Pink?"

"I don't know. I didn't know anything about it. O Norton, are we going
to your house!"

"If Tom knows the road," said Norton, coolly; "and I rather think the
ponies do, if he don't. Why, Pink! do you mean to tell me you didn't
know you were coming to us?"

"I didn't know a word about it."

"Nor how mamma went to ask for you?"

"Aunt Candy didn't tell me."

"Did she tell you you were going anywhere?"

"Yes. She made me pack up my clothes, but that's all."

"Didn't you ask her?"

Matilda shook her head. "I never do ask Aunt Candy anything."

"Why?" said Norton, curiously.

"I don't like to--and she don't like to have me."

"She must be a nice woman to live with," said Norton. "You'll miss her
badly, I should say. Aren't you sorry, Pink?" he asked, suddenly,
taking Matilda's chin in his hand to watch the answer she would give.
The answer, all smiling and blushing, contented Norton; and the next
instant the gray ponies swept in at the iron gate and brought them
before the house door.

Matilda jumped out of the carriage with a feeling of being in an
impossible dream. But her boot felt the rough gravel of the roadway;
the sun was shining still and warm on the lawn and the trees; the
mid-country, rich-coloured with hues of autumn, lay glittering in
light; the blue hills were over against her sleeping in haze; the gray
ponies were trotting off round the sweep, and had left her and Norton
standing before the house. It was all real and not a dream; and she
turned to Norton who was watching her, with another smile so warm and
glad, that the boy's face grew bright to see it. And then there was
Mrs. Laval, coming out on the verandah.

"My dear child!" she exclaimed, folding Matilda in her arms. "My dear
child! I have had hard work to get you; but here you are."

"Mamma, she did not know she was coming," said Norton, "till I came for
her."

"Not know it?" said Mrs. Laval, holding her back to look at her. "Why,
child, you have grown thin!"

"It's the hot weather, Aunt Candy says."

"And pale!" said Mrs. Laval. "Yes, you have; pale and thin. Have you
been ill?"

"No, ma'am," said Matilda; but her eyes were watering now in very
gladness and tenderness.

"Not ill?" said the lady. "And yet you are changed,--I do not know how;
it isn't all thinness, or paleness. What is the matter with you, dear?"

"Nothing--only I am so glad," Matilda managed to say, as Mrs. Laval's
arms again came round her. The eyes