Mrs. Crump exerted herself to fit Ida up as neatly as possible, and
when at length she was got ready, she thought to herself, with
sudden fear, "Perhaps her mother won't be willing to part with her
again."

When Ida was ready to start, there came over all a little shadow of
depression, as if the child were to be separated from them for a
year, and not for a day only. Perhaps this was only natural, since
even this latter term, however brief, was longer than they had been
parted from her since, an infant, she was left at their door.

The nurse expressly desired that none of the family should accompany
her, as she declared it highly important that the whereabouts of
Ida's mother should not be known at once. "Of course," she said,
"after Ida returns, she can tell you what she pleases. Then it will
be of no consequence, for her mother will be gone. She does not live
in this neighborhood; she has only come here to have an interview
with Ida."

"Shall you bring her back to-night?" asked Mrs. Crump.

"I may keep her till to-morrow," said the nurse. "After eight years'
absence, that will seem short enough."

To this, Mrs. Crump agreed, but thought that it would seem long to
her, she had been so accustomed to have Ida present at meals.

The nurse walked as far as Broadway, holding Ida by the hand.