Part 26 (1/2)

”Is this the first time you have been here?” she asked, with a kind of shy grace. The boy's bright eyes came down to her with a look of surprise as he a.s.sented.

”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.”

”n.o.body 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.”