"I wish they wouldn't say it," said Ailie. "Or I wish I needn't hear it. But it is good to come here and read, isn't it? And I think our talk helps us; don't you?"
"It helps me," said Mary Edwards. "I've got nobody at home to talk to."
"Let us begin, girls, or we shall not have time," said Matilda. "It's the fourteenth chapter."
"Of Luke?" said Ailie. "Here it is. But I don't like Luke so well as Matthew; do you? Well, begin."
They began and read on, verse by verse, until fourteen verses were read. There they paused.
"What does this mean?" said Matilda, knitting her small brows.
"Isn't it right to ask our friends to tea or anything? Why, Jesus went to dine with this Pharisee," said Mary, looking up.
"Yes; but that is another thing," said Matilda. "You see, we must ask the people who have no friends."
"But why not our friends too?"
"Perhaps it would cost too much to ask everybody," said Ailie. "One would be giving parties all the time; and they cost, I can tell you."