Fear and trouble wrought with her physical weakness to drive her almost distracted.

She sprang up, caught the child by the shoulders, and shook her as if in anger.
"Tell me, can't you ?" she cried, straining her weak voice.

"What did he say?
Don't be a little fool! Can't the child speak ?" She fell back again, seized with a cough which choked her.

Ida stayed her sobbing, and looked on in terror.

Her mother motioned constantly to her to proceed.
"The gentleman said," Ida continued, with calm which was the result of extreme self-control, "that he would take me; but that you were never to see me again." "Did he say anything else about me ?" whispered Lotty.
"No, nothing else." "Go--go and tell him you'll come,--you'll leave me." Ida stood in anguish, speechless and motionless.