Matilda had to think her way out of that statement.
"Maria, in the covenant, you know, we say 'we stand ready to do His will;' and you know it is His will that we should have these things to do."
"I don't!" said Maria; "that's a fact."
"Then how comes it that we have them?"
"Just because mamma is sick, and Aunt Erminia is too mean to live!"
"You should not speak so," said Matilda. "How comes mamma to be sick? and how comes it that we have got no money to hire a girl?"
"Because that man in New York was wicked, and ran away with mamma's money."
"Maria," said Matilda, solemnly, "I don't see what you meant by joining the Band."
"I meant more than you did!" said Maria, flaming out. "Such children as you are too young to join it."
"We are not too young to be Christians."