"'Tell me, are you one of the maids from the house?' he asked.
"'Yes,' I answered.
"'Do you know me?' he questioned.
"'No,' I replied. 'I am a stranger in the village. I have only been in my lady's employ a little more than a fortnight.'
"'I want you to give your mistress this,' he said, producing an envelope from his pocket."
She did not add that the stranger had given her a bill to insure the safe delivery of his message, and to keep her from saying anything about it.
As the girl spoke, she produced an envelope.
Even before the hapless Ida saw it, she knew full well from whom it came.
Poor, hapless Ida! She sunk down into the nearest seat, white as she would ever be in death. She did not dare open it until after the girl had gone for the tea.
She drank it eagerly.