"In the depot I met a young man who used to live in the village. His name is Royal Ainsley."
"Yes! yes!" interposed Ida, faintly, feeling almost more dead than alive.
"I was telling him all about the baby, showing him the letters that came with it, and the proofs I had of its identity, when he suddenly exclaimed:
"'I will tell you in a few words what I'll do. I'll take this little one back to New York, and save you the trip!'
"He offered me one hundred dollars to give him the child then and there. We are very poor, Mrs. Mallard, and a hundred dollars seemed a fortune to me.
"It's over a fortnight since that occurred, but I have not ceased to worry about it, I assure you."
Young Mrs. Mallard suddenly staggered to her feet and turned away.
"I think I will not wait any longer," said Ida, in a strangely altered voice. "Good-morning, Mrs. Lester!"
The next moment she hurried down the garden-path, and entered her carriage.