"Maria and I do what's to be done. Mamma doesn't want us to get a girl."
"Maria and you!" said Miss Redwood, straightening up. "I want to know! You and Maria. Why, I didn't reckon Maria was a hand at them kind o' things. What can she do, eh? I want to know! Things is curious in this world."
"Maria can do a good deal," said Matilda.
"And you can, too, can't ye?" said Miss Redwood, with a benevolent smile at her little visitor, which meant all love and no criticism.
"I wish I knew how to do more," said Matilda. "I could, if I knew how. That's what I came to ask you, Miss Redwood; won't you tell me?"
"Tell you anything on arth," said the housekeeper. "What do you want to know, child?"
"I don't know," said Matilda, knitting her brow. "I want to know how to manage."
Miss Redwood's lips twitched, and her knitting needles flew.
"So there ain't no one but you to manage?" she said, at length.
"Aunt Candy tells what is to be for breakfast and dinner. But I want to know how to do things. What can one do with cold beefsteak, Miss Redwood?"