looking at it and not thinking of it.

"You do not mean to do that, do you?" she said at last.

"Yes, ma'am--sometime," Matilda answered.

"Not now?"

"When I get a little rested."

"You want something," said Mrs. Candy, looking at her; "and I know what
it is. You want bringing down. You never were brought down in your
life, I believe, or you would not dare me so now!"

"I did not mean to dare you, Aunt Candy," said Matilda, lifting her
head.

"You will not do it after to-day," said Mrs. Candy. "I am not going to
give you what I threatened. I leave that for another time. I don't
believe we shall ever come to that. But you want bringing down, all the
same; and I know what will do it, too. Cold water will do it."

"What do you mean, Aunt Candy?"

"I mean cold water. I have heard you say you don't like it; but it
would be very good for you, in two ways. I am going to bathe you with
it from your head to your feet. Here is my bath-tub, and I'll have it
ready in a minute. Take off your clothes, Matilda."

It was with nothing less than horror that Matilda now earnestly
besought her aunt to think better of this determination. She did
dislike cold water, and after a child's luxurious fashion had always
been allowed to use warm water. But worse than cold water was the idea
of her aunt, or anybody, presuming to apply it in the capacity of
bather. Matilda refused and pleaded, alternately; pleaded very humbly
at last; but in vain.

"I thought I knew something that would bring you down," Mrs. Candy said
composedly and pleased; and in the same manner proceeded to strip off
Matilda's clothes, put her in the bath-tub, and make thorough
application of the hated element as she had said, from head to foot;
scrubbing and dousing and sponging; till if Matilda had been in the sea
she would not better have known how cold water felt all over her. It
was done in five minutes, too; and then, after being well rubbed down,
Matilda was directed to put on her clothes again and finish her
patching.

"I fancy you will feel refreshed for it now," said her aunt. "This will
be a good thing for you. I used to give it to Clarissa always when she
was a little thing; and now I will do the same by you, my love. Every
day, you shall come to me in the morning when you first get up."

No announcement could have been more dismayful; but this time Matilda
said nothing. She bent herself to her patching, the one uppermost
desire being to finish it an