There was a general scream of delight, and from a hamper by her side she brought out apples and distributed them.

Only for a minute or two had there been anything like shyness in Ida's presence; she knew how to talk and behave to these poor little waifs.
Her eyes filled with tears as she listened to their chatter among themselves, and recognised so many a fragment of her own past life.

One child, who sat close by her, had been spending the morning in washing vegetables for the Saturday-night market.

Did not that call to mind something ?--so far off; so far, yet nearer to her than many things which had intervened.

How they all laughed, as the big, black houses gave way to brighter streets, and these again began to open upon glimpses of field or garden! Not one of them had the slightest conception of whither they were being taken, or what was to happen to them at length.