er with an odd expression in their eyes. When
Mrs. Lloyd spoke she went back to the practical question.

"How much money do you expect it will take, to do what you want for
these poor people, Matilda?"

"I don't know, ma'am, yet. My teacher will find out and tell me."

"Is it your teacher who has suggested the plan?"

"The plan?--O no, ma'am," said Matilda. "It is my plan. I have been
talking him into it."

"Who is he?" Mrs. Lloyd asked.

"Mr. Wharncliffe."

"What Wharncliffe? Is he any connection of General Wharncliffe?"

"His brother," said Norton.

This seemed, Matilda did not know why, to give satisfaction to her
elders. Mrs. Lloyd went on with an unbent face.

"How much money have you got, Matilda, to work with?"

"Not a great deal, ma'am; I have saved a little. It won't take such a
_very_ great deal to get all I want. It is only common things."

"Saved!" Judy burst out. "_Saved!_ Now we have got at it. This is the
secret. _This_ is why we are such good temperance people and think it's
wicked to buy liqueur glasses. O yes! we save our money that way, no
doubt."

"Judy," said her brother, "I'm ashamed of you."

"No need," said Judy coolly. "Keep it for yourself, next occasion."

"What is all this?" said Mrs. Lloyd.

"Nothing that had better go any further," said Mrs. Laval. "Nothing of
any consequence, mother."

"It is of no consequence," said Judy, "because David and Norton made it
up."

"And Judy didn't," said Norton.

"Not I; it was your affair," said the young lady. "My connections are
not given to saving."

"That is very true indeed!" exclaimed Mrs. Bartholomew, bursting out
into a laugh; "and you, Judy, least of all your 'connections.'"

"But what is all this?" repeated Mrs. Lloyd, seeing that the faces
around her were moved by very various sorts of expression. It had to
come out. Judy and Norton told the story between them, with some
difficulty. Matilda felt very sorry, and very doubtful of the effect.
David looked exceedingly dissatisfied. Mrs. Lloyd listened with
unchanged gravity.

"There! you may call it what you like," Judy said in conclusion. "But I
like to have things go by their right names."

"It wouldn't be always best for you," said her brother.

"Do you think it is wrong, my dear, to drink wine?" Mrs. Lloyd asked,
addressing Matilda.

Matilda did not well know what to answer. She, a child, what business
had she to 'think' anything about the right or the wrong of th