burst into quiet tears again. "What troubles you?"

"_That_, Mr. Richmond. I'm afraid I am not good, for I am not like
that; and I don't see how I can be."

"What is the hindrance? or the difficulty?"

"Because, Mr. Richmond, I am afraid I hate my Aunt Candy."

Mr. Richmond was quite silent, and Matilda sobbed awhile.

"Do I understand you aright?" he said, at last. "Do you say that you
hate your aunt?"

"I am afraid I do."

"Why should you hate her? Is she not very kind to you?"

"I do not call her kind," said Matilda.

"In what respect is she not kind?"

The child sobbed again, with the unspoken difficulty; stifled sobs.

"She is not cruel to you?" said Mr. Richmond.

"I think she is cruel," said Matilda; "for she does not in the least
care about doing things that I do not like; she does not care at all
whether I like them or not. I think she likes it."

"What?"

"Just to do things that I can't bear, Mr. Richmond; and she knows I
can't bear them."

"What is her reason for doing these things?"

"I think the greatest reason is because she knows I can't bear them. I
think I am growing wicked."

"Is it because you displease her in any way, that she does it for a
punishment?"

"I do not displease her in any way," said poor Matilda.

"And yet she likes to grieve you?"

"She said I wanted putting down. And now, I suppose I am put down. I am
just in prison. I can't do anything. I can't go to Mrs. Laval's house
any more. I must not go to Lilac Lane any more. She won't let me. And O
Mr. Richmond, we were going to do such nice things!"

"Who were going to do such nice things?"

"Norton Laval and I."

"What things were they?"

"We were going to do _such_ nice things! Mrs. Laval gave me money for
them, and Norton, he has money always; and we were going to have Mrs.
Eldridge's house cleaned, and get a bedstead, and towels, and a table,
and ever so many things for her, to make her comfortable; and I thought
it would be so pleasant to get the things and take them to her. And
aunt Candy says I am not to go again."

"Did you tell your aunt what you were going to do?"

"Oh no, sir; she thinks I have no business with such things; and she
does not like anybody to go into very poor houses."

"Then you did not ask her leave?"

"It never is any use to ask her anything. She won't let me go out to
church now, except in the morning, and then sometimes she makes me go
with her."

Mr. Richmond was silent fo