of preventing the asking of any question concerning them; her only thought was to save her uncle trouble. He would be sure to see them on his table and replace them in the pocket from which Daisy had taken them. Hence it happened that Daisy was not asked to give any explanation about the keys. Mrs. Brown remained in her room, and the children were told to keep as quiet as possible for the rest of the evening, lest they might awaken her from the sleep into which she had fallen. The next morning, at breakfast time, Mr. Brown told the two girls that he was going to send them both away to the Manor Farm for a week's visit, -an announcement which greatly delighted the children, although Linda's pleasure was somewhat spoilt by the fact that she was not allowed to say good-bye to her mother. Mr. Brown promised to take a message, but said "mamma was too unwell to be disturbed." They left early in the afternoon under Miss Humphreys' care. CHAPTER III. DIFFICULTIES. "Though plunged in ills and exercised in care, ROM the very first hour that Daisy had be FRO come an inmate of Dovedale Rectory, Mrs. Brown had shown her the greatest kindness and affection. "Remember, my darling, I am to be a mother to you now," she had whispered tenderly as she gathered the motherless girl within her arms the day of her arrival. "You must be my second daughter, and love me as Linda does;" and then Mrs. Brown had wept silently, wondering, perhaps, if any one's arms would gather her little girl within their folding if she were motherless. But in spite of her great kindness and oftenexpressed devotion, Daisy had not the same deep regard for her aunt that she had for her uncle. For him she conceived a passionate affection; all the pent-up love of her childish heart for the father who had chilled her to coldness seemed suddenly to break loose and flow out towards Mr. Brown. To do anything for him, however trivial, to win a smile of thanks or a word of commendation,—this was Daisy's greatest joy in life. And since the day when she had discovered her uncle weeping in his study, Daisy had a new thought and feeling in her girlish heart,—the yearning to minister comfort to him. The stay at the Manor Farm had been a very happy one. It had lasted for a month instead of a week; and after this came a visit to the sea-side, and a return to Dovedale Rectory just in time to see the country in its lovely autumn garb. Winter passed away with a calmly happy and uneventful life as far as the two girls at the Rectory were concerned. Daisy's twelfth birthday had brought her gifts from her uncle and aunt, Linda and Miss Humphreys, with a letter from dear old Betsy Trueman, who had lately removed to a very pretty and comfortable little |