"I mustn't stop, Norton. I must go home."
"Are you afraid of anybody, Pink?" he said, holding her fast. "Is that why you can't get out?"
Matilda's face changed, and her lip quivered, and she did not answer.
"And what has made you grow so thin? What ails you?" pursued the boy, impetuously. "You are thin and blue."
"I don't know," said Matilda. "Aunt Candy says it is the hot weather. O Norton, dear, don't keep me!"
"What have you got there?"
"Something Aunt Candy sent me to buy."
"Why didn't she send a cart to fetch it?" said the boy, taking the bundle out of Matilda's hand. "Where have you been after this?"
"To Mr. Chester's."
"Why didn't you tell Chester to send it home? He sends mamma's things. He'd have sent it."