Part 37 (2/2)
”I thought you were coming to talk to me, Tilly?” he said, stretching out his hand to draw her up to him.
”Miss Redwood was showing me how to do things, Mr. Richmond.”
”Then you _do_ want to talk to me?”
”Oh yes, sir. But, Mr. Richmond, tea is ready.”
”We'll eat first then, and talk afterward. What is the talk to be about, Tilly? just to give me an idea.”
”It is about--I do not know what is right about something, Mr.
Richmond. I do not know what I ought to do.”
”Have you looked in the Bible to find out?”
”No, sir. I didn't know where to look, Mr. Richmond.”
”Have you prayed about it?”
Matilda hesitated, but finally said again, ”No.”
”That is another thing you can always do. The Lord understands your difficulties better than any one else can, and knows just what answer to give you.”
”But--an answer? will He give it always?”
”Always provided you are perfectly willing to take it, whatever it may be; and provided you do your part.”
”What is my part?”
”If I sent you to find your way along a road you did not know, where there were guide posts set up; what would be your part to do?”
”To mind the guide posts?”
”Yes, and go on as they bade you. That is not to prevent your asking somebody you meet on the road, if you are going right? Now Miss Redwood has rung her bell, and you and I must obey it.”
”But, what are the guide posts, Mr. Richmond?”
”We will see about that after tea. Come.”
Matilda gave one wondering thought to the question how Maria and tea would get along without her at home; and then she let all that go, and resolved to enjoy the present while she had it. Certainly it was very pleasant to take tea with Mr. Richmond. He was so very kind, and attentive to her wants; and so amusing in his talk; and the new gingerbread looked so very handsome, piled up in the cake basket; and Miss Redwood was such a variety after Mrs. Candy. Matilda let care go.
And when it came to eating the gingerbread, it was found to be excellent. Mr. Richmond said he wished she would come often and make some for him.
”Do you know there is a meeting of the Band this evening?”
”I had forgotten about it, Mr. Richmond; I have been so busy.”
”It is lucky you came to take tea with me, then,” said he. ”Perhaps you would have forgotten it altogether. What is Maria doing?”
”She is busy at home, Mr. Richmond.”
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