red the apartment.

John Somerville looked at her without much interest, supposing that she
might be a seamstress, or laundress, or some applicant for charity. So
many years had passed since he had met with this woman, that she had
passed out of his remembrance.

"Do you wish to see me about anything?" he asked, indifferently. "If so,
you must be quick, for I am just going out."

"You don't seem to recognize me, Mr. Somerville," said Peg, fixing her
keen black eyes upon his face.

"I can't say I do," he replied, carelessly. "Perhaps you used to wash
for me once."

"I am not in the habit of acting as laundress," said the woman, proudly.
It is worth noticing that she was not above passing spurious coin, and
doing other things which are stamped as disreputable by the laws of
the land, but her pride revolted at the imputation that she was a
washer-woman.

"In that case," said Somerville, carelessly, "you will have to tell me
who you are, for it is out of my power to conjecture."

"Perhaps the name of Ida will assist your recollection," said Peg,
composedly.

"Ida!" repeated John Somerville, changing color, and gazing now with
attention at the woman's features.

"Yes."

"I have known several persons of that name," he said, evasively. "Of
course, I can't tell which of them you refer to."

"The Ida I mean was and is a child," said Peg. "But, Mr. Somerville,
there's no use in beating about the bush, when I can come straight to
the point. It is now about eight years since my husband and myself
were employed in carrying off a child--a female child of about a year
old--named Ida. We placed it, according to your directions, on the
door-step of a poor family in New York, and they have since cared for it
as their own. I suppose you have not forgotten that."

John Somerville deliberated. Should he deny it or not? He decided to put
a bold face on the matter.

"I remember it," said he, "and now recall your features. How have
you fared since the time I employed you? Have you found your business
profitable?"

"Far from it," answered Peg. "We are not yet able to retire on a
competence."

"One of your youthful appearance," said Solmerville, banteringly, "ought
not to think of retiring under ten years."

Peg smiled. She knew how to appreciate this speech.

"I don't care for compliments," said she, "even when they are sincere.
As for my youthful appearance, I am old enough to have reached the
age of discretion, and not