"Mr. Richmond," repeated Mrs. Laval. "That's your minister. You think a great deal of Mr. Richmond, don't you, Matilda?"
"Everybody does," said Matilda. Mrs. Laval smiled.
"I don't know him, you know. But about your doings in the lane—there is no end to that sort of work. You might keep on for ever, and be no nearer the end. That is what always discourages me. There are always new old women to comfort, and fresh poor people to help. There is no end."
"But then," said Matilda. She began timidly, and stopped.
"What then?" said Mrs. Laval, smiling.
"Yes, just hear Pink, mamma," said Norton.
"What then, Matilda?" said Mrs. Laval, still looking at her as at something pleasant to the eyes.
"I was going to say," Matilda began again, with a blush, "isn't it meant that we should 'keep on for ever'?"
"Doing good to the poor? But then one would soon have nothing to do good with. One must stop somewhere."
Clearly, one must stop somewhere. A line must be found; inside or outside of her bed of hyacinths, Matilda wondered? She did not press her doubts, though she did not forget them; and the talk passed on to other things. Nothing could be more delightful than that evening, she thought.