Part 15 (1/2)
”I don't think you do,” said Matilda. ”When do you?”
”Why, I should like to know in school, when it is recess time; and at home, when it is time to go to school.”
”But the bell rings,” said Matilda.
”Well, I don't always hear the bell, child.”
”But when you don't hear it, I tell you.”
”Yes, and it's very tiresome to have you telling me, too. I'd rather have my own watch. But I don't know what I will have; sometimes I think I'll just buy summer dresses, and then for once I'd have a plenty; I do like to have plenty of anything. And there's a necklace and earrings at Mr. Kurtz's that I want. Such lovely earrings!”
”Well, Matilda, what are you thinking of?” Let.i.tia burst forth. ”Such a face! One would think it was wicked to wear earrings. What is it, you queer child?”
But Matilda did not say what she was thinking of. The elder ladies came in, and the party adjourned to the tea-table.
A few hours later, when the girls had gone to their room, Matilda asked--
”When are you going to look for new scholars, Maria?”
”_What?_” was Maria's energetic and not very graceful response.
”When are you going to look for some new scholars to bring to the school?”
”The Sunday-School!” said Maria. ”I thought you meant the school where we go every day. I don't know.”
”You promised you would try.”
”Well, so I will, when I see any I _can_ bring.”
”But don't you think you ought to go and look for them?”
”How can I, Tilly? I don't know where to go; and I haven't got time, besides.”
”I think I know where we could go,” said Matilda, ”and maybe we could get one, at any rate. Don't you know the Dows' house? on the turnpike road?--beyond the bridge ever so far?”
”The Dows'!” said Maria. ”Yes, I know the Dows' house; but who's there?
Nothing but old folks.”
”Yes, there are two children; I have seen them; two or three; but they don't come to school.”
”Then I don't believe they want to,” said Maria; ”they could come if they wanted to, I am sure.”
”Don't you think we might go and ask them? Perhaps they would come if anybody asked them.”
”Yes, we might,” said Maria; ”but you see, Tilly, I haven't any time.
It'll take me every bit of time I can get between now and Sunday to finish putting the braid on that frock; you have no idea how much time it takes. It curls round this way, and then twists over that way, and then gives two curls, so and so; and it takes a great while to do it. I almost wish I had chosen an easier pattern; only this is so pretty.”
”But you promised, Maria.”