"Ida has been carried off, and I've come in search of her." "Been carried off?
I didn't know such things ever happened in this country.

What do you mean ?" Jack told the story of Mrs.Hardwick's arrival with a letter from Ida's mother, conveying the request that her child might, under the guidance of the messenger, be allowed to pay her a visit.

To this and the subsequent details Abel Harding listened with earnest attention.
"So you have reason to think the child is in Philadelphia ?" he said, musingly.
"Yes," said Jack; "Ida was seen in the cars, coming here, by a boy who knew her in New York." "Ida ?" repeated the baker.

"Was that her name ?" "Yes; you knew her name, didn't you ?" "I dare say I have known it, but I have heard so little of your family lately that I had forgotten it.

It is rather a singular circumstance." "What is a singular circumstance ?" "I will tell you, Jack.