think," said the baker, perplexed.

"I don't know whether to believe you or not," said he. "Have you any
other money?"

"That is all I have got."

"Of course, I can't let you have the gingerbread. Some would deliver you
up into the hands of the police. However, I will let you go if you will
make me one promise."

"Oh, anything, sir."

"You have given me a bad dollar. Will you promise to bring me a good one
to-morrow?"

Ida made the required promise, and was allowed to go.

CHAPTER XIV. DOUBTS AND FEARS.

"WELL, what kept you so long?" asked Peg, impatiently, as Ida rejoined
her at the corner of the street, where she had been waiting for her.
"And where's your gingerbread?"

"He wouldn't let me have it," said Ida.

"And why not?"

"Because he said the money wasn't good."

"Stuff! it's good enough," said Peg, hastily. "Then we must go somewhere
else."

"But he said the dollar I gave him last week wasn't good, and I promised
to bring him another to-morrow, or he wouldn't have let me go."

"Well, where are you going to get your dollar to carry him?"

"Why, won't you give it to me?" said Ida, hesitatingly.

"Catch me at such nonsense! But here we are at another shop. Go in and
see whether you can do any better there. Here's the money."

"Why, it's the same piece."

"What if it is?"

"I don't want to pass bad money."

"Tut, what hurt will it do?"

"It is the same as stealing."

"The man won't lose anything. He'll pass it off again."

"Somebody'll have to lose it by and by," said Ida, whose truthful
perceptions saw through the woman's sophistry.

"So you've taken up preaching, have you?" said Peg, sneeringly. "Maybe
you know better than I what is proper to do. It won't do to be so mighty
particular, and so you'll find out if you live with me long."

"Where did you take the dollar?" asked Ida, with a sudden thought; "and
how is it that you have so many of them?"

"None of your business," said her companion, roughly. "You shouldn't pry
into the affairs of other people."

"Are you going to do as I told you?" she demanded, after a moment's
pause.

"I can't," said Ida, pale but resolute.

"You can't," repeated Peg, furiously. "Didn't you promise to do whatever
I told you?"

"Except what was wicked," interrupted Ida.

"And what business have you to decide what is wicked? Come home with
me."

Peg, walked in sullen silence, occasionally turning round to scowl upon
the unfortunate c