"IS THIS YOUR NIECE?"
My head is wild with weeping for a grief
Which is the shadow of a gentle mind.
I walk into the air; but no relief
To seek--or, haply, if I sought, to find.
SHELLEY.
Teddy Darrell was about to clasp the beautiful, weeping girl in his
arms; but at her quick cry of alarm, he recoiled in amazement--not
alone at her remonstrance, but because her voice was unlike that of
Kathleen Carew.
Uncle Ben, who had also started forward in eager joy, drew back at the
sound of the girl's voice, and the great detective looked from one face
to the other in astonishment.
"Mr. Carew," he said at last, "is this your niece?"
"No," replied Uncle Ben.
"No," echoed Teddy Darrell.
"I told you so!" cried Daisy Lynn, with a radiant face; and Mr. Wren
brought out the photograph.
"But this is her very face!" he exclaimed.
They agreed with him that it was wonderful--the likeness that existed
between the girl and the picture--but they assured him that there were
subtle differences in the features, and that the voices were quite
unlike.
"Then I have to beg this young lady's pardon," said the great
detective, rather crestfallen at his mistake; but he added, airily:
"There's no harm done, anyhow."
"I beg your pardon, but there is," answered Daisy Lynn, her great,
eager eyes brimming over with tears. "I have lost my situation with
Mrs. Perkins through your mistake."
"Impossible!" he cried.
"It is, alas! too true," she answered, sadly. "Mrs. Perkins is a very
high-tempered woman, and when I attempted to explain to her why I was
going out so suddenly, she became terribly alarmed at the idea of my
being carried off by a detective. She hinted broadly that I must have
committed some dreadful crime, and discharged me on the spot."
"The wretch!" cried all three of the gentlemen in chorus, and Teddy,
recalling his native gallantry, hastened to place a chair for the young
girl.
"Pray sit down, miss," he began.
"Miss Daisy Lynn, permit me to present to you Mr. Carew and Mr.
Darrell," said the detective.
Daisy bowed as she sunk into the chair; but Teddy Darrell stopped and
stared as if he had seen a ghost.
"Daisy Lynn!" he echoed.
"Daisy Lynn!" cried Uncle Ben.
Both had heard the story of unfortunate Daisy Lynn, and explanations
followed all around. The tender-hearted girl ceased weeping for herself
to pity the fair young girl who had suffered so bitterly in her stead.
Then Jack Wren, who, now that everything was explained, no longer
suspected Daisy of insanity, spoke his mind.
"I have made a great mistake," he said. "But I know that you will agree
with me that it was very natural under the circumstances. I beg your
pardon, and am ready to propose to you a plan by which to atone for my
folly." She looked at him attentively, and he continued: "I have a very
kind friend, a widow lady, who would be very glad to have you for a
companion, I know. If you will permit me, I will take you to this kind
lady at once, and I am sure you will find it a more pleasant situation
than teaching those Perkins cubs."
"It was not very pleasant," answered the girl, sadly; and when she saw
how eager he was to atone for the trouble he had brought upon her, she
accepted his offer with shy gratitude.
Taking a pleasant leave of Mr. Carew and Teddy, she withdrew with the
detective, and they were driven immediately to--River Cottage.