ss, but
it don't make any difference. I'll tell you! David and I will get the
stand and the flask; and you two shall give the cups."

"It isn't that," said Matilda, very much distressed; "it is not that,
Norton; it is something else. It is"--

"What in the world is it?" said Judy, balancing herself daintily on one
toe.

"It is--that I don't drink wine, you know."

"What's that to do?" said Judy, while the two boys both looked at
Matilda. "_You_ haven't to drink or let it alone; it is not for your
use anyhow."

"No, I know that; but I don't think it is right--I mean,--I mean," said
Matilda, gathering courage, "I have promised to do all I can to prevent
people from drinking wine. I can't help in such a present as this."

"They don't drink wine out of these little cups," said David. "It is
something different; it is Noyau, or Curacoa, or Chartreuse, or
Maraschino, or some of those things, you know."

"Yes, but it is stronger," said Matilda in a low voice. "It's stronger
than wine."

"She's temperance!" exclaimed Judith, turning round on one heel and
coming back into position. "She's temperance! We are all wicked at Mrs.
Lloyd's; we drink Hock and we sip Curacoa. I suppose she has only been
where people drink gin and lager; and she thinks it's all alike."

"She has been at Briery Bank, Judy," said Norton, "where the wines are
as good as in Blessington Avenue."

"Then she ought to have learned better!" said Judy. "That's all I have
to say."

"But Pink," said Norton, and he was very kind, though he looked
vexed,--"this is not anything about _your_ drinking or not drinking,
you know. Grandmamma will have her wine and she will offer her cordial,
just the same; it don't make any difference; only we want to give her
something she will like, and she will like this; don't you see?"

"Yes, Norton, I see," said Matilda, her eyes filling with tears; "I am
_very_ sorry; but I wish you and David wouldn't have anything to do
with wine, either."

"She don't mention _me!_" exclaimed Judy. "Either I'm so good I'm safe;
or I'm so bad it's no use trying to take care of me. You poor boys, she
will try to take care of _you_. What impertinence!"

"No more than if you did it, Judy, come, now!" said Norton. "It's no
such thing; it's only nonsense. Now Pink, _don't_ be nonsensical!"

"We can do it without her being in the affair, if she doesn't like it,"
said David. "But I do not understand," he went on, addressing himself
to Ma