"Of course not," replied Nelly. "That isn't it. But Kitty, the Bible says, not a sparrow falls to the ground without him, and the very hairs of our heads are all numbered. That was the very first Bible lesson I learned. And, besides, Miss Powell says that God does love me—yes, even me—just as much as if there were no one else in the world; and so why shouldn't he send me things just when I want them? It seems only natural to me. If I love people, I always want to help them. Don't you?"
"You! Oh, you are a great saint, no doubt!" said Kitty, scornfully, and feeling more and more provoked, she could not tell why. "For my part, I don't set myself up to be better than other folks. I don't pretend to be a saint. If I can get along and do as well as my neighbours, I shall be satisfied, for my part. I never knew any good come of people's setting themselves up as patterns. Look at Mr. Jenkins, how he treats Abbey."
"Oh, Kitty!" said Nelly. "Didn't I hear you say, the other day, that Abbey was enough to provoke a saint, and that you would like to see your mother get hold of her?"
"Well, well," said Kitty, assuming the superior all at once, "I haven't any time to stay here gossiping with you, Nelly. You had better take your pails and go along. It Is growing late, and Mrs. Powers won't like it. She doesn't like to have people hanging about the kitchen."
Nelly looked at Kitty for a moment without a word, and then, taking up her pails, walked out of the kitchen, and shut the door behind her with more than usual softness, leaving Kitty master of the field, but by no means satisfied with her victory. Something told her that she had acted a mean and cowardly part towards Nelly,—that she had broken her word, and disappointed her friend; and her pride also told her that she had been far from appearing to advantage, and that Nelly would have a good excuse for despising her. All these feelings did not tend to make her more good-natured or more attentive to her work; and the consequence was that she first broke a valuable china pitcher, and then was so impertinent about it that Mrs. Powers gave her a severe lecture and threatened to send her home to her mother. Kitty went to bed and cried herself to sleep; nor did she find any comfort in the thought that God saw and noticed all she did. Kitty was afraid of God when she thought of him at all. She did not love him.
Meantime, Nelly walked homewards with her heart full of grief and perplexity. It seemed to her as though every thing disagreeable in her life had all come together on this one day, which had begun so happily. She loved Kitty with all her heart, and she racked her brains in trying to think how she could have offended her. Perseverance was rather natural to Nelly, and the habit of mind had become so strengthened that she could not possibly understand that Kitty should have grown tired of her undertaking. Then there were her lessons. She had always referred all the hard words to Kitty, and now Miss Powell was so busy all the time, she did not like to trouble her. Moreover, Kitty had promised to help her with her sums, and had lent her a slate and pencil. She did not feel as though she could keep on using them while Kitty was so angry with her. And who would help her? or how was she to learn without a teacher?
As Nelly walked along the quiet moonlit street, thinking of these things, she almost ran against a lady who was just going in at her own gate.
"Why, who is this?" asked the lady.
"Nelly Ryan, ma'am," answered Nelly, hastily brushing away the tears which had run over her eyelids. "I didn't mean to run against you; but I was just thinking of something, and I did not see you."
"And I was just thinking of you, Nelly," replied the lady. "Have you all the customers you want for your milk?"