down her head; but, on perceiving
that Mrs. Harewood was going to release her from all necessity of reply,
she struggled to conquer what she deemed a weakness in herself, and
answered thus--"Why, my dear madam, I was thinking what a little proud,
stubborn, ill-behaved girl I was, at the time when these twins were born,
and we first made a subscription for this poor woman; I remembered, too,
how miserable I was, and altogether how much I had to lament, and I felt
as if I could like to do something, to prove how thankful I am to God for
bringing me into a family like yours, where every day of my life I may
learn something good, and where I have been a great deal more happy than
ever I was before, even in the house with my own parents."

Matilda stopped a moment, as if she thought her confession had perhaps
infringed on her duty; but recollecting that all her past sorrow had been
laid to the proper account, which was her own bad temper and pride, she
again proceeded in it.

"When I thought on these things, I came close up to you; but my heart beat
so quick, I could not speak, or else I had a guinea in my hand, the last
my dear mamma gave me, and I wished very much to give you _that_; but then
the memory of my foolish pride, the last time, came again into my mind--I
became ashamed, and determined in all things to be guided by Ellen, who is
almost a year older than I, and a great deal better."

"No, no--not _better_," said Ellen, warmly; and even her brothers, who
loved her very dearly, struck with the same admiration of Matilda's
frankness and generosity, exclaimed--"You are as good as Ellen _now_,
Matilda--indeed you are!"

Mrs. Harewood, tenderly kissing her, assured her of her approbation,
saying--"All you have said, my dear, tends decidedly to prove that your
mind is indeed properly impressed with your duty both towards God and man,
and that you have the most sincere desire to conquer those faults which you
have already greatly amended; therefore I am determined to permit you to
exercise your benevolence, in the most extensive manner that your heart
could wish, knowing, as I do, that your fortune is fully equal to any act
of charity, and that your good mamma will not fail to approve of it."

"Thank you, thank you, dear Mrs. Harewood! oh, you are my English mother,
and I love you much more than any other person in the world, except my
Barbadoes mamma."

The children eagerly crowded round their mother's chair, to hea