ed the description interested mightily. "But how could I help? I
don't see."

"O not in that you couldn't, of course; Davy and Norton don't want any
help, I guess, from anybody; they know all about it. But I want you to
help _me_. I wonder if you can. I don't believe you can, either. I
shall have to get somebody else."

"What do you want me to do?" said Matilda, feeling socially very small
indeed.

"I am going to play 'Riches bring care.' I am a rich old woman, like
grandmamma, only not like her, for she is never worried about anything;
but I am worried to death for fear this or that will come to harm. And
I want you to be my maid. I must have somebody, you know, to talk to
and worry with."

"If that is all," said Matilda, "I should think I could be talked to."

"But it _isn't_ all, stupid!" said Judy. "You must know how to answer
back, and try to make me believe things are going right, and so worry
me more and more."

"Suppose we try," said Matilda. "I don't know how I could do, but maybe
I might learn."

"I'd rather have it all in the house," said Judy, "if I can. Two
proverbs will be enough; for they take a good while--dressing and all,
you know."

"Dressing for the proverbs?"

"Of course! Dressing, indeed! Do I look like an old woman _without_
dressing? Not just yet. We must be dressed up to the work. But we can
practise without being dressed. When the boys come home to-night, we'll
come up here to the lobby and practise. But I don't believe you'll do."

"Will it be a large party, Judy?"

"Hm--I don't know. I guess not. Grandmamma doesn't like large parties.
I dare say she won't have more than fifty."

Fifty seemed a very large party to Matilda; but she would not expose
her ignorance, and so held her peace. Judy pottered about the room for
a while longer, looking at everything in it, and out of it, Matilda
thought; for she lounged at the windows with her arms on the sill,
gazing up and down at all that was going on in the street. Finally said
they would try a practice in the evening, and she departed.

CHAPTER XI.

The acted proverbs that night went pretty well; so the boys said; and
Matilda went to bed feeling that life was very delightful where such
rare diversions were to be had, and such fine accomplishments acquired.
The next time, Judy said, they would dress for the acting; that needed
practising too.

The day following, when she got up, Matilda was astonished to find the
air thick