“Yes,” said the woman; “I see you understand.  Well, now, do you know what I would do if you should tell anybody where you came from, or attempt to run away?  Can you guess now?”

“Would you shoot me?” asked the child, struck with terror.

“Yes, I would,” said Peg, with fierce emphasis.  “That’s just what I’d do.  And what’s more,” she added, “even if you got away, and got back to your family in New York.  I would follow you and shoot you dead in the street.”

“You wouldn’t be so wicked!” exclaimed Ida, appalled.

“Wouldn’t I, though?” repeated Peg, significantly.  “If you don’t believe I would, just try it.  Do you think you would like to try it?”

“No,” said the child, with a shudder.

“Well, that’s the most sensible thing you’ve said yet.  Now, that you have got to be a little more reasonable, I’ll tell you what I am going to do with you.”

Ida looked up eagerly into her face.

“I am going to keep you with me a year.  I want the services of a little girl for that time.  If you serve me faithfully, I will then send you back to your friends in New York.”

“Will you?” said Ida, hopefully.

“Yes.  But you must mind and do what I tell you.”

“O yes,” said the child, joyfully.

This was so much better than she had been led to fear, that the prospect of returning home, even after a year, gave her fresh courage.

“What shall I do?” she asked, anxious to conciliate Peg.

“You may take the broom,—­you will find it just behind the door,—­and sweep the room.”

“Yes, Aunt Peg.”

“And after that you may wash the dishes.  Or, rather, you may wash the dishes first.”

“Yes, Aunt Peg.”

“And after that I will find something for you to do.”

The next morning Ida was asked if she would like to go out into the street.

This was a welcome proposition, as the sun was shining brightly, and there was little to please a child’s fancy in Peg’s shabby apartment.

“I am going to let you do a little shopping,” said Peg.  “There are various things that we want.  Go and get your bonnet.”

“It’s in the closet,” said Ida.

“O yes, where I put it.  That was before I could trust you.”

She went to the closet, and came back bringing the bonnet and shawl.  As soon as they were ready, they emerged into the street.  Ida was glad to be in the open air once more.

“This is a little better than being shut up in the closet, isn’t it?” said Peg.

Ida owned that it was.

“You see you’ll have a very good time of it, if you do as I bid you.  I don’t want to do you any harm.  I want you to be happy.”

So they walked along together, until Peg, suddenly pausing, laid her hand on Ida’s arm, and pointing to a shop near by, said to her, “Do you see that shop?”

“Yes,” said Ida.