he said--"My dear Ellen, be satisfied; you are a little
girl, and have not half your brother's allowance, you know--it is
sufficient."

While this was passing, Matilda had been fumbling in her pocket, and
blushing excessively; her mind was full of painful recollections, yet
fraught with gleams of satisfaction; but she wished very much to do two
very contrary things, and whilst she still hesitated, Miss Campbell
said--"Here is another sixpence, ma'am, which I will take, and give you an
eighteen-pence, as I wish to give you a shilling, with Edmund's proviso."

"But," said Matilda, with a mixture of eagerness and hesitation, "then
there will be no change for me, and I wish to give the same as Ellen; don't
I want change, ma'am? I--I believe I do."

There was, in this confusion, and the blush which deepened in her cheek, a
something which showed Mrs. Harewood a great deal of what was passing in
the mind of this self-convicted, but compassionate and ingenuous girl. Mrs.
Harewood took her shilling, and returned her sixpence, which she evidently
received with pain, but an effort to smile, as Ellen had done, in return
for the smile of her mamma.

After a short pause, Mrs. Harewood said--"Well, Matilda, your delicacy is
now satisfied--you have not affected any display of humanity, or
ostentatious exhibition of wealth, in order to humble your young friends;
but I perceive your heart is not satisfied; that heart is really interested
in these babes, and, conscious that it is in your power to do more, you are
mortified at stopping short of your own wishes and their wants."

"Oh dear, ma'am," replied Matilda, "you have read all the thoughts of my
heart, (at least all but one,) and if you think it right, and Ellen will
not think me proud, I will indeed be very glad if you will accept a crown
for my subscription."

"I shall receive it with pleasure; and I can venture to assure you, that my
children will neither feel envy, anger, nor any other emotion, except joy,
at seeing the little objects of their care benefited, and you happy; for
they have been taught only to value such actions, according to the motive
in one party, and their usefulness to the other: but, Matilda, if it is not
a very great secret, I should be glad to know what that _one_ other thought
in your heart was, which I did not guess, upon this occasion?"

Matilda did not find this question so easy of reply as Mrs. Harewood had
expected it to be; she blushed and hung