The child sobbed again, with the unspoken difficulty; stifled sobs.
"She is not cruel to you?" said Mr. Richmond.
"I think she is cruel," said Matilda; "for she does not in the least care about doing things that I do not like; she does not care at all whether I like them or not. I think she likes it."
"What?"
"Just to do things that I can't bear, Mr. Richmond; and she knows I can't bear them."
"What is her reason for doing these things?"
"I think the greatest reason is because she knows I can't bear them. I think I am growing wicked."
"Is it because you displease her in any way, that she does it for a punishment?"
"I do not displease her in any way," said poor Matilda.
"And yet she likes to grieve you?"