“She might have done me that poor grace, to remember a little while,” he muttered, in his pain. Then it came to him what his cousin had said, that though she seemed to be gay, there was sometimes a strange sadness on her lovely face. “Perhaps it is for me. She is playing a part, as I am,” he thought, with a quickened heart throb. Mrs. Fleming made herself just as charming as she knew how; but she could not help seeing how his gaze wandered, and she exclaimed, with something like pique: “The lady you are looking at is my cousin, Mrs. Royall Sherwood. Would you like to be presented?” “Yes, thank you,” he replied, although he knew it was not wise to risk it. His heartache was too keen already. Mrs. Fleming was secretly piqued, for she had fallen in love with Lord Werter as madly as she had loved Dallas Bain, and was determined to marry him if she could. But she did not dread Daisie as a rival, for she knew the girl was too pure and honest to flirt, so when the dance was over she led the handsome young nobleman over, and presented him to her cousin. Daisie had been watching them furtively, and she was sure in her heart that it was Dallas Bain. Why, then, was he masquerading under a title? Her heart grew hot within her as she thought of the indignity he had put upon her in his elopement with Mrs. Fleming’s silly maid, Letty. CHAPTER XXVIII. “A SHOCKING LITTLE FLIRT.” Daisie saw them coming, and braced herself for the _rencontre_. She was determined he should not see her flinch. Stately as a young princess, and cold as ice, she received him, and he could not but admire her perfect self-poise and grace, though he wondered at such a reception. “She knows me--her heart is not deceived. Then why not give me a kinder welcome?” he thought, not knowing of the false stories she had been told to turn her heart against him. As for Daisie, she was thinking under her cold, proud smile: “Where is Letty? Did he really marry her? And why is he masquerading under a false title?” Fortunately for the embarrassment of the occasion, Annette’s partner brought her back at that moment to her chaperons, and Mrs. Fleming, with an air of proprietorship, presented Lord Werter. Annette flashed her great black eyes at him with so friendly a smile that he took refuge with her at once from the hauteur of Daisie’s manner. “Will you dance with me?” he asked; and the gay little brunette, seeing a chance to tease the jealous little widow, replied carelessly: “Oh, dear, no; I’ve almost danced my slippers off already. But I’ll sit out the next waltz with you in the conservatory.” He gave her his arm, bowed to the other two, and led her away. “Shocking little flirt!” Mrs. Fleming exclaimed sharply to Daisie. “Oh, no; she is only tired, I suppose,” generously. “You are looking tired yourself, my dear, and as pale as if you had seen a ghost. It is wonderful, is it not, that man’s likeness to Dallas Bain?” “Yes.”