"I am not going to school," said Matilda.
"Nor learning anything at home?"
"Not much. Not much that is good for anything."
"Never mind. You can do that for God."
"Oh no, Mr. Richmond; it is not useful enough."
"You do not know how useful it may be."
"Yes, sir, because it isn't that sort of thing. Aunt Candy is making me learn to mend lace. It is no use at all."
"I'll tell you a secret," said Mr. Richmond. Matilda looked up with fresh eagerness into his face.
"Whenever the Lord puts you in the way of learning anything, you may be sure He means you to learn it. He knows the use; and if you neglect the chance, the next thing will be, you will find He will give you work to do which you cannot do, because you neglected to learn what He gave you to learn."
"But mending lace?" said Matilda.