"Angry with you! No, indeed. Norton could not be that. And there is nothing else you need mind."
"I am very sorry!" said poor Matilda. "I hurt all their pleasure this morning, and they thought I was—very disagreeable, I believe."
"Nobody ever thought that yet," said Mrs. Laval laughing a little; "and no harm is done. It was nonsense for them to get you into that business at all. It is all very well for them to give their grandmother a present; but for you it is quite needless; it is her place to give to you, and not yours to give to her; the cases are different. Norton forgot that."
"Then she will not think it strange that I am not in it?" said Matilda lifting up her face at last.
"Not at all. It would be more strange if you were in it."
"Norton proposed it."
"Yes, I know; but Norton is not infallible. He has made a mistake this time."
"But I offended them, mamma," said Matilda.
"They will get over it. Now dry your eyes and take your coat off, and we will go down to luncheon."
They went down together, and Mrs. Laval took care that no annoyance came to Matilda during the meal. So after luncheon she was all ready to take a new start with Norton for Tiffany's.