That would alter the case, Matilda thought. She sat back on her cushion again and laid her head down as before. But then, what meant the Bible words; "He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise"? The Bible could not be mistaken. Matilda was puzzled with the difficult question; and presently the warm fire and her thoughts together were too much for her. The eyelids drooped over her eyes; she was asleep. Mrs. Laval made a sign to Norton to keep quiet. Her own fingers touched tenderly the soft brown locks of the head which lay on her lap; but too softly to disturb the sleeper.
"Mamma," said Norton softly, "isn't she a darling?"
"Hush!" said Mrs. Laval. "Don't wake her."
"She is perfectly fast asleep," said Norton. "She don't sham sleeping any more than awake. Mamma, how will grandmamma like her?"
"She cannot help it," said Mrs. Laval.
"Aunt Judy won't," said Norton. "But mamma, she is twenty times prettier than Judith Bartholomew."
"She is as delicate as a little wood flower," said Mrs. Laval.
"She has more stuff than that," said Norton; "she is stiff enough to hold her head up; but I'll tell you what she is like. She is like my Penelope hyacinth."
"Your Penelope hyacinth!" Mrs. Laval echoed.
"Yes; you do not know it, mamma. It is not a white hyacinth; just off that; the most delicate rose pearl colour. Now Judy is like a purple dahlia."