her like a fair mirage, giving place to dark days of sorrow,
disillusion and loss,--the fleeting glimpse of her self-confessed
"mother," Lady Maude Blythe,--and the knowledge she had so
unexpectedly gained as to the actual identity of her father--he,
whose portrait was in the very house to which she had come through
no more romantic means than a chance advertisement in the "Morning
Post!" And Miss Lavinia--her "fairy godmother"--could she have
found a better friend, even in any elf stepping out of a magic
pumpkin?

"If she ever knows the truth--if I am ever able to tell her that I
am HIS daughter," she said to herself, "I wonder if she will care
for me less or more? But I must not tell her!--She says he was so
good and noble! It would break her heart to think he had done
anything wrong--or that he had deserted his child."

And so she held her peace on this point, though she was often
tempted to break silence whenever Miss Leigh reverted to the story
of her being left in such a casual, yet romantic way at Briar
Farm.

"I wonder who the handsome man was, my dear?" she would query--
"Perhaps he'll go back to the place and enquire for you. He may be
some very great personage!"

And Innocent would smile and shake her head.

"I fear not, my godmother!" she would reply. "You must not have
any fairy dreams about me! I was just a deserted baby--not wanted
in the world--but the world may have to take me all the same!"