said Eve, blushing furiously.

How poor little Daisy's heart longed for sympathy and consolation! Oh,
if she only dared tell Eve the great hidden sorrow that seemed eating
her heart away! She felt that she must unburden her heart to some one,
or it must surely break.

"Eve," she said, her little hands closing softly over the restless
brown one drumming a tattoo on the window-sill, and her golden head
drooping so close to Eve's, her curls mingled with her dark locks, "I
could never love any one in this world again. I loved once--it was the
sweetest, yet the most bitter, experience of my life. The same voice
that spoke tender words to me cruelly cast me from him. Yet I love him
still with all my heart. Do not talk to me of love, or lovers, Eve, I
can not bear it. The world will never hold but one face for me, and
that is the face of him who is lost to me forever."

"Oh, how delightfully romantic!" cried Eve. "I said to myself over and
over again there was some mystery in your life. I have seen such
strange shadows in your eyes, and your voice often had the sound of
tears in it. I do wish I could help you in some way," said Eve,
thoughtfully. "I'd give the world to set the matter straight for you.
What's his name, and where does he live?"

"I can not tell you," said Daisy, shaking her golden curls sadly.

"Oh, dear! then I do not see how I can help you," cried Eve.

"You can not," replied Daisy; "only keep my secret for me."

"I will," she cried, earnestly.

And as they parted, Eve resolved in her own mind to bring this truant
lover of Daisy's back to his old allegiance; but the first and most
important step was to discover his name.

Eve went directly to her own room, her brain whirling with a new plan,
which she meant to put into execution at once, while Daisy strolled on
through the grounds, choosing the less frequented paths. She wanted to
be all alone by herself to have a good cry. Somehow she felt so much
better for having made a partial confidante of Eve.

The sun was beginning to sink in the west; still Daisy walked on,
thinking of Rex. A little shrill piping voice falling suddenly upon
her ears caused her to stop voluntarily.

"Won't you please reach me my hat and crutch? I have dropped them on
your side of the fence."

Daisy glanced around, wondering in which direction the voice came
from.

"I am sitting on the high stone wall; come around on the other side of
that big tree and you will see me."