"Are we going further?" asked Ida, her eyes sparkling. "Where are we
going?"

"To a town on the line of the railroad."

"And shall we ride in the cars?" asked the child, with animation.

"Yes, didn't you ever ride in the cars before?"

"No, never."

"I think you will like it."

"Oh, I know I shall. How fast do the cars go?"

"Oh, a good many miles an hour,--maybe thirty."

"And how long will it take us to go to the place you are going to
carry me to!"

"I don't know exactly,--perhaps two hours."

"Two whole hours in the cars!" exclaimed Ida. "How much I shall have
to tell father and Jack when I get back."

"So you will," said Mrs. Hardwick, with an unaccountable smile,
"when you get back."

There was something peculiar in her tone as she pronounced these
last words, but Ida did not notice it.