ng
before her open Bible, her tears flowed incessantly every moment when
the luxury of indulgence could be allowed them. Mrs. Candy did not see
the whole of this; she was rarely in the girls' room; yet she saw
enough to become uneasy, and tried all that she knew to remedy it.
Clarissa was kind, to her utmost power of kindness. Even Maria was
stirred to try some soothing for her little sister. But Matilda could
not be soothed. Maria's instances and persuasions did, however, at last
urge her to the point of showing a part of her thoughts and disclosing
the thorn that pressed sharpest on her mind. It was, that she had not
pleased her mother by doing her best in the studies she had pursued at
school. Matilda had always been a little self-indulgent; did not
trouble herself with study; made no effort to reach or keep a good
place in her classes. Mrs. Englefield had urged and commanded her in
vain. Not obstinately, but with a sort of gay carelessness, Matilda had
let these exhortations slip; had studied when she was interested, and
lagged behind her companions in the pursuits she found dry. And now,
she could not forgive herself nor cease her sorrowing on account of
this failure.

Maria in despair at last took Mrs. Candy into her confidence, and
besought her to comfort Matilda, which Mrs. Candy tried her best to do.
She represented that Matilda had always been a good child; had loved
and honoured her mother, and constantly enjoyed her favour. Matilda
heard, but answered with sobs.

"I am sure, my dear," her aunt said, "you have nothing to reproach
yourself with. We are none of us perfect."

"I didn't do what I could, aunt Candy!" was Matilda's answer.

"My dear, hardly anybody--the best of us--does all he might do."

"I will," said Matilda.

CHAPTER XII.

This could not last always, and the days as they passed, after a while,
brought their usual soothing.

The quiet routine of the early spring began to come in again. Mrs.
Candy was looking for a girl, she said, but had not found one yet;
Maria and Matilda were not ready to go to school; they were better
getting the breakfast and washing up the dishes than doing nothing. No
doubt that was true.

"Tilly," said Maria, one of these days, when the coffee cups were
getting put in order, going out of Maria's tub of hot water into
Matilda's hands and napkin,--"Tilly! you know next Sunday there is to
be a baptism in the church?"

"Yes," said Matilda.

It was wee