"Give them as good as they bring."
Matilda began now to despair of the much-vaunted morals of Mr. Pim's pupils; but, to give them a fair trial, she turned to the New Testament, and questioned them about a story that their master allowed they knew perfectly well.
"When the Apostle had neither silver nor gold, what did he give to the lame man?"
"Halfpence."
The explanation on the subject of halfpence led to a commentary on the story of the poor widow, and her gift to the treasury.
"Now, little boy," said Matilda to one of the youngest, who had been playing stealthily with the end of her fur tippet, "what was the widow's mite? What is a mite?"
"A flea."
"He knows most about the Old Testament," observed his master, anxious to shift his ground again.
"Yes," replied Matilda, "he told me about Esau and Jacob, and the mess of pottage. What is a mess, children?"
"Ashes,"--"Dirt,"--"Rubbish,"--cried they.