She, too, hastened to the window, and saw a handsome
carriage drawn, not by four horses, but by two elegant bays,
standing before the door. Jack had already jumped out, and was now
assisting Ida to alight. No sooner was Ida on firm ground than she
ran into the house, and was at once clasped in the arms of her
adopted mother.
"O mother!" she exclaimed; "how glad I am to see you once more."
"Haven't you a kiss for me too, Ida?" said the cooper, his face
radiant with joy. "You don't know how much we've missed you."
"And I'm so glad to sec you all, and Aunt Rachel, too."
To her astonishment, Aunt Rachel, for the first time in the child's
remembrance, kissed her. There was nothing wanting to her welcome
home.
Scarcely had the spinster done so than her observant eyes detected
what had escaped the cooper and his wife, in their joy.
"Where did you get this dress, Ida?" she asked.
Then, for the first time, all observed that Ida was more elegantly
dressed than when she went away. She looked like a young princess.
"That Mrs. Hardwick didn't give you this gown, I'll be bound," said
she.
"Oh, I've so much to tell you," said Ida, breathlessly. "I've found
my mother,--my other mother!"
A pang struck to the honest hearts of Timothy Crump and his wife.
Ida must leave them. After all the happy years during which they had
watched over and cared for her, she must leave them at length.
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