"Lilac Lane! Do you want to see it?"
"Very much, Norton," said Matilda, gleefully; "but not this afternoon. I haven't been there in a great, great while."
"I should not think you would want to be ever there again. I can't see why."
"But then what would become of the poor people?"
"They do not depend upon you," said Norton. "It is not your look-out."
"But—I suppose," Matilda said, slowly, "I suppose, everybody depends upon somebody."
"Well?" said Norton, laughing.
"You needn't laugh, though, Norton; because, if everybody depends upon somebody, then, everybody has somebody depending upon him, I suppose."
"Who depends upon you?"
"I don't know," said Matilda. "I wish I did."