"But don't you care whether she scolds? because I do. And the room is not nice, Maria. Mother wouldn't have it so."
"Well, you may sweep it if you like."
"I cannot. I am tired. You must make it nice, Maria, won't you? and I'll see about the breakfast."
"The table's all set!" Maria remonstrated.
"It won't take long to do it over, Maria. But what have we got for breakfast?"
"Nothing—that I know."
"Did you look in the cellar?"
"No."
"Why, where did you look?" said Matilda, laughing. "Come; let us go down and see what is there."
In the large, clean, light cellar there were hanging shelves which served the purposes of a larder. The girls peered into the various stores collected on them.