d you have with it?"

"We had oysters," said Matilda unwillingly, "and baked potatoes, and
rice, and bananas and oranges."

"There!" exclaimed Letitia. "That's what I call a dinner. What do you
suppose Anne and I had?"

"Hush, Letty," said Anne. "Whatever we had, it was our own. We were
beholden to nobody for it."

"Have you seen Maria since I have?" Matilda asked, trying to make a
diversion.

"No. How should we see Maria? We cannot go jaunting about. We have our
work to do."

"But it is nice work. I should think you would be very glad to have
it," Matilda ventured.

"Yes, we are, of course," said Anne expressively. "People must live.
How much did your watch cost?"

Very unwillingly Matilda named the sum, which Norton had told her. The
two sisters looked at each other and rose to depart.

"But you are not going?" cried Matilda. "You haven't said anything to
me yet. And I have not seen you for ever so long."

"We could not say anything that would be interesting to you," Anne
answered. "And we have to keep at our work, you know. We are busy."

"So am I busy," said Matilda; "very; with my lessons and my other
things I have to do."

"And parties," added Letitia, "and poor people. How were you dressed at
the party, Matilda?"

"Yes, let us see your dress," said Anne sitting down again.

They scanned and measured and examined the dress, stuff and work, with
business as well as with curious eyes; Matilda saw they were taking
hints from it. That led to the display of her whole wardrobe. It was
not agreeable to Matilda; she had a certain feeling that it was not
improving her sisters' peculiar mood of feeling towards her; however,
it seemed to be the one way in which she could afford them any the
least pleasure. So silks and poplins and muslins, all her things, were
brought out and turned over; the fashion and the work minutely examined
and commented on; the price detailed where Matilda happened to know it.

"Well, I have got something from that," said Anne, when at last the
show was done.

"Yes," echoed Letitia; "I never could make out before, just how that
sort of trimming was managed. Now I have got it."

They pulled up their cloaks again and tied their scarfs. Matilda looked
on sorrowfully.

"I suppose it's no use to ask you to come and see us," said Letty.

"I can't come often," Matilda answered, "because, you know, I cannot
walk there; and I cannot have the carriage except now and then."

"How do y