She advanced timidly, with a reluctance which she was not wholly
able to conceal, and passively submitted to a caress from the nurse.
There was a look in the eyes of the nurse, carefully guarded, yet
not wholly concealed, which showed that she was quite aware of Ida's
feeling towards her, and resented it. But whether or not she was
playing a part, she did not betray this feeling openly, but pressed
the unwilling child more closely to her bosom.
Ida breathed a sigh of relief when she was released, and walked
quietly away, wondering what it was that made her dislike the woman
so much.
"Is my nurse a good woman?" she asked, thoughtfully, when alone with
Mrs. Crump, who was setting the table for dinner.
A good woman! What makes you ask that?" queried her adopted mother,
in surprise.
"I don't know," said Ida.
"I don't know anything to indicate that she is otherwise," said Mrs.
Crump. "And, by the way, Ida, she is going to take you on a little
excursion, to-morrow."
"She going to take me?" exclaimed Ida. "Why, where are we going?"
"On a little pleasure trip, and perhaps she may introduce you to a
pleasant lady, who has already become interested in you, from what
she has told her."
"What could she say of me?" inquired Ida, "she has not seen me since
I was a baby."
"Why," said the cooper's wife a little puzzled, "she appears to have
thought of you ever since, with a good deal of affection.
Pages:
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66