Part 31 (1/2)
”I wish to please everybody--as far as I can,” Matilda said at last.
”Then you will please me?”
”I hope so.”
”She hopes so, Issa,” said Mrs. Candy, turning her head round towards where her daughter sat.
”American children, mamma,” was Clarissa's comment.
”There is another thing, Matilda,” Mrs. Candy resumed after a slight pause. ”Your mother has told me that Maria is competent to do the work of the house until she gets well. Is she? and will Maria, do you think, try to please me as much as you do?”
”Yes, ma'am. I think she can--she and I. We will do it,” Matilda answered more readily.
”She and you! What can you do?”
”I can help a little.”
”Well then, that is settled; and I need not look out for a girl?”
”Oh no, aunt Candy. She and I can do it.”
”But mind, I must have things in order, and well done. It is my sister's choice, that Maria should do it. But it is not mine unless I can have everything in good order. You may tell Maria so, and let her understand what it is she is undertaking. I am to have no dusty stairs, and no half-set tables. If she wants instruction in anything, I am willing to give it; but I cannot have disorder. Now you may go and tell her; and tell her to have tea ready in half an hour.”
”What did she want of you?” Maria asked, when Matilda rejoined her down-stairs.
”She wanted to talk to me about my going out last evening.”
”Oh! was she in a great fuss about it?”
”And Maria, she wants tea to be ready in half an hour.”
”I'll have it ready sooner than that,” said Maria, bustling about.
”But you must not. She wants it in half an hour; you must not have it ready before.”
”Why not?” said Maria, stopping short.
”Why, she wants it _then_. She has a right to have tea when she likes.”
But Matilda sighed as she spoke, for her aunt's likings were becoming a heavy burden to her, in the present and in the future. The two girls went gently round, setting the table, cutting the bread, putting out the sweetmeat, getting the teapot ready for the tea; then they stood together over the stove, waiting for the time to make it.
”There's one comfort,” Matilda said with another sigh;--”we can do it all for Christ.”
”What?” said Maria, starting.
”It is work He has given us to do, you know, Maria; and we have promised to do everything we can to please Him. So we can do this to please Him.”
”I don't see how,” said Maria. ”_This_ isn't Band work;--do you think it is?”
”It isn't Sunday-School work; but, Maria, you know, 'we are the servants of Christ.' Now He has given us this work to do.”
”That's just talking nonsense,” said Maria. ”There is no religion in pots and kettles.”