hat she made me do first."

"Why not?"

"Because she would be very angry."

"Suppose I should tell you that I would deliver you from her. Would you
be willing to go with me?"

"And you would carry me back to my mother and father?"

"Certainly, I would restore you to your mother," said he, evasively.

"Then I will go with you."

Ida ran quickly to get her bonnet and shawl.

"We had better go at once," said Somerville. "Peg might return, and give
us trouble."

"O yes, let us go quickly," said Ida, turning pale at the remembered
threats of Peg.

Neither knew yet that Peg could not return if she would; that, at this
very moment, she was in legal custody on a charge of a serious nature.
Still less did Ida know that, in going, she was losing the chance of
seeing Jack and her mother, of whose existence, even, she was not yet
aware; and that he, to whose care she consigned herself so gladly, had
been her worst enemy.

"I will carry you to my room, in the first place," said her companion.
"You must remain in concealment for a day or two, as Peg will,
undoubtedly, be on the lookout for you, and we want to avoid all
trouble."

Ida was delighted with her escape, and, with the hope of soon seeing
her friends in New York, She put implicit faith in her guide, and was
willing to submit to any conditions which he might impose.

On emerging into the street, her companion summoned a cab. He had
reasons for not wishing to encounter any one whom he knew.

At length they reached his lodgings.

They were furnished more richly than any room Ida had yet seen; and
formed, indeed, a luxurious contrast to the dark and scantily-furnished
apartment which she had occupied for the last fortnight.

"Well, are you glad to get away from Peg?" asked John Somerville, giving
Ida a seat at the fire.

"Oh, _so_ glad!" said Ida.

"And you wouldn't care about going back?"

The child shuddered.

"I suppose," said she, "that Peg will be very angry. She would beat me,
if she should get me back again."

"But she sha'n't. I will take good care of that."

Ida looked her gratitude. Her heart went out to those who appeared to
deal kindly with her, and she felt very grateful to her companion for
his instrumentality in effecting her deliverance from Peg.

"Now," said Somerville, "perhaps you will be willing to tell me what it
was you were required to do."

"Yes," said Ida; "but she must never know that I told. It was to pass
bad money."