ers; at last put that down, and took Matilda's
plate from her.

"You do not come to church in the evening lately, I observe, Tilly," he
remarked.

"No, sir. Aunt Candy does not like me to go."

"And you have not been to the prayer meeting either, or to the meetings
of our Commission. The 'Band' is called our 'Christian Commission,'
now."

"No, sir." And Matilda's eyes watered.

"For the same reason?"

"Yes, sir."

"Not because you have lost pleasure in such meetings?"

"Oh no, Mr. Richmond! Did you think I had?" she asked, timidly.

"I could not _know_, you know," said Mr. Richmond, "and I wanted to ask
you. I am very glad to hear it is no bad reason that keeps you away."

"I didn't say _that_, Mr. Richmond," Matilda answered, slowly. "Could
it be a good reason?"

"Why, it might," said Mr. Richmond, cheerfully. "You might be not well
enough; or you might have more important duties to do at home; or you
might be unwilling to come alone; and all those might be good reasons
for staying away."

"It was no such reason," said Matilda.

There was silence.

"You wanted to talk to me, you said," Mr. Richmond observed.

"Yes, Mr. Richmond, I do; if I only knew how."

"Is it so difficult? It never used to be very difficult, Matilda."

"No, sir; but things are--different."

"_You_ are not different, are you?"

"I don't know," said Matilda, slowly; "I am afraid so. I feel very
different."

"In what way?"

"Mr. Richmond," she went on, still slowly, and as if she were
meditating her words,--"I don't see how I can do just right."

"In what respect?" said the minister, very quietly. Again Matilda
paused.

"Mr. Richmond, is it always wrong to hate people?"

"What things should make it right for us to hate people?"

"I don't know," said Matilda in the same considering way, "when there
isn't the least thing you can love them for, or like them?"

"What if the Lord had gone by that rule in dealing with us?"

"Oh, but He is so good."

"And has commanded us to be just as good, has He not?"

"But can we, Mr. Richmond?"

"What do you think, Tilly, the Lord meant when He gave us the order?"

"He meant we should try."

"Do you think He meant that we should only _try?_ do you think He did
not mean that we should be as He said?"

"And love hateful people?"

"What do you think, Tilly?"

"O Mr. Richmond, I think I'm not good."

"What is the matter, my dear child?" Mr. Richmond said tenderly, as
Matilda