my wife!” he cried passionately, realizing remorsefully how unworthy he was of her noble sacrifice, yet not wishing himself dead and out of the way so that she might be happy. He was too selfish for that, and madly jealous in his heart of the reappearance of Dallas Bain in so enviable a position. So when Mrs. Fleming came to see him, after the girls had gone away, he wished her godspeed when she told him frankly that she intended to follow Lord Werter to California, and try to win him in spite of all that had passed. “He is the only man I ever loved, though I have always had plenty of lovers,” she said; “and I was willing to take him, in spite of his seeming obscurity. Now, with his title, he is more desirable than ever, and I mean to throw myself in his way and win him yet if woman’s wit can accomplish it. It will be a relief to you, too, if I get him, for you can never be safe over Daisie until he is married to another.” “No, never; and I am very sorry he ever turned up again. I hoped in my heart that the fellow was dead. Go in and win if you can, Lutie, and I’ll give you a diamond sunburst worth fifty thousand dollars for a bridal gift!” cried Royall, who felt that the price would be small to pay for security over Daisie; for he was always dreading that she might secure a divorce from him in order to marry her old lover. Meanwhile, Daisie and Annette had traveled to Gull Beach, and although Aunt Alice was taken by surprise, she was very glad to see her niece, and made her very welcome. “I thought you would be so fine and gay in your grand New York mansion that you would never care to visit my humble cottage again,” she exclaimed; and Daisie answered evasively: “I have been leading too gay a life, Aunt Alice, in the whirl of social life, and now I am threatened with nervous prostration; so I must keep very quiet for a few weeks, and I knew your home was the very best haven of rest I could find.” “Dear knows you’ll find it quiet enough here, and I’ll do my best to make you well again,” replied the old lady cordially, for she was very proud of Daisie and the grand match she had made. But she soon found that wealth does not always confer happiness; for, day by day, Daisie drooped like a strangely blighted flower, until at last she found that the girl was threatened with a serious illness.