," said Miss Redwood, resuming her
work vigorously; "but I always like to see other folks' goins on. It's
a play to me, jest to go in 'long o' somebody else and see 'em pull
down all the things, and turn over all the colours in the rainbow, and
suit themselves with purchases I wouldn't look at, and leave my gowns
and shawls high and dry on the shelf. And when I go out, I have bought
as many dresses as they have, and I have kept my money for all."

"But sometimes people buy what you would like too, Miss Redwood, don't
they?"

"Well, child, not often; 'cause, you see, folks's minds is sot on
different things; and somehow, folks's gowns have a way o' comin' out
o' their hearts. I kin tell, pretty well, what sort o' disposition
there is inside of a dress, or under a bonnet, without askin' nobody to
give me a character. What's be come o' you all these days? Ha' you made
any more gingerbread?"

"No."

"I guess you've forgotten all about it, then. What's the reason, eh?"

"I have been too busy, Miss Redwood."

"Goin' to school again?"

"No, I've been busy at home."

"But makin' gingerbread is play, child; _that_ ain't work."

Matilda was silent; and the housekeeper presently came to a pause
again; sat back on her feet, wrung her mopping cloth, and considered
Matilda.

"Don't you want to make some this afternoon?"

"If you please; yes, I should like it," said the little girl.

"Humph!" said the housekeeper. "What have you been tiring yourself with
to-day?"

"I am not tired," said Matilda. "Thank you, Miss Redwood."

"If I was to get a good bowl o' sour cream now, and shew you how to
toss up a short-cake--how would you like that?"

"Oh, I would like it very much--if I could."

"Sit still then," said the housekeeper, "till my floor's dry. Why
hain't you been to see me before, eh? Everybody else in creation has
been in at the parsonage door but you. You ain't beginnin' to take up
with that French minister, air you?"

"Oh no, indeed, Miss Redwood! But he isn't a French minister."

"I don't care what he is," said the housekeeper; "he takes airs; and a
minister as takes airs had better be French, I think. What do you go to
hear him for, then?"

"Aunt Candy takes me."

"Then you don't go because you want to? that's what I am drivin' at."

"Oh no, indeed I don't, Miss Redwood. I would never go, if I could help
myself."

"What harm would happen to you if you didn't?" asked the housekeeper,
dryly. But Matild