Lucy had carried the children's frocks back to the wardrobe, and Beryl and her governess were alone.
"So, Beryl," said Miss Burton softly, "you are not willing to do any sort of work for the kingdom?"
Beryl coloured and looked uncomfortable.
This unexpected question put the matter in a new light.
"It is the King who gives us our work, Beryl," said Miss Burton, "the little duties as well as the great ones. Don't you think that it is His will that you should learn to sew properly? Don't you think that in our sewing meetings, as well as in our Sunday school, we may be workers for the kingdom?"
"Yes, Miss Burton," said Beryl, ashamed and convinced; "I did not think of that. I will try to like making the clothes, but I do so dislike sewing."
But when the Dorcas meetings were commenced, Beryl found that she could like them without much trying.
Miss Burton did not give the children too difficult tasks. She did all the awkward bits herself. There was always some pleasant story in hand, which they read by turns, so that the children learned to look forward to the afternoons on which they held their Dorcas meeting; and as Beryl grew more expert in the use of her needle, she liked sewing better, and took a pride in the neat little garments which she helped to make.
[CHAPTER XXIII]
IN LONDON