"She inherits all her mother's rare beauty." On the table beside Ida was a drawing.

"Whose is this ?" he inquired.
"Mine," answered Ida.
"So you have learned to draw ?" "A little," answered the child, modestly.
"Who taught you?
Not the woman you live with ?" "No," said Ida.
"You have not always lived with her, I am sure ?" "No, sir." "You lived in New York with a family named Harding, did you not ?" "Do you know father and mother ?" asked Ida, with sudden hope.

"Did they send you for me ?" "I will tell you that by and by, my child.

But I want to ask you a few questions first.

Why does this woman, Peg, lock you in whenever she goes away ?" "I suppose," said Ida, "she is afraid I'll run away." "Then she knows you don't want to live with her ?" "Oh, yes, she knows that," said the child, frankly.