“Shall you bring her back to-night?” asked Mrs. Crump.
“I may keep her till to-morrow,” said the nurse. “After eight years' absence, that will seem short enough.”
To this, Mrs. Crump agreed, but thought that it would seem long to her, she had been so accustomed to have Ida present at meals.
The nurse walked as far as Broadway, holding Ida by the hand.
“Where are we going?” asked the child, timidly. “Are we going to walk all the way?”
“No,” said the nurse, “we shall ride. There is an omnibus coming now. We will get into it.”
She beckoned to the driver who stopped his horse. Ida and her companion got in.
They got out at the Jersey City ferry.
“Did you ever ride in a steamboat?” asked Mrs. Hardwick, in a tone intended to be gracious.
“Once or twice,” said Ida. “I went with brother Jack once, over to Hoboken. Are we going there, now?”