know. That is the way to be a
light-bearer; to do everything perfectly."

"Well, you may, if you can," said Maria. "I can't."

CHAPTER VIII.

"Tilly, that money burns my pocket," Maria said the next morning.

"Then you had better put it somewhere else."

"I suppose you think that is smart," said Maria, "but it isn't; for
that is just what I mean to do. I mean to spend it, somehow."

"What for?"

"That's just what I don't know. There are so many things I want; and I
do not know what I want most. I have a good mind to buy a writing-desk,
for one thing."

"Why, you have got one already."

"I mean a handsome one--a real beauty, large, you know, and with
everything in it. That lock of mine isn't good. Anybody could open it."

"But there is nobody to do that," said Matilda. "Nobody comes here but
you and me."

"That don't make any difference!" said Maria, impatiently. "Don't be so
stupid. I would like to have a nice thing, anyhow. Then sometimes I
think I would rather have a gold chain--like Clarissa's."

"You could not get that for twenty-five dollars," said Matilda.

"How do you know?"

"Hers cost three or four times as much as that."

"Did it?--Well, then I guess I will have the desk, or a whole lot of
handsome summer dresses. I guess I will have that."

"Maria," said her little sister, facing round upon her, "how much are
you going to give to the Missionary Fund?"

"The Missionary Fund?" said Maria.

"Yes. You promised to help that, you know."

"Not with my twenty-five dollars!" said Maria, energetically. "I think
you are crazy, Matilda."

"Why?"

"Because! To ask me such a question as that. Aunt Candy's present!"

"Didn't you promise?"

"I did not promise to give my money any more than I usually give. I put
a penny in every Sunday."

"Then I don't see how you are going to help the Fund," said Matilda. "I
don't see why you promised, either."

"I promised, because I wanted to join the Band; and I am going to do
everything I ought to do. I think I am just as good as you, Matilda."

Matilda let the matter drop.

It did not appear what _she_ was going to do with her money. She always
said she had not decided. Only, one day soon after the last meeting
recorded, Matilda was seen in one of the small bookstores of Shadywalk.
There was not reading enough in the village to support a bookstore
proper; so the books crept into one corner of the apothecaries' shops,
with supplies of statione