e does treat her well,
though to be sure she is a pretty girl, and, as I say, he has an eye."

"Then where does the fortune come from?"

"Kent was a half-brother who went out to America, and it is rumored that
he made a fortune, which he intends to leave to his niece--that's Daisy.
But I don't know all the details of this," added Mrs. Parry, rubbing her
beaky nose angrily; "I must find out somehow. But here, my dear, those
children are stripping the tree. Let us assist. We must give pleasure to
the little ones. I have had six of my own, all married," ended the good
lady irrelevantly.

She might have added that her four sons and two daughters kept at a safe
distance from their respected parent. On occasions she did pay a visit
to one or the other, and usually created a disturbance. Yet this
spiteful, mischief-making woman read her Bible, thought herself a
Christian, and judged others as harshly as she judged herself leniently.
Mrs. McKail was stopping with her, therefore could not tell her what she
thought of her behavior; but she privately determined to cut short her
visit and get away from this disagreeable old creature. In the meantime
Mrs. Parry, smiling like the wicked fairy godmother with many teeth,
advanced to meddle with the Christmas tree and set the children by the
ears. She was a perfect Ate.

Giles said as much to Miss Denham, and she nervously agreed with him as
though fearful lest her assent should reach the ears of Mrs. Parry.
"She has no love for me," whispered Anne. "I think you had better talk
to Daisy, Mr. Ware."

"I prefer to talk to you," said Giles coolly. "Daisy is like her name--a
sweet little English meadow flower--and I love her very dearly. But she
has never been out of England, and sometimes we are at a loss what to
talk about. Now you?"

"I am a gipsy," interrupted Anne, lest he should say something too
complimentary; "a she-Ulysses, who has travelled far and wide. In spite
of your preference for my conversation, I wish I were Daisy."

"Do you?" asked Ware eagerly. "Why?"

Anne flushed and threw back her head proudly. She could not altogether
misunderstand his meaning or the expression of his eyes, but she strove
to turn the conversation with a laugh. "You ask too many questions, Mr.
Ware," she said coldly. "I think Daisy is one of the sweetest of girls,
and I envy her. To have a happy home, a kind guardian as Mr. Morley is,
and a----" She was about to mention Giles, but prudently s