apidly. There was
firmness and character in every line of her face, and in her tone as
well.

"I don't care for the thousandth part of anyone's love. And you said you
would love me the best of anybody----"

"And so I did and do when you are not"--foolish, she was going to say,
but she paused. "Oh, Daisy, can't you see it is the individuality, the
qualities in a person that you love. And no two are alike. You are very
dear and sweet. But I dare say _you_ loved girls last year when I was
not here, and when I am gone you will love someone else. I don't ask you
to love me best of all, for there are, no doubt, more charming girls and
Miss Craven did not demand that of me. It was because she seemed so glad
of a little crumb, and I knew no one loved her----"

Helen's voice had a break in it. She went on taking down her hair,
putting away her necktie and handkerchief, then hung her skirt in the
wardrobe. Would she ask Daisy to read with her? "Let not the sun go down
upon your wrath." But she wasn't even angry, only indignant at what
looked to her like injustice.

"Daisy," she began presently, "if someone told you a story, incidents
out of her life that you knew were given in a burst of confidence, under
the impression that you would not repeat it, should you feel duty bound
to rehearse it to your friend. I did not promise, but I felt it was her
business. Mrs. Aldred knew it; Miss Grace, too, I dare say, but they did
not explain it to the school."

"It was nothing disgraceful. And the girls surmised--why, I think it
would have been better explained," and Daisy roused up a little.

"What right had any girl to surmise? It was admitted that Mrs. Aldred
would not have taken in anyone with dishonorable antecedents. And if my
father had been a criminal of any sort, could I have helped it? But Mrs.
Aldred knew there was nothing except a neglected girlhood which she has
been trying in the kindliest manner to remedy. When a girl surmised
anything, she was willing to give color to what she did not know was
true. It seems to me that is very near a falsehood."

Daisy had heard more sneers than Helen. Her face burned with a pained
consciousness. She really felt ashamed that she should have half
believed the positive untruths. Gossip and ill-nature without any
foundation--how despicable it looked. How could they have been amused
over it?

"I don't see why she shouldn't have been willing to let us all know she
was so rich," Daisy sai