“Land, no!” came cheerily back.
“How happened she to be with you?” asked Harry.
“She was down at the station when I came home from Wardway,” replied Maria, faintly. Her strength was almost gone. She could hardly stagger up the steps of the house with her father, he bearing his recovered child, she bearing her secret.
Chapter XV
Ida was still to be seen rocking when Harry, with Evelyn and Maria, came in sight of the house. The visiting ladies had gone. Josephine, with her face swollen and tear-stained, was standing watching at a window in the dark dining-room. When she saw the three approaching she screamed:
“Oh, Mis' Edgham, they've found her! They're comin'! They've got her!” and rushed to open the door.
Ida rose, and came gracefully to meet them with a sinuous movement and a long sweep of her rose-colored draperies. Her radiant smile lit up her face again. She looked entirely herself when Harry greeted her.
“Well, Ida, our darling is found,” he said, in a broken voice.
Ida reached out her arms, from which hung graceful pendants of lace and ribbons, but the sleepy child clung to her father and whimpered crossly.
“She is all tired out, poor little darling! Papa's poor little darling!” said Harry, carrying her into the parlor.