"Christians ought to love one another," said she, presently.
"Bother!" was the reply. "You can't love every one, and you know you can't. It's just humbug!"
"Miss Flo loves me. And the mistress said she was sorry to lose me."
"So she well may. You've slaved for her and that child, and now you see what you get by it. Out you go the moment it's convenient. Why, by that counting, I love you; for I'm sorry you're to go—you've saved me a lot of trouble, and I will say you're an obliging girl. Well, the mistress must manage somehow, for I declare I'm too old to be put upon, and the children are no business of mine. I must get to work now; I'm sure I don't know why I am wasting my time trying to put sense into you, Hetty."
Mrs. Goodenough was not generally inclined to talk much to Hetty, whose willingness to oblige often annoyed her, by making her unwillingness more remarkable. And it was quite true that she did not know what made her preach this nice little sermon on self-love; but I think I can guess. If we deliberately harbour selfish feelings, and pride ourselves on them, he who inspires them will use us as his mouthpiece occasionally—which is not a comfortable thought.
For awhile these remarks made Hetty very unhappy. Was it true that everybody cared only for number one, and that to love those about you was folly? But reflection brought happier feelings.
"The Bible," said Hetty to herself; "tells us to love one another, and it can't mean only one's own folk, because that comes by nature. And it says to serve faithfully, not for wages only; at least, I think it does. Matty could tell me—she knows where all the nice verses are; and she tries to love every one, I know. I think Mrs. Goodenough has no feelings."
She took up her Bible—a Sunday-school prize, gained long ago, and in which she read a chapter every day. But now she turned over the leaves in search of advice, for she had a plan in her head, and did not see how to carry it out. Of course she did not find any direct advice in the Bible, but she found many things that washed away the worldly, selfish notions with which Mrs. Goodenough had tried to fill her mind.
She found a great deal about love, and very little about taking care of oneself. She found one verse which said that "even Christ came not to be ministered unto, but to minister"; and another, which seemed to mean that if we do good only to those who do good to us, it is not worth much. "So," thought she, "even if Mrs. Goodenough was right, and my mistress does not care for me, it makes no difference in what I ought to do. But she is kind, and she does feel kind towards me; of course she won't love me as I might come to love her, for what am I compared to her? Well, one thing is clear; if no one ever loves me, it's my duty to love people. And I must see mother, for she has a right to settle it."
She put on her hat and ran down to the parlour. "Can you spare me for an hour, ma'am? I want to speak to mother."