you mind it."

"Indeed, but I do," said Matilda. "I don't like to sit up-stairs
darning stockings."

"And reading. And I don't know what."

"The reading is worse," said Matilda, sighing. "It is something I do
not understand."

"What does she make you do it for?"

"I don't know," said Matilda, with another sigh. "But I want to do
something else dreadfully, all the time."

The darning was very tedious indeed the morning after this talk.
Matilda had got her head full of schemes and plans that looked
pleasant; and she was eager to turn her visions into reality. It was
stupid to sit in her aunt's room, taking up threads on her long needle
exactly and patiently, row after row. It had to be done exactly, or
Mrs. Candy would have made her pick it all out again.

"Yes, that is very well; that is neat," said Mrs. Candy, when Matilda
brought her the stocking she had been at work on, with the heel
smoothly run. "That will do. Now you may begin upon another one. There
they are, in that basket."

"But, Aunt Candy," said Matilda, in dismay, "don't you think I have
learned now how to do it?"

"Yes, pretty well."

"Then, need I do any more?"

"A little further practice will not hurt you. Practice makes perfect,
you know."

"But do you mean that I must darn all those stockings."

"Aren't they yours?"

"Yes, ma'am; I believe they are."

"Who should darn them, then?"

Matilda very sorrowfully remembered the hand which did darn them once
and thought it no hardship. Her hand went swiftly up to her eyes before
she spoke again.

"I think it is right I should do them, and I will. May I take them away
and do them in my own room?"

"You may do exactly what I tell you, my dear."

"Does it make any difference, Aunt Candy?"

"That is something you need not consider. All you have to do is to obey
orders. The more promptly and quietly, the easier for you, Matilda."

Matilda coloured, bridled, kept down the wish to cry, and began upon
the second heel of her stockings. She was tired of that long needle and
its long needleful of double thread.

"Matilda," said her aunt, "put down your stocking and look at me."

Which Matilda did, much surprised.

"When you wish to answer any thing I say, I prefer always that you
should answer me in words."

"Ma'am?" said Matilda.

"You heard me."

"But I did not understand you."

"Again!" said Clarissa.

"I do not like to be answered by gestures. Do you understand that?"

"No,