“Oh, but I couldn’t,” she said.
“Only for one day,” Sir Franklin added.
“One day!” Her eager eyes glistened. “But what about Tommy and Willy and the twins?”
“Your mother would stay at home that day and look after them. That could easily be arranged.
“You see,” Sir Franklin went on, “I want to give all the children in your street and in several other streets near it a Christmas present, and it is thought that the best way is to open a toy-shop for the purpose. But it is necessary that the toy-shop keeper should know most of the children and should be a capable woman of business, and that is why I ask you. The salary will be a sovereign; the hours will be from two to eight, with an interval for tea; and you shall have Mr. Pembroke to help you.”
Matilda did not know how to keep still, and yet there was the least shade of disappointment, or at least perplexity, on her face.
“Is it all right?” Sir Franklin asked.
“Ye-e-s,” said Matilda.
“Nothing you want to say?”
“No-o-o,” said Matilda; “I don’t think so.”