"Is there anybody to whom you would like to do a kindness?"
"Not that I know of."
"You may go. Your wants shall be considered."
Judy came out triumphant. She would have had her brother go next, but he insisted that Matilda should precede him. So Matilda went into the darkened, mysterious boudoir of the receptions.
"Who is this?" said the voice.
And a gentle answer came; not like Judy's proclaiming of herself, yet clear and frank too.
"Matilda Laval, what would you like of all things, if you could have it?"
Matilda hesitated. "There are so many things"—she began,—"it isn't very easy"—
"So many things you would like?"
"Yes, ma'am. Not for myself," she added, in a kind of horror at being supposed to entertain such wishes under the flood of good things that had come upon her that evening.