ldren."

"We know our own minds," said Matilda. "We _know_ we do. It is no
matter what people say."

"I wish they wouldn't say it," said Ailie. "Or I wish I needn't hear
it. But it is good to come here and read, isn't it? And I think our
talk helps us; don't you?"

"It helps me," said Mary Edwards. "I've got nobody at home to talk to."

"Let us begin, girls, or we shall not have time," said Matilda. "It's
the fourteenth chapter."

"Of Luke?" said Ailie. "Here it is. But I don't like Luke so well as
Matthew; do you? Well, begin."

They began and read on, verse by verse, until fourteen verses were
read. There they paused.

"What does this mean?" said Matilda, knitting her small brows.

"Isn't it right to ask our friends to tea or anything? Why, Jesus went
to dine with this Pharisee," said Mary, looking up.

"Yes; but that is another thing," said Matilda. "You see, we must ask
the people who have no friends."

"But why not our friends too?"

"Perhaps it would cost too much to ask _everybody_," said Ailie. "One
would be giving parties all the time; and they cost, I can tell you."

"But some people are rich enough," said Mary.

"Those people don't make parties for the poor, though," said Ailie.
"Catch them!"

"But then, _can_ it mean that it is wrong to have our friends come and
see us?" said Matilda.

"It cannot be wrong. Don't you remember, Martha and Mary used to have
Jesus come to their house? and they used to make suppers for Him."

"But _He_ was poor," said Matilda.

"That is different, too, from having a party, and making a great fuss,"
said Ailie.

"And _that_ is done just to pay one's debts," said Matilda, "for I have
heard mother say so. People ask her, and so she must ask people. And
that is what it means, girls, I guess. See, 'lest they also bid thee
again, and a recompense be made thee.' That isn't making a feast for
people that you love."

"Then it is wicked to ask people just that they may ask you," said Mary
Edwards.

"Instead of that, we must ask people who _cannot_ ask us," said Matilda.

"But how queer we should be!" said Ailie Swan. "Just think; we should
not be like anybody else. And what should we do if people asked us?"

"I don't care," said Matilda. "See, girls;--'thou shalt be recompensed
at the resurrection of the just.'"

"And is that what it means in the next verse?" said Mary Edwards. "But
I don't understand that. 'Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the
kingdom o