with unbent brows and
pleasant and pleased countenances. But the elder woman had a good deal
to say; and Norton looked rather thoughtful as he came out.

"What is it all, Norton?" Matilda asked. "Is all right?"

"Well, not exactly," said Norton. "Those two men are ill."

"Hasn't the doctor come yet?"

"Yes, and he says they want a few days of rest; but _I_ say they are
ill."

"But the doctor must know?"

"Perhaps," said Norton. "Perhaps he don't."

The people under the bank were forgotten soon, in the warm luxury of
the drawing-room and the bright tea-table, and the comfort of sugared
peaches. And then Matilda and Norton played chess all the evening,
talking to Mrs. Laval at intervals. The tulip bed and the hyacinth bed
were proposed, and approved; a trip to Poughkeepsie was arranged, to
see Maria; and Norton told of Miss Redwood's doings in Lilac Lane. Mrs.
Laval was much amused.

"And you two children have done that!" she said.

"You gave me the money for it, ma'am," said Matilda.

"It was yours after I had given it," said the lady. "I wonder how much
good _really_ now, all that will amount to? or whether it is just a
flash in the pan? That is the question that always comes to me."

Matilda looked up from the chess men, wondering what she could mean.

"It is a real good to have the house cleaned; you would never doubt
that, mamma, if you had seen it," Norton remarked.

"And it is a real good that the poor woman is ready to have Mr.
Richmond come to see her now," said Matilda.

"Mr. Richmond," repeated Mrs. Laval. "That's your minister. You think a
great deal of Mr. Richmond, don't you, Matilda?"

"Everybody does," said Matilda. Mrs. Laval smiled.

"I don't know him, you know. But about your doings in the lane--there
is no end to that sort of work. You might keep on for ever, and be no
nearer the end. That is what always discourages me. There are always
new old women to comfort, and fresh poor people to help. There is no
end."

"But then," said Matilda. She began timidly, and stopped.

"What then?" said Mrs. Laval, smiling.

"Yes, just hear Pink, mamma," said Norton.

"What then, Matilda?" said Mrs. Laval, still looking at her as at
something pleasant to the eyes.

"I was going to say," Matilda began again, with a blush, "isn't it
meant that we _should_ 'keep on for ever'?"

"Doing good to the poor? But then one would soon have nothing to do
good with. One must stop somewhere."

Clearly,