They scarcely knew what to make of her incoherent words, and both women united in trying to calm her, Daisie stroking her little dark head tenderly, while Mrs. Fleming said kindly: “Be more quiet, dear, lest you excite Royall too much. See how wild he looks.” “No, no--let her say what she will. I see that she is on my side,” he faltered, with half-closed eyes and a quivering smile. Annette turned again quickly to Daisie, saying wildly: “Yes, yes; I am on his side! I want him to get well! So, will you promise what he wishes, Daisie?” “Annette, come away with me a while, dear, and let us talk this over,” Daisie answered, taking the girl’s burning hand in her own and leading her away to Mrs. Fleming’s boudoir. “Now, calm yourself, and let us understand each other. Do you know who shot Mr. Sherwood?” she asked suspiciously. “No, no--of course not, Daisie! What a very foolish question!” panted Annette in visible alarm. “Well, then, tell me how you found out so quickly that this had happened, and how came you here at this gloomy midnight hour--you, who have been too ill to leave your bed?” “I--I----Oh, Daisie, wait till I think a bit! My head seems dazed with it all. Yes, yes; this is the way: Our servant girl brought the news. She had been up here looking on at the play, and stayed very late. So it happened--that ghastly thing--before she came away. I was awake and restless when she came back, so I called to her for some ice water. She came in and told me all, and that Mrs. Fleming had sent for you. I wanted to come and help you, so I made Lucy come with me, and then sent her to break it to mamma, who will be terribly angry at me, I know. But I don’t care--I don’t care for anything, so that Royall Sherwood gets well.” “Are you in love with him, Annette?” “Of course not, you silly girl! Don’t you know that I have a splendid lover in the West?” laughing hysterically. “Oh, yes; I had forgotten. But you told me he was coming to see you, Annette--has he come yet?” A strange light gleamed in the dark, uplifted eyes, and Annette’s hand was pressed convulsively on her heart while she answered: “No, he could not come----Oh, what am I saying? He came, but his visit was very short, for he was called away by a telegram. I was so sorry, for I wished to bring him to call on you. He was so tall, and dark, and handsome, like your noble Dallas. Oh!” and suddenly Annette broke down and wept in wildest grief. Daisie let the storm abate; then said anxiously: “Dear, did your servant tell you about--my marriage?” “Yes--oh, yes--everything. And so Dallas came back to you, after all? I wish my lover could come back to me,” sighing. “But, Daisie, you cannot help yourself now, since Royall is your husband; and if you desert him now it will seem so heartless, as if you wished him to die! And, oh, he must not die! That would be too dreadful. Let him get well by your help, and then leave him, if you wish, Daisie.”