“Yes,” Annette answered, and her lips trembled with the sob that ached in her throat for the poor victim of her lover’s jealous wrath. “Oh,” she thought distressfully, “he is to blame for the misery of all these lives. How will he ever atone to offended Heaven?” Suddenly she realized that she had been monopolizing Lord Werter for more than an hour, and that people would be thinking she was a most outrageous flirt. “I dare not detain you longer!” she exclaimed. “But how can I let you go without your promise of silence--for Daisie’s sake?” “It almost seems to me that it would make her happier to know that I was true and loyal all the while,” he answered bravely. “No, no; it could but torture her with a hopeless regret. It were wiser, better to keep her in the dark. ‘Where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise.’” “You are a woman. You should know best,” said Lord Werter, with a mirthless smile of consent; and she exclaimed gladly: “You consent--you promise?” “Yes--for Daisie’s sake.” The despair in his face and voice made her kind heart ache, and she murmured: “Thank you, and may God bless you. I know you will never regret this promise.” “I am not so sure of that,” he answered, sighing; though he added: “But my word is given, and the motto of our house is _Toujours fidèle_.” She rose and took his arm. “I must go back to my chaperon now. I dare say Mrs. Fleming will scold me for monopolizing the lion of the hour.” “And must I--be civil to that woman?” he exclaimed, with a man’s horror of duplicity. “Yes; you must be very clever, and not let her know I have betrayed her--especially do not let her trap you into an admission of your identity,” cautioned Annette anxiously. “I will not,” he promised; and, emboldened by success, she added: “And I hope you will be going away from New York soon. It would be very embarrassing to have you about long.” But to her dismay Lord Werter replied gravely: “I shall not promise you that, my little friend, for now that I know Daisie Bell was true to me, I shall like to remain near her for a little while to gladden my eyes with a sight of her beauty. And to do this I shall wish to be very friendly with you, Miss Janowitz, so that I may sometimes call on you at Mrs. Sherwood’s house.” “Oh, but that would be very wrong. Please do not!” she exclaimed. But all her entreaties were of no use. “You may trust my honor that she shall not find me out!” was all he would say. When he led her back to Daisie, Mrs. Fleming was dancing, and he was glad he did not have to encounter the wicked little schemer yet until he was calmer and could act the part he had set for himself. How his heart thrilled as he met the gaze of Daisie again, and he gave her such a penetrating look that she blushed in confusion! Poor Daisie, who could not help her heart from beating faster, though her manner to him was cold as ice.