mother? Had she done her memory an
injury, by putting on her brown frock and her grey pelisse? Was there
any truth in all this flood of disagreeable words, which seemed to have
flowed over and half drowned her. Ought her dress to be black? It had
not been when she lived with her aunt, except on particular days and
out of doors, as she had said. Was there any truth in all these
charges? Matilda's heart had suddenly lost all its gayety, and the
struggle in her thoughts was growing more and more unendurable every
moment. A confusion of doubts, questions, suspicions which she could
not at once see clearly enough to cast off, and sorrow, raged and
fought in her mind with indignant rejection and disbelief of them. What
should she do? How could she tell what was right? Mr. Richmond! She
would go straight to him.

And so she did, hurrying along Butternut street like a little vessel in
a gale; and she was just that, only the gale was in her own mind. It
drove her on, and she rushed into the parsonage, excited by her own
quick movements as well as by her thoughts. Miss Redwood was busy in
the kitchen.

"What's the matter?" she exclaimed, for Matilda had gone in that way.

"I want to see Mr. Richmond."

"Well, he's in there. La! child, we keep open doors at the parsonage;
there ain't no need that you should break 'em in by running against
'em. Take it easy, whatever there is to take. The minister's in his
study. But his dinner'll be ready in a quarter of an hour, tell him."

Matilda went more quietly and knocked at the study door. She heard
"Come in."

"Mr. Richmond, are you busy?" she asked, standing still inside of the
study door. "Shall I disturb you?" She was quiet enough now. But the
tears were shining in Matilda's eyes, and the eyes themselves were
eager.

"Come here," said Mr. Richmond holding out his hand; "I am not too
busy, and your disturbing me is very welcome. How do you do?"

Matilda's answer was to clasp Mr. Richmond's hand and cover her face.

"What is the matter?" he asked softly, though a little startled.
"Nothing that we cannot set right, Tilly?"

He drew his arm protectingly round her, and Matilda presently looked
up. "O Mr. Richmond," she said, "I don't know if anything is wrong; but
I want to know."

"Well, we can find out. What is the question?"

"Mr. Richmond, the question is, Ought I to wear black things for mamma?"

The minister was much surprised.

"What put this in your head, Tilly?"