“Yes, madam.”
“How old was your sister when your parents adopted her?” asked Mrs. Clifton. Jack afterwards ascertained that this was her name.
“About a year old, madam.”
“And how long since was it?” asked the lady, bending forward with breathless interest.
“Eight years since. She is now nine.”
“It must be,” said the lady, in a low voice. “If it is indeed so, how will my life be blessed!”
“Did you speak, madam?”
“Tell me under what circumstances your family adopted Ida.”
Jack related, briefly, the circumstances, which are already familiar to the reader.
“And do you recollect the month in which this happened?”