That Mrs.
Hardwick is an imposter. I knew it, and told you so at the time, but
you wouldn't believe me. I never expect to set eyes on Ida again in
this world."
"I do," said Jack, confidently.
"There's many a hope that's doomed to disappointment," said Aunt
Rachel.
"So there is," said Jack. "I was hoping mother would have
apple-pudding for dinner to-day, but she didn't."
The next day passed, and still no tidings of Ida. There was a cloud
of anxiety, even upon Mr. Crump's usually placid face, and he was
more silent than usual at the evening meal.
At night, after Rachel and Jack had both retired, he said,
anxiously, "What do you think is the cause of Ida's prolonged
absence, Mary?"
"I don't know," said Mrs. Crump, seriously. "It seems to me, if her
mother wanted te keep her longer than the time she at first
proposed, it would be no more than right that she should write us a
line. She must know that we would feel anxious."
"Perhaps she is so taken up with Ida that she can think of nothing
else."
"It may be so; but if we neither see Ida to-morrow, nor hear from
her, I shall be seriously troubled."
"Suppose she should never come back," said the cooper, sadly.
"Oh, husband, don't think of such a thing," said his wife,
distressed.
"We must contemplate it as a possibility," returned Timothy,
gravely, "though not, I hope, as a probability.
Pages:
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98