Part 5 (1/2)
”Is Aunt Candy very rich?”
”You talk like a foolish girl. Why do you want to know?”
”I was thinking whether Clarissa would be dressed a great deal better than we are.”
”And what if she is?”
”Nothing. I was thinking. That's all.”
”I don't think it signifies,” said Matilda.
”Oh! Matilda has found her tongue! I was waiting to see when she would speak,” cried Anne. ”What don't signify, little one?”
”It don't signify, I think, whether any one is dressed better than another; anybody--Clarissa or anybody else.”
”Well, you are mistaken then,” said Anne; ”for it does signify. All the world knows it; and what is more, all the world feels it.”
”I don't think I do,” said Matilda.
”Your time has not come.”
”_Your_ time had come, though, before you were as old as she,” said her mother; ”and Maria's and Letty's.”
”I know Matilda is a wonderful child,” said Anne, ”but her time will come too, mamma; and _she_ will find it makes a difference whether she is dressed one way or another.”
”I think _that_ now,” observed Matilda.
”Anybody that has to fasten Tilly's dresses knows that,” laughed Maria.
”I don't make half so much fuss.”
”I wish you did,” said her mother. ”You are not near careful enough in putting on your things. Now putting on is half the battle.”
The argument lasted till Tilly and Maria went back to the consideration of South America, which was brought down-stairs to the lamp.
”You haven't got the Amazon right,” said Matilda; ”and Rio Janeiro is too far down; and it's all crooked--don't you see?”
”No!” said Maria; ”and if it is, Ailie Swan needn't have said hers was better.”
”You asked her.”
”Well, if I did?”
”What could she say?”
”I don't care; it was awfully rude; and people ought to be polite, if they're ever so good.”
”What is all that?” said Mrs. Englefield. ”That is not Tilly's map?”
”Oh no, mamma; she can't draw maps; she is only setting up for a judge.”