Braithwaite, then I broke down. And
when you told me you had known that I hoped to marry Lord Lindfield,
then it was complete to my mind. I thought--oh! I have spoilt it all. It
can never be the same again. And I did so long for you to come home a
week ago. I did love you."

Jeannie stroked Daisy's hair gently for a moment or two.

"You speak of spoiling love," she said. "That is not easy to do. In
fact, it can't be done. So don't have any fears on that point, my
darling."

Daisy was silent for a while.

"And if he asks you why you did it?" she said.

Jeannie considered this.

"I may have to tell him," she said. "It all depends. Probably you don't
understand that."

"No; tell me," said Daisy.

"If he appeals to me in the name of his love for me, I think I shall
have to tell him," said Jeannie. "I don't want to; I shall do my best
not to. But there is a claim, that of love, which is dominant. I did not
mean him to fall in love with me, dear; I meant him only to be detached
from you. But bigger issues, I am afraid, have come in. You must trust
me to do the best I can. I think you will trust me, will you not?"

Daisy clung closer for a moment, and then she sat up.

"Yes. And I haven't even said I am sorry, and I am sure I need not. Aunt
Jeannie, I think I want to go away alone for a little. I want, yes, I
want to cry a little more, but by myself. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my dear. But will you not stop here to-night? You could
telegraph to Alice, and you might add that we were friends. She
would like to know that."

Daisy mopped her eyes.

"I like to know it," she said.

She got up. Just in front of her were the fragments of the torn
photograph. She saw them and half shuddered at them. And Jeannie, all
tenderness, knew that things were not right with Daisy yet. There was
still another wound which must be healed.

"Oh, Daisy!" she said. "You must never let yourself be black and bitter
like that. You tore the photograph up; it lies there still."

"Oh, I can't touch it," said Daisy.

Jeannie looked at her quietly, patiently.

"Your sister," she said. "Diana. Have you forgotten what she made me
promise? She was so sorry, too; I think she would have given all the
world if what she had done could be undone. Not a day passed without her
being sorry. Daisy!"

Daisy stood quite still for a moment, then she suddenly knelt down on
the floor and picked the fragments up, kissing them as she did so.

"Oh, po