, Norton. I wish I could. Not this time."

"Where are you going?"

"Up that way."

"Nobody lives up that way."

"Nobody? Just look at the houses."

"Nobody lives in those houses," said Norton.

"Oh, very well; then I am going to see nobody."

"No, Matilda; you are coming to see mamma. And I have something to show
you; a new beautiful game, which mamma has got for me; we are going to
play it on the lawn, when the grass is in order, by and by; and I want
you to come and see it now, and learn how to play. Come, Matilda, I
want to show it to you."

Matilda hesitated. It did not seem very easy to get rid of Norton; but
what would become of the poor people in Lilac Lane? Would another time
do for them? Here was Norton waiting for her; and a little play would
be so pleasant. As she stood irresolute, Norton, putting his arm round
her affectionately, and applying a little good-humoured force, gave her
shoulders without much difficulty the turn he wished them to take. The
two began to move down the street towards Norton's home. But as soon as
this was done, Matilda began to have qualms about her dress. Norton was
in a brown suit that fitted him, fresh and handsome; his cap sat
jauntily on his thick, wavy hair; he was nice from head to foot. And
Matilda had come out in the home dress she had worn while she and Maria
had been washing up the dinner dittoes. Looking down she could see a
little wet spot on the skirt now. That would dry. But then her boots
were her everyday boots, and they were a little rusty; and she had on
her common school hat. The only thing new and bright about her was her
Bible under her arm. As her eye fell upon it, so did her companion's
eye.

"What book have you got there?" he asked, and then put out his hand to
take it. "A Bible! Where were you going with this, Matilda?"

"It is my Bible," said the little girl.

"Yes; but you do not take your Bible out to walk with you, do you, as
babies do their dolls?"

"Of course not."

"Then what for, Matilda?"

"Business."

"What sort of business?"

"Why do you want to know, Norton? It was private business."

"I like that," said Norton. "Why do I want to know? Because you are
Matilda Englefield, and I like to know all about you."

"You do not know much yet," said Matilda, looking with a pleased look,
however, up into her companion's face. It was smiling at her, with a
complacent look to match.

"I shan't know _much_ when I know all," he said. "H