feelings did not at all take them out of her heart. She _did_
want to be fashionable; she was very glad to be as handsomely dressed
as Judith; her heart was very much set on her silks and trimmings, in a
way that conscience whispered was simply selfish and proud. Were these
things going to change Matilda at once and make her a different child
from the one that had been baptized in a black dress at Shadywalk, and
only cared then for the "white robes" that are the spirit's adornings?

Matilda was determined that should not be. She prayed a great deal
about it; and at last went to bed, comforting herself with the
assurance that the Lord would certainly help a child that trusted him,
to be all that he had bidden her be.

The subject started itself anew the next morning; for there on her
dressing-table lay her pocket book with the five dollars Mrs. Laval had
given her last evening. There were two dollars also that were left from
November's five dollars; that made seven, to go shopping for boots. "I
should think I could do with that," Matilda thought to herself.

She asked Norton to go with her to Laddler's shoe store.

"Well," said Norton; "but we must go to the Park to-day."

"And Madame Fournissons wants to see you this afternoon," said Mrs.
Laval. "I think the Park must wait, Norton."

"But I have only to-day and to-morrow, mamma. School begins Monday."

"To-morrow will do for the Park," said Mrs. Laval. "And you will have
other Saturdays, Norton."

Matilda went upstairs to get ready, thinking that she was beginning to
find out what sort of "opportunities" were likely to be given her in
her new home. She was going to have opportunity for self-conquest, for
self-denial, harder than she had ever known hitherto; opportunity to
follow the straight path where it was not always easy to see it, and
where it could only be found by keeping the face steadily in the right
direction. In the midst of these thoughts, however, she dressed herself
with great glee; put her purse in her pocket; and set out with Norton,
remembering that in this matter of buying her boots her motto must come
in play.

As it was rather early in the morning, the shoe store of Mr. Laddler
was nearly empty, and Matilda had immediate attention. Matilda told
what she wanted; the shopman glanced an experienced eye over her little
figure, from her hat to the ground; gave her a seat, and proceeded to
fit her. The very first pair of boots "went on like a glov