I got Mr. Casti to meet you
instead."
The keenest trouble manifested itself on Ida's countenance. She
asked questions in rapid succession, and thus elicited an
explanation of all the circumstances hitherto unknown to her.
"Have you been through the houses?" she inquired, all her native
energy restored by apprehension. "Haven't you thought that he may
have been robbed and--"
She stopped, overcome by sudden weakness, and sank into the chair.
"Come, come, it isn't so bad as all that," said the old man,
observing her closely. "He may turn up at any moment; all sorts of
unexpected things may have happened. But I'll go again to his
lodgings, and if I can't hear anything there, I'll set the police to
work. Will you promise me to wait here quietly?"
"No, that I can't do. I want to move about; I must do something. Let
me go with you to look for him."
"No, no; that'll never do, Ida."
The power of speaking tenderly seemed to have been given to him all
at once; this and his calling her "Ida," struck so upon the girl's
agitated feelings that she began to sob.
"Let me, let me go with you! I will forget everything--I will be
your child--I will try to love you.--"
She was as weak as water, and would have sunk to the ground if
Abraham had not given her his support just in time.
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