will all want. Your nineteen dollars will
soon be gone at that rate."

"Mutton-chops!" echoed Matilda. "Norton, they do not see anything so
good as mutton-chops."

"They ought to," said Norton. "They have as much right as other folks."

"But they _can't_, Norton."

"Yes, they can, Pink. We'll take 'em some for once. They shall know how
mutton tastes."

"O Norton!" said Matilda in a low voice of delight, "how good that
would be!"

"But what I _say_," continued the boy, with emphasis,--"you cannot go
on doing this. Your money will not last."

"I can do what I can," said Matilda, softly.

"But what's the use, Pink? All you can do will just touch one old
woman, perhaps, a few times; and then Lilac Lane will not be any better
off than it was. And anyhow, you only touch one. What's the use?"

"Why--the use of that one."

"Yes, but it don't really make any difference to speak of, when you
think of all the people that you cannot help. The world won't be any
better; don't you see?"

"If I was the one to be helped, I should think it made a great deal of
difference, Norton."

Norton could not dispute that view of the case, though he whistled over
it.

"Pink, will you come and play croquet to-morrow?"

"To-morrow? I will see if I can," said Matilda, with a brightening face.

"What's to hinder you?"

"I don't know that anything. If Aunt Candy will let me."

"Does _she_ hinder you?"

"Sometimes," Matilda said, hesitating.

"What for?"

"I do not know. That puzzles me, Norton."

"_How_ does she hinder you?" said the boy, stopping short with a scowl
upon his brow.

"She won't let me go out, sometimes; I don't know why. Then besides, I
have to spend a good deal of time reading to her, and darning
stockings; and I have a great many other things to do, Norton."

"Well, come to-morrow, Pink; or I shall come after you. Hulloa! see
that squirrel"----

And Norton set off on such a race and chase after the squirrel, that
Matilda stopped to look on in sheer admiration. The race was not
fruitful of anything, however, but admiration, and the rest of the way
they hurried home.

It was a trembling question with Matilda, could she go to play croquet
the next day? She could not go in her work dress; and she feared to
change her dress and so draw attention, lest her aunt should put a stop
to her going out at all. She debated the matter a good deal, and
finally concluded to make an open affair of it and ask leave.