“What did she think?”

“She took a dislike to her, and declared that it was only a plot to get possession of Ida; but then, that was what we expected of Aunt Rachel.”

“Still, it seems difficult to imagine any satisfactory motive on the part of this woman, supposing she is not Ida’s mother.”

“Mother, or not,” returned Jack, “she’s got possession of Ida; and, from all that you say, she is not the best person to bring her up.  I am determined to rescue Ida from this she-dragon.  Will you help me, uncle?”

“You may count upon me, Jack, for all I can do.”

“Then,” said Jack, with energy, “we shall succeed.  I feel sure of it.  ‘Where there’s a will there’s a way,’ you know.”

CHAPTER XVIII.

Finesse.

The next thing to be done by Jack was, of course, in some way to obtain a clew to the whereabouts of Peg, or Mrs. Hardwick, to use the name by which he knew her.  No mode of proceeding likely to secure this result occurred to him, beyond the very obvious one of keeping in the street as much as possible, in the hope that chance might bring him face to face with the object of his pursuit.

Fortunately her face was accurately daguerreotyped in his memory, so that he felt certain of recognizing her, under whatever circumstances they might meet.

In pursuance of this, the only plan which suggested itself, Jack became a daily promenader in Chestnut and other streets.  Many wondered what could be the object of the young man who so persistently frequented the thoroughfares.  It was observed that, while he paid no attention to young ladies, he scrutinized the faces of all middle-aged or elderly women whom he met, a circumstance likely to attract remark, in the case of a well-made youth like Jack.

Several days passed, and, although he only returned to his uncle’s house at the hour of meals, he had the same report to bring on each occasion.

“I am afraid,” said the baker, “it will be as hard as finding a needle in a hay-stack, to hope to meet the one you seek, among so many faces.”

“There’s nothing like trying,” answered Jack, courageously.  “I’m not going to give up yet awhile.”

He sat down and wrote the following note, home:—­

“Dear parents: 

“I arrived in Philadelphia safe, and am stopping at Uncle Abel’s.  He received me very kindly.  I have got track of Ida, though I have not found her yet.  I have learned as much as this, that this Mrs. Hardwick—­who is a double distilled she-rascal—­probably has Ida in her clutches, and has sent her on two occasions to my uncle’s.  I am spending most of my time in the streets, keeping a good lookout for her.  If I do meet her, see if I don’t get Ida away from her.  But it may take some time.  Don’t get discouraged, therefore, but wait patiently.  Whenever anything new turns up you will receive a line from your dutiful son