Part 45 (2/2)
”I don't think G.o.d cares,” said Matilda.
”Did you ever hear such dreadful teaching as these people have?” said the mother, appealing to the daughter. ”My dear, there is a propriety in things. And not one of the candidates this evening was dressed in white.”
”But the water means a clean heart,” said Matilda; ”and if we have that, G.o.d will think we are dressed in white.”
”So you think you have a clean heart?”
”I think Jesus has begun to make it clean.”
”And what does it mean to renounce the devil and all his works?”
”It means,” said Matilda, sighing, ”to have nothing to do with anything that is wrong.”
”How is such a child as you to know what is wrong?”
”Why, the Bible, Aunt Candy.”
”What is the vain pomp and glory of the world?”
”I don't know,” said Matilda. ”_All_ the glory, I suppose, except what G.o.d gives.”
”What does _He_ give, child?” said Mrs. Candy, with an odd expression on her face.
”Why, you know, Aunt Erminia,” said Matilda, a little wearily.
”I should like to hear you tell.”
”I can't tell,” said Matilda. ”I think it was glory, when He said of that poor woman, 'She hath done what she could.'”
”My dear,” said Mrs. Candy, after a pause, ”I am very sorry you have taken this step without consulting me. Your answers show that you have not the discrimination necessary for making such vows. However, it is too late now. You may go to bed.”
Which Matilda did, and speedily forgot all that had troubled her in her aunt's words. For she went to sleep making a pillow to her head of those other words--
”And white robes were given to every one of them.”
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