She knew the handwriting on the envelope.

The dreaded moment had come.
She must have stood more than a quarter of an hour, motionless, gazing on her mother's face, conscious of nothing but an agonised expectation of seeing the sleeper's eyes open.

They did open at length, and quickly saw the letter.
"It's from Miss Rutherford, mother," said Ida, her own voice sounding very strange to herself.
"Oh, is it ?" said Lotty, in the hoarse whisper which was all she could command "I suppose she wants to know why you didn't go.

Read it to me." Ida read, and, in reading, suffered as she never did again throughout her life.
"DEAR MRS.

STARR,--I am very sorry to have to say that Ida must not return to school.