"And I will—while I live myself."
"Then I can come and see you, Mr. Richmond?"
"I think you can. I will see about it."
Matilda gave her friend a good night which was almost joyous, and then ran out to the kitchen.
"Miss Redwood," she said, "did you change your mind again about Mrs. Eldridge? I thought you agreed, and that you were going to do all that for me."
"No, child; I hain't changed my mind. I changed it oncet, you know, to come over to you. I never did go both ways, like a crab."
"But you said at tea——"
"Well, I wished the minister'd tell you to keep your money to hum. 'Tain't your work, as I can see, to fit out Sally Eldridge with notions; it's like enough it's mine, and I'm willin' to take it, and do it, and see to it. You put your money by, child, against a wet day. Maybe you'll want it yet."
"Don't you remember, Miss Redwood, what Mr. Richmond repeated at tea?—'the Lord will pay it again?'"
"Well," said the housekeeper, "let the pay come to me, then."