“Yes,” said Mr. Selden, laying down his pen, and regarding her with interest. “Are you she?”
“Yes, your honor,” said granny, thinking her extra politeness might increase the advantage promised.
“What made you leave her?” asked the lawyer, fixing his eyes searchingly upon Margaret.
“I got tired of staying there,” she said.
“When you left Philadelphia, did you come to New York?”
“Did you know that Mrs. Lindsay’s only child disappeared at the time you left the house?” inquired the lawyer.
“If I tell the truth will it harm me?” asked granny, uneasily.
“No; but if you conceal the truth it may.”
“What motive had you for doing this wicked thing? Do you know that Mrs. Lindsay nearly broke her heart at the loss of the child?”
“I was mad with her,” said granny, “that’s one reason.”
“Young Mr. Lindsay hired me to do it. He offered me a thousand dollars.”
“Yes,” said granny. “I hope you’ll pay me handsome for tellin’,” she added. “I’m a poor—woman,” she was on the point of saying “widder with five small children;” but it occurred to her that this would injure her in the present instance.
“You shall receive a suitable reward when the child is restored. It is living, I suppose?”
“No, your honor. She ran away two months ago; but I saw her this morning.”
“Why should she run away? Didn’t you treat her well?”
“Like as if she was my own child,” said granny. “I’ve often and often gone without anything to eat, so that Tom might have enough. I took great care of her, your honor, and would have brought her up as a leddy if I hadn’t been so poor.”
“’Cause she was more like a boy than a gal,—as sassy a child as I ever see.”
“Yes, your honor. She ran away from me two months since.”
“But you said you saw her yesterday. Why did you not take her back?”
“She wouldn’t come. She told the policeman she didn’t know me,—me that have took care of her since she was a little gal,—the ungrateful hussy!”
Granny’s pathos, it will be perceived, terminated in anger.
“The child must be got back,” he said. “It is only recently that her mother ascertained the treachery by which she was taken from her, and now she is most anxious to recover her. If you will bring her to me, you shall have a suitable reward.”
“How much?” asked granny, with a cunning look.