The time is short I know, but the
reasons against postponement are strong, and if you love him I cannot
see why you should hesitate. Perhaps you are not quite sure that you do
love him. A girl ought to be sure of that."
"Oh, I am quite sure of that! I love him with all my heart," exclaimed
Ida, and began to cry.
Miss Ludington sat down beside her, and, drawing the girl's head to her
shoulder, tried to soothe her; but her gentleness only made Ida sob more
vehemently.
Presently the elder lady said, "You are nervous, my little sister, don't
cry, now. We won't talk about it any more. I did not intend to say a word
to urge you against your wishes, but only to find out what they were. You
shall wait as long as you please before marrying him, and he shall not
tease you. Meanwhile I will see to it that, if I should die, you will be
left secure and well provided for, even if you never marry any one."
"What do you mean?" asked Ida, raising her head and manifesting a sudden
interest.
"I will adopt you as my daughter," said Miss Ludington, cheerily. "Won't
it be odd, pretending that you are my daughter, and that instead of
coming into the world before me you came in after me? But it is the only
way by which I can give you a legal title to the name of Ida Ludington,
although it is yours already by a claim prior to mine.
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