nce? In what?"

"You know how _He_ lived," said Matilda. "He helped people, and He
taught people, and He cured people; He was always doing good to people,
and trying to make them good. Especially poor, miserable people, that
nobody cared for."

"Trying to make them good!" said Mrs. Candy. "As if His omnipotence
could not have made them good in a minute."

"Then why didn't He?" said Matilda, simply. "It _sounds_ as if He was
trying to make them good."

"Well, child--it's no use talking; I wish I had had the training of you
earlier," said Mrs. Candy. "You are so prepossessed with ideas that
border on fanaticism, that it is a hard matter to get you into right
habits of thinking. Come here and take your darning."

So Matilda did. The darning was not wearisome at all to-day, so busy
her thoughts were with the question of Mrs. Eldridge; how much or how
little Matilda ought to do for her, how much she _could_, and what were
the best arrangements to be set on foot. So intent she was on these
questions, that the darning was done with the greatest patience, and
therefore with the greatest success. Mrs. Candy and her daughter even
looked at each other and smiled over the demure, thoughtful little face
of the workwoman; and Matilda got praise for her work.

She had made up her mind meanwhile that "she hath done what she
could"--should be her rule to go by. So as the after noon was fair, and
Mrs. Candy and her daughter both gone to make a visit at some miles'
distance, Matilda sallied forth.

"Did she give you leave?" Maria asked, as she saw her sister getting
ready.

"No."

"She wants you to ask leave always."

"I never used to do that," said Matilda. Her voice choked before she
could finish her sentence.

"You will get into trouble."

"One trouble is better than another, though," said Matilda; and she
went.

She went first to Mr. Sample's, and asked how much a pound of tea cost.

"The last I sent your aunt," said Mr. Sample, "was one fifty a pound;
and worth it. Don't she approve the flavour?"

"I believe so. But I want a little of another kind, Mr. Sample--if you
have any that is good, and not so high."

"I have an excellent Oolong here for a dollar. Will you try that?"

"Please give me a quarter of a pound."

"She will like it," said Mr. Sample, weighing the quantity and putting
it up; "it really has as much body as the other sort, and I think it is
very nearly as good. The other is fifty cents a pound mo