ura_ would have been just the right age, and that little
_ipocrila's_ child was older, ever so much older--she spread out her
hands to indicate infinity.

'Ah!' said Ida, 'I always thought so.'

'Ask her how much older,' demanded Mrs. Morton.

The replies varied from nearly _un sanestre_ to _tre settimane_--and no
more could be made of that question.

'Where was the foster-child?'

Again the woman threw up her hands to indicate that she had no
notion--what was it to her? She could not tell if it were alive or dead;
but (upon a leading question) it had not been seen since Hedwige's
departure nor after return. Was it boy or girl? and, after some
hesitation, it was declared to have been _un maschio_.

There was more, which nobody quite understood, but which sounded abusive,
and they were glad to get rid of her with a couple of _thalers_.

'Well?' said Ida triumphantly.

'Well?' echoed her mother in a different tone. 'I don't know what you
were all saying, but I'm sure of this, that that woman was only looking
to see what you wanted her to say. I watched the cunning look of her
eyes, and I would not give that for her word,' with a gesture of her
fingers.

'But, ma, you didn't understand! Nothing could be plainer. The doctor
recommended her, and sent her over in proper time, but she never saw any
one but Mrs. Bury, who, no doubt, had made her arrangements. Then this
other woman's child was older--nobody knows how much--but we always
agreed that nobody could believe Mite, as they call him, was as young as
they said. And then that other child was a boy, and it has vanished.'

'I don't believe she knew.'

'No, I do not think she did,' chimed in Miss Gattoni. 'This _canaille_
will say anything!'

'I believe the woman,' said Ida obstinately. 'Her evidence chimes in
with all my former conclusions.'

The older ladies both had a strong misgiving that the conclusions had
formed the evidence, and Mrs. Morton, though she had listened all along
to Ida's grumbling, was perfectly appalled at the notion of bringing such
a ridiculous accusation against the brother-in-law, against whom she
might indeed murmur, but whom she knew to be truthful and self-denying.
She ventured to represent that it was impossible to go upon this
statement without ascertaining whether the Grantzen child was alive, or
really dead and buried at Ratzes, and that the hostess of the inn would
have been better evidence, but--

He that of