. Suppose everybody did _all he could_, David? Suppose
every one did all he could?"

"As you are doing. But then where should we stop?"

"I wouldn't stop, till everybody that wasn't wicked was comfortable."

"No, no. I mean, where would you stop in your own giving or spending?"

"I don't know," said Matilda, looking down on the ground and thinking
very hard as she walked. "I'll tell you, David. I think the money ought
to go to whoever wants it most!"

"Who is to settle that?" said David laughing.

They had got into deep waters of Christian ethics; and it was no wonder
if even the theory of navigation was difficult. It served them for
matter of busy discussion till they arrived at home. Norton and Judy
were just consulting over some greenhouse plants in the hall. It gave
Matilda no pang. She passed them, with her own little heart so full of
pleasure that seemed far richer and sweeter, that she thought there was
no comparison.

The pleasure lasted; for in a day or two there came a great package for
Matilda which turned out to be the sheeting and muslin Mr. Wharncliffe
had promised to get for her. Matilda had to explain what all this
coarse stuff meant, coming to Mrs. Lloyd's elegant mansion; and Mrs.
Laval then, amused enough, let her maid cut out the sheets and
pillowcases which Matilda desired to make; and for days thereafter
Matilda's room looked like a workshop. She was delightfully busy. Her
lessons took a good deal of time and were eagerly attended to; and
then, at any hour of the day when she was free, Matilda might have been
found sitting on a low seat and stitching away at one end of a mass of
coarse unbleached cloth which lay on the floor. Mrs. Laval looked in at
her and laughed at her; sometimes came and sat there with her. Matilda
was in great state; with her workbox by her side, and her watch in her
bosom warning her when it was time to leave off work and get ready to
go downstairs.

She was busy as usual one afternoon, when she was summoned down to see
company; and found with a strange delight that it was her two sisters.
Mrs. Laval had received them very kindly and now gave Matilda
permission to take them up to her room, where, as she said, they could
have a good talk and no interruption. So upstairs they all three went;
Matilda had hardly spoken to them till they were in her room and the
door shut. Then at first they sat down and used their eyes.

"What in the world are you doing?" said Anne. "Do