glefield's daughter--I guess we'll find you what will do you--how 'll
this suit, if I split it up for you, eh?"

He handled an old box cover as he spoke.

Matilda answered that it was the very thing; and a few easy blows of
Mr. Swain's hatchet broke it up into nice billets and splinters. Part
of these went into Matilda's basket, one end of them at least; the rest
she took with great difficulty in her apron; and so went back up the
lane again.

It was good to see the glint of the old woman's eyes, when she saw the
wood flung down on the floor. Matilda went on to clear out the stove.
It had bits of coal and clinker in the bottom of it. But she had
furnished herself with a pair of old gloves, and her spirit was
thoroughly up to the work now. She picked out the coal and rubbish,
laid in paper and splinters and wood; now how to kindle it? Matilda had
no match. And she remembered suddenly that she had better have her
kettle ready first, lest the fire should burn out before its work was
done. So saying to Mrs. Eldridge that she was going after a match, she
went forth again. Where to ask? One house looked as forbidding as
another. Finally concluded to try the first.

She knocked timidly and went in. A slatternly woman was giving supper
to a half dozen children who were making a great deal of noise over it.
The hurly-burly confused Matilda, and confused the poor woman too.

"What do you want?" she asked shortly.

"I came to see if you could lend me a tea-kettle for half an hour."

"What do you want of my tea-kettle?"

"I want only to boil some water."

"Hush your noise, Sam Darcy!" said the woman to an urchin some ten
years old who was clamouring for the potatoes--"Who for?"

"To boil some water for Mrs. Eldridge."

"You don't live here?"

"No."

"Well, my tea-kettle's in use, you see. The cheapest way 'd be for Mrs.
Eldridge to get a tea-kettle for herself. Sam Darcy! if you lay a
finger on them 'taters till I give 'em to you----"

Matilda closed the door and went over the way. Here she found a
somewhat tidy woman at work ironing. Nobody else in the room. She made
known her errand. The woman looked at her doubtfully.

"If I let you take my kettle, I don't know when I'll see it agin. Mis'
Eldridge don't have the use of herself so 's she kin come over the
street to bring it back, ye see."

"I will bring it back myself," said Matilda. "I only want it for a
little while."

"Is Mis' Eldridge sick?"

"No. I on