yes came down to her with a look of
surprise as he assented.

"I am very glad to see you in our Sunday-School," she went on. "I hope
it was pleasant."

"It was pleasant enough," said the stranger. "There is a jolly fellow
over there asked me to come--Ben Barth; are you his sister?"

"Oh no," said Matilda. "Ben has his own sisters. I am not one of them."

"I thought maybe he told you to speak to me."

"Nobody told me," said Matilda. By this time they had followed the
crowd out at the door, and were taking their way down the street.

"What did you speak to me then, for?" said the boy, with a roguish look
at her.

"I thought you were a stranger."

"And what if I was?"

"I think, if you are a stranger anywhere, it is pleasant to have
somebody speak to you."

"You're a brick!" was the stranger's conclusion.

"Am I?" said Matilda. "Why am I?"

"You're a girl, I suppose, and don't understand things," said her
companion. "Boys know what a brick is--when they see it."

"Why, so do I," said Matilda, "don't I?"

But the boy only laughed; and then asked Matilda where she lived, and
if she had any brothers, and where she went to school.

"I go to the other school, you see," said he; "that's how I've never
seen you before. I wish you went to my school; and I'd give you a ride
on my sled."

"But you'll come to our Sunday-School, won't you?" Matilda asked.

"To be sure I will; but you see, I can't take you on my sled on Sunday.
They'd have all the ministers out after me."

"Oh no!" said Matilda. "I was not thinking of the sled; but you are
very kind."

"I should like it," said the boy. "Yes, I am coming to the school;
though I guess I've got an old fogy of a teacher. But the minister's a
brick; isn't he?"

"He isn't much like _me_," said Matilda, laughing. "And the sort of
bricks that I know, one is very much like another."

The boy laughed too, and asked if she didn't want to know his name?
Matilda glanced again at the frank face and nice dress, and said yes.

"My name's Norton Laval. What's yours?"

"Matilda Englefield. I am going this way."

"Yes, you go that way and I go this way, but we shall see each other
again. Good-bye."

So at the corner they parted; and Matilda went home, thinking that in
this instance at least the welcoming of strangers had paid well. For
this was a pleasant new acquaintance, she was sure. She mounted the
stairs with happy feet to her room; and there found Maria in a flood o