"If it is indeed, as I hope, my life will indeed be blessed." "Did you speak, madam ?" "Tell me under what circumstances your family adopted her." Jack related briefly how Ida had been left at their door in her infancy.
"And do you recollect the month in which this happened ?" "It was at the close of December, the night before New Year's." "It is, it must be she!" ejaculated Mrs.Clifton, clasping her hands, while tears of joy welled from her eyes.
"I--I don't understand," said Jack, naturally astonished.
"My young friend," said the lady, "our meeting this morning seems providential.

I have every reason to believe that this child--your adopted sister--is my daughter, stolen from me by an unknown enemy at the time of which I speak.

From that day to this I have never been able to obtain the slightest clew that might lead to her discovery.

I have long taught myself to think of her as dead." It was Jack's turn to be surprised.

He looked at the lady beside him.
She was barely thirty.