etained."

Stptima shook off the clinging arms angrily.

"You can't coax _me_ into upholding you with your soft, purring ways.
I'm not Brother John, to be hoodwinked so easily. Detained! A likely
story!"

"No," laughed Daisy; "but you are dear old Uncle John's sister, and I
could love you for that, if for nothing else. But I really was
detained, though. Where's Uncle John?"

"He's gone to the Hall after you, I reckon. I told him he had better
stop at home--you were like a bad penny, sure to find your way back."

A sudden terror blanched Daisy's face.

"When did he go, Aunt Seppy?" she asked, her heart throbbing so loudly
she was sure Septima would hear it.

"An hour or more ago."

Daisy hastily picked up her hat again.

"Where are you going?" demanded Septima, sharply.

"I--I--am going to meet Uncle John. Please don't stop me," she cried,
darting with the speed of a young gazelle past the hand that was
stretched out to stay her mad flight. "I--I--must go!"

CHAPTER V.

"I say you shall not," cried Septima, planting herself firmly before
her. "You shall not leave this house to-night."

"You have no right to keep me here," panted Daisy. "I am--I am--" The
words died away on her lips. Rex had told her she must not tell just
yet.

"You are a rash little fool," cried Septima, wrathfully. "You are the
bane of my life, and have been ever since that stormy winter night
John brought you here. I told him then to wash his hands of the whole
matter; you would grow up a willful, impetuous minx, and turn out at
last like your mother."

Daisy sprung to her feet like lightning, her velvet eyes blazing, her
breath coming quick and hot.

"Speak of me as lightly as you will, Aunt Septima," she cried, "but
you must spare my poor mother's name! Oh, mother, mother!" she cried,
flinging herself down on her knees, and sobbing piteously, "if you had
only taken me with you, down into the dark cruel waters!"

"I only wish to Heaven she had!" fervently ejaculated Septima.

At that moment a quick, hurried step sounded on the gravel path
without, and John Brooks hastily entered the room.

"Ah! thank God! here you are, Daisy. I was over at the Hall for you,
and they told me you had left some hours before. I knew you had not
been home, and I was sorely afraid something had happened you."

Ah! how little he knew! Something had happened to her, the darkest and
cruelest shadow that had ever darkened a girl's life was slo