Mr. Crump regarded his wife's visitor with some surprise. His wife
hastened to introduce her as Mrs. Hardwick, Ida's nurse, and handed
to the astonished cooper the letter which the latter had brought
with her.

He was not a rapid reader, and it took him some time to get through
the letter. He laid it down on his knee, and looked thoughtful. The
nurse regarded him with a slight uneasiness.

"This is, indeed, unexpected," he said, at last. "It is a new
development in Ida's history. May I ask, Mrs. Hardwick, if you have
any further proof. I want to be prudent with a child that I love as
my own,--if you have any further proof that you are what you claim
to be?"

"I judged that this letter would be sufficient," said the nurse;
moving a little in her chair.

"True; but how can we be sure that the writer is Ida's mother?"

"The tone of the letter, sir. Would anybody else write like that?"

"Then you have read the letter?" said the cooper, quickly.

"It was read to me, before I set out."

"By----"

"By Ida's mother. I do not blame you for your caution," she