"Not doing anything at all," said Mr. Richmond, rousing himself. "I have been busy all day, Matilda. I am going to do nothing to-night. What is it?"
"Will it be doing anything to talk to Norton and me?"
"I can't say," Mr. Richmond replied, laughing a little. "Perhaps you will find me work to do, but I'll risk it. What do you want to talk about?"
"There was a question—Norton and I could not tell what the answer ought to be. I believe he thought one way, and I thought another."
"What was the question?" said Mr. Richmond; while Norton's face looked up from his book, bright with the same query.
"We were talking—it was about opportunities, you know, Mr. Richmond; the opportunities that having money gives people; and we couldn't tell, Norton and I, how far one ought to go. Norton said people must stop somewhere; and I suppose they must. Where ought they to stop?"
Matilda's face looked very earnest. Norton's, comical.
"Where ought they to stop in giving money, you mean?"
"Yes, sir. For doing good, you know, and making other people comfortable."
"It is rather a large question. Were you afraid of giving too much, or of giving too little?"