plague her. And go get yourself ready to go to the table, my boy; the
time for luncheon is very near."

"I can't help Judy's plaguing her," said Norton as he turned to go.
"David won't do anything. But won't he hate her, from now!"

CHAPTER IX.

Norton ran off upstairs. His mother waited till he was safe in his room
and then followed him. But she stopped at Matilda's door and softly
went in. Matilda's hat was off; that was all; and on her knees beside a
chair the little girl was, with bowed head, and sobbing. Mrs. Laval's
arms came round her, gently drew her up and enfolded her. "What is all
this?" she whispered.

Matilda's face was hid.

"What's the matter, my darling?" Mrs. Laval repeated. "Norton has told
me all about it--there is nothing for you to cry about."

"Is he angry with me?" Matilda whispered.

"Angry with you! No, indeed. Norton could not be that. And there is
nothing else you need mind."

"I am very sorry!" said poor Matilda. "I hurt all their pleasure this
morning, and they thought I was--very disagreeable, I believe."

"Nobody ever thought that yet," said Mrs. Laval laughing a little; "and
no harm is done. It was nonsense for them to get you into that business
at all. It is all very well for them to give their grandmother a
present; but for you it is quite needless; it is her place to give to
you, and not yours to give to her; the cases are different. Norton
forgot that."

"Then she will not think it strange that I am not in it?" said Matilda
lifting up her face at last.

"Not at all. It would be more strange if you were in it."

"Norton proposed it."

"Yes, I know; but Norton is not infallible. He has made a mistake this
time."

"But I offended them, mamma," said Matilda.

"They will get over it. Now dry your eyes and take your coat off, and
we will go down to luncheon."

They went down together, and Mrs. Laval took care that no annoyance
came to Matilda during the meal. So after luncheon she was all ready to
take a new start with Norton for Tiffany's.

"You see, Pink," said Norton as they were riding down, "all you have to
do is to let people go their own way, and you go your's. That's all.
That's the way so many carts get through the streets. It isn't
necessary to knock up against every one you come to; and people don't
like it."

"I was only going my own way, Norton," Matilda said gently; "but I had
to give the reason for it; and that was what you all didn't like."