.
Mrs. Candy sighed again and went in, thinking that Matilda's not going
this journey with her would save her quite a pretty penny. Matilda as
yet knew nothing of what had been in her aunt's mind respecting
Philadelphia, or Mrs. Laval either. It had all the force of a surprise
when Mrs. Candy called her and told her to pack up her clothes for
leaving home.

"All my clothes, aunt Erminia?"

"You will want them all. Issa and I are going on a journey that will
take us a little while--and I am going to leave you in somebody's care
here; so put out whatever you will want for a couple of weeks."

Matilda wanted to ask with whom she was to be left; but that would come
in time. It would be somebody not her aunt, at any rate; and she went
to her room and began laying oat her clothes with fingers that trembled
with delight. Presently Mrs. Candy came in. She sat down and surveyed
Matilda's preparations. On one chair there was a neat little pile of
underclothes; on two others were similar neat little piles of frocks;
some things beside were spread over the bed.

"Those are all the dresses you have got, eh?" she said.

"That's all, aunt Candy. Here are my calicoes for every day, and those
are the rest; my blue spot, and my black gingham and my white. They are
all clean."

"Yes," said Mrs. Candy. "Well--I guess you don't want to take these
calicoes; they are pretty well worn, and you haven't any work to do
now-a-days. The others won't be too nice to wear, till I come home."

"Every day?" asked Matilda.

"Yes, every day. There are not quite enough; but you must be careful
and not soil them, and so make them do. There is not time to make any
now, or I would get you one or two. I meant to do it."

"When are you going, aunt Candy?"

"_You_ are going to-morrow. So make haste, and pack up everything you
want, Matilda. I do not know whether you can do with those three
frocks?"

"Oh yes, I will keep them clean," said the child, in her joy.

"Well, I believe you can," said Mrs. Candy. "Now make haste, Matilda."

It was such glad work. Matilda made haste in her eagerness, and then
pulled out things and packed them over again because it was not well
done the first time. Where was she going, she wondered? Mr. Richmond
was away from home still, or she should have heard more about it.
Meanwhile her clothes went into the little trunk her aunt had made over
to her, and her Bible was packed in a secure corner; her best boots
were wra