ike a crab."

"But you said at tea----"

"Well, I wished the minister'd tell you to keep your money to hum.
'Tain't _your_ work, as I can see, to fit out Sally Eldridge with
notions; it's like enough it's mine, and I'm willin' to take it, and do
it, and see to it. You put your money by, child, against a wet day.
Maybe you'll want it yet."

"Don't you remember, Miss Redwood, what Mr. Richmond repeated at
tea?--'the Lord will pay it again?'"

"Well," said the housekeeper, "let the pay come to me, then."

"No," said Matilda, "that won't do. It's my business, Miss Redwood, and
I asked you to do it for me; and I'll give you the money. How much do
you want?"

"I hain't bought the things yet; I don' know; and some of 'em won't
have to be bought, with a little contrivance. I'll spend the least I
kin; and then we'll talk about it."

Matilda gave her an energetic kiss and hurried away. But I am afraid
the housekeeper's apron went up to her eyes again.

CHAPTER VIII.

Matilda went home with new strength, and full of the will to do the
very best she could in her hard circumstances. But the next morning's
dousing, and scrubbing, and rubbing down seemed more fierce than ever.
If Matilda ever ventured to say "Oh don't!"--Mrs. Candy was sure to
give her more of what she did not like. She had learned to keep her
tongue still between her teeth. She had learned to wince and be quiet.
But this morning she could hardly be quiet. "Can I help hating Aunt
Candy?" she thought to herself as she went down-stairs. Then she found
Maria full of work for which she wanted more fingers than her own; and
Matilda's were very busy till breakfast time, setting the table,
hulling strawberries, sweeping the hall, making coffee, baking the
biscuit. Both the girls busy, and Maria cross. Breakfast was not
sociable; and Matilda was summoned to go to her aunt's room as soon as
the dishes were put away.

"Can I help it?" thought Matilda. And as she went up the stairs she
prayed for a loving heart, and that this feeling, which was like a
sickness, might be taken away from her.

"What makes you look so meek?" exclaimed Clarissa, as she entered the
room. Mrs. Candy lifted her face to see.

"I like to see children look meek," she said. "That's the way they
should look. Matilda's cold bath is doing her good."

"Mamma, you are very severe with your cold baths!" said the young lady.

"They did _you_ good once," said her mother. "You need not spe