Ida hung down her head.
“Ha!” said Peg. “So you've been thinking of it, have you?”
“Yes,” said Ida, boldly, after a moment's hesitation; “I did think I should if I got a good chance.”
“Humph!” said the woman; “I see we must understand one another. Unless you promise this, back you go into the dark closet, and I shall keep you there all the time.”
Ida shuddered at this fearful threat, terrible to a child of nine.
“Do you promise?”
“Yes,” said the child, faintly.
“For fear you might be tempted to break your promise, I have something to show you.”
She went to the cupboard, and took down a large pistol.
“There,” she said, “do you see that?”