er part
is."

"Very well," said Mrs. Candy. "She might do worse."

"I suppose you think I can't think," said poor Maria.

"No, my dear; I only think you have not begun yet to use your power in
that direction. When you do, you will see things differently."

"It would take a good deal of thinking, to make me see that giving up
the world and going into it were the same thing," said Maria. "And I
don't mean to promise to do it till I'm ready."

"Mamma, this is not very pleasant," said Clarissa.

"No, my dear. We will leave the field to Maria. Come to me at ten
o'clock, Matilda."

The two ladies filed off up-stairs, and Maria sat down to cry. Matilda
began to clear the table, going softly back and forth between the
basement and the kitchen as if there were trouble in the house. Maria
sobbed.

"Ain't they mean?" she exclaimed, starting up at length. Matilda was
busy going in and out, and said nothing.

"Matilda! Why don't you speak? I say, ain't they mean?"

"There's no use in talking so, Maria," said her little sister, looking
sorrowful.

"Yes, there is. People ought to hear the truth."

"But if you know what is right, why don't you _do_ it, Maria?"

"I do--as well as I can."

"But, Maria!--I mean, about what you were saying; giving up whatever is
not right."

"Things are right for other people, that are not right for members of
the Church. That's why I want to wait awhile. I am not ready."

"But, Maria, what makes them right for other people?"

"They have not promised anything about them. Clarissa has _promised_,
and she don't do."

"You have not promised."

"No, of course I haven't."

"But if they are right things, Maria, why _should_ you, or anybody,
promise not to have anything to do with them?"

"Oh, you are too wise, Matilda!" her sister answered impatiently.
"There is no need for you to go to read with Aunt Candy; you know
everything already."

The rest of the morning was very silent between the sisters, till it
came to the time for Matilda to present herself in her aunt's room.
There meanwhile a consultation had been held.

"Mamma, that girl is getting unendurable."

"Must wait a little while, my dear."

"What will you do with her then?"

"Something. I can send her to school, at any rate."

"But the expense, mamma?"

"It is not much, at the district school. That is where she has been
going."

"Matilda too?"

"I suppose that will be the best place. I am not sure about sending