"But you must not. She wants it in half an hour; you must not have it ready before."
"Why not?" said Maria, stopping short.
"Why, she wants it then. She has a right to have tea when she likes."
But Matilda sighed as she spoke, for her aunt's likings were becoming a heavy burden to her, in the present and in the future. The two girls went gently round, setting the table, cutting the bread, putting out the sweetmeat, getting the teapot ready for the tea; then they stood together over the stove, waiting for the time to make it.
"There's one comfort," Matilda said with another sigh;—"we can do it all for Christ."
"What?" said Maria, starting.
"It is work He has given us to do, you know, Maria; and we have promised to do everything we can to please Him. So we can do this to please Him."
"I don't see how," said Maria. "This isn't Band work;—do you think it is?"
"It isn't Sunday-School work; but, Maria, you know, 'we are the servants of Christ.' Now He has given us this work to do."
"That's just talking nonsense," said Maria. "There is no religion in pots and kettles."