as weighing
the fish.

"Tea?" said Mrs. Candy. "You sent me no tea."

"Why, yes I did, last week; it was Monday or Tuesday, I think. You
wanted to try another kind, I understood."

"I wanted nothing of the sort. I have plenty of tea on hand, and am
perfectly suited with it. You have made some mistake."

"I am glad you are suited," Mr. Sample rejoined; "but I have made no
mistake. This little girl came for it, and I weighed it out myself and
gave it to her. And a loaf of bread at the same time."

"It was not for you, Aunt Candy; it was for myself," said Matilda. "I
paid for it, Mr. Sample; it was not charged."

"You did not pay me, Miss Matilda."

"No, Mr. Sample; I paid Patrick."

"What did you buy tea and bread for?" her aunt inquired.

"I wanted it," Matilda answered.

"What for?"

"I wanted it to give away," Matilda said, in a low voice, being obliged
to speak.

Mrs. Candy waited till they were out of the shop, and then desired to
know particulars. For whom Matilda wanted it; where she took it; when
she went; who went with her.

"Is it a clean place?" was her inquiry at last. Matilda was obliged to
confess it was not.

"Don't go there again without my knowledge, Matilda. Do you hear?"

"I hear. But Aunt Candy," said Matilda, in great dismay, "it doesn't
hurt me."

"No; I mean it shall not. Have you always gone wandering just where you
liked?"

"Yes, always. Shadywalk is a perfectly safe place."

"For common children, perhaps. Not for you. Do not go near Lilac Lane
again. It is a mercy you have escaped safe as it is."

Escaped from what, Matilda wondered. Even a little soil to her clothes
might be washed off, and she did not think she had got so much harm as
that. If she could only meet Norton now, before reaching home; there
would never be another chance. Matilda longed to see him, with an
intensity which seemed almost as if it must bring him before her; but
it did not. In vain she watched every corner and every group of boys or
cluster of people they passed; Norton's trim figure was not to be seen;
and the house door shut upon Matilda in her despair. She went up to her
room, and kneeling down, laid her head on the table.

"It's almost tea-time," said Maria. "What is the matter now?"

But Matilda was not crying; she was in despair.

"Come!" said Maria. "Come, what ails you? Tired?--It is time to get
tea, Matilda, and I want your help. What _is_ the matter now?"

Matilda lifted a perfect